Extreme Last Minute Holiday Gifts (Adolescents Edition)

For those teens in your life

1.  The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

• A whole new circus and world for readers to travel. With two great complex characters separated by countries but connected by line of work and upbringing. And is that a possible romance budding? A storyline everyone should devour at least once. Hey, if they read it more than once, sounds like you're king of the Holiday Gifts!

2.  A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

• For that supernatural fan in your family, more like the un-cliche not over fangirled Twilight. Let her or he be ruler of their friends with bringing this trilogy up. Wereworlves, Vampires, Witches, and Romance? For those Doc Who fans, it even has time traveler!

3.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

• If all else fails, the classics are always something a teen should read. They have an everlasting affect on teens when they read them now. And, who hates Pride and Predjudice? Even the most bitter females love Mr. Darcy and the most sporty males adore Elizabeth. These characters set the standard for life relationships!

 4.  Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James

• This must be a tag along if one is gifting Pride and Prejudice. About two Christmas' past, P.D. James created this murder mystery sequel to Pride and Prejudice that resolves any undying questions you have about the characters and situations. The writing is even crafted similarly to Austen's flowery structure with pungent diction!

Extreme Last Minute Holiday Gifts (Mom's, Aunt's, and Grandmother's Edition)

For Mom's, Aunt's, and Grandmother's

1.  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

• The mystery behind the disappearance of a political figure's wife in a small town goes public and outrage by the public and police department don't make the search simple. But, the wife was no saint either.

2.  Big Girl by Danielle Steel

• It's not one of her newer books, but it is one of her better books. For people struggling with wight, self-image, and self-confidence, read this book not to learn, but to see the similar activities in another girl trying to break away from the negativity and caged life caused by her parents. 

  3.  City of Women by David R. Gillham

• Love in the manless working world of WWII. The trifles, traumas, and post-war affairs make the book a riveting read. 

4.  Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers

• For your independent, fast tongued female family members. A female detective outwitting the Sherlock of her time in work, death, and love. A lovely trilogy for that badass relative. 

Beloved by Toni Morrison

So, I read this book awhile ago, and I've been trying to thing of a way to describe this book without giving too much away and recommend it without scarring some readers away.

I'm sure many people who come across this blog have read this book, if so great, you can add to the conversation, if not, still great, you'll learn about an unconventional book to say the least.

First off, I'm the first to say, I love those books where you don't need to do much thinking. That is that, there is no underlining story. Those pure entertainment literature. Full disclosure, this book is not like that.

This book, if you know anything about it, you know it is about slavery. The people, the after-effects, the experiences, all in relation to slavery in the United States. Everything in this book is purposeful. And ambiguous. For readers to come to their own opinions and ideas about the underline story of Beloved and the characters.

My out-of-depth synopsis of the book is: Sethe was a slave on Sweet Home. While working on the plantation for Mr. and Mrs. Gardner, Sethe meets Halle, who she winds up marrying. They have 4 children together. During their time on Sweet Home, Mr. Gardner unfortunately dies and Mrs. Gardner falls ill, so Mr. Gardner's brother arrives to manage the plantation, schoolteacher. Schoolteacher is more of a disciplinary manager on the plantation. So much so, all of the slave's on the plantation decide to escape. A plan was created, however, due to extenuating circumstances as of Sethe's pregnancy and violence occurring to the other slaves. The plan doesn't occur. Sethe creates her own plan, sending her own children before her on the underground railroad to their grandmother's house in Free States. Then Sethe leaves, while pregnant, she was supposed to leave with Halle, but to find out what happened there you need to read the book. Sethe makes it, while in her third trimester to  her mother-in-law's house. But a short while after, schoolteacher comes with the sheriff to collect her. Which is where the big problems begin. You'll have to read the book to get everything else I left out. Though you might think I've told you a lot, I really haven't.

If anything I've told you sounds appealing, read the book. If you like deciphering symbols, read the book. If you can accept things unexplainable, read the book. If you can't, read the book.

It's a book, everyone should experience.

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

What is there to say about a book about un-tangible intellect and advanced subtlety to say the least? Hmmmmm........
I think I said enough with that one question. Being extremely careful not to reveal the book itself, I'll share some snip-bits with you. It's like an everyday conversation. You read it without thinking, and then you hear it. That clue. You don't think too much of it, but know it's something. Then you hear it again. It's like deja-vu.
I'll leave you with this one question, to reveal too much about this book would be a huge spoiler alert.
How would you discover your character, by locking yourself up to to map out the realms of your mind or by catching flying clues revealed through life?

