Fall Reading

Well hello again!

I know, I know, I disappeared there for awhile. Once school began up again, I have been busy. I am hoping to spend some more time on here. Have a few post ideas in the works, just need the time to actually do them. 😉 Anyway, Happy Fall!

It’s hard to believe that we are through October already. Mid-September put in the mood for more spooky reading, excited to share some of these with you!

Let’s get started!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows by J. K. Rowling

Genre – Fantasy

Series – 7th book in the Harry Potter series

Rating – PG-13 for fantasy violence and peril

I finally finished the series! Took me almost a whole year to do it. If I remember right, I started Philosopher’s Stone in January. This has been a great ride and I’ve enjoyed my trip to the Wizarding World.

Rowling really did a good job creating characters who are unique and quirky, but lovable. I think on the whole this concluded each characters stories well. Certain individuals seemed to have matured more then others. However, that epilogue, awe, a hit to the chest. Teared up just a smidge. 😉

I just want to mention a few of my favorite bits:

* Lupin becoming a dad – still is one of my top characters

* Harry saving Malfoy – wish there was a bit more reconciliation there

*Voldemort & Harry in forest

* Battle for Hogworts – so many heroic moments

*Neville and the sword –

* Snape & the stag – Loved that we actually get to see an explanation

I’ve been trying to figure out which book is my favorite. I’ve narrowed it down to a top three – Prisoner of Azkaban, Half-Blood Prince, & Deathly Hollows.

My next book is more in the spooky vein, and I’ve been waiting to read it most of the year.

Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Genre – Gothic, Horror, Mystery

Series – No

Rating – PG-13 for kidnapping and violence

A couple years ago I watched the 25th anniversary stage version of the musical. Fell in love with the music! Roughly a year or so ago found out that it was based upon a book. Finally got a chance to read it this past month.

I have to say the book is different than the musical. There are quite a few similarities, but the book gives us more details into the lives of some of the characters.

One big difference is that Leroux focuses more on the mystery of this spectral phantom and the tension it brings. But I found myself struggling to like any of the characters. For me Christine felt more wishy-washy in the book, she cannot make up her mind to tell Raoul about the Angel of Music for fear of Raoul’s life. While Raoul was super impatient and almost clingy regarding Christine.

Honestly, the best character was the Persian. He actually had a bit of backbone and some much needed wisdom for Raoul. The whole torture chamber was well done! Really felt like I was there trapped with them.

Overall this book is more plot driven, than character, which is fine. However, its weaving multiple plot points, some of which are slower then others. Glad I read it, just not my favorite gothic literature.

Quotes –

“And Richard turned a terrible look on Moncharmin, which seem to say: “Give me back the twenty-thousand francs, or I’ll tell the whole story.” Moncharmin understood what he meant, for, with a distracted gesture, he said: “Oh, tell everything and have done with it!”

“A ghost, ” he said, “Who, on the same evening, carries off an opera singer and steals twenty thousand francs is a ghost who must have his hands very full!”

Last, but not least – Dracula

Dracula

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Genre – Gothic, Horror

Series – No

Rating – PG-13 for spookiness & vampire violence

So, this was our book club pick for October. Before Dracula, I had never read a vampire story. This was new for me. It reminded me at times of Frankenstein which I loved.

OK, so right off the bat, Jonathan Harker’s first section hooked me. I loved the whole mystery surrounding the count’s odd behavior. Harker’s whole journey just to get to the castle was a trip in itself. This whole section was well written, concise, & to the point. Not nail-biting per say, but definitely spooky.

Then his journal stops and we move to Mina. This is where I slowed down and drew me out of the story. Throughout the rest of the book, I never really connected with Mina or Lucy’s segments. Not exactly sure why? Lucy especially, I just didn’t care and was relived when her part ended.

Of all the characters, Van Helsing was my fav. He had the smarts and deduced things that Jonathan, Stewart, and Morris missed. Morris was good as well. Wished Lucy had picked him instead of who she actually chose.

One qualm I have is the whole ending. I was expecting a fight between our heroic party and Dracula and instead it is rather anticlimactic. It was just a bit of letdown.

Quotes –

“Once again. . . Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring.”

“No man knows til he has suffered from the night how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be.”

“I am longing to be with you and by the sea, where we can talk together freely and build our castles in the air.”

Anyway Dracula is worth a read, and is a classic for a reason.

Up Next – I’m still working on my reread of The Silmarillion. Eek, I’ve taken way to long with this. Its been a back burner book. I read a chapter then stop, so much detail that its better in smaller bits.

How is your fall going? Read anything spooky? Have you heard of these? What are your thoughts?

Anna