The Literary Adventures of an Opinionated Bookworm

 "And so, with laughter and love, we lived happily ever after" (232). Do you have a book that you turn to when you're sad? My happy book is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, and I found comfort in Ella's journey once again while I was dealing with a small heartache. I always thought it was a wonderful interpretation of Cinderella, and I love how all the characters have a rich backstory, from the evil stepsisters, to Prince Charmont, Mandy the Cook/Fairy Godmother and Ella's best friend Areida. Everyone has a story, rounding out the plot of the novel. When she was a child, Ella was given a gift (or a curse, depending on how you look at it), by the fairy Lucinda, and since then she has always had to obey any command anyone gives her. Her mother forbids her from telling anyone about the curse (not that she would), but when her mother passes away, there is no one who can help Ella defeat the curse. Her father eventually remarries, bringing Ella two stepsisters, H...

  "Experience the epic life story of Anita Garibaldi, a courageous, headstrong revolutionary who fought for freedom and self-determination in nineteenth-century Brazil, Uruguay and Italy." I love historical fiction, when it is done well. I won't waste my time or yours by making you read a whole post to discover that I did not like The Woman in Red  by Diana Giovinazzo. It was a 1/5 star read for me, and I struggled to get into it. I will go as in depth an explanation as I can without spoiling the novel, because I would never say "do not read this book," but if you want to know why, please read on (there are no spoilers). The Why Everything about the story was set to please; a strong female historical figure, fighting for her own freedom as well as standing by her husband's side during many revolutions, but the execution was disappointing. The narrative wasn't as strong as I had hoped. While Anita was clearly a strong-willed person from her early childhoo...

I have a confession to make... I'm a bit of a book snob. Well, I call myself the Opinionated Bookworm, are you really surprised? For years I avoided books under the "romantic" genre, the ones with shirtless cowboys on the front, because I thought all these books were just sex scenes with plot fillers in between.  But I am willing to admit to being a book snob, and to being wrong. Romantic Suspense   True-crime writer Evie Fleming arrived in Los Angeles intending to write about som e of the most horrifying murders that hau nt Hollywood, but soon after she arrives she is nearly a victim of a violent assault. Had it not been for off-duty detective Rowan Winchester, her first night in L.A. would have been devastating. Thus ensues an unlikely partnership between an amateur sleuth and a respected LAPD officer, one that includes a slightly predictable romance (hence the genre). This is a genre that I didn't even know existed, so I must express my gratitude to @ReadForeverPub...

I remember the first time I heard about The Vagina Monologues  by Eve Ensler very clearly; my high school drama teacher was talking about how she had once performed one of the monologues when she and her husband had first started dating. He attended the performance, sitting between her aunt and mother while she was onstage talking about vaginas.  I loved this drama teacher...I dressed up as her during the teacher themed spirit day, and I still kind of want to be her when I grow up. And it is because of her that I decided to pick up a copy of the V-Day edition of Ensler's script. Women Talking About Vaginas I went to Catholic school for 12 years (elementary through high school), and in all of these years the only time I ever heard the word vagina was in Biology 12, or as the punchline to a teenage boy's joke. Reading Eve Ensler's work was definitely an interesting and eye opening experience, as she talked to women from around the world and from a variety of backgrounds, abou...

When the Norwegian Ambassador in Bangkok is found in a motel room with a knife in his back, the Norwegian Government decides that only one man can solve the murder with the utmost discretion. From the moment Harry Hole arrives it becomes clear that there is far more going on for Norwegians in Thailand than anyone might have guessed...but can he solve this crime when the only evidence is the antique knife in the Ambassador's back? The Judgemental Drunken Detective In this second Harry Hole novel, Cockroaches , Jo Nesbo makes it clear that his protagonist is severely haunted by ghosts from his past and subsequently has a drinking problem. None of this seems to affect his ability to do his job, nor does it stop him from judging everyone else around him.  This novel was disappointing for me; I loved The Snowman , and was thoroughly creeped out by it, making me hungry for more Harry Hole thrillers. Unfortunately, this story seems to be less about the gruesome murder and more about the c...

Something magical happened to me on August 9th...I got an email from the library telling me that the book I placed on hold was available. Ok, so this isn't exactly Fairy Godmother level magic, but the book I apparently put on hold ( Break the Good Girl Myth  by Majo Molfino) was one that I had never heard of before! In fact, I don't think I did place a hold on it. I don't know how this book came to be mine for two weeks, but I am so glad it did. The Myths Do You ever tell yourself that you are not good enough? That you shouldn't do something daring or risky?  We all do it...We tell ourselves these things because we grow up believing we have to subscribe to the myths that we learn from our family, schools, religions, and cultures. These myths are: The Myth of Rules The Myth of Perfection The Myth of Logic The Myth of Harmony The Myth of Sacrifice Throughout the book, Molfino works through each of these myths, not only explaining how they affect women, but how we might ov...

"Stop believing the lies about who you are so you can become who you were meant to be..." Do you read motivational books? My interest in reading books that are meant to inspire and motivate readers seems to be a new phase that began when I graduated university. My latest pick was  Girl, Wash Your Face  by Rachel Hollis, whi ch was not only an inspirational read but also a great bo ok to get myself out of a reading-rut.  Why was this book perfect for me?  Because it was written in blog format. Each chapter started with a lie that we might tell ourselves, then Rachel Hollis teaches us through succinct personal anecdotes why we shouldn't be telling ourselves these lies in the first place. Rachel Hollis knows how to connect with her readers; it is easy to see why she found success as a blogger, as she knows how to capture the attention of her audience. She doesn't just admit she has flaws and makes mistakes, she gives you explicit details. In some instances, I immediatel...