This Miss Answers 25 Bookish Questions

There's one thing you should know about me - I love quizzes related to literature and books, and when I saw a new one at Pepca's blog Beyond Strange New Words, I immediately knew I was going to try it out myself.

In this post, I answer 25 bookish questions.

Here we go:

1. What percent of books do you get from the library and what percent do you get elsewhere?

I used to mostly borrow books from the library, so I would read around 90% of library books, and the rest of the books were mine. Now, it's the other way around. I borrow books from the library for my family, but I mostly read books I either bought, borrowed from a friend or received for review. Which means that now, I only read about 10-20% of library books. I suppose blogging changed my relationship with the library.

2. What character would you want to be and why?

This is an incredibly difficult question. I love many characters, even some of those that are just inherently bad at heart. But I think I'd most likely be Jane Eyre because I can most easily relate to her. She's learned, and both reasonable and passionate. She's a well-balanced woman.

3. What is your favourite book from your childhood?

Hans Christian Andersen's collection of fairy-tales. We have a book at home that contains thirty of his fairy-tales and I used to read that book all the time.

4. What is your favourite book?

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux.

5. Which book series do you have the most books of? 


Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels. I own the first seven books of the series.

6. Do you buy used books or use swap.com?

No to both. If I buy a book, I do so because I really want to own it and I prefer my books to be brand new. I think I'd use swap if it actually shipped books to my country.


7. Who is your favourite/hottest guy or girl?

Currently, that would be Loki from the movie Thor, to be completely honest. Before watching the movie, I knew about Loki from the Edda poems and from the Marvel comics, and in the movie he really shines. As a character, he is currently my hottest guy, and yes, he is also very handsome. I adore characters that are complex and multi-layered. As Loki appears in literature - as I said, in the Edda poems (Norse poetry) and Marvel comic books - he counts for this questionnaire.

8. What is your favourite book cover?

I only have to choose one? I don't really have my very favourite book cover, but I have to say that I'm still quite impressed by the cover for The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart by Matthias Malzieu.



9. What is your favourite type of book cover?

I like a vintage look, scenery, with something symbolic added to the image - something that's related to the book. I don't likw covers that have too much going on in them or that are pink.

10. What was the first book you read?

I'm not 100% certain about this, but my earliest memory of my trying to read a book by myself and succeeding points to "Cinderella" by the Grimm brothers. Not a book, but still, it's a story.

11. What is your favourite book to movie adaption?


Definitely BBC's adaptation of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, starring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. It's not a movie, but a mini-series in four parts. I also adore the movie adaptations for The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

12. When did you start making videos on YouTube?

Originally, this was a questionnaire made by a vlogger. I don't have a vlog, but I have a blog and I started blogging in May 2010.

13. Where is the best place to read?


My own bed. The bathroom, too. :)

14. Have you written your own fan fiction for a book?

Several, actually. For me, fanfiction is a very fun way of releasing my creative energy, as well as great practice for a writer in making because you have readers who give you (almost) immediate feedback, pointing out your strengths and weaknesses. I recommend fanfiction.net. If a fanfic is well written, it's really intriguing to see your beloved characters in different situations.

15. If you could only read 3 books for the rest of your life what would they be?


This question is nearly impossible to answer, but from the top of my head, I'd say:
1. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux,
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte,
3. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

16. What is the longest book you have read?

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. The version I read had a bit over 1000 pages. Impressive.

17. If you were to write a book, what would the title be and why?


Oh, my. It's hard to say. I'm working on a story, for fun. I guess the working title is Gemini. Why this title? Because it involves twins, and I like the sound of Latin for a book title. There you go.

18. How many books did you read last month?

I read seven books in August.

19. What is the last book you read?

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors.

20. Do you imagine about yourself in the books you like?

Yes, sometimes. I'm sure every reader has done that.

21. What is your favourite bookstore?

I love two bookstores and both are in the city centre, practically staring at each other. They're not internationally known, so their names are probably irrevelant.

