Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

In keeping with the holiday spirit (a term not usually applied to Halloween, but I was feeling Halloween-y at the time), I decided to read this classic. If you know Frankenstein only through movies or pop culture interpretations, I highly reccommend reading this novel. I will also warn all potential readers that the language of this book is more advanced than any of the others novels I've reviewed so far, but for myself, it was a lot of fun to feel challenged by what I was reading.

I read the Norton Critical Edition, edited by J. Paul Hunter, which contains the 1818 first edition text, versus later editions revised by Mary Shelley. This edition also includes essays of 19th century responses and modern criticism, if anyone feels like delving into the literature world.

In this novel, Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with the secret of life and determines to create a human life from spare body parts. After months of work, he succeeds. Thankfuly, the book doesn't even attempt to address the "how" as I can only imagine how tedious that would have been (I remember my college biology class!!). Frankenstein regrets the creation of his monster and decides to destroy it, but in the morning the monster has escaped. The monster knows nothing about "self" "society" "humanity" "education" and initially lives in the forest like an animal. He finds a poor family living in a hut, and begins to learn about human life, language, and how to read. He begins reading Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther, Milton's Paradise Lost, and a volume of Plutarch's Lives. Unfortunately these books give him a distorted view of the human world-- he decides to introduce himself the the family believing they would show him kindness and benevolence like the character he read about, only to receive his first of many rejections by mankind. Ultimately, the monster confronts Frankenstein and I won't spoil the ending by revealing anymore.

Thumbs UP-- Full of literary themes, allusions, parallels to modern society, such fun.

Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini

This novel begins in the pre-revolutionary stages of the French Revolution. Andre Louis-Moreau has his feet in the worlds of aristocracy and the common man, having been raised and supported by aristrocracy, and in love with a girl from the aristocratic circle, but the true identity of his parents is unknown and he is a simple lawyer who is not looking to take sides in the political turmoil between the two groups. Moreau vows revenge for the death of his best friend, a clergymen who is bullied into a duel over his expressions of democratic idealism and killed by the Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr. Following the death of his friends, he makes several political speeches, bringing charges of treason for inciting riots, and Moreau is forced to flee. Through several changes of career, from traveling troupe actor to fencing master to politician, Moreau faces and attempts to thwart d'Azyr against the backdrop of the revolution. D'Arzyr also strikes against Moreau, and the time comes when they must confront each other. The end is truly surprising and masterfully written. Fabulous!

Thumbs Up.

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

Creel's aunt decides the only way to bring the family out of poverty is for Creel to be rescued by from a dragon by a knight who would then marry her. Though, of course, she must be captured by a dragon. When Creel does end up with a dragon she discoves he doesn't want to eat her or fight a knight or meddle with her problems. He only wants to be left alone with his shoe collection. Thousands and thousands of shoes. Creel tells him she is willing to leave and convince the unwanted knight to go away as well, in exchange for a pair of shoes. With this bargain made, Creel sets off. She sends the knight away, and instead of returning to her family, decides to travel to the capital city and seek out a way to earn her own fortunes.

This story was a fun, quick read. The plot isn't very fluid, but enjoyable. The sequel, Dragon Flight was similar. Thumbs Sideways.

The Inheritance Series by Christopher Paolini

Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr of the Inheritance Series (not the Inheritance trilogy anymore, apparently Paolini wants to drag us around by the book jacket for a few more years).

I really enjoyed rereading the first two books in anticipation of reading the third. With three books of hundreds of pages each I'll keep my summary simple.

Eragon is a teenage boy living in the mountains when he discovers a blue stone, that later hatches into a dragon. They are bound to each other through the dragon's power, and Eragon becomes the first free dragon rider in decades. The evil king sends the bad guys to catch them, but they escape with help from a number of people, fairies, dwarves, and a rebel organization. They must train in dragon rider arts in order to defeat the evil king.

I really do like these books, even if my summary seems a little hostile. I'm annoyed I didn't find out the series is no longer a trilogy until I read the letter from the author at the end of book three. Hello? What hole have I been under? Who knows. And why couldn't he put his letter at the beginning? Practically the whole book I was thinking he needed to wrap things up because with each page read I was closer to the end.

