The Girl with Ghost Eyes by M. H. Boroson

by Carol3 Comments
The Girl with Ghost Eyes is an enjoyable read, but I felt like it was straddling the line between YA and adult historical fantasy, which threw me off a little. I can't put my finger on why it felt like that. Li-lin is not a teenager, she's in her early 20s, I think, and a widow. So, it's not her age. There isn't a love triangle. I listened to the audio, and maybe the writing sounded a bit simple at times and there were definitely repetitive sections. I don't know. Am I the only one who got that feeling? I listened to the audio and was glad that I did. Zeller brings Li-lin to life, but I also like to hear the Chinese words and phrases, not try to struggle with reading them. Li-lin is a good character. She is tough and strong and a talented martial artist. She's also a Daoist exorcist who has ghost eyes, meaning she can see all the spirits, ghosts...
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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

by Carol3 Comments
How can I really write any comments about Pride and Prejudice that haven't already been written? This is probably my third time reading it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The dialogue, and the story relies on its dialogue, is sparkling and fun. Elizabeth and Darcy are a wonderful couple and complement each other well. This time around I actually chose to read it because my daughter is reading it for her English class and it's nice to be able to discuss the books she's reading at dinner or on car rides. I didn't read A Tale of Two Cities with her, and I only partly remembered Dracula, but I'm glad I joined her in this one. Amber and I have talked about the story some. It's interesting, since she's looking at it from a different perspective. She's 17 and it's the first time she's read it. Neither of those things can be said of me. I think the thing that struck me...
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Thursday’s Tale: The Bird with Nine Heads

by Carol1 Comment
Last week I focused on a Chinese tale because of the Lunar New Year. This week I finished listening to The Girl with Ghost Eyes, which takes place in San Francisco's Chinatown at the end of the nineteenth century and incorporates a lot of the Chinese culture, traditions and legends. I decided to stick with the Chinese theme today. "The Bird with Nine Heads" comes from The Chinese Fairy Book edited by Dr. R. Wilhelm, 1921. There once lived a king and a queen who had a daughter. One day, when the daughter was walking in the garden, a huge storm suddenly came up and carried her away. The storm had come from the bird with nine heads, who had stolen the princess and brought her to his cave. The king did not know where his daughter had disappeared to, so he proclaimed throughout the land: “Whoever brings back the princess may have her for his bride!” Now a young man had seen the...
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My Favorite . . Book Cover

by Carol6 Comments
My Favorite.. is a weekly meme hosted by Maureen’s Books. In this meme we share every week something we love with each other. Because let’s face it.. The world can be a dark place and it’s time to share something positive. For more info: My Favorite Meme. When I started to think about my favorite books cover, I realized that I actually have a favorite series of book covers. I've never read any of The Selection series, the premise doesn't appeal to me, but I love the covers. My absolute favorite is the 3rd, The One. Isn't it gorgeous? What's your favorite book cover? Join in at Maureen's Books....
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Readers’ Workouts – 2/7

by Carol5 Comments
I did not have a good week this week. I haven't been sleeping well, which makes me drag through the day. And then of course, I don't feel like cooking or I want pasta and bread, so my meals haven't been that great either. And that's before you add in the Super Bowl. This week: Wednesday - Pilates Friday - Elliptical Monday - Walk with the dog, Pilates Meal plan: I have to get serious about meal planning. Eating better might give me a bit more energy. Breakfasts - eggs, blueberry omelet, sweet potato waffles Lunches - sausage, apple, sweet potato hash; taco salad Dinners - sausage and mashed sweet potatoes, ground beef and cabbage, egg roll in a bowl, chicken fingers and veggies, chicken fajitas   New Year Fitness Goals: - Lose weight. Goal - Lose 26 lbs.  (141.4 starting weight) - Run 2 5ks, 1 10K and 1 half. Complete - None - Hit my weekly step goal (56,000 steps) for 48 weeks. Weeks completed: 4 How was your week? Readers’ Workouts is hosted by...
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The Patience of the Spider by Andrea Camilleri

by Carol2 Comments
This is the second Montalbano mystery I've listened to in a row. To some extent, I could just copy the review from the last, Game of Mirrors; Montalbano and his circle just don't change that much from book to book. For the most part, it's only the plots that vary. But they're easy, enjoyable listens, and usually available from the library, so I keep coming back to them. This time, it's a kidnapping, but the family clearly does not have enough money to pay a ransom, so who could possibly have kidnapped Susanna? An outsider who doesn't know the family's financial standing, or was she kidnapped for some other reason? The girl has a worried boyfriend and a father who would do anything to have her back. Her mother is on her deathbed and her uncle is doing all he can to help the family. I guessed most of the answer early on, although one piece took me longer. Overall, it's a good story. Camilleri...
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