Brisingr, Eldest and Eragon by Christopher Paolini. The problem with reading a trilogy is that they all get blended in my mind. I can't really think of just one book, they are all one in my brain. I bought Brisingr when it was realeased but it sat on the shelf for months. I was determined to finish the Inkheart books first, which I eventually did.

Finally I started Eragon again, because you know my brain could never remember the whole story for that long. It is a good thing I started over at the beginning. I had even forgotten Brom! Horror of horrors, he is a very important character in the books. I enjoyed all of the books and can't wait for the next one. However, it is obvious that a young man wrote them. To much fighting and over the top descriptions of the fighting, bleh.

I love the toughness of the characters. Eragon fell into his destiny somewhat accidentally, yet he did a great job with what he had. His cousin was strong and determined to fight to protect family and home. The leader of the Varden was a brilliant politician and made difficult choices when she had to. Anywho, I always think about what I want to act like when I am in a predicament, and emergency or if I found a dragon egg. I would like to be like Eragon, Nasuada and the cousin (Ro...what's his name?) and Katrina. I also loved the dwarf. Fun descriptions of the cities. I even tried singing to some trees to see if I could make a little funiture or something. Hasn't worked yet!
Can't wait for the next book!!
It was also fun to hear the kids talking about Mama's dragon books.

Mary Lincoln, Wife and Widow by Carl Sandburg. In honor of Lincoln's 200th birthday I thought I would research his life a little. I started with this short book about his wife. Well, who knew. She was a hard woman to live with! Her mom died and she was raised by a step-mom. Her mom had six children, I believe, and her step mom had nine children! Only a couple died as babies. I can't imagine. So, Mary Todd made it through that, was well educated, enjoyed parties and teas... fell in love with Abraham Lincoln. They got engaged, then he freaked out a little and so she let him off the hook. A few years later they got back together and got married. I guess it was true love. She would throw fits and they got worse with age, screaming, yelling, throwing hot water out of the window and locking her husband out of the house. But, they loved each other dearly.

As first lady she caused a big scandal because it was war time and she spent huge amounts of money on her clothes (at one point she was $27,000 in debt from clothes and her husband didn't know!) and her home. Apparenty she also was determined that her husband would appoint who she wanted to the cabinet, that also caused quite a bit of fighting. Imagine all of the good Abraham Lincoln did and how he changed our country and the world, even with a crazy wife. That gave me a lot of hope for my poor husband. : ) When her husband was killed she couldn't leave bed for five weeks, during that time many people came through and ransacked the Whitehouse. They stole silver and other items, ripped curtains, destroyed funiture etc. Can you imagine? When she finally left the Whitehouse she removed so many boxes that she was also accused of stealing.

She traveled in Europe with her son then brought him home sick. Soon after he died, the third out of her four sons to die. Then she only went downhill, she wouldn't live with her only son Robert yet she wouldn't let him out of her sight. She was sure that everyone wanted to kill her and she told crazy stories of people torturing her. She also begged for money and asked Congress to pay her what they would have paid Lincoln if he would have lived. Anywho, her own son had to get her declared insane. She spent a couple of years in a mental institution then was able to stay with her sister. After being declared competent again... she actually ended her days sitting in a room of only candlelight. All of the windows darkened, no contact with the outside world. She died at the age of sixty-four. Her doctor was certain she had a cerebral disease and said the post-mortem examination comfirmed it.

So, quite a sad story... and I had no idea.

Inkspell, Cornelia Funke. Besides having such a great last name I also enjoy the way she rights. Things don't always work out perfectly... or the way I thought they would, it kept things exciting and the reader, o sea, me, on the edge of my seat. Although, I often read laying down. Anywho, I would never have the guts to be Meggie, tell you what. But she is a fun character... and you need to know that when you go messing around with other people's stories, or even your own, things are bound to twist and turn in unexpected ways. I was also able to read Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke. I loved the whole series... but I am perfectly happy to stay right here in my own story and never introduce non-native species from another world!

Inkheart, Cornelia Funke. I read this book about three years ago, loved it. It was such a new idea to travel in or out of books, loved ones being trapped in the wrong story. It was fun. Months ago I bought Inkspell, the second book in the trilogy; in December I bought Inkdeath, the final book of the trilogy. I had been trying to reread Inkheart since last August. Craziness. Finally I dug in and re-read the book. Enjoyed it the second time as well. I also love the cover art. The only thing that really bothered me about the book was the introduction of non-native species into our world. Sometimes a lizard or a bird would be read into this world from a book. I found the idea very upsetting. You can't just go around introducing non native species into local environments! Other than that, the book was great.

Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen by Sybil Brinton. This book was written in 1913, the first fan-fiction book written as a sequel to all of Jane Austen's novels. Ana sent me this book quite awhile ago, before I read it I wanted to make sure I knew all of the characters well so I read or re-read all of Jane Austen's novels. It was so much fun! Then I read this great sequel that uses the main characters from every book. I saw it laying by my bed and decided that I needed to read it again. It was even more fun the second time, especially since with my memory everything is new to me. : )

A Trian to Potevka, by Mike Ramsdell. This is our book club book for November. The author lives in Layton and was truly a "spy" in the USSR when it collapsed. This is one experience he had while undercover. It isn't the best written book ever, but it is a fantastic story. Nice and faith building. I am so grateful I live in the USA! Russia has really suffered for years, heart breaking.

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and husband Dean Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale, of no relation. Delightful graphic novel. Shannon Hale always has such strong female characters. Rapunzel isn't always strong, she has her moments of self doubt and weariness, but then she always remembers what she is fighting for. Go Rapunzel. And who doesn't love a striking beauty with red hair and green eyes. Such a pretty girl. The illustrations are great! I kept finding myself wondering who did most of the work on the project, Nathan (illustrator)? Shannon? Dean, the husband, what exactly did he do in all of this? Hmmmm. My kids love the book as well. B read it and the girls like to look through it often. Fun!


Ever by Gail Carson Lavine. Interesting book, of course it was great. I like all of her books that I have read. There are quite a number of gods in the book and I found myself wondering about what I would like to be the god of... there were gods of wind, agriculture, destiny, pottery, dance, weaving... Think about it. Which would you choose? There were two cities in the book. One worshiped many gods and the other worshiped only one god. The God of All. I couldn't help but think that the author was or has been searching to find out if there really is one God, or if man just prey on the desire of others to believe. I wish I could help her out with that. There really is one God, but he is nothing like the god in her book. Heavenly Father is very loving, patient and kind. That should be a relief to her.

Gossamer by Lois Lowry. I like how this lady thinks, Lois Lowry that is. I was once again amazed by her, how she came up with this idea, who knows. Apparently there are little being that give us our dreams... and very bad beings who give us nightmares. This story is about a little dream giver learning the ins and outs of dream giving. It would be the perfect book for a child who had been abused because a little boy plays a role in the book who had a difficult childhood.

You know how some books (I've heard... because I won't read them) go into gory details about horrible things that happened in the life of someone who has been abused. Even hearing about books like that give me a uncomfortable, depressing feeling. This book makes mention of the little boys life, and it was very sad... but the author did it in a way that shows hope, victory and the joy of overcoming. It is all in the "feel" of the book for me, I guess.

Happy Reading!