Review: Kirsten's Surprise: A Christmas Story

Kirsten's Surprise: A Christmas Story by Janet Beeler Shaw

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I read this years ago when it was a much newer book and there were only three American Girls. Kirsten was my favorite because she looked the most like me, and because I have always had a soft spot for stories about frontier life, though I have to admit I always loved Samantha's clothes.

In this book, Kirsten is about to experience her first Christmas season in America. She wants things to be the same as they were in Sweden, and that includes having all of the same items they had in Sweden, some of which are in storage in a town ten miles away. Ten miles seems like nothing these days - I drove more than 10 miles today alone. But in 1854, during winter in Minnesota, ten miles was a long way, and it is questionable whether they will be able to make it to town to get the trunks before being snowed in until Spring.



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Third Sentence Thursday: Night Embrace

 

"You know, Talon, killing a soul-sucking Daimon without a good fight is like sex without foreplay.  A total waste of time and completely un . . .  satisfying."
Talon grunted at Wulf's words while he sat a a corner table at the Cafe Du Monde, waiting for his waitress to return with his black chicory coffee and beignets.  He had an ancient Saxon coin in his left hand that he rolled between his finger as he scanned the dark street in front of him and watched the tourists and locals drift by.

This is the first through fourth sentences of this book - the third being in bold.  The third sentence alone means so much less than in the context of the others around it. :)

I'm getting close to the end of this book, and enjoying it immensely.  This is the third I'm reading of the books that take place in this setting, the second in the Dark-Hunter series (the first book I read was a prequel to the rest).

 Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Proud Book Nerd.

1. Take the book you are currently reading, and share the third sentence in the first chapter (NOT the preface, preamble, introduction, etc. – Chapter 1). Feel free to share more (maybe the first three, the second through fourth, or the third plus the two following) if you’d prefer.
2. Share your thoughts, if any, on the snippet (or sentences).

Review: Sam's Letters to Jennifer

Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I loved this book. I enjoyed the fact that we don't find out exactly who Sam is in relation to Jennifer until the second chapter. The prologue and the first chapter, while both quite short, leave you wondering who Sam is - is Sam a boyfriend? brother? long-time male friend who wants more? Obviously, Sam is a very important person in Jennifer's life, because Jennifer leans on Sam a lot.


This is a wonderful story that I truly enjoyed.



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Review: Peter Pan

Peter Pan by James M. Barrie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I realized recently that I had never read this book, so I decided to get it from the library. I have seen many movies depicting the story, so I thought I knew the basics of it. And I was right. I knew the basics.

What I didn't know was astonishing. I did not know (or did not remember) the language used in the story. Granted, it was written in another time and place, but the terminology ("Redskins" being a prime example) is considered offensive by many these days, and to those who do consider it offensive do not consider the time it was written to be a valid excuse for using such language/terms.

This alone means that Peter Pan is no longer a children's story. It is one that needs to wait until children are old enough to understand that words like that are no longer appropriate.

I gave this four stars because the story is, ultimately, still a very enjoyable tale. :)



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I read this book as part of the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge.