Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

from goodreads

4 stars

I can't believe it is already past the half-way mark of September. Seriously, where did the time go. Since school has started I am starting to get into a bit of a familiar groove. Having two little ones at home is a nice change, though I do miss my older ones. During the day I only have one child coming with me with demands and desires instead of three. (The baby doesn't count, while he likes to eat he isn't super demanding.)

Now I just need to get into the groove of doing things for me again. Get into my schedule. I am looking forward to that!

Synopsis

Jacob loved hearing the stories behind his grandfather's pictures but that is what they were to him, stories. When his grandfather is horrifically killed Jacob decides to go to the orphanage, on an island off the welsh coast, where is grandfather grew up to find out more about him. What he finds is not what he expects.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure I would. The cover made me think it might be more creepy or more of a horror genre, which I am not into, but it wasn't and I was able to really get into the story.

The story was simplistic but there was a depth to it. You didn't get lost in details but there was a depth in character and story line that I liked.

I loved the concept that the author used of taking old pictures and then putting a story around them. Some of the photos were incredible and even though they didn't seem that they were connected Riggs was able to do it in such a clever interesting way that made complete sense.

Jacob's father was an interesting character, definitely an anti-hero. He was a good juxtaposition against Jacob.

The time loop thing was a bit wonky. I got confused by it a little bit. But I'm sure, if you are into time loops and know a lot about them it would make complete sense.

There are two more books in the series and I am excited to read them... I will have to stick them into my never ending to read list!

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

from goodreads

2.75 stars

Happy New Year!

It is crazy that it is 2015. I feel I did all this New Year stuff not that long ago and now it is upon me again. I guess that is what happens when you get older. As a kid days seem to go on forever. When we went to school the school day seemed so long. Now as a parent I feel the days fly by and that I just dropped the kids off and now I am having to pick them up. It is funny what age, experiences and priorities do to time perception.

While I enjoyed 2014 I am looking forward to 2015. My family and I have some exciting excursions and trips planned for this year. I am excited by some of the financial goals we have planned this year and am looking forward to doing my part in making those plans a reality. I am also looking forward to some of my personal goals too. While I don't make resolutions at the New Year I do like to take this time to reflect on how I am doing with my goals and seeing if there is any tweaking that needs to be done or a redistribution of energy. It is exciting. How do you celebrate your New Year? Do you make goals or resolutions?

Synopsis

Claire Randall and her husband Frank are in Scotland rekindling their relationship after being apart during WWII. While Frank is learning about his geneaology, Claire is learning about botany and is enjoying her time in the highlands. When Claire goes to a local stone circle she is suddenly flung back roughly two hundred years. There she meets Jaime a charming highlander. Claire needs to make a decision. Go back to Frank and the modern world, or do what she can do help her new friends and make a life with Jamie?

My Thoughts

Before reading this book I knew nothing about it except that it took place in Scotland. I only knew that because I caught a bit about the the t.v. series and they happened to be in scottish kit. I didn't know it was a huge hit or anything.

I don't know what the big fuss is about it. While I do think it is well written, there was so much sex, and almost rape, and more sex. While sex is part of the adult experience and is an important aspect in our lives, I was like, get on with it already. We get it, they are both horny. Let's move on. I like a good romance as much as the next person, but seriously, leave some room for the imagination. Though, you  might pick up some new tips. Just saying.

Because there was such a focus on the sex aspect of their life I found the story did not flow as quickly as I would have expected. When there was more action it was a really good read and intriguing. I guess going into the book I was expecting more of the action part and less of the romance side of things.

What also was time consuming was Claire's back and forth struggle about fidelity with her husband from the 20th century and that of the one in the 18th. Was she still being faithful if her husband didn't really exist? Was it okay to stay with this new love? While the moral dilemma is an interesting issue to explore, I found it went on too long. It seemed she, for almost the full 600 pages of her being in the 18th century, was always questioning it. While it is important not to be light about it the constant flip flopping and guilt was kind of crazy.

