The India Fan

The India Fan
By Victoria Holt

I love going on trips with Victoria Holt. She always knows what she’s talking about with these old places that she sends her characters to. This time, of course, it is India. During the 1800’s, since this is Victoria Holt. I enjoyed learning more about India, since I don’t know much about the country. And learning more about the peacock feathers, since I didn’t know the symbolism behind them, even though I love them. Her characters are always wonderful (where can I find men like these? They’re in short supply these days!). And, though it may be gruesome, everyone gets what they deserve in the end. I love the twists she throws in the end, especially this one.
9/10

Star Dreams

Star Dreams
By June Flaum Singer

Crazy story! I knew that with the first couple pages, but it just got more and more bizarre as the book went on. Amusing, at times. Insane, at times. Not a book I’ll be reading again. Not a bad book, I enjoyed reading of the sisters exploits (well, most of them!).
7/10

The Hundred Secret Senses

The Hundred Secret Senses
By Amy Tan
080411109X

Amy Tan is a great author with an amazing history to pull from. I liked the intertwining of the two stories, the modern and the old, that finally combine into one. I knew they had to be connected, but I was still shocked. Maybe I shouldn’t have been, maybe it was incredibly obvious! Still… I was surprised. I didn’t like the ending, however. I don’t like not knowing what happens to the characters. And I definitely (not surprisingly) don’t like the state of the narrators relationship with her ex/husband at the end.
7/10

The Day They Came to Arrest the Book

The Day They Came to Arrest the Book
By Nat Hentoff
0440918146

Unbelievably preachy. Interesting topic, don’t get me wrong. But pretty condescending. I guess this book was supposed to be for younger readers, but I think books should stand up no matter what age you read them at, if they’re to be considered good learning books. I’d heard of this book before I bought it, but we didn’t read it at my school. Now I’m glad we read things like Catch-22 instead!
7/10

Bleachers

Bleachers
By John Grisham
0385511612

Incredibly moving. I know nothing about football (and don’t care to), so I glossed over the play-by-plays that sometimes cropped up. Despite that, this was an amazing book to read. My only complaint is how short it was, I wish I had known more about all these characters.
9/10

Lawless

Lawless
By Nora Roberts
0373835922

I love Nora Roberts, her books are just so much fun to read! Her characters are almost always amusing and witty and entertaining. And this one is an historical novel! Perfect! I almost thought she had watched some Dr. Quinn while writing this, but it was written before that TV show came out, so I guess not!
9/10

10 Sure Signs a Movie Character is Doomed

10 Sure Signs a Movie Character is Doomed & other surprising movie lists
By Richard Roeper
078688830X

Funny! Some of the lists are laugh out loud funny. I like this guys sense of humor. And I love the bizarre lists that sometimes crop up! Like the list of movies in which some famous actor cries like a little baby. The list of bad movies made by the cast of Friends. All kinds of odd stuff!
8/10

1,003 Great Things About Teachers

1,003 Great Things About Teachers
1567315070

Cute book. Just a list of “things” but still very cute.
7/10

The Virgin’s Lover

The Virgin’s Lover
By Philippa Gregory
1419327607

Who is this woman??? This is Queen Elizabeth? I certainly hope not, spoiled little brat that she is here. She and Richard have zero chemistry, but he seems to have the biggest hold on her despite that. She’s an absolute moron in many ways. Let’s see… don’t sleep with a married man. Especially if you’re the Queen of freaking ENGLAND. And if you’re trying to get someone else to marry you for political reasons. (Hint: your future husband wants a virgin, not an adulterer.) Elizabeth is a whiny, selfish, stupid girl. She’s nothing like the Elizabeth I’ve been taught about, the strong woman who kept her kingdom together despite being “only” a woman. I’m not sure how historically accurate this is, I hope not at all.
5/10

Die Another Day

Die Another Day
By Raymond Benson
042518963

Great movie! I love James Bond, so I had to read this book. Nicely filled in a lot of little plot sections that couldn’t be covered in the movie. Time restraints are a pain, aren’t they? (Lord of the Rings, anyone?) So I liked this book for filling in the back story and some other little things. My favorite character is Miss Moneypenny, who isn’t really in this book at all. A shame, since she was in the other three Pierce/Bond films quite a bit. Maybe next time, Moneypenny!
8/10

There and Back Again

There and Back Again: An Actor’s Tale
By Sean Astin
0312331460

Wow! Great book! Sean Astin is an amusing guy. Full of self-doubt at times, which he should get over because he’s awesome! I’m glad he played Sam the way he did in Lord of the Rings. It made sense that way, not all hobbits were crazy, bouncing guys! I loved Merry and Pippin, but I like that there was also a “sane” one in the bunch. I think he knows he did the right thing and is using the book as a form of therapy. I loved hearing the behind-the-scenes stories of getting the tattoos, of the parades to celebrate the release of the movie, of the dinners shared by the cast. Sean has a great voice, very amusing to read and almost like a conversation. I can’t remember the last time I’ve given this, but here it is: 10/10

Decked

Decked
By Carol Higgins Clark
0446364703

Good first book for the series that I’ve already read a few of! It would have made more sense to read them in order, I suppose. Ah, well, it’s way too late for that! I love England and I would love to go on a cruise someday soon, so this was a great story in those respects! I didn’t see the plot twists coming, but they made total sense at the end. Very good, fluffy book: 8/10