22. Hardback or paperback?

When I buy books, always paperbacks. I just prefer paperbacks to hardbacks because I can carry them around in my bag, and honestly, they're cheaper. In the library, there are usually only hardbacks, so I don't really have a choice there.

23. Do you have more than one copy of the same book?

Actually, yes. I have Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte in English and in Slovene, and we have three Bibles. I guess that counts.

24. Would you rather read about vampires or werewolves?


Vampires.

25. Do you own more than 150 books? If not, would you?

I do. I didn't buy them all, just... a lot of them.

Bartered Bride by Anne Avery

GENRE: historical romance

SUMMARY:
Lady Alyce Fitzmartin is forced to marry the arrogant Robert Wardell, the answer to her father's debts, and a man Alyce is certain she will never love. Yet an even more grave situation lies in wait. For Robert may not survive the impending overthrow of the King, unless he uses his new wife as a pawn. But one glance into each other's eyes sparks an unexpected yearning. And while England burns with the fire of revolt, Robert and Alyce discover a passion for which both must gamble their lives.





THIS MISS REVIEWS:
Bartered Bride is a historical romance that sets itself apart from most works of this genre, primarily because it does not only focus on the romance and the passion that this genre requires, but also on the historical, political and social aspects of its setting.

Lady Alyce Fitzmartin is the daughter of a baron who can trace his lineage back to the Conqueror. He is, therefore, old nobility, proud of his position, and he is fittingly arrogant and boorish. Alyce is a gentle, yet determined lady who had to learn to take care of the manor and its lands at a very young age, with whatever means she could find, for although she is of noble blood, her family is in desperate need of funds. For this reason, the baron arranges Alyce’s marriage to a wealthy London merchant, Robert Wardell, who is not a nobleman and Alyce feels betrayed because she is marrying below her status and for the sake of money. She feels even more betrayed when she learns that her ever pragmatic husband, who is a stranger to any kind of romance, married her for political reasons only. Under such circumstances, the newlywed couple struggles with coping with their blooming feelings for each other, hindered by pride, old wounds and politics. Eventually, the situation in England puts them into jeopardy and if they don’t tread carefully, there might be serious consequences for them both.

The story takes place in 13th-century England during the reign of Henry III and the second uprising of the barons led by Simon de Montfort in 1263-4. Avery describes the civil conflict in a clear and simple way, incorporating it into the story naturally. The historical aspects are covered well, as are the manners of that time. The setting is authentic and makes the story much richer, as the focus is not only on the developing romance between Robert and Alyce, but also on the background of the time in which these two characters live. Robert’s motives are realistically explained, as is the fact that because of their very different origins, Robert and Alyce stand on opposite sites, which threatens their love greatly. Through Robert, the rising class of merchants is presented, which, for a history enthusiast like myself, was a very welcome touch.

The romance is not neglected; it is still the most significant part of the novel and it develops gradually. Robert and Alyce are allowed to evolve over the course of the novel, and the romance evolves together with them. There is no instant attraction, so they way they tentatively discovered each either was quite delightful to observe. Robert is a proud merchant, an intelligent and brave man who makes money with his diligence. Alyce is his worthy mate, spirited, clever and willing to learn.

All in all, Bartered Bride is a delightful historical romance that should please any fan of the genre.

THIS MISS RATES:

Love at Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks

GENRE: contemporary fiction/romance

SUMMARY:
Love at Absolute Zero is about Gunnar Gunderson, a 32-year-old star physicist at the University of Wisconsin. The moment he’s given tenure at the university, he can think of only one thing: finding a wife. His research falters into what happens to matter near absolute zero (−459.67 °F), but he has an instant new plan. To meet his soul mate within three days—that’s what he wants and the time he can carve out—he will use the Scientific Method. Can Gunnar survive his quest?

