The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I absolutely loved this! I got this for my mother for Christmas and she pressed it on me as soon as she was finished.

Segregated Mississippi in the early 1960's and domestic service are about as different of a world for me as the Gion geisha district in Memoirs of a Geisha was. And as with Memoirs I was skeptical about what the author could possibly do with those respective subject matters. And with each I was surprised by how quickly I became engaged with the story and the characters' lives.

Aibileen and Minnie are longtime friends that have been working for the white women of Jackson for years and years. When the story opens Aibileen is working for the Leefolt family. Missus Elizabeth Leefolt listens to everything her friend Hilly says and their other friend, Skeeter bristles silently and the black help pretend they don't hear anything at all.

Then one day Miss Hilly insists that every house employing black help must have separate facilities. They have different diseases she claims. And within a few weeks Aibileen has to use a new bathroom built outside the house. This one further act of segregation drives Skeeter to wonder how the maids feel about working for the white ladies. She decides to write a book of interviews but finds it's harder than she had expected to get anyone to speak up, But it was this bathroom segregation and the insult that came with it as well that finally gave Aibileen courage enough to speak up and help Skeeter.

I can't speak for how accurately this depicted segregated South and black women in the 60's but it was a really good story and I'm glad it came my way.


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Historical Fiction Challenge

30 Day Book Meme -- Day Ten

Day 10 – Favorite classic book

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year 
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series 
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series 
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy 
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 -  A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up 


Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Heartless by Gail Carriger

Heartless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WHAT am I going to do for a month now waiting for the next one!? We left Alexia in Blameless in the early stages of her pregnancy and with some tantalizing hints of what kind if child a preternatural and supernatural would have. Heartless starts off five months later with Alexia in the final stages of her pregnancy and still trying to run around investigating a ghostly tip that the Queen may be in danger.

I've never really read anything with a pregnant heroine before, it was kind of a cool new perspective. And my God that kid sure has taken long enough to put in an appearance -- it's not until the final chapters that the highly unconventional birth takes place. And the implications we are left with at the end of the book are interesting enough that I've already pre-ordered Timeless.

View all my reviews

Get Steampunked! | Historical Fiction Challenge

30 Day Book Meme -- Day Nine

Day 09 –  A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year 
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series 
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series 
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy 
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book

Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme -- Day Eight

Day 08 – Most overrated book

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year 
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series 
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series 
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy 
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book

Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme -- Day Seven

Day 07 – Most underrated book

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year 
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series 
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series 
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy 
Day 06- A book that makes you sad

Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Blameless by Gail Carriger

Blameless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I'm really tearing through this series fast -- too fast, there's still a few weeks to go until the release of the final one and I'll be done with Heartless long before that -- how will I ever fill that void?

This picks up immediately after the events of Changeless and has Alexia hightailing it to Europe in search of some answers with the trusty Floote and Madame Lefoux in tow. I was really getting into learning more about Alexia's soullessness and the Biffy (Lord Akeldama's favorite drone) storyline really intrigued me as well... won't say too much more for fear of spoiling but gah! So many things still left unanswered at the end of this! This installment raised a lot of interesting questions and I'm extremely eager to get to the bottom of it all.

All in all I'm very much enjoying my first serious foray into steampunk. Recommendations for other steampunk novels and series are more than welcome :).

View all my reviews

Get Steampunked! | Historical Fiction Challenge

Historical Fiction Challenge

Historical Fiction Challenge

• The challenge will run from h January 2012 to 31 December 2012.
• any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)
• During these following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

1. Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
2. Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
3. Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
4. Daring & Curious: 5 books
5. Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

I am signing up for the Undoubtedly Obsessed level!

Finished 

1. Soulless by Gail Carriger
   
2. Changeless by Gail Carriger
3. Blameless by Gail Carriger 
4. Heartless by Gail Carriger 
5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett 

Currently Reading

Choices

• Timeless by Gail Carriger
• The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
• Delilah by India Edghill
• The Women of Nell Gwynne's by Kage Baker
• GoodReads shelf
  

30 Day Book Meme -- Day Six

Day 06- A book that makes you sad

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year 
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series 
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series 
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy 

Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Changeless by Gail Carriger

Changeless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Well. It's happened. I'm fully addicted to this series! I love the characters and this one ended in a way that I had to rush right out immediately to grab the third. As such this review will be extremely brief so I can get back to reading Blameless.



After reading the first book I was confused by the inclusion of certain steampunk motifs that didn't seem to have anything to do with the plot so I was glad to see these motifs actually used in this story or at least explained a bit further. The only thing that really threw me off in this one was the overuse of each character's physical description. You can only read about the French inventor's dimples or Alexia's 'ample bosoms' so many times.



However overuse of physical descriptions cannot detract at all from how much I love all the characters introduced in the series so far! Alexia's bossy attitude, Ivy's sheer ridiculousness, Akeldama's flamboyance combined with high society niceties make for hilarious reads.


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Get Steampunked! | What's in a Name 5 | Historical Fiction Challenge

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I would have actually given this book 4.5 stars -- it was really good and I wasn't able to tear myself way for long from the second half but it just wasn't --quite-- 5 star material. However, given my suspicion of popular series featuring the supernatural, I was really surprised by how much I liked this! Give me anything Victorian era and I'm a happy lady and put a strong-willed, no-nonsense heroine in the mix... well werewolves and vampires aren't enough to keep me away and thank goodness they didn't this time around! This book was fun and light and had lots of laugh out loud moments.