I hope this sparked your interest!

Evancovich Mission

Well…………….I failed.

The next book in the Stephanie Plum series from Janet Evancovich was released a little while ago, and I have not, I repeat, I have not even gotten close to finishing every book from the series in a couple of months.

But I shall not be derailed from my mission of missions! What shall my next mission be?

Leave a comment in the comment section below with your suggestion.

Thanks!

Elizabeth Camden's Trilogy

First Thoughts: Mind addictive! Incredible. The trilogy I am speaking of isn't truthfully a legit trilogy, where each book is a direct sequel. These books are only loosely connected, and you don't need one to read the other. I read the last one first because I didn't know it was part of a series, then I accidentally read--when I say accidentally I mean accidentally--the book before it. I bought the book after reading the blurb--obviously I found it interesting--but I didn't see any connection between the two. Until I was one fourth in the book. I know I haven't mentioned the titles yet, I'm trying to build the suspension. These books are really quite amazing--I read each in about two days.

Lady of Bolton Hill and Against the Tide.
These are the titles and I recommend them full heartedly.
If you love historical fiction, adventure, romance, bravery, courage, strong women, and innovative men. I won't say more than that, I am not giving any of these books away. Go read them, right away!

Stephanie Plum Series Mission

The long awaited update on my mission to finish before the next book comes out. Please hold the applause for after the post, thank you and enjoy your night. Before I get to anything, here's the big kicker. My due date is now July, the twenty first book in the series releases. You can already pre-order it! Crunch time, am I right?
Back to my mission progress, as you all know life really does get in the way of pastimes, like reading, so I am not where I want to be but where I am. Also as
you guys know, I have read other books during as well. If you don't believe me please scroll down and see the dates and various other reviews I have done. Anyway, I have finished Two for the Dough and Three to Get Deadly, and am now currently working on Four to Score. So about 17 more books to go! I wish this game had multiple lives.
Anyway, I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before, but let me say it again if I have. Janet Evancovich's style of writing really is not that unique or pretty. It is blunt and short. I believe the reason that readers flock to her is because she writes down the cynicism we are all thinking. Another reason is that her characters are great. It's not the writing, it's the character. Really, the only reason I keep reading these stories is because I want to know what happens to Stephanie Plum. A newbie Bonds Enforcing Agent who has the stomach the size of a football player, a mouth equal to pirates, a hate of exercise, a crazy family, hot guys, a gun, a tazer, pepper spray, big bags, seductive heals, and the teenage thought process. So all around, it's what we're aiming for in characters, or at least desiring for out characters to have.

I'll keep you guy's posted on my process, but for now my process is slow and hectic. Wish me luck.

White Noise by Don Delillo

Spoiler Alert:

You can't really talk about this book without referencing everything in it. So let the rambling begin. Maybe I'll even reach a new level of Rambling. Level Up!

Jack. Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack. You're a professor. You're supposed to give questions to your students or answer some of theirs. By God, you ask every question in the book, then you get answers that are questions. No wonder you're out of your mind. Your son can take credit for some of that.
"What day is it?"
"In this present time, future time, or past time."
"What day is it in this present time?"
"In what universe?"
"What do you mean what universe? Our universe. The only one you live, drink, and eat in!"
So on the world spins, you can almost see Jack's head grow in confusion and mental notes of no use.
The one person Jack always listened to, wasn't himself, but Murray. His best bud, for drinking, contemplating the universe, and pushing Jack off the sanity cliff. Jack eats every word Murray says as though he were starving for more every time he utters a word. Murray suggests this, Jack does this, Murray suggests that, Jack does that, and once again on the world spins.

My theory is that Murray wears hypnotizing glasses.

