2008 TBR Challenge Completed

I am going to list 12 books and 12 alternates.

I was able to finish 9 'official' reads and 4 'alternate' reads for a total of 13 books!

12 Official Reads

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix
A True and Faithful Narrative by Katherine Sturevant
Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
White Lilacs by Carolyn Meyer
Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett
A Little Princess by Frances Burnett

Alternates

• A Drowned Maiden’s Hair by Gennifer Choldenko
• A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
• Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
• Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
• The Once and Future King by T.H. White
• 101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith
• Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally
• Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
• David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
• Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston
• Jonah’s Gourd Vine by Zora Neale Hurston
• Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

A Drowned Maiden's Hair

Schlitz, Laura Amy. 2006. A Drowned Maiden's Hair.

<em>On the morning of the best day of her life, Maud Flynn was locked in the outhouse singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."</em>

What a first line! It continues, "She was locked in because she was being punished. The Barbary Asylum for Female Orphans was overcrowded; every room in the wide brick building was in use. There were very few places where one could imprison a child who had misbehaved. The outhouse was one such place, and very suitable for the purpose, because the children hated it." That says something doesn't it. Sets the tone, I mean. This is one of those orphan stories. We learn on the next page that there are two women coming, the Misses Hawthorne, who are looking to adopt a cute, well-behaved child. Maud as an independent free-thinker, and as an eleven year old clearly isn't the girl for them, right? The powers that be know that no one would ever voluntarily take Maud off their hands. But they weren't reckoning on the Misses Hawthorne being quite the way they were either.

It is Maud--the loud, singing, often-rebellious, Maud--that the Misses Hawthorne--especially Hyacinth are drawn to that day. It is Maud that is the girl for them. Maud is ecstatic. She's wanted. She's really and truly wanted. She'll have a home, a real home. A home with three guardians, three protectors. It's her dream come true.

But Maud realizes slowly that the dream isn't quite a good one as she'd hoped. There is something not quite right, something secret, something mysterious about the whole affair, the whole ordeal. Maud won't be kept in the dark for long....

Maud is quite a heroine. You can't help but enjoy spending time with her. And I thoroughly enjoyed A Drowned Maiden's Hair. It may not be for everyone. I could imagine it not sitting so well with some types--those that feel spiritualism is not appropriate for children's literature even if these so-called mediums are phonies and no ghosts actually appear. It's an emotional story--a compelling journey of one girl's quest for love, acceptance, and home--with a satisfying conclusion.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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A Countess Below Stairs

Ibbotson, Eva. 1997. (2007?) A Countess Below Stairs.

This one is a fun one. One that has been in my TBR pile for quite a while. Probably since January or February 2007 when I saw it reviewed on one of my favorite blogs. Our heroine, Anna, was born a countess in Russia. But World War I and Russia's own Bolshevik Revolution, changes her destiny (if you want to be dramatic) or her station in life (if you don't). Anna flees along with most of her family (minus her poor father who didn't survive) to England. There Anna finds employment as a maid though it is apparent to all whom she encounters that she was not born for that life, her manners, her mannerisms, the way she carries herself speak of class and grace. The family for whom she is working has a son, Rupert, who is newly home from the war. He brings with him his future wife--a truly appalling woman named Muriel. But try as he may, Rupert can't help but notice how extraordinary and beautiful this new servant is.

If you love historical romance, then you'll want to make time for A Countess Below Stairs. A bit predictable? Maybe. But that's not a bad thing. It makes for a nice indulgently satisfying read. There were so many things I enjoyed about this one.

This review is also too good to be missed.

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A Year Down Yonder

Peck, Richard. 2000. A Year Down Yonder.
Review by Becky Laney.

A Year Down Yonder is the sequel to A Long Way From Chicago. However, this is not a novel in stories. Nor is it narrated by Joey Dowdel. No, A Year Down Yonder is the story of Mary Alice, the little sister that is almost-but-not-quite all grown up. The year is 1937. The Depression is making life difficult both in urban and rural areas. It is economic necessity which prompts Mary Alice's parents to send their daughter away. (Joey is sent away also, but not with Mary Alice.) Mary Alice is being sent to live with the vivacious, one-of-a-kind, sometimes embarrassing Grandma Dowdel. How will this "city" girl fit in with these country bumpkins? Will they accept her? welcome her? Not if the Burdicks have their way!

