Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom

Excerpt:

Harry Felt Panic beginning to stir. The thought of going back to Spain both excited and appalled him...

1940: after the Spanish Civil War, Madrid lies ruined, its people starving, as Germany continues its relentless march through Europe. Britain now stands alone, while General Franco considers whether to abandon neutrality and enter the war.

Into this uncertain world comes Harry Brett, a traumatized veteran of Dunkirk turned reluctant spy for the British Secret Service. Sent to gain the confidence of old schoolfriend Sandy Forsyth, now a shady Madrid businessman, Harry finds himself involved in a dangerous game - and surrounded by memories.

Meanwhile Sandy's girlfriend, ex-Red Cross nurse Barbara Clare, is engaged on her own secret mission - to find her former lover, Bernie Piper, a passionate Communist in the International Brigades who vanished on the bloody battlefields of the Jarama.

Part thriller, part love story, this is a remarkable tale set against the backdrop of Spain's bloody Civil War and war-torn London. Winter in Madrid follows the fortunes of three young men - formerly at public school together, now set on profoundly opposing courses, and navigating the tumultous world of 1930s Spain with their differing values and political affiliations. But as the Second World War draws near, one is sent to spy on another and the ramifications of a tragic love story will haunt them all. A compelling tale which offers a remarkable sense of place and of history unfolding

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It took a lot of time before I finished this book. I like this kind of novels wherein the time was during war or a period wherein everything seems a mess, not only focusing on someone's life or one family's life. Do you get what I mean?

I like stories such as this because they show that all people have problems, sometimes worse still than the protagonist in the story. I just like it that way. Everything seems more fair.

It's just that this novel was harder for me to understand - the Fascists, the monarchist and the communists then the Falange. It was a bit messy for me to understand compared to "Hornet Flight" by Ken Follett.

It was hard for me to imagine myself to be inside the story. "Hornet Flight" was an easy read for me because the story goes on in my head like a movie or like I was really there in that particular time and place where I was reading but for "Winter in Madrid", it just didn't turn out that way. It was more difficult. I was really just a reader, like I was just a gossip-monger putting in bits and bits of news together to enclose all the important pieces of the story in one book.

The novel is good. I like it but I didn't fall in love with it completely. The excitement I had was only triggered in the last chapters of the book though there were many unpredictable parts that surprised me when I was reading.

All in all, as my rating says... in plain short words, "I liked it".

Little Vampire Women by Lynn Messina

Summary:

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any corpses." 

The dear, sweet March sisters are back, and Marmee has told them to be good little women. Good little vampire women, that is. That's right: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy have grown up since you last read their tale, and now they have (much) longer lives and (much) more ravenous appetites. 

Marmee has taught them well, and so they live by an unprecedented moral code of abstinence ... from human blood. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy must learn to get along with one another, help make society a better place, and avoid the vampire hunters who pose a constant threat to their existence. Plus, Laurie is dying to become a part of the March family, at any cost. Some things never change. 

This horrifying — and hilarious — retelling of a timeless American classic will leave readers craving the bloodthirsty drama on each and every page

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What I think:

I loved the original novel of Louisa May Alcott so when I got this last Christmas and read in the back of the book that it would be hilarious, I expected it to humor me so I read it immediately with excitement leaving the other book I was reading behind. But it let me down.

I expected it would be a rather fun story more so than "Little Women" because I really had fun reading the original version but as I said, it wasn't at all what I had in mind before I read it.

In short, I loved the original version of Louisa May Alcott. Maybe I'm just not into this vampire stuff anymore like I used to be the past few years. And maybe I would've liked it more if I haven't read the "Little Women" first.

This is the first book I had which was rewritten from an original novel and it discouraged me to read another one like maybe Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Wuthering Bites. Maybe I would give this kind of books another chance later, just not now.

Filipino Women Writer's Challenge 2011

I'm adding a new challenge for myself. Anyone who's anyone can also join me if they want. I'm going to read novels/literary works of Filipino Women Writers which I'll be able to find in bookstores or in the library once I go home to the Philippines this summer vacation which is April.