THIS MISS REVIEWS:
Love at Absolute Zero is a gem of a book, and as I rarely begin a review with such a direct declaration, you can be sure that I truly enjoyed reading this story, from the first to the last chapter.

The novel tells the story of Gunnar Gunderson, a 32-year-old brilliant physicist with a tenure at the University of Wisconsin, a passion for his research project and now, a new-found desire to find himself a wife. It seems that a wife will complete the picture. Gunnar, however, is – despite being a very intelligent and talented physicist – a man who relies on science completely. He relies on science so much that he goes about finding his one true love with a scientific approach. But even though he has a perfect plan and knows all the right scientific methods to use in order to find his soul mate in only three days, it immediately begins to show that Gunnar is, in fact, very naïve and inexperienced when it comes to love, and so his great romantic adventure begins.

Gunnar is a great hero who is very smart, intelligent and of a clearly scientific mind, but who is a bit emotionally challenged when it comes to love. He seems that every problem can be approached by way of employing scientific methods, but he has to learn that there is no such thing as an equation for love. He knows the ways of romancing, but he never truly experienced anything with his heart, which leaves him vulnerable and naïve. His quest for love is a wonderful journey spiced up with passion and humour, and it is easy to sympathise with Gunnar, sometimes even relate to him. After all, are we not, on occasion, all fools when it comes to love? Gunnar is, therefore, although a geek (a great, sweet geek!) who could step right into a scene of The Big Bang Theory, an ordinary guy who happens to be a bit unique. In short, he is very human and real, and the sort of character one remembers.

The novel approaches a very interesting subject – love from a scientific point of view; and this brings me to the science used in the novel. This book has an amazing trait – it balances science and romance with a natural ease, focusing on both subjects equally, realistically and in a quite believable way. The author clearly did a lot of research related to quantum physics and presented it well in the novel. The physics in the story really are physics and the science is completely real. The reader does not need to feel challenged by the fact that quantum physics is discussed and explained in the story; every part related to science is written in a way that can be understood by anyone, while maintaining the sense of reality, by which I mean that the author doesn’t downplay physics. Meeks makes you want to learn physics and be able to chat about it with Gunnar. Another thing I’d like to point out is that every chapter is preceded by a quote belonging to a famous scientist, be it Einstein, Bohr or Huxley. It’s a very nice touch.

Then, there is the romance, which is equally important and described in the novel in equal measure. In my experience, one of two subjects in a novel usually stands out, but Meeks balances the science and the romance with ease, making both subjects very interesting and simple to follow. The two subjects form an intriguing combination that works just perfectly.

Gunnar’s story is fun, funny and wonderful, and it shows a rational view on love, but also that, ultimately, love can get anyone, even the most rational ones. The premise is definitely original and the story well delivered. This is a book that I can easily recommend to anyone, regardless of the gender.

I received a copy of the novel for review as part of the blog tour organised by Teddy at Premier Virtual Author Book Tours.

THIS MISS RATES:

A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park by Mary Lydon Simonsen

GENRE: novella/Jane Austen re-imagining

SUMMARY:
The day after the assembly at Meryton, Fitzwilliam Darcy departs Hertfordshire believing that he leaves little of interest behind him. But when Elizabeth Bennet comes to Kent, Darcy has an opportunity for a second look at the dark-haired beauty and is instantly smitten. Unfortunately for Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth has a long memory, and the gentleman from Derbyshire will have to earn her love. His efforts begin with a walk in the meadows at Rosings Park.



THIS MISS REVIEWS:
This lovely novella puts Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy in a new position. Elizabeth's sister Jane is engaged to Mr Bingley, Darcy's close friend; Charlotte Lucas is married to Mr Collins and Elizabeth is visiting with the couple. It seems there are no obstacles for Lizzie and Darcy, but such is definitely not the case. Elizabeth still remembers how Mr Darcy slighted everyone, including her, at the Meryton Assembly and although they like each other, there is also the question of rank that Lizzie cannot seem to overlook.

