The End

Book 35 - A book set in a different country

finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

You may have seen the title with annoyance, then moved onto the author only to close the browser. If you're still with me then I'm going to assume that you're okay with me talking about this series...again. 

I went with dear M and the sister to our nearest and dearest Chapters a couple weeks ago. "I had no intention of buying any books" those famous last words before a book lover enters a book store. Alas, I escaped with only three books and thoughts of many more. This book was one of them. 

Even though you are still with me, I don't pretend to assume that you are still excited about my current book choice. But, really, I had to finish the series. We all knew this was going to happen sooner or later. 

As I was getting low on challenges that would apply for this book, I picked this delightfully easy challenge. Not difficult to achieve on any given day. There are actually few times when I come upon a novel set in Canada. Am I maybe reading the wrong books as a citizen of the Great White North? We'll, come back to that later.

This conclusion to the series was a rather suspenseful one.

We have discussed the basic story line before so I'm sure you know that most of the characters are not human, including our protagonist. She is of superhuman abilities and if I'm being rather honest, annoyingly stubborn and jealous habits. 

The two reoccurring lovers are ever present in this installment and are again faced with problems that threaten to tear them apart forever. Don't worry, they were able to pull through till the end. 

After a battle as big as a cemetery which involved the deaths of a much loved character and a much hated character; all is put to right in the world and we can go home happy. The story ends with a *spoileralert* wedding. I didn't say whose. 

Though I was getting bored of the novel at one point, I was able to reenter into the story to enjoy the intensity that brought on the finale. (See what I did there?)

If you have come this far with me, why not finish the series? I did and look how productive that made my day!

this is t-bear signing off

PS - Don't be afraid of the new design. After all, seasons are changing!

Like Peer Pressure

Book 34 - A classic romance

Persuasion by Jane Austen

When the topic of classic romance is discussed, there is only one author that I think of; Jane Austen. So it is no surprise that I would choose one of her novels for this particular challenge.

For many years now I have been reading and rereading four of Jane's lovely creations. My favourite will always be Pride & Prejudice but I have a rather fondness for Persuasion. As I read Pride & Prejudice most recently, I felt that it would be rather wonderful to mix things up a little. 

If you take the time to sit and read Jane's novels you will start to notice common story lines. Though the characters are all different from book to book, the basic goings on are quite similar.

The story...

Anne Elliot, in her twenty-eighth year is not only unappreciated by her father and older sister, but she is growing older without a husband by her side. Frivolous spending on the part of her father forces the family to let the homestead and move to the south. Not wanting to leave, Anne stays behind with her younger sister who married into a family of young spirits and welcoming hearts.

While with her sister's family-in-law (if that's the correct term) she comes into contact with Captain Wentworth whom she had loved about ten years ago. Don't worry, the attachment was/is mutual.

As per usual, Father Elliot didn't approve when they met many years ago, which is the reason they aren't married already when the story takes place. 

After a few hundred pages of emotional struggles between Anne and Captain Wentworth, they are able to reestablish the never lost love and decide to get married. It only took the whole novel for this to unfold. Typical.

Some say that Jane's stories are hard to read because if the language but I rather adore the way that people talked back then. It's quite pleasing to the ear.

Only two books behind, this is t-bear signing off

A Truly Magical Novel

Book 33 - A popular author's first book

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

"...there will be books written about Harry - every child in our world will know his name!" - Albus Dumbledore

I feel this is a very excellent quote to use to describe such a series of novels, because isn't it true? I dare you to find a person who has never heard of the name Harry Potter. You could do it, but it would be difficult.

As I studied my book shelf for a novel to use for this challenge, I was delighted to have my eyes fall upon this particular tale.  The only problem now is that I would like to continue to read the next 6 books in the series to complete the beautiful story.

I always love rereading a series because there are so many wonderful tidbits of information that you know will mean something once you get to the later novels. This is how I felt traveling through the wonderfulness that is this first novel.

I would take the time to give you a recap of the story but that would be rather unacceptable, in my humble opinion.  Harry Potter is not something that can be paraphrased and then passed along; it must be experienced first hand by the readers themselves.

If you have never read the novels before and decide to take yourself on the lovely journey; please feel free to let my sister know how truly spectacular they are. One of these days I'm going to get her to read them all and enjoy the experience.

BRB, off to pre-order books, this is t-bear signing off

AWOL Woman

Book 32 - A book that scares you

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

AKA - What not to do in a relationship 101

91 - Scary. I suppose some of you who have read the novel are wondering what part of the story would make me scared. Not a BOO! scared but a psychologically afraid for my life.

92 - I sat down to start reading and couldn't stop. There is something about the story line, as insane as it is, that drew me in. I just couldn't stop reading it.

93 - Just as I was getting used to the craziness that surrounds the two main characters, I was hit with a plot twist that changed everything. At least three times this happened. I had so much warning and yet I continued to travel down a doomed path.

94 - I have to admit that I was able to identify with the characters at a few different times during the story. Both main characters had been writers in another life and this writing seemed to creep up again when I least expected it to.

95 - A large part of the psychoticness of the main characters that got to me is that they would pretend to be one person at one point and then completetly changing their personality the next moment. Scary.

96 - Gillian Flynn is an amazing author.

97 - I would definitely read this novel again. Though next time I would be much more prepared for the mental strain.

98 - I'm going to watch the movie and probably hate it. But I'm going to watch it. I'd like to see how those lovely two main characters are portrayed.

99 - There is exactly one thing about me that Oma spends hours stewing over, daily; the fact that at my ripe young age of 21, I do not yet have a boyfriend. This novel did not make me want to go out into the world and seek a boyfriend.

100 - This is the exact type of novel that makes me love and hate an author. The writing style and the story line are perfect works of fiction, but the reality that sits just under the surface is jarring.

101 - The marriage between the two main characters is not what one should strive for with the idea of a healthy realationship in mind. Read this novel if you're confused as to what a healthy relationship looks like, this is not it.

Mani, latte, dfreeze, keeping it real, this is t-bear signing off

Ketchup Time!

Book 31 - A book you started but never finished

The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm edited by Noel Daniel, translated by Matthew P. Price

"Silly Songs with Larry. The part of the show where Larry comes out, and sings a silly song."

You may have noticed that the last few books have trailed one behind the other with little time in between. If we are going to keep with our challenge and show the list who's boss; we will need to read some books that are of little volume and quick reading. I don't regret the two weeks where vacations took hold and I only read one book. With such slacking on my part, you had to have seen this coming. 

But let's not dwell on the past, tis a nasty place to sit and ponder. To the book!

If there is one thing I absolutely hate, it is starting a book and not finishing it. I can't start a book and then put it down and start a new one. That just isn't okay.

So then you may be wondering how I have come to read a book that I started but never finished. 

Well, this isn't a novel. If I hadn't already used the "A book of short stories" this book would have been perfect. This book is comprised of 27 fairy tales all written by the Grimm Brothers, translated from the seventh edition which was written in 1857.

If there is one thing I love about The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm it is how wonderfully they are different from those Disney versions we've all seen. They are, after all, the originals.

Today's parents would have a hard time reading these tales to their children as they are not exactly written for a younger audience. 

These stories are rather morbid, gruesome; not, altogether, pleasant. 

A few months ago I had the pleasure of visiting the cinema, on my own independence, to view the film Into the Woods. I rather enjoyed the fable as it is both musical and fairy tale wrapped into two beautiful hours. The movie is dark and very much Grimm. (See what I did there?) While I was reading the stories in this book I was happy to encounter fairy tales which the movie bad based it's stories off of. These sorts of fairy tales are far more exciting than Disney's butterflies and daisies. 

Though I have happily viewed many a Disney classic in my time, I was very excited to have the opportunity to confront the same tales that I've always loved, but in a wonderfully new way. 

I would not suggest that you take this book to your next daycare read-a-long, but if you have even the slightest respect for literature, pick it up. It's fantastical!

Take a break, for heat exhaustion's sake! this is t-bear signing off

I wished for an LOL.

Book 30 - A funny book

Alice in tumblr-Land by Tim Manley

I found this book in the section in Chapters marked "Humour". I am sad to say that I did not find it as humorous as Junie B. Jones. 

You may be scratching your head a little, maybe staring off into the distance, your thoughts may have traveled somewhere in the vicinity of "then why did she pick this book?" 

Well, because the book is from the humour section and that makes it funny, okay?

I'm sure it is a rather funny book to the correct person. That person is just not me.  

So why did I choose this book? I thought it would be an easy read. I genuinely thought it would make me literally LOL. Alas, I was mistaken. Though I have read the book and therefore must account for it. 

All the while, I'm sitting here thinking I should have bought Ellen DeGeneres' book. The way life happens...it's startlingly annoying sometimes. 

Don't track sand through the house, Ma doesn't like it, this is t-bear signing off

Swell and quite well.

Book 29 - A book from your childhood

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park

You may read the above and laugh at my book selection. If you are a member of my immediate family, you have already done so one of the times that you entered my room over the past week and observed it upon my reading stack. I assure you, this is no laughing matter. 

The Junie B. Jones books led me through my childhood. 

If I had to pick one specific author or book series that created the reader that I am today; I would pick these books. Barbara just has it all together. She really brought her A-game when she wrote the masterpieces that create Junie B. Jones' life story.

To help you understand the awesomeness that is Junie B., I have chosen two sections of this particular book to relate to you.

I must point out that although Junie B. and I share the a love of books and reading, I don't display it as outwardly as she does. If you were inside my head you may view similar opinions, but I keep it together more when I'm in public. 

The first place we walked to is called the Media Centre. My mother calls it a library. It's where the books are. And guess what? Books are my very favourite things in the whole world!

"HEY! THERE'S A JILLION OF THEM IN HERE!" I hollered, feeling very excited, "I THINK I LOVE THIS PLACE!"

The librarian bent down next to me. She said to use my quiet voice.

"YEAH, ONLY GUESS WHAT? RIGHT NOW I JUST LIKE THE KIND OF BOOKS WITH PICTURES. BUT MOTHER SAYS WHEN I GET BIG, I'M GOING TO LIKE THE KIND WITH JUST WORDS. AND ALSO, STEWED TOMATOES."

The boy I can beat up said, "Shhh."

I made a fist at him.

This second excerpt is mainly for Papa on Sunday afternoon. If you or someone you know tend to "rest your eyes", have no fear, that isn't napping. After all, napping is for babies.

I still didn't come out of the closet, though. When you're a good hider, you can't come out for a very, very long time.

I just stayed there all bend up. And I told myself a story. Not an out-loud story. I just told it inside my head. It was called "The Little Hiding Girl."

I made it up. And this is how it went:

Once upon a time there was a little hiding girl. She was in a secret spot where nobody could find her. Except her head was very tight. And her brain was squishing out.

But she still couldn't come out of her spot. Or a smelly yellow monster would get her. And also, some meanies with chocolate milk.

The end.

After that, I rested my eyes.

Resting your eyes is what my grampa does when he watches TV after dinner. Then he snores. And Grandma  Miller says, "Go to bed, Frank."

It's not the same think as a nap, though. 'Cause naps are for babies, that's why.

You don't necessarily need to read these books, (though I do suggest that you do) but if you know a child who just can't seem to find a book that's good enough; please hand them one of Barbara Park's books. She will help them love to read.

Yoga is on the horizon, this is t-bear signing off