I checked it out for you and I’m happy to report that book one of The Rain Wild Chronicles is just as good as the rest of Hobb’s books.
So, go get Assassins Apprentice and start at the beginning.
Would I recommend it? What are you waiting for? Assassins Apprentice, chop, chop!
Also if you really feel the need six of her other books can be found in the fiction archives, but they all say the same thing:
Gotta start with Assassins Apprentice.
I love books that suck you in and teach you something new about things you didn’t even think you wanted to know about.
That was this book.
Before and after reading this book I have no desire to fly a plane (I chalk it up to this problem), but in the middle of the book…
…in the middle of the book it almost seemed like a great idea.
Would I recommend it? Yes, if only to find out what two teenage boys in an airplane do when confronted with prairie dogs, yes.
Happy Groundhogs Day!
Actually I’m not a big fan of Groundhogs day.
We live in Wisconsin, there is ALWAYS six more weeks of winter.
This Groundhogs day the groundhogs at my house today may be smarter than my husband.
My husband is on the road to work in the below zero wind chill, and blowing snow, you know the blizzard that’s caused the state to declare a civil emergency in this area.
I’m certain the groundhogs are sleeping through the blizzard instead of checking for shadows.
So, who’s smarter John or a groundhog???
But, regardless of my own feelings on Groundhogs Day (or my husbands activities) I thought the girls should have a book so they could learn the whole crazy Groundhog Day tradition. I picked the cutest looking one from the pile at the library and headed home not expecting much.
The book is about the O’Learys and their little farm. On about page three I thought this book might have something going for it:
Then Mrs O’Learys response to Groundhogs Day really had me hooked…
By the time Groundhogs Day really rolled around I was loving it.
When spring came and Mr O’Leary put in action his plan to foil the ground hog I was planning a new blog.
And by the end I was convinced that this is the best Groundhogs Day book ever!
Would I recommend it? Yes!
Well Corky since you asked…
I’d say this book has a classic example of why I think the little blurb reviews pasted on the covers of books are not to be trusted. This has one that says:
“The bitter cold can be felt emanating from the pages. – Midwest Book Review”
I’m sorry Midwest Book Review, but it’s not that cold in the book. The weather in upper Minnesota is getting near winter and there are a few nasty characters but, having apparently read much more gruesome books, I wouldn’t describe the baddest guy in here as “bitter cold.”
Would I recommend it? Eh… fifty-fifty…
I liked that it was set in an area I knew, the plot twists surprised me and I liked the main character. But I prefer my gruesome murder mystery’s to occur places that I don’t ever travel therefore reducing my tendency to jump out of my skin for no reason.
Would I recommend it? That depends.
If you are a horse lover, racing buff or just fascinated by Secretariat then yes. This is a well written biography of a horse. Information, facts, quotes, history – it’s all in there. Not only that, but it was written by a man who spent a considerable amount of time near the horse and the people surrounding him, not just a random bozo who looked up facts one day.
But that brings us to the depends part of the recommendation…
All that information, all that history, if you are just out looking for an enjoyable read you’d better skip this one. Unless you fall into any of the categories above, the who beget who in horse racing history may make the first chapters seem endless. If you can make it through that then you’ve got to wade through Secretariat’s syndication. Unless you really want to know all about who got all shares (and if I remember correctly there were 32) you’ll get very bored and may walk away. This would be sad because then you would never make it to the last third of the book. The last third of the book is where Secretariat wins the triple crown, and where I found out that even reading about a horse races makes me cry.
It’s good – but it’s not for everyone.
Now, go and watch Secretariat race in the 1973 Belmont stakes and tell me it didn’t bring a tear to your eye!
Hello my name is Jessie and I love books with talking mice, and shrews, and otters, and moles with funny accents, and any other little woodland talking creature as well.
I think that by this age most have out grown their love of small furry talking creatures, but…well…I haven’t.
This is one of the newer Redwall books and I love all of these books.
I love them because the good guys always win.
Because even though they win the war they usually lose a few good “men” along the way.
Because swords are not in themselves evil, just the nasty varmints who wield them.
Because friendship always wins.
Because there is always a riddle to solve.
Because the Dibbuns (children) are always getting into mischief.
And most importantly, because when all the fighting is done there is always a feast.
