Jen's Book Den & Literary Review

The Best of Me is another poignant love story by Nicholas Sparks. With some great moments that are emotionally moving, there are also some elements of predictability with this story.

In Oriental, North Carolina we meet Dawson Cole and Amanda Collier. These two are an unlikely couple being from different classes. Dawson is linked to the violence of an infamous local family; while Amanda has high aspirations of going to a university to further her studies. The two fall in love with each other in their senior year of high school. Due to several circumstances, their relationship comes to end and each of them moves on with their lives along separate paths. Many years later, 25 years later to be exact, they reunite in Oriental for the funeral of their mutual friend Tuck Hostetler. Amanda is now married and the mother of four children. Tuck has left last wishes for Dawson and Amanda to carry out. As they do, they find out things they never knew about their friend, and come face to face with the choices they have made in their lives. Sparks is always skillful at putting forth strong romances. However, this romance has some violence that goes with it. It is obvious as the story progresses, where Sparks is going with the conclusion.

There are many heartrending moments throughout this love story as well as a sweet sentiment that can bring tears to the reader, making The Best of Me worth a read.

Dark Shadows was a gothic cult television soap opera series that aired from 1966-1971.  This gothic horror tale initially appeared as part of The Original Series Story Digest written by D.J. Arneson, and entitled “Interrupted Voyage”.  I decided to review this new original graphic novel by D.J. Arneson with illustrations by the original Dark Shadows comic book artist Joe Certa, in anticipation for Tim Burton’s big screen release of Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp starring as Barnabas Collins.

This book presents a complete extended story well over forty illustrations.  In this story we find the infamous Angelique casting Barnabas back in time to Salem in the 17th century.  The artwork in this book was digitally colored, giving a vibrant and unprecedented display of flawless imagery.  Additionally this volume includes an extensive photo supplement.  For any sci-fi, paranormal, gothic-horror, graphic novel fan this is certainly a collectible edition you would want to include in you library.

Disclosure: I received this ebook free from the publisher through NetGalley . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

OBSIDIAN by: Jennifer Armentrout
Publication Date: April 10, 2012
Starting over sucks.When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.And then he opened his mouth.Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens. The hot alien living next door marks me.You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Synopsis:  The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan–an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole.  The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers.  Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind.   It’s a race against time.  The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

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When I first started reading Everneath, I did not realize that it was a variation of ancient Greek mythology. Loosely based on the myths of Hades/Persephone and Orpheus/Eurydice, Brodi Ashton does an amazing job putting an interesting twist on these stories in her debut novel.

Nikki is a girl who has experienced heartache and sorrow, causing her to be drawn into the underworld of Everneath, where her emotions of sadness and overwhelming despair are fuel for the immortals. She then returns to her old life, but does not have long before Everneath claims her for eternity, so she seeks redemption in her old world before being banished to Everneath forever. She yearns to reunite and reconnect with her boyfriend Jack who she loves; however, Cole, an immortal from Everneath, has followed her to the Surface, seeking to claim her as his own and return with her to Everneath. Time is running out, and she has to decide whether to let her old relationship with Jack just slip away or return to Everneath as Cole’s queen. As the story progresses, we learn about Nikki, why she felt it was so important to get back to the Surface and try to make things right, and we learn about why she relates to Cole and feels enticed by him. Ashton’s exceptional retelling of ancient Greek mythology has characterizations that are well developed, the story flows easily and there is a sense of mysteriousness as well, which makes for a fascinating read.

Mentors, Muses & Monsters: 30 writers on the people who changed their lives is an inspiring collection of essays edited by Elizabeth Benedict. Written by some of the most brilliant literary figures today, such as Jonathan Safran Foer, Anita Shreve and Jane Smiley, they discuss the topics of mentorship and literary influence, as well as their personal growth and development as writers.

