Our Forever Family: February 2014

Wow. That is all I can say. Wow.

The third book of this trilogy did not disappoint. In fact, it was so good, I almost want to reread the whole series again, for the second time this week.

The first and second of the series...

The whole series was breathtaking, heartbreaking, and gut-wrenching.

A few disjointed thoughts:

1.I stand by my first thoughts about the main character. He is very much like Five. They both think so far outside of the box that they seem a little disconnected to rational thought. And yet, so connected that it is almost painful for them.

2.Oh my heavens. These will never be given away or tossed overboard. They will be reread, year after year.

3.When the third book first arrived, Four opened the package and came outside, casually reading it in front of me as I emptied the car. Taunting me. I shrieked, tossed about threats about reading the next Michael Vey book before him. Four chuckled and put the book down.

Since I finished the story last night, he is now firmly entrenched in reading it. I may have teased him, telling him that all the main characters die by the end. Oh the glare he gave...

4. The Love. This might make Four a little less enamored of certain scenes in the story. He gags and moans every time love is mentioned anywhere. But the author infuses and weaves love into the story. Not really romantic love. Sacrificial love. Afterlife love. Parental love. And then somewhere in there, tucked away, some sharp and delightful glimpses of romantic love. Goodness! This series was so great!

5. I highly recommend this incredible, witty, cunning, clever adventure to just about everyone.

6. This would make an incredible movie. A thriller of great twists and turns.

***

I was cleaning out the garage and I came across a container of books I had bought back when M was here. Things I thought she would like to read. Most of them from the used book market that is so rewarding around here. I sorted through the box, categorized them, and decided to make my way through them to see if they are any good.

The first was a good pirate adventure with a very, very poorly written ending. Off it goes.

The next was a fantastic read, taking place in the French Revolution. I loved it. And it had a very well written ending. So fulfilling. The Pale Assassin went on my bookshelf, next to my Scarlet Pimpernel series.

I have many more to work my way through and hopefully there are more gems amidst the mundane.

***

There is movie coming out that looks like fun from the trailer. I hope it is good.

I started the book last night so I would be ready.

The book is a spinoff of Pride and Prejudice. Uh oh. Within the first chapter, I noticed some major issues.

1. It was well known who Mary and Kitty ended up marrying. Jane Austen was very clear about where she saw them in the future. Kitty marries a clergyman and Mary marries one of her uncle's clerks. (I loved the Anna Elliott series that addresses Jane's direction for these characters.)

However, this author's take ignores Jane's trajectory. All I can say is that it better matter in the end that you changed these major details or I will be very disappointed.

2. Perhaps because I was so spoiled by the layered and lovely direction that Anna Elliott took with the characters of Georgiana Darcy and Colonel FitzWilliam, I am being a bit of a snob with this other author's view. Or could it be that I just think that she got it wrong. By the second chapter, she had assigned characteristics to these characters that I find surprising. You could make a case for where she has taken them. But is seems so flat. Again, it might matter (and there is a part of me that strongly suggests that it will) but it feels so ordinary and mundane.

3. The writing part is very well done, so hopefully it won't be too frustrating to read. I just don't like the details and plans I see coming.

However, if the story really ends up disappointing, then I can still hope for a good movie. After all, I think the movie Austenland is better than the book. You can certainly make the case for the North and South movie being better than the book. Or the elements of Edgerton's twins and birds in the Toby Stephens version of Jane Eyre that are elevating. Or the timing of the book todo in Austen's Northanger Abbey being much improved in the latest movie over the book. (Although, I would have loved to see the book scene at Henry's home put into the movie...)

A girl can dream...

..and read.

Oh what a world we live in.