I also wish we found out more about Geillis Duncan. I don't want to give anything away so I will be really obscure here. We find out something, I would say rather pivotal about her, but then that's it. We don't know if there are more like her or how she came to be one or anything. It's like why bring it up if you aren't going to do anything with it. Perhaps it plays more of a role or theme later on in the series. I don't know.

There are seven more books in this series. I don't know if I am in a rush to read them. While the ending left me slightly intrigued as to what the characters were going to do I'm not sure if I am interested in knowing more. I hear that the t.v. series follows the story pretty well. Maybe I will just watch them if I want to learn more.

I think I might have liked this book if I was in a more racy mood, but I was not and so it was just meh, to me. Maybe in a different and time and season I would like it better. It has a ridiculously high goodreads rating, but I just didn't get it.

The Root Cellar by Janet Lunn

from goodreads

4 stars

Well, I finally read this book. I was supposed to have had it read by my October book club meeting. Unfortunately, the library only had one copy. By the time I got around to putting it on hold someone else already had it on hold. For a pretty fast read both patrons sure took a long time reading it, especially the last one which returned it three days after it was due!

Now I know that libraries can't possibly hold all known books, or multiple copies of them on their shelves, but seriously, how inconvenient. What are the odds that three people in this city wanted to read this book at the same time? (My other book club ladies either owned a copy or use a neighbouring city's library system.)

Oh, well. That being said, I love the library. I love that my kids love the library. Yesterday Miss G. (click here to find out more about Miss G. Miss V. and Miss P.) was so excited to tell our favourite librarian, Sam, about officially becoming a Spark and Miss V. felt comfortable asking Sam to help her find a new book series. It is nice when you can go into a place and feel completely at ease. That is what our library does for us. What do you love about your library?

Synopsis

When Rose's grandmother dies she is sent from New York to small town Ontario, Canada to live with an Aunt and family she has never met. Scared, shy and a bit overwhelmed Rose has a hard time adjusting. When she discovers a root cellar behind her Aunt's house she is pulled back in time. Rose goes on the adventure of a lifetime and learns from the past how to be more happy in her present.

My Thoughts

This was a really interesting book. As stated above this was a book club pick. The only thing I knew about it going in was that a girl goes into a root cellar and back in time. So I was picturing it being set in Saskatchewan or some prairie setting. I was really surprised when it ended up being set in Prince Edward County. I spent two weeks of my summer on the island of Prince Edward County every summer for about 8 years of my youth. So I know that setting well. Then when the setting in the book changed to Oswego, New York, I was like, "whoa, I've been there". My family and I spent time in a State Park that is near by and did our laundry in Oswego. I wanted to walk around the town more, but it was raining when we were there, but I would love to go back. It is always fun when you read a book and the setting is a place where you have been and know fairly well.

The story was engaging. It was an ingenious concept. You get sucked right in. It was interesting to learn more about the history of the Civil War and the aftermath that followed. I never really thought about Canadians going down to fight in the war, but I guess that would have made sense. (Well I guess we wouldn't have been technically Canadians yet, but you know what I mean.)

There was only one thing that drove me up the wall, and that caused me not to give it a full 5 stars. What's up with the family? Rose's Aunt and cousins completely spaz on her and call Rose, ungrateful, rude, hateful etc. Where did that venom come from? It seemed completely out of left field. Rose really hadn't done anything to cause such anger to come from these people. They showed no compassion for her or her circumstances. You would think the Aunt or Uncle would have had a little bit of a clue to the fact that Rose was shy and trying to get her bearings after being completely uprooted. It just all kind of threw me for a loop. Everything gets rectified at the end, and it is all good, but I don't get it at all. I guess I would have expected more build up to that kind of negative emotion and reaction, but there really wasn't.

Even with all that, I would thoroughly recommend this book. I would say it would be a great book for ages ten and up.