Ten books is my target since I think it's a good idea that since I already love reading books, why shouldn't I try the books written by women from my own country, right?

The Tragic Love of Two Enemies

I just read "The Tragic Love of Two Enemies" by Ihara Saikaku which was translated by EE. Powys Mathers and edited by Patrick Ryan.

Ihara Saikaku was one of 17th century's most illustrious writers. His works are now recongnised for their significance in the development of Japanese fiction literature.

"The Tragic Love of Two Enemies" is short. It depicts the story of Senpatji Akanashi, a samurai, who was commanded by his master to kill his dear friend Shingokei Dizaki and falls in love with the latter's son 14 years after the murder he committed. He found Shingokei's widow and son, Shynosuke, in a village were they both lived unaware of the presence of each other.

When Shingokei's widow realized that Senpatji was her husband's killer, she ordered her son, Shynosuke to avenge Shingokei but he was hesitant because he loved Senpatji dearly. The love affair was known by Shynosuke's mother but she wanted vengeance for her husband's death.

I read the story when I read about it from the post The Reading Life: Japan. The story's link was also provided and can be read online.

The TwentyEleven Challenge

I've found yet another challenge with a specific genre/category of the books provided by the challenger.

The things you need to know:

• Each book can only qualify for one category.
• Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
• Books read from 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2011 are eligible.

And the categories for TwentyEleven are:

1. The categories:
   
   
   1. To Ya or not to YA - as I tend to read more adult fiction than YA, I'll try for two YA.
   2.  With a Twist -  Sub-genres - I'll have to think about this one.
   3.  Hot Off the Presses - read a book published (in your country) in 2011.
   4.  It Wasn't Me - read a book recommended by another blogger.
   5.  Show It Who is Boss! - read a book from your TBR pile.
   6.  Bablefish - read a book that is translated from a language other than your own.
   7.  Will-Power? What Will-Power? - read a book bought new in 2011.
   8.  Mind the Gap - read the last book in a series you've been reading.
   9.  Back in the Day - re-read an old favourite or two.
   0.  Way Back When - read a book that was published before you were born.
   1.  Slim Pickings - read one or two novellas of between 90 and 150 pages.

Click the button on the side bar for the link of the blog if you want to sign up for this exciting and fun challenge.

Starting the Challenge with My Sister

We started the Read To Me Reading Challenge yesterday since my sister got so excited about joining me in a reading challenge. I'm not sure if she's also that into reading but since she insisted we started it immediately so we did. We chose the challenge level of "Watering" which means we must read 36 picture books together this year.

We read 3 yesterday. Yes, three. Did I mention she's excited about the challenge?

Okay, so here were the stories:

1. Snip and Snap and The Billy Goat by George C. Mason
2. The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Robert Browning
3. Atlas Hangs On by Richard Swan

I can't seem to find a picture for the story book "Atlas Hangs On" but I put the link above. 

I asked her to rate them and she rated them 5,3 and 4 respectively. She didn't like the Pied Piper of Hamelin that much because of the ending where the children followed the Pied Piper and left except for one boy who was left so sad because all his playmates had gone. And because the townspeople never saw the children again even if they tried hard to get them back.

Okay, so we have 33 more books to go. It's a long way to the end of the year and I know we'll be hitting our target of 36 books before it. Wish us all Good luck to the challenges we're joining in! :)

E-Book Reading Challenge 2011

I've decided to join this challenge since I've been crazy over e-books right now. Today, I'm halfway through "Earthly Joys" by Philippa  Gregory and have been wanting to finish the book soon and find out what happens in the end. So then, I can start another book.

To know more about this challenge, check out this link: E-Book Challenge 2011

Wish I'd Read That Challenge 2011

Till last year this challenge was hosted by Alaine at Queen of Happy Endings

Alaine passed on this challenge to my blog. Thank you, Alaine!