Foer for instance, discusses how he met an influential poet in Israel, Yehuda Amichai, how he subsequently came into contact with him again, and how at these specific periods of time in his life it greatly influenced his thoughts, directly affecting him as a writer. Anita Shreve speaks of many different writers, what she appreciated about their talents and how they influenced and affected her growth as a novelist. From Edith Wharton’s to John Updike, and Ian McEwan and Alice McDermott, Shreve discusses the many ways in which she learned from other works of literature. Furthermore, she elaborates on how her miscellaneous journalism jobs taught her valuable lessons. “I learned how to see the shape of a story…”

The various authors who had undertaken this journey to reminisce about their “mentors” or “muses” have written exceptional short essays, some of which are really outstanding. It is always interesting to read about the influences that make a person go down a particular path, and with these 30 writers, it is a most interesting journey and a great compilation of essays for the literature lover.

Jodi Picoult fans certainly will not be disappointed with her latest novel Lone Wolf.

Lone Wolf tells the story of Lucas Warren, a divorced wolf biologist who has dedicated most of his life to studying wolves. Luke has lost of sight of the needs of his family and gave up everything to live among the wolf pack. When he and his daughter Cara are involved in a serious motor vehicle accident, he is left fighting for his life on a ventilator. Cara’s estranged brother Edward is summoned to return home after several years, and is the only legal next of kin to Luke. Things become complicated as Cara and Edward have differing opinions as to Luke’s final wishes, and a legal battle ensues. Secrets are revealed and the family is on the verge of being torn apart. Picoult masterfully demonstrates her talent. The characters are well developed. The reader is drawn into each of their lives, and can feel nothing but empathy for each of them. Picoult’s in-depth research on wolves and their behavior is well expressed and articulated beautifully throughout the story as we learn about them from Luke’s perspective. Her research on traumatic brain injuries, the legal issues involved regarding life support and organ donation is also vital to her story, making her characters true-to-life.

An interesting look at animal behavior, and a touching novel that is certain to be well worth the read.

A copy of this book was made available to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

CLASSICS CHALLENGE IS HOSTED BY NOVEMBER’S AUTUMN.BLOGSPOT.COM

MARCH PROMPT:  SETTING:

To clarify how this will work: I’ll post various questions, don’t feel obliged to answer all of them. Participants have the full month to post and share their answers.

How has the author introduced the setting? What does it tell you about the character? about the time period? What is the mood of the setting?

Level 2
How do you envision it? Find a few images or describe it. Do you feel the setting is right? or was it a weak point of the author?

Level 3
If this particular setting was changed how would it affect the course of the story?

Silas Marner is a definite read for anyone enjoys classic literature.  George Eliot masterfully writes with fervor, this beautiful story of a weaver, who is innocently accused of a theft.  Silas subsequently leaves his home in Northern England for the fictitious village of Raveloe.  The setting of the story is imperative.  Silas is introduced to the reader in a slum village.  After being falsely accused, he almost puts himself in exile in a reclusive village in what most people consider more of the Midlands of England.  Silas is a loom weaver throughout most of the story and it is a great metaphor the struggle he faces after being unfairly accused.

The village of Raveloe is more secluded and almost the polar opposite of where he originated.  As he works hard weaving, the story unfolds.  Silas is now a man who hoards his money, and a miser.  We later come learn of additional characters that certainly help disclose more information about the life of Silas.  After Silas becomes the victim of a crime, and his money is stolen, a young innocent girl appears on his doorstep.  Her role in the life of Silas Marner and the rest of story is almost fairy tale like.  This is the first story I have read by Eliot, and was most impressed at the skill she exhibits in her writing.   At times is it lyrical and poetic, simply beautiful!  In the end Silas learns how to love again, and becomes a good father as the goodness he once possessed is brought back to him through the adoption of this young girl.

Silas begins in a slum village, a good man, engaged with a future to look forward to, and then after being falsely accused of a crime he leaves this village for a reclusive village which is more suburban in its atmosphere.  However, in this beautiful new secluded village, Silas changes and becomes a miser and hoarder.  After much toil, he returns to his good-natured self that he always was.   Eliot uses the setting to contrast his personality and it has a great effect on the story as a whole.

(From Goodreads.com) Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

I love the concept of the story.  Can’t wait to read to this one!