I truly enjoyed this new spin on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice because it puts Darcy and Lizzie into an entirely emotional – and therefore more intimate – predicament. The character of Elizabeth Bennet is delightfully and accurately outlined. Her wit and humour, as well as seriousness and independence of thought, are well observed. While Darcy is just slightly too relaxed in public situations and acts mostly on impulse, his character is essentially still the Darcy we all know from the original. He shows that, when surrounded by friends and family, he is a kind and amiable gentleman and not the arrogant grouch he was at the Meryton Assembly. The whole situation is well written and offers great and witty dialogue that truly delighted me.

This is a novella that reads smoothly and fast, and it should delight any Austen fan. You will finish the last page with a smile. It is a story that combines romance and witty humour very deftly, while staying true to the characters and the original plot.

Any fan of Jane Austen should read it.

My thanks go to the author for sending me a copy of her novella for review!

THIS MISS RATES: / (4.5 stars)

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

GENRE: war fiction/women's fiction/drama

SUMMARY:
It is 1940, and bombs fall nightly on London. In the thick of the chaos is young American radio reporter Frankie Bard. She huddles close to terrified strangers in underground shelters, and later broadcasts stories about survivors in rubble-strewn streets. But for her listeners, the war is far from home. Listening to Frankie are Iris James, a Cape Cod postmistress, and Emma Fitch, a doctor's wife. Iris hears the winds stirring and knows that soon the letters she delivers will bear messages of hope or tragedy. Emma is desperate for news of London, where her husband is working - she counts the days until his return. But one night in London the fates of all three women entwine when Frankie finds a letter - a letter she vows to deliver . . .

THIS MISS REVIEWS:
The Postmistress is a novel about ordinary people trying to cope with the tragedies of war. At the centre of the story are three women: Frankie Bard, a young American radio reporter in the Blitz in London, speaking to her listeners about every-day drama that she encounters in a war-plagued London; Iris James, a proud-to-be postmistress of Cape Cod, Massachussets, miles away from the war, yet close to it through the letters that contain it in words; and Emma Fitch, the young wife of a doctor, hurting because her husband is in the middle of danger in London, yearning to have him back home.

The novel does not focus on the WW2 in general, but on the personal drama of ordinary people suffering through it. This is a character-driven story, showing that tragedies did not happen only on the battlefields, but also in comfortable homes of women awaiting the return of their husbands, or the dreaded news that war has hit America, too. The story is slow-paced, and as such it allows the reader to savour the drama, the hurt, the expectations, the hope, the yearning. The plot begins to thicken when fate begins to draw the three women – Frankie, Iris and Emma – together and when two of the women decide to take matters into their own hands: Iris intends to keep a letter a secret to spare a friend the pain of loss, and Frankie intends quite the oppposite.

The characters are very well developed. They are rounded and appear very real, as if you could meet them on the street. They made me feel and hope for them. Especially the character of Emma Fitch is very sympathetic and, in my opinion, drives the story forward. In this respect, I think the problem of this novel is its title. It does not fit the whole frame of the story and is therefore quite inappropriate. I confess, I cannot think of a better title, but if I were to title this novel, The Postmistress would definitely not be my choice, as it is a very deceiving title, almost fooling the reader about the directions this story takes. The way the story evolved came as a surprise to me, as I had been expecting something entirely different. Fortunately, my disappointment died out soon and was replaced by satisfaction – the novel really is well written.

The sense of time and place is very vivid and clearly outlined. The reader can easily imagine London in the time of the second great war, or the peaceful Cape Cod on the other side of the Atlantic. It is also easy to picture the characters and their activities: the precise way in which Iris sorts the letters that must be deliever to their destinations; the despair that accompanies Frankie on her journey through Europe, as she witnesses death, injustice and an end to what she saw as hope; Emma's lost and worried face as she enters Cape Cod's post office every day, waiting for news of her husband.