A Year Down Yonder is a treat. It's rich in detail, rich in humor, rich in heart and humanity. The characters, the place all come alive. Richard Peck is a pro when it comes to capturing the good, the bad, the ugly, and the laughable. Mary Alice does have a few adjustments to make, but this book captures her unforgettable journey, her coming-of-age in small town America.

If you haven't read A Long Way From Chicago, this book does stand alone. In case you're wondering. But I would recommend reading both books. Both books are such a joy, a treat, a delight.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Sweet Far Thing

Bray, Libba. 2007. The Sweet Far Thing.

The Sweet Far Thing concludes the trilogy following Gemma Doyle and her quests in and out of the realms. (The first being A Great and Terrible Beauty which I read at least six months or so before I started blogging so there's no record of what I thought. And the second being Rebel Angels which I reviewed last winter/spring.) The book is heavy both in content and weight. 819 pages. Most of them of seventeen-year-old Gemma confused about who she is and what she wants. At the end of Rebel Angels, Gemma bound the magic of the realms to herself. She had promised several different peoples or tribes that she would later share the magic and make peace throughout the realms; she would issue in a new era of peace and unity. The close of Rebel Angels also saw the death of Circe. (or did it???)

The Sweet Far Thing picks up three months later. It is spring. Felicity and Gemma are getting ready to make their debut in society. And Ann, poor Ann, is still going to be a governess. She's still being treated horribly by the other girls at Spence Academy. Mrs. Nightwing is planning a big masked ball in honor of the graduating class--the class of which Gemma and Felicity and Ann are a part. The other buzz around campus is the ongoing work to complete the East Wing. Mrs. Nightwing is determined that the East Wing which was originally destroyed by fire twenty-five years before, needs to be rebuilt in order for Spence to regain its honor and prestige. But there are many people who fear what will happen when the East Wing is rebuilt. They're afraid of what might become unsealed and unburied. The Gypsies. Mother Elena especially is full of warnings. Most of which go unheeded. But such is the way with those that prophesy foreshadowing.

Getting back to Gemma. Gemma was having an identity crisis of sorts in Rebel Angels. She feared that no one really loved her for her. That her father and grandmother and brother all have their own "idea" of who she is. An idea that is far from reality. And she's worried that her friends just love her, just include her because of her magic, because of her power. She was tempted for a while by a boy, Simon, but then felt he didn't love her for her, know her for her either.

This quote is from Rebel Angels:

To Felicity and Ann, I’m a means into the realms.
To Grandmama, I am something to be molded into shape.
To Tom, I am a sister to be endured.
To Father, I am a good girl, always one step away from disappointing him.
To Simon, I’m a mystery.
To Kartik, I am a task he must master.
My refelection stares back at me, waiting for an introduction. Hello, girl in the mirror. You are Gemma Doyle. And I’ve no idea who you really are. (396-397)

Back to Sweet Far Thing. So Gemma is still learning who she is, what she wants, what she needs, and even learning what she fears most. When the book opens, the reader learns that Gemma has not been able to regain access to the realms. She can no longer conjure up the white door. She has seemingly lost her power. Also of note, the dreams and visions have stopped for the most part. But with 819 pages, the reader knows this powerlessness won't last long. Gemma will find a way; she always finds a way to get what she wants or what she thinks she wants.

There is mystery, confusion, epic battles between good and evil, trickery, betrayal, secrets, lies, love and lost love, fear and hope. There is family drama and school drama. And drama between friends as boundaries are pushed or nudged and little lies are told. Fans of the series will no doubt be anxious to read this saga through to its bittersweet conclusion. (I read it in two days.) But I'm unable to predict how they'll feel about the ending. I know my response. (Though I won't go there here in this post.) But how will fans react?

2008 TBR Challenge

You can now sign up for the 2008 TBR Challenge. The challenge asks that you list 12 books on your TBR list. And, of course, gives you the option of creating alternates for your list as well. The challenge lasts all of 2008. I am going to list 12 books and 36 alternates.

12 Official Reads

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix
A True and Faithful Narrative by Katherine Sturevant
Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
White Lilacs by Carolyn Meyer
Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett
A Little Princess by Frances Burnett

Alternates

• A Drowned Maiden's Hair by Gennifer Choldenko
• A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
• Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
• Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
• The Once and Future King by T.H. White
• 101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith
• Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
• Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
• David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
• Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston
• Jonah's Gourd Vine by Zora Neale Hurston
• Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan