Ajax by Sophocles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dear pretties,

Who is this Sophocles? What was this about? These were the questions I asked myself while I was reading. I had Sophocles mixed up with Socrates from Plato's The Republic.
This play. This play...

This makes 13 Reasons Why, seem like a walk in the park. I honestly had never even pondered the ramifications. This brought suicide into perspective in a very jarring and callous manner. Just so you know, if you haven't read the The Illiad by Homer; you will be lost. So go read that first!
Lots of Love,
shizuku


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Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dear younger pretties and Veterans' family members,

This was a wonderful story! A lot to learn and consider. I would recommend that if you have a family member coming home after war and subsequent PTSD diagnosis, that this story can be a useful tool to getting to know this mental illness better. Firstly for children, and secondly for the Veterans, themselves. It would also be helpful as counciling material.

Lots of Love,
shizuku

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Scourged by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dear Mr. Hearne,
Is this the end? No! I just can't accept that! There must be more sausages with gravy.

Lots of love,
shizuku

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The Constitution of the United States of America by Founding Fathers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dear patriots,

I first read this in elementary school and didn't grasp it's importance to everything we recognize as America. Then again in high school, to put it mildly, I had a terrible teacher. He was a baseball coach and thought that the perfect teaching style was to tell all students to shut up, sit down, ask no questions, and give the students a packet of worksheets to be turned in at the end of the week. *(All the while student aids graded the packets. He did no teaching, just collected a check!)
I paid attention when I entered college for the second time while taking PSC100 & HY102. My professors made the classes interesting, and I realized that there was a strong passion from our Founding Fathers. Especially James Madison, and the story of the Constitutional Convention itself.
If you are deciding to pursue a degree or minor in Political Science, get to know the U.S. Constitution down to the letter. I would also recommend that you hunt down the Federalist Papers and the collected anti-Federalist papers which are arguments for and against the ratification of the Constitution. I also believe that the best amendments were 1st, 13th, & 19th; though like the some of the Supreme Court justices,  Iagree that it is a living document, yet argue it would be possible to now update to where the 3/5 compromise permanently excluded, with a proper amendment or better yet just drop the subject altogether...
Lots of love pretties,
shizuku


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Persuasion by Jane Austen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To all you classic pretties,

To me, I enjoyed this. It wasn't as humorous as Pride and Prejudice, but I found it more mature and romantic. Though there were many moments that I just wanted to shake Anne.


I had my husband look up how much 25,000 pounds would be equivalent to today's economy; closest he could come up with would be around 1.3 million. That, my pretties, blew my fu#%&ng mind! This country girl could live for a lifetime and longer. Was I speaking about myself or Anne, who knows?

This really focused on the Navel aspect of Britannia, my dad and grandfather were Navy men as well, and I identified with some of the language from the characters little conversation.
There was also a wonderful absence of the clergy and supporting details in this book, which now reflecting on it more seems out of character in Austin's writings. It seems that Persuasion had a lot of room to have been fleshed out, but sadly Austin passed away while writing.

Who knew that she would still be breaking hearts 200 years later? I am now officially done with Jane Austin, unless college makes me read it again.(Finally, getting to go back to school. HOO-Ray! I wonder if 8 years of self-education will be able make it easier to take on that English and History major?) There have been lots of laughs and many tears, but I will never regret the day I first read her works, because I wanted to. Goodbye Jane.
Lots of love,
shizuku

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“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope...I have loved none but you.”

“My idea of good company...is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.' 'You are mistaken,' said he gently, 'that is not good company, that is the best.”

“I walk: I prefer walking.”

Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh pretties,

This book is utterly God Damned heartbreaking. There are so many instances of why I think Religion poisons Everything! The pages ripped at my little black soul, and I wept. If you are a fan of Romeo & Juliet, then this is the book for you! One of the most beautifully written tragedies I have ever read, and that's amazing since I'm nearing 4,200 books in my lifetime. I didn't sleep at all for two days after reading this. It threw me into major fits of anxiety and depression, flip floping from one to another.
See you next time.
Lots of love,
shizuku



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“In the ill-judged execution of the well-judged plan of things the call seldom produces the comer, the man to love rarely coincides with the hour for loving. Nature does not often say "See!" to her poor creature at a time when seeing can lead to happy doing; or reply "Here!" to a body's cry of "Where?" till the hide-and-seek has become an irksome, outworn game. We may wonder whether at the acme and summit of the human progress these anachronisms will be corrected by a finer intuition, a close interaction of the social machinery than that which now jolts us round and along; but such completeness is not to be prophesied, or even conceived as possible. Enough that in the present case, as in millions, it was not the two halves of a perfect whole that confronted each other at the perfect moment; a missing counterpart wandered independently about the earth waiting in crass obtuseness till the late time came. Out of which maladroit delay sprang anxieties,disappointments, shocks, catastrophes, and passing-strange destinies.”

“Sometimes I feel I don't want to know anything more about [history] than I know already. [...] Because what's the use of learning that I am one of a long row only--finding out that there is set down in some old book somebody just like me, and to know that I shall only act her part; making me sad, that's all. The best is not to remember that your nature and you past doings have been kist like thousands' and thousands', and that your coming life and doings'll be like thousands' and thousands'. [...] I shouldn't mind learning why--why the sun do shine on the just and the unjust alike, [...] but that's what books will not tell me.”

“Let truth be told - women do as a rule live through such humiliations, and regain their spirits, and again look about them with an interested eye. While there's life there's hope is a connviction not so entirely unknown to the "betrayed" as some amiable theorists would have us believe.”

“Never in her life – she could swear it from the bottom of her soul – had she ever intended to do wrong; yet these hard judgments had come. Whatever her sins, they were not sins of intention, but of inadvertence, and why should she have been punished so persistently?”

“A strong woman who recklessly throws away her strength, she is worse than a weak woman who has never had any strength to throw away.”

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dear Pretties,

Wow what a start this book gets. I was terribly confused when there was a paranormal twist to this book. I wasn't expecting it at all.

GIFSoup

The plot is a soupy mess, and is really unstructured. One thing I did like was the magical aspect of this book.
That's all for now.
Ta-ta,
shizuku


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Because you don't notice the light without a bit of shadow. Everything has both dark and light. You have to play with it till you get it exactly right.

How I'd love to get away from here and be someone else for a while in a place where no one knows or expects certain things from me.

There's a lot about discovering who you are and how difficult that is. And it never stops.

May I suggest that you all read? And often. Believe me, it's nice to have something to talk about other than the weather and the Queen's health. Your mind is not a cage. It's a garden. And it requires cultivating.

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dear Pretties,

A completely different take on Snow White. The magic system for this world is really well done, as are the settings. Going to finish the series as they come into the library.

It's an enjoyable guilty read to while away the hours. That's all for now.
Ta-ta,
shizuku

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Forgive us, my lord, for you have us at a disadvantage. My sister is frankly deplorable at conducting courtly conversation. The only thing worse than her ability to make appropriate small talk with royalty is her attempt to let a man lead her on the dance floor. Your timely interruption has saved me from the chore of attending dance lessons with her. My feet thank you.

A warrior doesn’t focus on the odds stacked against her. She focuses on her heart, on her will to face the evil in her world and defeat it, and then she finds a way to do it.

You don't go into battle because you're sure of victory. You go into battle because it's the right thing to do.

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book didn't piss me off like the movie did, but earned a new degree of loathing that made me put it on my physical bookshelf. Needless to say it was that damned good! Cheers!

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City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

OMG! Where the hell do I start! I do admit the further the story went along the better it was, but the first book almost completely put me off. The whole Star Wars, Luke/Leiah relationship thing mixed in with a Paradise Lost scheme. GRRRR.
FRUSTRATION. FRUSTRATION. FRUSTRATION.

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City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2) by Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Yeah, so I just wasn't as happy as I thought I would be after reading this second book to the series. While some characters are likable, I found myself just frustrated with the main protagonists. The surrounding magical system is well done, but when coupled with this main scheme it just doesn't mesh well. I do hope that as I continue with the series that it will get better.

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City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4) by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This series started out so great, but now it seems like a terrible train wreck.


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The Warrior Heir *(The Heir Chronicles, #1) by Cinda Williams Chima

The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was wanting to finish this series since I unpacked them last week, but alas I am ashamed to say I forgot everything from the first third of the book. If I recall correctly I was in the process of moving when I finished this book.
Good news though I was able to sucker my husband into reading this one too. He really enjoyed it. As I did. Though there was a lot of wikipedia checking on my part because sadly I had forgotten everything pertaining to The War of Roses. Brush up on that subject before reading.
Cheers and Happy Reading!

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The Wizard Heir (The Heir Chronicles, #2) by Cinda Williams Chima

The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After finishing this read I can say that it much better than the first of this series. Last book I suffered from a terrible yawn-fest.


I did enjoy this book and it's acceleration of the plot. It seemed that the brutality of the school that Seph attends was obvious from very early on; though I was left pretty peeved that I couldn't reach into this book and throttle the headmaster.
I wasn't very shocked that the characters from The Warrior Heir made a reappearance, though it disappointed me that they were. This keeps me wondering how the next book is going to turn out, and I hope I'll be able to find it.

Cheers Pretties!

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well Crap on Toast! It doesn't look like I'm going to finish my original goal for the month, since I keep getting distracted.(my copy of The Perks of Being a Wallflower keeps growing a pair of legs and walking off and then hiding in the strangest places. I swear it's a book that doesn't want to be read by me.)
Yeah so unless you are purposely wanting to put your mind through a mental rape; I wouldn't read it. I can however see how so many can love this book. Definitely not for the squeamish.

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Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer, #1) by Karen Chance

Touch the Dark by Karen Chance
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So I enthusiastically started this series with so much anticipation from reading so many good reviews on it. So you can imagine my disappointment when I was left with this feeling...



I thought a good portion of the plot, settings, magic system, and time traveling; was well thought out. What wasn't to well thought out was the characters, design, and the relationships in this plot. I've continued the series to the present book and can say that it does get marginally better. So if you stick with it you can learn several fascinating theories. If you're easily bored move on to something else, because there is a LOT of history in and throughout the story.

Second time through, and yep it's still bad!


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Claimed by Shadow (Cassandra Palmer, #2) by Karen Chace

Claimed By Shadow by Karen Chance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How is it that I haven't reviewed this? I'm ashamed that I haven't reviewed it for you guys.

Anyhow, Cassie Palmer is an interesting character on a whole different level in this book. I was also intrigued by the theory of a Pythia, and the level of sway it could have on events. The reprecussions of her actions aren't very aparent until almost the very effed up cliffhanger ending. Boo Chance Boo! Also Boo to the Love Triangle! Writer's PLEASE STOP IT!

All in all I blew through the first four books. Though as I've said in my first review of this series, a lot of confusing history is brought into the story. You might want to read up on some of the mentioned, I found it worth my time.

GIFSoup

Magic System YAAAAYYYY!
I liked John's character because I figured out who he really is the first paragragh he featured in, and no I won't tell you who he is! You have to go read it yourself.

GIFSoup

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Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, #4) by Karen Chance

Curse the Dawn by Karen Chance
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really want to like this more, but I can't. I just can't bring myself to. I thought the hesitation of the plot is what caused this. I did continue with the series to the present, but I think I'll reread them when the new one comes out. Time traveling is the most interesting twist in this series so far.
Cheers and Happy Reading!

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Hunt the Moon (Cassandra Palmer, #5) by Karen Chance

Hunt the Moon by Karen Chance
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I waited and waited and waited all to be let down. I honestly thought there was going to be more to this. While there is plenty of action, there just isn't enough structure to the author's style.

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Midnight's Daughter (Dorina Basarab, #1) by Karen Chance

Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay the plotline has just turned my brain into scrambled eggs. I had no idea that this was a continuation or offshoot of the other series from the author.
I really liked the background for this book it has a charred type of flavor to the characters. On numerous occasions I found myself thinking, 'when and where are they going to find time to recover?' The story is nonstop action also adding a few history lectures to boot.

More to come later, so many Cheers and Happy Readings!

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Prince of Fools (Sebastian Darke, #1) by Philip Caveney

Prince of Fools by Philip Caveney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a comical book this was. The manling reminded me so much of a mix between Orik from Eragon and Mulch Diggums from Artemis Fowl. Also this book gave off the feel of something like Stephen King in a way. Maybe the simple goth atmosphere.

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Happenstance Found (The Books of Umber, #1) by P.W. Catanese

Happenstance Found by P.W. Catanese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a weird book this was! The character development was well done, and the plot was interesting. The progression and speed of the story left a lot to be desired though. I expected it to move faster than it did. I think what makes up for this: is the detail to the world's history and the structure of the magical system. This is very hard to accomplish so I have to hand my praise off to Catanese for it.
Hats off and Cheers Pretties!

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Dragon Games (The Books of Umber, #2) by P.W. Catanese

Dragon Games by P.W. Catanese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As the first book, Dragon Games, starts out very slow. Though it quickly picks up, and you're off on a new a quirky adventure. I really like this author's writing style, it has a nice flow that doesn't break apart very often.

GIFSoup

Just a warning: is that you have a cliffhanger ending. NNNNOOOOO!!!!


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The End of Time (The Books of Umber, #3) by P.W. Catanese

The End of Time by P.W. Catanese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nooooooooooooooo! I don't want this trilogy to end! This book has been so fantastic. More write more! There are many many fascinating theories mentioned or proposed. The only difficulties would be able to get the scientific proofs to back them.

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Marked (House of Night, #1) by P.C. Cast

Marked by P.C. Cast
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall I just wasn't impressed with this book. The plot had some interesting points, but the main character comes off as a Mary Sue.

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