I read Mossflower when I was in middle school, it’s still my favorite, but well, as you can see I thought the rest were pretty good too…
Would I recommend it? Yes, I’d rank it among my favorites, but if you’ve never read any I always recommend starting with Mossflower. I’m impatiently waiting until I’m able to read these aloud to Ivy. Unfortunately we are currently at the point that even a Franklin book is enough to start Ivy shaking with fright. I’m thinking we’ve got quite awhile before we can read about marauding sea rats, raven tyrants, and wildcat queens!
Did ya catch the title?
Let’s look at it, just in case.
Now, either you feel an overwhelming urge to read a book with such a title, or you are someone like my brother (Hi Ty!) and have no interest whatsoever.
One more time..
Would I recommend it? I’m here to tell you, that so long as you fall into the overwhelming urge to read camp, you won’t be disappointed.
As I read one of our new library books out loud today I had the feeling I had made a mistake in bringing it home from the library.
Not because I’d already read 37 books out loud today. Often a problem.
Not because it was a poorly written story. Sometimes I hate the books we bring home. I try and sneak those ones back in the library bag when no one is looking.
Not because it was too scary for Ivy. She gets scared in a full body shaking sort of way, even when little lambs get lost in the snow.
Nope none of those normal occurrences, it was because I was afraid it would give her… ideas.
In this seemingly innocent book Baby Bear and Mother Bear are getting ready to hibernate for the winter. Having never slept in a cave before Baby Bear needs some help going to sleep. He needs: a snack, something to drink and then, the moon.
(I bet you already know the “ideas” Ivy had at bedtime tonight.)
The book is good, when Baby Bear asks for the moon and Mother Bear says “You need what?” It was like the book was written from a conversation between Ivy and I.
The real kicker was at the end. Baby Bear needs one more thing: “‘What now?’ grumbled Mother bear” …
…and he of course needs a kiss.
Awww how sweet.
OK, Now that we are done feeling all cute let’s replay a conversation that Ivy and I had today.
While I try to be exact in my replications of our conversations this one may be a little off. Thats because we have a variation of this conversation ALL THE TIME.
Ivy: Mom!
Me: What?
Ivy: What are we havin’ for lunch?
Me: Noodles with green sauce.
Ivy: Mom!
Me: What?
Ivy: Is there goin’ to be shakin’ cheese?
Me: If you get it out of the fridge.
Ivy: MOM!
Me: What?
Ivy: I don’t know how.
Me: Well no cheese for you then.
Ivy: Oh I can get it.
Ivy: Mom!
Me: WHAT?
Ivy: I wuv you mom.
Aww, isn’t she sweet.
Except I’m certain she knows she’s pushed me to the brink and then is saving herself from being put up for adoption every time she does it!
Then of course when she headed up to bed a mischievous glint lit up her eye and she needed, a snack (You already had one.), a drink (Here is your water.), the moon (Sorry, new moon was on Tuesday and it’s cloudy, no moon tonight.)
I’m pretty sure I spoiled the game with a refusal to get her a moon so I was never asked for a kiss. I’m not worried though, tomorrow just when I’m ready to put her on Craig s list, she’ll “wuv” me.
Would I recommend it? Yes. I’m just not sure you should read it to your kids!
After quite a few “fluff” books I thought I’d go for something a little more serious. This book certainly fit the bill.
The subject matter is deep and often unpleasant and the book is populated with unlikable characters, sounds great so far doesn’t it?
BUT, the characters have depth and realism beyond what I expected when I first started the book and the writing is interspersed with great lines like this:
“I kept my smile tight to hold back my pride and stuck all my fingers between all my toes for the low pull of pleasure.”
Would I recommend it? Yes. Not any easy read but a good read.
While I’m sorry to have been such a spotty poster the last few days I’m going to blame at least half of the lack of posting on this book.
I do most of my writing and posting late at night when sensible people are sleeping, unless I’ve had too many nightmares and woken up screaming too often. Then I try to get more sleep instead of sitting up late at the computer.
Is this book that frighting? Probably not.
Am I that big of a wimp? Sure am.
Would I recommend it? Hmmm… gives me nightmares, a bit cheesy, (writen by Nora Roberts in disguise) yet good characters, and interesting setting…
I think due to my late night screaming and sleeping issues I am unable to give this book a decent recommendation.
Anyone else want to help me out here?
Behind the Willows 