There is nothing epic about this story, no great adventures or anything of the sort. It is all very emotional and psychological, and I personally love stories that focus on these things. The ending fits. I was only confused by Frankie's motives and decisions. I have my own theories, but I am not entirely sure. Still, the story as a whole is wonderful and ends in a suitable way. Perhaps Iris's life is hit by tragedy that I would have chosen not to happen, as with all the sorrow already present, I didn't feel it was necessary to burden Iris's life with tragedy, too.

This is a novel for those who like to read about history, war and ordinary people. I recommend it.

THIS MISS RATES:

Guest Post: Melissa Douthit on beloved authors/books + TWO giveaways

Melissa Douthit, author of The Raie'Chaelia, which I reviewed HERE, wrote a post about the books she read as a child and the authors she admired. Thank you, Melissa, for sharing it with us!

Melissa says:

When I was young, and before I was introduced to Robert Jordan’s novels, I read a lot of Jack London and John Steinbeck. In fact, I loved the Call of the Wild so much that I named a puppy of mine Buck. We had assigned reading by these authors in school - Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, The Call of Wild and more but I think once I was introduced to the authors, I read almost every book they wrote.

My love affair with these two authors hasn’t ceased. When I was working at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab back in 2004-2008, I took BART trip to Oakland where I visited Jack London Square. You see, there is a bar there that I wanted to visit. It is an old bar that has been around for over a hundred years. It is called Heinhold’s First and Last Chance Saloon and IMHO, it is the most important establishment at the square. Why? Because it is a bar that Jack London visited when he was kid and it is where he first began to conceive his ideas that went into his books. The bar, tables, and chairs are still made of the original wood. Even the clock on the wall, that reads 5:12 all the time since 1906, is still the original clock. It fell from the wall on the morning of Wednesday April 18, 1906 at 5:12 am (the morning of the great San Francisco earthquake) and stopped working. The owner of the bar at the time, hung it back up and just left it there never fixing it. The bar itself, and the floor, slant downwards because of the shifting of the soil during the quake and it is still that way. When you walk in, you feel like you are stepping back in time a hundred years. The feeling is unbelievable.

When Jack London frequented the location as a kid (he didn’t drink, just visited), he met interesting characters - seafarers that would come in with the tide and then leave with it when they were done drinking. One of the men he knew became the inspiration for the main character in Sea-Wolf. The owner of the bar at the time actually funded London’s first year at Berkeley, where London studied literature. The reason the bar is called the First and Last Chance Saloon is because during the prohibition, San Francisco was a dry city but Oakland wasn’t and those who would take the ferry into the city to work in the morning would stop in for their first drink and then their last drink when they came home. I love this bar! It is one of the most historical places in the Bay Area.

After I left LLNL, I went to work (luckily!) in Monterey with the Naval Postgraduate School. It was a stroke of luck as there is the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. I went on several occasions. It is a great place. If you are ever in Monterey county, it is definitely worth the visit. I miss Monterey!

I remember during the two years I lived in Monterey, I would look out into the bay during a cloudy day and feel what Steinbeck must have felt when he wrote The Pearl. The pearlescent glow of the water is stunning. Then, I would take a walk on Cannery Row and imagine the scenery in the book that was inspired by it. It was really then that I realized how lucky I was to be able to walk in the literal footsteps of the authors whom I loved so much as a kid.

*****

This is a wonderful post and I think Melissa had a great reading childhood, don't you? Thank you again for your guest post, Melissa!

Now, I have very thrilling news to share - I (as well as number of other bloggers) am hosting not only one, but two giveaways, or rather a giveaway and a contest.

THE GIVEAWAY:
- if you enter the giveaway, you will win a copy of The Raie'Chaelia in an e-book format,
- since the winner will get his/her copy in an e-book format, this means that the giveaway is open internationally,
- the giveaway ends August 10,
- to enter the giveaway, leave a response to Melissa's guest post in the comments section below and add your e-mail address,
you do not have to be a follower of this blog to enter.

