Rose in Bloom

I was so excited when I got Rose in Bloom from the library; but somehow, it wasn't what I had expected. The charm had gone out of it for me. Now re-reading Eight Cousins (its prequel) was so much fun. I loved reading about Rose's developing relationships with her newly found relatives in that book, but somehow, Rose in Bloom was much too slow paced for me. I knew what was to come and I felt the it was dragged on a bit ( I know this is probably the effect of re-reading books ).

Rose has come back from a trip to Europe with her Uncle. Her seven cousins eagerly await her with something more than simply friendship. Over the years that we haven't seen Rose, she has become a woman; her cousins see her with new eyes and some hearts - or just one heart? - beat faster. Romance is in the air and soon the matchmaking begins. The aunts vie for her attention and favors, all wanting their son to be the one who wins the heiress. But do they love her for her? or is it her fortune that tempts them? By this time, Rose knows her aunts - and her cousins - well. Will her Uncle's experiment in training her to be a good woman become a success? Only time will tell.

Rose, once back with her cousins, begins again to use her influence towards doing good. Prince Charlie has lived up to his name and become the prince that he was destined to be - will he be the one who wins Rose? The cousins think so, and with no one else vying for her attention, Rose begins to think so as well. But Charlie is not the boy that she left behind; he has gotten into a bad set and is fast moving towards destruction. Can she save him before he falls over the edge? Will the book end in a happily ever after for Charlie and Rose?

Anne's House of Dreams

L. M. Montgomery's most beloved creation Anne. I can't say much that hasn't already been said. I love Anne and aspire to be like her; dream like her; love like her; live like her. She has always been one of the most powerful figures in literature for me due to her joyous nature and ever optimistic outlook on life.

Anne's House of Dreams, the fifth novel in The Anne Series, follows Anne on her journey into matrimony and the responsibilities that come with it.. After her marriage, Anne and Gilbert move to Four Winds Point where Gilbert is to take over the practice of his Uncle. Here Anne and Gilbert set up their 'house of dreams'; a place near the sea shore imbued with its mystery and charm. A new place means new 'kindred spirits' and wherever Anne goes, she is sure to attract many. The first of these is an old sailor by the name of Captain Jim.

"The old captain held out sinewy hand to Anne; they smiled at each other and were friends from that moment. Kindred spirit flashed recognition to kindred spirit."

Next we are introduced to Miss Cornelia Bryant. An inveterate man-hater who can never find anything good to say about any man. Somewhat odd (like the Mr. Harrison of previous novels) she is definitely a kindred spirit - or of the race that know Joseph as she calls it. Anne and her new home have begun to grow into a new and dear family.

What about a romance? Well, to start you off, here is one of Montgomery's flawless descriptions which hints at romance to come....

"The girl of the golden hair and sea-blue eyes was sitting on a boulder of the headland, half-hidden by a jutting rock ....... She was bareheaded, and her splendid hair, more than ever like Browning's "gorgeous snake," was bound about her head with a crimson ribbon. She wore a dress of some dark material, very plainly made; but swathed about her waist, outlining its fine curves, was a vivid girdle of red silk. Her hands, clasped over her knee, were brown and somewhat work-hardened; but the skin of her throat and cheeks was as white as cream. A flying gleam of sunset broke through a low-lying western cloud and fell across her hair. For a moment she seemed the spirit of the sea personified -- all its mystery, all its passion, all its elusive charm."

I love quoting Montgomery. Love it.

The novel has its fair share of romance, happy moments, tragedy and laughter. Be ready to shed a few tears and have a few laughs. Pick up a cup of steaming cocoa, wrap yourself in a warm blanket, and open up Anne's House of Dreams. Enjoy.

Eight Cousins

Eight Cousins, along with its sequel Rose in Bloom, is one of my favorite books by Louisa May Alcott. The depiction of family life and hope that is so pervasive in Alcott's novels doesn't fail one here. That one can always change, be better, be healthier and that love can do wonders is the message in most of her stories. I know that whenever I read her novels, despite the somewhat exaggerated goodness, I too see a better world through her eyes.

Eight Cousins centers around Rose; a young, recently orphaned girl who is thrust into a new world with relatives she barely knows. With the fear of a new guardian and seven new cousins, all boys, whom she has never met, Rose has grown to be constantly ill and tired. Will the arrival of the mysterious guardian and the companionship of her cousins help her heal? Those who have read a novel by Alcott must already know the answer. The novel promises a fun voyage through the ups and downs, surprises, and magic of Rose's new family life.........A MUST READ!