This challenge is for all those books you wish you'd read. I think I have  a list of more than 200 books I want to read and it increases everyday! I am sure I am not alone , in this case...

These don't have to be books you currently own, you can buy them, borrow them or beg for them. This is a great challenge for getting those TBR piles reduced. So go have a look at what you might read and challenge yourself.

Click the banner above to sign up for the challenge.

Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2011

I'm going to sign up for this one. The challenges I'm joining in are already stacking up. I wish I'll finish most, if not all, of them.
If you also want to sign up for this challenge, click the banner on the left to know more about the challenge.

Off The Shelf Challenge for 2011

Note: This challenge is to read those books you own copies of, but have never got around to reading. If you don't have many that you own, but have a massive TBR shelf, you're welcome to read those ones as long as you don't add new ones. You don't actually need to get rid of your books after you've read them, this is just to read them.

I found this blog and decided to join in since I still have books on my TBR list I have been neglecting so maybe this time, I can actually clean up my list for new ones if I finish. I'm going for "Making a Dint" challenge level wherein I'm suppose to read 30 books leaving 5 books on my TBR list which I'm still planning on finishing before the year ends. Good luck to us participants!

If you want to participate and read more about how the challenge works, just click on the banner above.

Read To Me - Picture Book Reading Challenge

I’ve been in search of a challenging and fun picture book reading challenge and haven’t found exactly the right one as of yet. So I thought why not start one? This will be the first annual Read to Me – A Picture Book Reading Challenge with hopes that it will continue on for years to come.

• The objective of the Read to Me Challenge is to read with the kiddos in your life and/or enjoy picture books in general.
• 
  
• Books must be ones written expressly for children ages 9 and under. Board books, early readers, picture books, etc.
• 
  
• Print or eBook format is acceptable.
• 
  
• Anyone can join. You don’t have to be a blogger, and you don’t have to live in the United States. Open worldwide.
• 
  
• You do not have to have an blog to participate.
• 
  
• You can join at anytime. Deadline to join is November 20, 2011. (not 2010 you still have PLENTY of time to sign up!) The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

Read more: http://www.theresabook.com/read-to-me-picture-book-reading-challenge/#ixzz1BIpny7PR

New Authors Challenge 2011

This is the first time I'm joining this challenge.

The idea behind this is to find new authors that you’ve never tried before.  They can be in your genre of choice or be brave and try something new.  You never know what you’re going to like until you try it.  If you’re looking for some suggestions, you can check out the Author page here at Literary Escapism or the 2009 and 2010 Challenge pages.  With over 1000 reviews posted, I’m sure there will be something there for everyone.

Here are the guidelines:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.
2. Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels.  Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
3. I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors.  It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be.  For me, I’m trying another 50 new authors.  If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop.  Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky.  We all want to know about your new experience.
4. After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky.  Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome

Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop.  Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list.  Introduce us all to whoever you find.  Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

To sign up for the challenge, follow this link:

New Authors Challenge 2011

Own Collection of Books

I've just started having my own collection of books. I have more or less 45 books which I read for my personal reading challenges and for my hobby. I know it's still not that much but if I could earn money through writing contests, I would definitely love to spend some of it on books.

Some of the books I own are from BOOKSALE located at malls in the Philippines. I really love going to this store since even the hard-bound books are so cheap.

The other books I have are from Jarir Bookstore here in Jeddah, KSA since I spent the last 2 years here already. They're pretty expensive but that's because I buy the new-released books like the 4 books of the Twilight Saga, the 2 last hardbound books of Harry Potter, and the Blue Bloods Series. Then there's also Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth and Hornet FLight, the first 2 books of Larsson's series about a girl named Lisbeth Salander etcetera.

I'll provide a widget later for the books I already read in this blog. I hope I can read much more books this year and reach my goals which are all written in my 2011 to-do list, which I'll be posting here in my blogs or in my profile. I'll see to it.

Good luck to us readers/bookworms! Cheers and a late greeting of Happy New Year to all!