What really kept this from being a 5 star book was how forced some of the setting felt. It seemed like the author decided to write a steampunk novel and then poured in the staples of the genre without them really being necessary. Dirigibles flying overhead were mentioned often enough but had absolutely nothing to do with --anything-- that went on in the course of the novel not to mention the deliberate, multiple mentions of brass octopi all over the bad guys' stuff... it's never explained or anything, it just seems to be one of those details thrown in not-too-subtly to remind you that this is A Steampunk Book. These are just minor nitpicks but I found them somewhat irritating in my reading, it was like the author didn't trust you to comprehend the setting organically.

Not to linger over the negative bits I will say that anyone who has any sort of fondness for Jane Austen as well as fantasy or paranormal should add this to their collection immediately! I plan on continuing the series as soon as I can get my hands on a copy of book 2 -- where I'm hoping the purpose of octopi and dirigibles in the plot will become apparent! This was one of the few first books in a fantasy series that made me feel like I needed continue it immediately. I usually will put it off for a while til I forget about the series entirely. Alexia Tarabotti was a terrific main character and I'll definitely enjoy reading more about her.



View all my reviews
Get Steampunked!  | Mandroid's Sci-Fi Reader Challenge | 1st in a Series Challenge | Historical Fiction Challenge

Get Steampunked! 2012

Get Steampunked! 2012

1st of January – 31st of December 2012

Challenge Levels

1. Geared – Choose 5 books to read
2. Cogged – Choose 15 books to read
3. Goggle Mad – Choose 30 books to read
4. Victorian Lord/Lady – Choose 50 books to read
5. Inventor – Choose 75 books to read
6. Zephyr Pilot – Choose 76-135 books to read
7. Steampunked! – Choose 136-200 books to read

I'm going for  the Geared level!


Finished

1. Soulless by Gail Carriger 
2. Changeless by Gail Carriger
3. Blameless by Gail Carriger
4. Heartless by Gail Carriger 

 

30 Day Book Meme -- Day Five

Day 05-A book that makes you happy

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year 
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series 
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series 

Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme -- Day Four

Day 04-Favourite book of your favourite series

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year 
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series 

Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme -- Day Three

Day 03-Your favorite series

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year 
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice

Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme -- Day Two

Day 02-A Book That You Have Read More than thrice

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year

Day 03-Your favorite series
Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Working for the Mandroid's Sci-Fi Reader Challenge

Working for the Mandroid's Sci-Fi Reader Challenge


This one looks like the most fun of all the Sci-Fi challenges so I'll be doing my best to participate!


1. The challenge begins January 1, 2012 and runs through December 31, 2012.  Books started before January 1 don't count towards the challenge.  Re-reads do count, but a new review must be written.  Any format of book counts - hard copy, audiobook, e-book
2. A review has to be written and posted for each book in the challenge.
3. Any books read for another challenge that fit into a category here can count towards this one.  One book, however, cannot fill multiple categories in this challenge.
4. A post will be set up on Working for the Mandroid beginning January 1 for participants to add their review links.
5. At the end of the year, all the people who signed up for the challenge and finished 6 of the 12 categories will be put in a contest for a not yet determined prize.  Those who finish all 12 of the categories will be entered into a different, better contest.  Additional contests throughout the year might also become available depending on participation of readers and availability of prizes.


There are twelve categories to this challenge, I will add links to my reviews under each heading as I go along. Titles listed without links are to-be-read.

YA/MG Science Fiction title:
Adult Science Fiction title:
Hugo Winner:
Science Fiction Classic - Pre-1950s:
Science Fiction Modern Classic - 1951-1992:
Steampunk: Soulless by Gail Carriger 
Robots/Cyborgs/Androids:
Spaceships/Aliens:
Time Travel/Alternate History/Parallel Universe:
Apocalyptic/Dystopia/Utopia:
Cyberpunk:
Mad Scientists/Genetic Testing/Environmental Disaster:

1st in a Series Challenge

1st in a Series Challenge

 There are four levels for this challenge:

• Series Novice: Read 3 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Lover: Read 6 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Expert: Read 12 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Fanatic: Read 20 books that are the first in any series.

 I'm going for the Series Expert level!

Currently Reading * Projected Reads * Finished

1. Soulless by Gail Carriger
2. The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller
3. Once Upon a Winter's Night by Dennis L. McKiernan
4. The Dark Queen by Susan Carroll
5. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
6. The Lost Years of Merlin by T. A. Barron
7. Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead
8. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
9. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
10. Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
11. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
12. Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe

30 Day Book Meme -- Day One

Day 01- The Best Book You Read Last Year

Day 02-A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03-Your favorite series
Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Goodreads 2012 Tracker

2012 Reading Challenge

Angela has read 1 book toward her goal of 50 books.

hide

1 of 50 (2%)    view books

What's in a Name 5

What's in a Name 5
 
Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title:The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier
   
2. A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: 
3. A book with a creepy crawly in the title:
4. A book with a type of house in the title: 
5. A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Changeless by Gail Carriger
6. A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title:
   

The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier

The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It won't go down as one of the most memorable stories I've ever read but it was definitely an enjoyable way to relax over my holiday weekend. I'll always love fantasy books that I can explore strange new places along with the characters and the Islands, suspended in the air above the sea by dragon's magic, really fit that bill! Floating bridges and stairs, marmosets and gulls inhabiting the city streets and rooftops, hidden schools with doors that always open to something different, novitiates with an exclusive few apprenticed to be Island fliers -- the entire setting was just really fun to get lost in! Highly recommended for snowed in weekends like mine for a few hours of escape.



View all my reviews

What's a Name 5 challenge