Cotillion

So, I've been searching and searching for this book for months in all the old book stores and two days ago, I find it! Cotillion is my all time favorite Georgette Heyer book, and by all time I mean ALL TIME. I love the book, I love the characters, and most of all, I love the ending.

Kitty Charing has lived a secluded life in the country with eccentric Mr. Penicuik - a man who has adopted her as his daughter. When her miserly guardian comes up with a plan to marry her off to one of her so-called cousins (Hugh, Dolphinton, Freddy and Jack) and bestow his inheritance upon the couple, Kitty decides to be a little adventurous. She is expecting four proposals, but she wants only one........

Piqued at the non-arrival of her childhood-hero Kitty quickly plans and forces another into a sham engagement. Once away from the country, it isn't long before she adapts herself to the more modern London; her improved style and looks are noticed by more than one...........has she accomplished what she wanted?

Cotillion is lighter and so much sweeter than Heyer's other books. The characters seem sweet and charming, yet realistic; simple and so refreshing. There are the normal amount of absurd characters, likable characters, clever characters, and unscrupulous characters and you always manage to fall in love with the ones Heyer intended.

My Life Through Books

I can't remember a time when I wasn't reading. I've always been a book fan be it The Nancy Drew Files or the Babysitter's Club. It was my big sister who introduced me to the world of books. She read constantly, but her passion ran more towards Sweet Valley High and Fear Street. I was somewhat of a 'scared-y-cat' when I was little so I read the Goosebumps series with trepidation. The Nancy Drew Files on the other hand were my constant passion. I recall even now how thrilled I would be over the ups and downs between Ned and Nancy's relationship, and the series overlapping with the Hardy Boys (I'm a little hazy on the names). I used to LOVE Nancy Drew and from her books my interest in mystery and detective novels grew. That's when I moved on to Agatha Christie. My mother had read her in her childhood and showed me the best among Agatha Christie's novels. I remember buying Murder on the Orient Express from an old book store in Rancho Cucamonga ( I was terrified of the cats in the shop!). Inevitably, I went through all her books and now I miss the suspense of 'everybody has a motive' in her books.


As I grew older, I remember sneaking in to my sister's collection of books and opening them at random snatching at whatever I could. It was in this way that I began Gone With the Wind. I used to wake up early in the morning, when everyone was still in bed, and read by the light from the window. I was absolutely obsessed and could not put it down until it was finished. I re-read the book many times and it is now worn with age, but my sister and I wouldn't sell it for the world. That's how I like books: with a history behind them. My sister tells me the story of how she brought it at a library sale in Upland after she had heard her English teacher mention it.

It was around this time, when I was twelve years old, that my sister recommended I read Anne of Green Gables. My sister had a great English teacher who kept a huge collection of books and from whom she borrowed. Because of her, I picked up books like An Old Fashioned Girl, and Anne of Green Gables. It is here that I found my true niche. I have never been able to find a replacement for L. M. Montgomery. It's something all book lovers have to go through: the point when you've read all the books by your favorite author.

Once you've started reading, you're hooked for life. My next venture into great 'bookdom' was with The Clan of the Cave Bear. It is a book I can never forget. The idea that a book about the prehistoric era can actually be interesting was astonishing to me. I was in the phase when romance and fantasy were the only things that appealed to me (still am!), and then to open a book that had no romance and nothing in familiar with my surroundings was amazing in itself. But the book managed to be interesting even without romance! The smallest details in the book were eye catching. I remember being fascinated by Ayla's quick and responsive brain when her mentor Creb was teaching her to count. The gap between the two civilizations is shown so well.

A couple of years ago, someone recommended I read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I fell in love with her; started reading more; have never stopped. When I read The King's General, I knew I had discovered another great book. The story never fails to move me. Each time I read it, it just gets better. The unconventional romance appealed to the romance lover in me (as did the civil war setting!) but the writing style was something else. My first taste of Daphne was with Rebecca, and I was instantly sucked in to the peculiar Daphne world of Manderley!The suspense, the eerie atmosphere is a part of the Daphne du Maurier package and she never fails to satisfy.

Well, what else? I've been reading books all my life and the above mentioned books are just a small part of my entire reading. In recent years, I've enjoyed The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. The tackling of social issues is always moving. Being a romance fiction enthusiast, I'm not such a great fan of social novels, but The Kite Runner is really an eye opener into the Afghani society and of human weaknesses in general. It's an emotional book and one that I cried a lot over. I would recommend it to all book lovers, especially those interested in reading about different cultures.

I can't talk about all the books I've read. That would take too long and I doubt anyone could read the whole post. But for all those first time readers out there who want a good recommendation, any and all of these books would be a great first read. The world of books is a great one, and until you've found your greatest book, just keep on reading!