Babette. Babette, Babette, Babette, Babette, Babette. I was all high-and-dandy for you in the beginning. But, I grew to dislike you. Not as much as Jack, but dislike none the less. I don't mind what you did, using your body to get what you want. Let's be brutally honest, women are already at a disadvantage in the world, and who am I to say that they can't use themselves in any way they would like to get ahead. What I am pissed off about is Babette's mind.
Babette, wouldn't sirens be going off in your head when Willie Mink agreed to the low down deal you made?
Babette, wouldn't sirens be going off in your head when Willie Mink held you to the deal?
Babette, wouldn't sirens be going off in your head when Willie Mink said your memory problem was from fear? Even you know that's not right. You're not a doctor, but come on, you don't need a P.H.D. to label someone as a sleaze ball. As humans we are born with ingrown sleaze ball detectors in us to allow for the most efficient and sleaze ball free life. Come on, you only have one shot. (Something Babette and Jack are quite aware of). Why invite a sleaze ball in? Once you do, they don't leave. As though they were squatters, they stay, they hoard, they grow, and they piss you off. Don't allow them to create a nook into your life.

Jack and Babette, I'm sorry to have this news but, you 're having a midlife crisis. Ever hear of therapy? That's when psychologists sit you down, break down what you say, and reconstruct healthier answers. Jack I'm sorry but, Murray is not a psychologist. If anything, he's the anti-psychologist. He's the guy psychologists fear. Murray stuffed Jack with questions he wasn't prepared for, couldn't handle, and obsessed over. Murray is the psychologist's greatest fear, greatest enemy, and the representation of most of the world.

Murray is the media. Since apparently there is no media in their small town.

For one quick second, I would like to construct a letter to Don Delillo about this tangent.

Dear Don Delillo,
Excuse my frankness, but why is their no media in the small town? Considering everything that has happened to the town, the paparazzi and news monopolies would be rich. Adding some rich media P.I.s' would be some very interesting characters to have Jack and Heinrich converse with in the food market. Wouldn't it also add to the metaphor of people as overly gullible? Believing anybody with a college document says about this or that? Believing whatever the media sells?

Thank You,

Caitlin Rambling

And once again, bringing people to the search for the fountain of youth? Babette is Marco Polo for the fountain of youth, Jack is the perceptual doubtful but hopeful Republican, and Murray is the Democrat leaving hopeful crumbs for Jack to pick up in their arguments.

How would you describe their relationship? How would you change the book? What does the book mean to you? Have you read the book? Will you read the book?

This book is endless references and endless metaphors. But, what I take away is truthfully seen better in that upcoming movie Divergent. Do not let your fear stop you! Do not let your fear take control! Do not forget about your fear! Do not be in denial about your fear! Do not end up like Jack!

The Final Two in the Lady Mechatronic Series

I figured you guys were getting tired of my endless Ramblings on every single book in the Lady Mechatronic series. So, instead I finished the series and am combining the two reviews into one! Cue the audience applause, and the magician's assistant going Ta-Da!

Anyway, the fifth book was Lady Mechatronic and the Bordeaux Locked Room Mystery. By this time the series has begun to get a little repetitive with all of drama they get themselves into. There was a small change in the end without the happy and just ending, there was just an ending. Allowing for further adventures, and selfish characters getting their way.

The sixth and final book, Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunked Pharaoh. Truthfully, the character relationships between one another is admirable by the way they monitor and care for one another. Honestly, every reader knew how the book was going to end. But, if we are being honest with ourselves we all wanted the fairytale ending, it's the little girl inside of us coming out.

One thing I know is that this series is an acquired taste, it may not be for everyone. I understand that,
those without the taste can totally disagree with my reviews, so be it.

I cannot say this is a must read, but it is a nice quick series if you want to take a break from those books that tire you mentally, emotionally, or even physically from carrying it around in your bag so you have it whenever you get that free moment to spare to gorge upon.

Have you guys read any other quick series that your recommend? What do you think about taking a break from the serious side of literature?

Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunked Kraken (Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunked Pirates #4) by Arabella Wyatt

So, most of this series so far has had a happy ending. But, this one not so much. It is more of a cliff hanger ending, which is different. No idea whether or not I like it, I guess it's like every cliff hanger you get pissed off and it really matters which path is goes on.

Also, Lady Mechatronic is acting more and more human. This is the book, probably the first one so far in the series which you could create a diagnostic essay on human nature, culture, so on and so forth. Is love--or really any emotions--what causes us to act the way we do? We really can't create any opinions on what is or is not the best solution to problems and the events of the day-to-day grind. We do what we want.

At least that is what I a
m taking out of this book, and personally I take it as a compliment. I do not want to be a computer. Emotionless, soulless, uninquisitive, and loose the magic of the unknown. Where would my imagination be? My Rambling would probably be categorized as run-on sentences with incongruent relationships to the previous statements. I would fail being a computer. I'm proud of that fact.

