The Help

Like most people when a book is being turned into a movie I must read the book before I see the movie, it just makes sense to me. And since this book has been referenced as being the next To Kill A Mockingbird and slated to be a blockbuster film this summer I figured I should check out what all the hubbub was about. I was not disappointed nor will you be.

Charmed Life

After reading Diana Wynne Jones' Howl Series I just needed more, I loved those books. My friend Allison suggested I read her Chrestomanci Series of which Charmed Life is the first book. Conveniently enough as she suggested it she handed it to me. Parallel worlds, 9 lives, belongings that scream where they belong to if removed, and much much more fun await you in this magical book.

Dragon's Oath

If you are a fan of the House of Night series by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast then you will enjoy the novella Dragon's Oath. It gives the back story of one of the vampyre teachers featured in the series, Dragon Lankford; how he became of a vampyre, how he met his love, etc. So if you are look for an extremely quick and easy read (also have read the series and need a gap filler before the next installment comes out) then pick this up and give it a go.

PC Cast - House of Night

Malled

Have you ever worked in retail before? Or any minimum wage job for that matter? Did you know that the turnover rate of staff at retailers across North America is, on average, 100% each year? Caitlin Kelly is not afraid to talk about what life is like behind the counter (or "cash wrap") in her semi-biographical book Malled. At times comical and at others enraging this look at minimum wage work brings vindication to those of us who have been there and opens the eyes of those who haven't.

Leviathan Series

 
Recently I have delved into the realm of steampunk and when my friend Allison suggested this series for me to read I pounced. I gobbled up Leviathan and Behemoth and am eager to read the finale of the trilogy Goliath when it comes out this September. If you are like me and enjoy retellings of history then you will enjoy this interesting slant on the events of WWI.

Lost

I am a big fan of Gregory Maguire, I've read most of his books and cannot wait for his final installment to the Wicked series to come out this fall. While I was waiting I thought I'd fill the time with one of his books that I haven't read: Lost. Needless to say I think I became substantially more superstitious after reading this book and may have jumped out of my skin every time I heard a creak in the floor. With the ghosts of Ebenezer Scrooge and Jack the Ripper potentially haunting our protagonist Winnie while she attempts to write a novel which may not be completely fiction I saw how forbidden love and the inability to have a child can shape a woman's life.

Gregory Maguire

Fairy Tales

This collection of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen was recently translated by Tiina Nunnally from the original Danish texts. I was thrilled to finally reread some of my childhood favourites such as Thumbelina and the Steadfast Tin Soldier undiluted by translations which strove to make them more "child friendly".