The Storyteller's Daughter

When a king is deceived by those who are closest to him he hardens his heart and swears to never be deceived again. In a twisted plot to keep his heart safe, he announces to his kingdom that he will marry a woman every night, and kill her every morning, unless a woman volunteers, then he will only kill her and no one else. Everyone throughout the kingdom are horrified at the king's proclamation and fear terribly for their daughters safety. If no one sacrifices themselves than there will be one execution a day, but who would be so selfless to give up their own life in order that others might live? So when the storyteller's daughter volunteers, everyone, including the king himself, are completely shocked, for they have never treated her as one of their own, have never been very kind to her. Why would she do something like this for them? Is there sorcery involved? Something isn't right.

This story is a romantic tale with twists and turns along the way. I found the stories within the story very captivating and loved reading this book. The only thing I did not really care for was that the character's names were too much alike and I ended up having to give them nicknames so that I could keep everyone straight. Does anyone else do that or am I just stupid haha? But it was a good read and I really did enjoy it. Cameron Dokey is a great author and I will for sure be reading more of her books in the future.

The Rent Collector

'The Rent Collector', by Cameron Wright is the story of Sang Ly and her husband Ki Lim, who live in the largest dump in Cambodia. They make a living by sorting through the trash in the dump and searching for recyclable material to sell. Not only do they have the constant worry about never having enough to eat, working in harsh environments, paying rent, avoiding the gangs of the dump who rob them of their findings, but there biggest worry of all is the worry they have for their son, Nisay. Nisay is sick and no matter how many doctors they visit or how many medicines they give him, he is not getting better. Day to day life is very stressful for them and they never know if all three of them will make it to the end of the day. When Sang Ly discovers a secret about their ornery rent collector however, she may just have a chance to make a better life for her and her family. 

This is a story of hope found in a place where there is little else to live off. It shows that one person willing to serve another can have a huge impact. It emulates the power of literacy. And it illustrates the daily lives of the people living in Cambodia. 

I loved this book. It touched my heart. It made me think. It taught me some valuable life lessons. It made me grateful for where I live and the blessings that I have. It was humbling. It was entertaining. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It basically contained all of the elements of great literature. 

Climbing the Stairs

'Climbing the Stairs' by Padma Venkarraman is the story of Vidya, a young Indian girl who is a teenager during WWII. When a tragic accident befalls on her father, Vidya's family has no choice but to live with her father's extended family. All of a sudden Vidya's dreams of finishing school and going on to college are hanging in the balance. Her aunts torment her and don't give her enough food, she hardly ever gets to see her brother anymore because the home is split between the males and the females, and she is ripped from the life that she has always known. She desperately fears that her extended family will marry her off the first chance they get and she is losing the ability to control her own life. The only peace she finds is when she sneaks up the stairs to the second floor in the men's quarters every day. She has found the library there and she can escape her life into different worlds through the written word. She fears being caught, but the risk is worth it to her.

This book is beautifully written. I was completely intrigued with the story and I learned a lot about the history of India during the time of this terrible war. I must admit that I do not know a lot of India's history but I found it completely fascinating. It is a complex culture that is very intriguing to me. I also love historical fiction books about WWII and would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves history and Indian culture.

This book contains history, culture, family, portrays the importance of books and gaining knowledge, and even has a little romance thrown into the mix.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' by Jonathan Safran Foer was not the book I was expecting whatsoever. I guess I expected it to be all about 9/11 and not much more. But it was more the aftermath of 9/11. It is about Oskar, a young boy, who is dealing with the death of his father who was in one of the towers that day. Oskar finds a key in his dad's closet and he starts an adventure trying to find the lock that this key fits. While he is on his search he feels close to his dad and it becomes a coping mechanism for Oskar. The book also peeks into the lives of some of Oskar's family members and some trials that they had to face as well.

This book was really good. Definitely an adult read, but I liked it. I most likely won't read it again, but I did enjoy it. There are so many stories that come from that day. This is a story about loss, coping, grief, and finding hope and the strength to carry on. It is well written and a page turner.

Re-reading a book

Tiger's Curse

I have found a new series that I am absolutely in LOVE with! I loved these books so much in fact, that I am most definitely going to buy them and add them to my personal collection. The series is 'Tiger's Curse' by Colleen Houck.

