Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Date Published: 1991

My Rating : 4 stars

896 pages

One of the best romance stories I've read in years. It reminds me of A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux.

The beautiful love story of Jamie and Claire :)

It starts with a 27 year old nurse called Claire Beauchamp in the year 1945, childless but happily married to Frank Randall and living a quiet life in post war Scotland.

One day she goes investigating a plant she sees in a stone circle, when she suddenly gets pulled in and finds herself in the year of the Lord 1743 about two hundred years prior her time.

She encounters Frank's six-time great grandfather Jonathan Randall otherwise known as Jack Black. Then gets kidnapped or rescued by Dougal McKenzie's men where she meets the young Jamie a wounded lad of 23, being a nurse she helps him and they take her to their lands.

Meeting the chieftain of the McKenzie's, Colum McKenzie she is assigned as the physician of the clan.

A lot of events happen, and we meet so many people but the main thing is Clair somehow marries young Jamie and a passion ignites like no other. This is where the story really starts.

Such a love story that is so filled with innocence and passion that has to touch you to the core.

Being a wanted man, her Jamie flees for his life and Clair trying to rescue him, after he rescued her a number of times.

A very heart warming story that grips you till the end, at times I just couldn't put the book down, I'm sure to continue in this series because I can't wait to know what happens next.

I strongly recommend this book, although I gave in 4 out of 5 stars. Why I did that? Well that is because there were a couple of times that I was annoyed in some events or beliefs that I didn't care for but that is entirely personal other than that is was flawless.

Did I mention it was such a love story?! Oh, I did!! It also had a sense of humor, well Jamie's in particular and Claire. I caught myself smiling and shaking my head a number of times ;)

The best of the book is the last part, the events are fast and the details are just so graphical you just need to know what happens and FAST!

Other Reviews:
Lilly @ Reading Extravaganza
Smash @ Great Books and Fresh Coffee
Jess @ Barney's Book Blog

Case Histories: A Novel by Kate Atkinson

Date Published : 2004

310 pages

4 stars

Three different cases happen in different times.. A little girl just disappears leaving guilt and grief behind, A woman goes mad and does the unthinkable, and a young woman gets brutally killed.From all these cases, relatives seek a private detective Mr. Brodie to help each in a different way.

The disappearing girl's family want to know what happened to her. The mad woman's sister is looking for her niece and the murdered girls's father wants to know her killer.

The story entwines together in a very nice way, the chapters go around the characters in a way that makes you understand all three stories together. VERY CLEVER!

I liked all that but the ending was quite not what I expected, although some things were expected but the ending was just too fast and not complete to me.. I expected more since it's supposed to be 3 cases. But overall it was a very good book. That's why I gave it a 4 out of 5.

This was the first book I read by her, I was impressed with the style of keeping up with the 3 stories, and it was not hard to get into each one.

What happened was I went "Waaaaaah!!" when I discovered that it's finished I kept turning the pages thinking maybe there is a page I forgot or skipped.. then I was LOL at myself!!! So it kinda took me by surprise :)

BTW This is one of the books that I won with the gift certificate from Amazon given to me by PBT..

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Year Published: 2001

My Rating:5 Stars

292 pages

This is the first book in the Southern Vampires series "Sookie Stackhouse"

I've heard so much about this book being recommended so I thought I would give it a try, and now I'm hooked!!

It's a story about the "gifted" waitress Sookie that befriends a Vampire, in a world where vampires are acknowledged legally and are living among humans trying to "mainstream" that is to blend in with them.

She encounters some adventures, some deaths and a lot of fun..

It was a fast fun read that put a smile on my face, well actually made me grin like an idiot in a room full of people.. I loved it and will be continueing the series as soon as I can.

I highly recommend this book :)

It was made into a series "True Blood" and true it's based on the story, it is bit different but good all the same!

Other Reviews:
Meghan @ Medieval Bookworm
Alaine @ Queen Of Happy Endings
Sundcarrie @ Dark Novels

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

From the mountaintops, the ocean looked like a crumpled blanket in turquoise with stains of dark blue..

I was skeptical before reading this book and kept putting it off for so long, because I didn't know what to expect by reading the memoirs of a prostitute, for that is what I thought a Geisha is!!

I was so mistaken, it starts with a 9 year old girl torn from her family and sister to be raised in a foreign city with complete strangers.. The horrors she faces, the hardships she endures, the practice she works hard on, to emerge as a Geisha. And not just any Geisha but one of the most successful and popular one too.

It was so passionate, so close to your heart you can't not love this girl and feel for her all the way.. It's like she is talking to the reader.. I felt for the poor girl and it was like she is talking to me and pouring her heart out.. It was just so hard to put down.. I always wanted to know what will happen next!!

It was so captivating, for me it was by far one of the best I've read this year and is added to my favorite list.. I'm sure to recommend it to anyone who listens.

I saw the movie.. and I was disappointed.. it is so unlike the book.. the emotions and turmoil is not evident.. it was way too fast, things are different .. even the end in the movie seems like an open end although the ending in the book is not.The movie does not allow you to understand the cultures, traditions and superstitions in Japan those days which are explained in detail in the book.. it nice to learn new things and I certainly did with this book..Some pictures from the movie..

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Date Published: 2001
368 pages

2 stars




I had high expectations for this book, but I can't say they were fulfilled!

It's a story set in England during WWII, Briony a 13- year old girl accuses her sister's lover of a hidious crime which he pays for, and eventually ruins his life and her sister's for that matter.It didn't help her either because years later she felt guilty and tried to atone for this crime/accusation..

I couldn't relate to any of the characters, Briony was a selfish brat of a girl thinking she's a know it all, her sister's love story is not the main event so not enough details for me to feel anything for the lovers, part 2 of the book was basicly the horrors of war which i'm not interested in reading.. It was a VERY slow read for me.. I had to drag myself to read it just to get points for the LIO challenge.. pathetic, right ?!

Anyways now I know 1 less author for me to read for.. I can't say I hated the book, at times it was ok but mostly it was slow and boring!!

If your in favor of open ended/war/lost love stories.. then indulge yourself with this book

Then I saw the movie and I was amazed how enchanting the movie is, you can feel the characters and hate Briony even more, if that is even possible!!

Here are some pictures of the movie..

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Year Published: 1977

My Rating: 5 stars

144 pages

A tale about friendship and how it changes your life and character.. Jess the young 10 year old boy meets Leslie the 10 year old girl who has just moved in the farmhouse close by.. becomes his classmate and then his best friend and queen.. together they set on adventures and create a wonderful imaginary secret world ..

Then tragedy strikes and they are torn apart but that summer encounter will live with Jess all his life

Very touching story that engulfs you to the very end.. In 1978, Bridge to Terabithia won the Newbery Medal.

Other points of view about this book:
Things Mean A Lot
Rhinoa's Ramblings
Musings of a Bookish Kitten
Quixotical
Nothing of Importance
She Reads Books
Stuff as Dreams are Made On
A Fondness for Reading