Letters telling readers the series won't end with three books should be at the beginning of book three, and introductions giving away main character identities should be at the end, not the other way around. All this aside, I am greatly looking forward to the next book and can only hope it will be the last one, but won't be terribly disappointed because it would really mean more great books to read.

Beau Geste by PC Wren

I read about this book in the Introduction of the The Scarlet Pimpernel and decided to read it, as well as a handful of others mentioned. This is one reason I like reading Introductions, to find out about other books to read, NOT the identity of the main character (as previoulsy posted Introductions aren't always a good idea to read before you read the book). I really enjoyed Beau Geste and was very much reminded of the Heath Ledger movie, "The Four Feathers," though there are obvious plot differences.

A company of French legionnaires in Africa discovers one of their forts in the middle of the desert where all the men have been killed, but afterwards propped up in a fighting position, hats on, rifles in hand. All except the commander of the fort who is found lying on the ground, killed by a bullet wound to the chest, presumably by one of his own men, but not a living soul is to be found.

Flashback to the lives of the three Geste brothers who have been living with their aunt and cousins in England. Told from the viewpoint of the youngest brother, one night as everyone is standing around the table admiring their aunt's famous sapphire, the Blue Water, the lights go out and when they come back on the sapphire is gone. The aunt demands to know who has taken it, and when no one confesses, demands it be returned by morning. Everyone goes to bed, everyone suspicious of everyone else. In the morning, no sapphire. The three Geste brothers seem to be the center of suspicion, so one by one they leave the estate, each leaving a letter saying they took the sapphire and the others are all innocent. But where do they all go?

Beautiful book about brotherly love. Other reviews about this book seemed to feel the pace was too slow or there wasn't enough fighting or French Legion stuff, but I disagree. Its not a historical fiction book about the French Legion. It is about the relationship of the brothers and their characters. I loved it. Apparently there was a movie made as well in 1939 (on my netflix list now). Thumbs UP for the book.

The Scarlet Pimpernel By Baroness Orczy

I read this book a few months ago when my best friend from high school (Hi Katie!) mentioned she had read it and liked it. Before I get into my enthusiasm for this book, I want to to make a complaint: I do not like introductions to books that give away the story. I like to read introductions. I like to know what someone else thinks about the book. But I don't like the surprise of the story to be told before I ever get a chance to read the book. Its an "introduction" to the book, not a book report. So, if you like to read introductions, I suggest, at least for this book, read it after you've read the story.

The book is set in the French Revolution when aristocrats and royalty are being killed by the uprising group seeking political power. A group of English aristocrats, led by a man known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel, risk their own lives by rescuing French aritstocrats, and sneaking them across the channel to safety. There is a woman, a love story, fighting, death, sneaking around and all that good stuff, but I'll stop there, because I don't want to give away the ending.

Thumbs up. Very entertaining. Baroness Orczy wrote a number of sequel stories which I haven't read yet, but have them on my list of books to read. Kurt and I also watched an A&E miniseries of the Scarlet Pimpernel and they were fabulous. Starring Richard E. Grant in 1999, its a 3 disc series, available at netflix.

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

I couldn't put this book down--I read for a whole day, much to the annoyance of my family. I discovered this book at my local library, where it is a nominee for the Beehive book Awards for Children's Literature, Association of Utah. The author beautifully blends the traditional fairy tales, such "Cinderella," "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," and "The Frog Prince," and fey folklore, into an intriguing story. There are probably elements of more fairy tales involved as well.

Set in Transylvania, five sisters sneak into the fairy world through a portal in their bedroom on the night of the full moon where they dance the night away, unknown to all around them. As they get older other forces, in their world and the fantasy world, threaten to disrupt their happy lives, and they must make choices and sacrifices that will affect all their lives.

This is Juliet Marilliers first novel for teens (I'm going to be reading her adult Sevenwaters Trilogy soon) and I look forward to reading the follow-up novel Cybele's Secret. Thumbs UP!!