Kelsey Hayes is an orphan living with a foster family. The summer after she graduates she finds a temp job at a circus to help pay for her college. Part of her job is to feed the white tiger there. Something about the tiger draws Kelsey in and she forms a quick attachment to it. When a very wealthy man comes to buy the tiger and take him back to India, he asks Kelsey if she would accompany the tiger on the journey and care for him. Kelsey agrees but has no idea what she is getting herself into. She finds herself on the greatest adventure of her life trying to break a three hundred year old curse to save her tiger.

This series is full of Indian culture, adventures, romance, fantasy, and so much more. It literally kept me up every single night because I just couldn't put these books down. Waiting for them at the library was agony because I wanted to devour them. I loved these books and I promise you will too!

Also, there is an ebook called Tiger's Promise that is really good as well!

Divergent series

This is another series that I have recently fallen in love with. There are three books in the series with a fourth book that is from a different character's viewpoint. The plot takes place in a Dystopian Chicago where the city is divided into five factions. These factions believe that the world was destroyed by man's inner desires- so each faction focuses on one virtue:
Euridite: Knowledge
Amity: Peace
Candor: Honesty
Abnegation: Selflessness
Dauntless: Bravery
When a person reaches the age of 16 they go to a choosing ceremony where they then choose which faction they will live the rest of their lives in. Some people choose to stay with the faction that raised them, but some people choose a faction transfer and leave their families and homes behind forever. The motto of the society is "faction before blood". If a person does not fit into any faction, they become factionless- which mean they are at the very bottom- homeless, hungry, and without family or friends. Then there are the Divergent, the group of people who threaten the way their society works because they have aptitudes for more than one faction. Being Divergent is dangerous. The leaders of the communities want to kill anyone who is different from them.

This series is full of action, adventure, romance, the power of choice and individuality, and oh so much more goodness. I would highly, highly recommend it. (The movie as well!)

The Selection series

I am such a hopeless romantic. So when I can find a really good, not too cheesy book that feeds that part of me, I am a happy girl. Well, I have found just such a series. The series is called 'The Selection' by Kiera Cass. It is about a futuristic society who has a monarchy government. When the prince becomes a certain age 35 girls are drawn at random to move to the palace and go through a modern day Bachelor (like the tv show) type ordeal. So basically the prince dates 35 girls at one time and eliminates them when he feels like it won't work out. The main character is America, who is not sure if she should sign up for the selection or not. On the one hand if she happens to be chosen her family will be provided with food and money while she is away, things they never seem to have enough of. However, if she goes she may lose the love of her life and be stuck courting a stuffy prince who she has no interest in whatsoever.

I keep trying to find the words that describe how amazing this series is... but there are none. I have eagerly anticipated the printing of each book and novella, just like I did with Harry Potter, so I believe that says it all. I have recommended this series to quite a few people, and not one of them has come back and told me that they didn't like it. More often then not, they come back mad that I so rudely messed up their sleep schedules because they couldn't put these books down.

Princess of Glass

'Princess of Glass' by Jessica Day George is a retelling of the Cinderella story. It is told from three different character's perspectives: Christian, Eleanora, and Poppy. Poppy is a princess that has recently come out of a curse on her and and her 11 sisters. They were forced to dance every single night until their feet bled and were bruised. Christian is a prince that has entered a sort of 'royal exchange program' to help prevent war by marrying allies. And Eleanora is an orphan that was forced into servitude when her father lost everything and became destitute. Poppy swears that she will never dance again, Christian feels like he is being forced into marriage, and Eleanora is so desperate to change her status that she makes a deal with her godmother that forces these three characters into fighting an evil sorceress so she doesn't end up ruining their lives.

I did like this book, it has an intriguing plot line and lovable characters. It is an interesting take on the Cinderalla story. However, I felt that it started out a little slow and didn't fully captivate me until halfway through the book. The ending seemed a little rushed and didn't give me the closure that I wanted. It even left some unanswered questions in my mind. I would recommend this book as a light, fluffy read.

Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All

I just finished the second book in the 'Ever After High' series by Shannon Hale and honestly, I loved it just as much as the first book. You can read my review of the first book here.