THE CONTEST:
Would you like to read The Raie'Chaelia on an e-reader, but you don't have one? Don't worry, you might win your very own e-reader!

Rules of the contest:
Enter a drawing and win a free e-reader of your choice or a $100 gift certificate to your favorite store by answering the following question:

How did Heinhold's First and Last Chance Saloon get its name?

To answer the question go to this link and fill in the information (place answer in Message field): http://melissadouthit.com/contact-me-2/

Contest ends September 10, 2011. Winner will be announced September 12th on Melissa Douthit's Blog.

*****

Thank you, Melissa, for such a generous contest!

Good luck to everyone! If you'd like a bigger chance at winning a copy of the novel or an e-reader, consult THIS link for tour dates and check out other blogs hosting giveaways and the contest.

The Raie'Chaelia by Melissa Douthit

GENRE: fantasy/adventure

SUMMARY:
When Chalice sets off for Branbury in the middle of the night with her grandfather’s instructions, she has no idea of the dangers that await her. The King’s men have destroyed her home village of Canton and she is suddenly thrown into a Terravailian world that she does not know. Lost and alone, she is hard pressed to evade the iron grasp of the madman who rules the land. With the help of a friendly Chinuk, an old man, and a book that she discovers along the way, not only does she find true friends and true love, but she also finds her true self and what it means to be the Raie’Chaelia.

THIS MISS REVIEWS:
The Raie'Chaelia (pronounced rye-kale-ya) is an original fantasy adventure story that provides the reader with a gripping tale, a wonderful and unique setting, and interesting, not to mention engaging characters. It is also a coming-of-age story for Chalice, the novel's brave and heroic protagonist.

Chalice is a girl who was raised as a warrior, for she must be capable of fighting and surviving whatever comes her way in life. Such skills are necessary in the Terravailian world, once ruled by a good king, but which is now ruled by an evil man. Chalice experiences quite a journey when what she’s been preparing for suddenly becomes a reality. Her grandfather wanted her to go on an important quest and at the beginning of the novel, Chalice runs away from her home and from everything she ever knew to go on the quest and complete her mission.

Chalice is a great heroine who is decisive and brave. There are obstacles she must overcome, and she does so with determination. Her story shows her coming-of-age transition into a world of experience and danger, and her inner strength is a great factor during this transition as she fights the dangerous Terraivilians. I was also impressed by the character of Jeremiah, a skilled archer who helps Chalice. He is an intelligent man who values duty and honour beyond anything else. To me, Chalice and Jeremiah made a great pair.

In my opinion, the Terravailian world is at the centre of the novel. It is a beautifully inventive world that offers many novel things, like incredibly sharp obsidian knives, something I had never encountered in literature before. The fantasy setting shows the author’s creativeness. It offers detailed descriptions that give a vivid picture of the place; over the course of the novel, it begins to feel very real. Some readers might be put off by the many insightful descriptions, but I enjoyed them very much, as they created a clear picture. Something that put me off at times was how many new things were introduced over the course of the novel. I had to read carefully to remember them all. Yet I understand that, since this is the first novel in a trilogy, the author had to introduce the reader to a new world, to a new people. I am sure this information will be useful in the following novels and is necessary, as well as interesting.

I am sorry for being a bit vague, but I feel that by saying more, I’d give away information that could be labeled as spoilers. I can say, though, that this is a fantasy novel, set in a new world, which is filled with adventure on almost every page. I don’t read fantasy often, but I dare say that The Raie'Chaelia is a book to be read by fantasy enthusiasts. It's an enjoyable journey.

I received an e-book from Teddy at Premier Virtual Author Book Tours. Thank you, Teddy, and thank you Melissa, for providing the copy.

Tomorrow, Melissa will share her guest post on this post, along with a giveaway, so stay tuned!


THIS MISS RATES: / (3.5 stars)