Meandering Along

Thoughts on my favorite books.

(This page is under construction. More will be added later.)

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

   As tacky as this is going to sound, I swear this book changed my life. Ani was the very first heroine that I could totally and completely relate to. I wasn’t ever frustrated by her, even at the beginning. I was always rooting for her, and I wanted to see her win in the end. Ani rocks, plain and simple. What makes her even more fantastic is that she’s not a feminist heroine, but she finds her own strength. (I’m all for kick-butt heroines. I read Tamora Pierce books for goodness sake.)

   The writing is about as beautiful as writing ever gets. So simple. When I read a Shannon Hale book, I literally get completely lost in it. The characters and writing draw me so far in that I’m reluctant to get back out again.

   Then there’s my third reason for loving this book to death. Geric. Ah, yes. I love Geric. Until I read this book Prince Char was my number one book crush. As soon as Geric stepped…er…rode onto the page I was smitten. Prince Char was bumped down a notch.

The Queen’s Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner

   Ah! These books are sheer brilliancy. If any book was deserving of the title of sheer brilliancy, these books would be it. I read The Thief when I was about fourteen. So that would be 2006-ish. I was a bit bored by it at first, but then the book really started going. I couldn’t put it down. When a major plot twist was revealed at the end, I seriously went, “Oh, my gosh! How did I not see that coming?” Megan Whalen Turner is a genius at what she does.

   Fast-forward a year later to the summer of 2007. I was browsing around Borders when this book on display caught my eye. There was a woman in a green dress holding a hook. Intrigued, I picked the book up. I saw the names Eugenides and Attolia then promptly flipped out. Next to this book was another book with an interesting cover. This book also had the names Eugenides and Attolia on them. I flipped out again. How could I not. There were two sequels to an amazing book. But I was broke. My mom, however, wasn’t. Once I explained to her my situation, she agreed to buy them for me. I didn’t even have to pay her back. Love ya, Mom! As soon as I got home, I began reading The Queen of Attolia. I was hooked from page one. There was a plot twist near the beginning that made me hate the author for one second, but then I got over it. The romance is one the most original romances I’ve ever read. I guess I love it because you know for sure that the two people truly are in love with each other. They’d have to be if they’re going to be happy. I moved on to The King of Attolia next. The author blew me away again. If I ever meet this woman, I will fall to my knees and beg her to tell me her secret. To this day I can’t figure out which of the three is my favorite. It’s either The Queen of Attolia or The King of Attolia. I love them both so much. To decide between them is like picking a favorite child. (Not that I have any kids.)

  And *major squee* I hear the author is writing another one. Please, Megan Whalen Turner, don’t make me suffer for six years for a new book. Please…

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

   Harry Crewe (Yes, she’s a girl.) rocks. She just does. She gave me hope when I was about twelve. Why? Because she was plain. She wasn’t that attractive. But what did she do? She learned how to use a sword, ride a horse, and she got to marry the cute guy. Being a rather plain twelve-year-old, I loved this story. Finally, there was a heroine who saved the day and got the guy even though she was plain. I still love this book and for the same reasons. I’m no longer insecure about my looks, but I still love Harry and her story. (And the guy she marries.)

   There are several books now where the heroine isn’t beautiful, but I read The Blue Sword before I read any of those, so it holds a very special place in my heart.

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

   This book is beautiful. That’s the best way I can think of to describe it. Beautiful. Mattie is one of the best heroines ever. She’s imperfect. She doesn’t always do the right thing.

   I’ve read a lot of books where the heroine was an aspiring writer, but none of those books left an impression on my like A Northern Light did. I both laugh and cry each time I read this. I love the ending. It fits the story perfectly. I think I rather like not knowing exactly what happens to Mattie when she goes to college. I have my own idea of what did happen. I’m nearly positive that girl succeeded in life. (And drop kicked that Royal Loomis.) Anyway… I love how I talk about her like she’s real. But she is real. You can’t read this book and not feel how real Mattie is.

More specific book talk to come later… That’s code for whenever I get around to it…