"I" beep "Am" beep "A" beep "Robot" beet. [Insert whirring and buzzing noises here]. It may be fun to pretend to be a robot when we're little. But what about now?

Would you prefer to be a human wracked with emotions or a robot? What did you take away from this book? Will you read this series? Any other mind-blowing ideas you have, leave them in the comment section below. Ramble to you later! 

Lady Mechatronic on the Cannibal island (Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunked Pirates #3) by Arabella Wyatt

So this may be my longest Rambling that has been cohesive and confusing about one topic. So award time to me, Longest Ramble ever goes to Caitlin Rambling (Please insert authoritative voice here). But now, I finally have an answer. So your long awaited answer is finally here, thank you for your patience. (That was a very redundant speech or build-up, I apologize for that).

I recommend this book, full-heartedly to any historical fiction lovers, romance chasers, action and adventure wannabes, science fiction stalkers, and steampunk wearers. Read this series. 

I believe my confusion and continued need to know the ending is what makes this a good book. If it gave it away in the first few pages, then that's just too easy. We all know books like that, when we know how it is going to end but we read it in hopes of a change, spur-of-the-moment catch-your-eye, 360 rotation, anything that will humor us in the mind-blowness of the end. However, I'm pretty sure it just fueled our smug-self of self-importance and intelligence. 

Anyway, back on the topic. This book may be short, but it is packed with unexpectedness, adventure, unknown, and anything your heart could desire. Let's not forget your eyes, the words and descriptions may not be poetry or Shakespeare content, but your eyes will swim through the perfectly placed adjectives, lace through the well-understood nouns, and dive into the sea of language.

Have you read this series, and what are your thoughts? Leave your ideas in the comment section below. Ramble to you later!

Journey to Pirate's Cove (Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunked Pirates) #2 by Arabella Wyatt

These are very short books, so you can finish them quickly and easily if you choose to read this series.

So far my Rambling has some points but not many.

1. I believe my curiosity for how this new theme of steampunk is what is fueling my continuation of this series. I wouldn't necessarily describe it as steampunk though, its more of a clash-up with science fiction--aliens and all that jazz--romance, and steampunk. However, isn't the endless curiosity of a story what drives people to fall in love with series? Should I fully recommend this series or not? Maybe by the end of the third book, I'll finally have an answer.

2. The romance aspect--for you romantic types--is a good enough reason to pick up this series, because your hearts will fawn over them.

What is your take on this series? Would you pick it up or not? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Ramble to you later.

Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunked Pirates by Arabella Wyatt

Well it is an interesting take on the rising theme steampunk, not what I'm used to, and for once in my life my Rambling will have no actual clear cut idea. I cannot yet decide whether I like this form or not.

So my opinions on this book will be short and sweet, since I completed it in less then two hours. It's an interesting take and the story line is new.

My intrigue has motivated me to begin the second book in the series, I hope by the end of that book I will have finally made up my mind on whether or not to recommend this book.

Have you ever been indifferent or unsure about a book or series your reading? Have you ever continued a book just in hopes of making up your mind? Share your views, ideas, and comments in the comment section below. I'm interested in your thoughts. Ramble to you next time.

Jennifer Donnelly

I want to take a moment to discuss an author, who I find to be wildly under-appreciated: Jennifer Donnelly.

I know I can't possibly be the only aficionado of historical fiction, I love historical fiction, most of my personal library is made up of historical fiction novels. Which is why, I am always shocked when numerous people do not know who Jennifer Donnelly is either.

I received the book Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly as a Christmas present about four years ago. This book was absolutely incredible; the characters are interesting, the plot is attention grabbing, and the writing itself is beautiful. I didn't feel as though I was forcing my eyes upon the words to continue the story, since my eyes consumed every printed word on the pages. After that book, I was hooked.

With my new author obsession at my side, I did my research. Found out she had a trilogy previously published. I went to my local Barnes and Noble (really where else can I go now of days) and bought the first one. I completely and totally fell in love with this series and characters, I breezed through it. The Rose series, is historical fiction with breakthrough characters and tales in the late 1800s, starting in England. I recommend this book to any historical fiction fans, romance fans, or action adventure fans.

What are your thoughts on Jennifer Donnelly and do you have any underrated authors? Leave a comment below.