Roses by Leila Meacham {Review}

Let me preface this by saying that I had never read a historical novel before. Not ever. All the required reading in high school was passed up by me. I was never interested in historical books as I thought them to be boring. Roses may have opened me up to an entire new genre. I picked this book up at the library on a whim. It was meant to offset my checking out of crime books. The cover captivated me with its use of rose petals surrounding the title and a rather elegant font. There is a quote on the cover comparing it to Gone with the Wind. It just so happens that I am obsessed with Gone with the Wind. I was sold hook, line, and sinker.

Characters: Mary Toliver                          Miles Toliver                   Rachel Toliver     

             

                  Amos Hines

                Percy Warwick                            Ollie DuMont                  Matthew Warwick

The novel starts off with an elderly Mary Toliver delivering Amos Hines revisions to her will. Right off the bat with disagreements being mentioned about the revisions, you know that there is going to be drama. It is vague as to what the revisions are. Mary holds some stipulations about her decision but concludes that it is for the best. However, she wishes to tell her great-niece about the history prior to her death. Before she can do that, Mary is lead down a path of memories and heartache.

The relationship between the characters is fluid and runs smoothly. With all the consequences of Mary’s decisions, you can feel the anguish each of the characters go through. I developed a strong connection for each of them, especially Percy. He makes some rough choices of his own that make you want to grab him and shake some sense into him. Oh gosh, Percy and his love for Mary. That was something else.

I feared for Rachel and how the will would affect her life. As I saw it unfold, I wanted to take her in my arms and shake some sense into her. I know why she felt the way she did and don’t blame her for it. Just the way Rachel went about it was very frustrating. Then again, she is related to Mary. Tolivers and stubbornness go hand in hand.

Location: Howbutker, Texas (various time periods)

Even though the years changed, the location remained the same. The way it was described in the book, I had a clear vision of what I believed the town to look like. I transported myself there a few times whilst reading it. Coming from a Texas town myself, I found the location to be highly realistic. The characters also meshed well with the location.

I give this book 5/5 stars. A more in-depth review will be going up on my YouTube channel soon.

#FridayReads •may 31, 2013•

The Fault in Our Stars Review pt. 2

General: I will admit that I was a bit iffy upon reading this book. I tend to not read books that have been hyped up in fear that they won't meet my expectations. Let me just say that TFiOS met my expectations. It fell a few notes short of surpassing them.

I'm not a crier when it comes to books. But, I skimmed a few pages and found out what happened in the end. Even with my knowing, I was still moved to the point of tears and goosebumps. This is one book I would definitely recommend. The characters don't let their illness define them. They, instead, defy it with their courage, knowledge, and keeping the light in their lives. John Green has earned himself a new fan. I can't wait to read his other works.

Characters: I loved the bond that Hazel shared with Augustus. You could feel the genuine love between them. It wasn't like the typical puppy love that most teenagers have. This was the real deal kind of love. The one where you hope and pray that everything goes right when you know that it's star-crossed. The relationship between them was right off the bat amazing. Their interactions with one another was real. The only thing that got to me was the way they spoke, so highly intellectual. Then, I thought about it. The reason they speak with such intellect and knowledge is because they aren't normal. Their lives have caused them to mature in a way that has shaped them into a new form. They've had to grow up way too fast to understand what is going on with and around them. 

Story: As Hazel had said about An Imperial Affliction, this is not "another cancer story". I mean technically, it is. But, if we're getting past the technicalities, it isn't. What makes it different than all the other books about an illness or disease is the way they overcome it. Yes, if you've read TFiOS, you know that I don't mean it literally. It's the way they overcome cancer by defying it. Sure, these kids know they have this illness that can potentially end their lives sooner than most. But, they take it with such courage and bravery. They continue living their lives as normal kids, not once succumbing to the whole "poor me" thing. Even when it seems like death may be knocking at their door, they greet Him and are ready to go. It takes a certain kind of courage, that most people will never have, to do that.

The Fault in Our Stars Book Review

Quotes: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

"I enjoy looking at beautiful people, and I decided a while ago not to deny myself the simple pleasures of existence."

"What a slut time is. She screws everybody."

"I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself he simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you."

"It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you."

"I will not tell you our love story, because --like all real love stories-- it will die with us, as it should."

"I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful."

"Funerals, I had decided, are for the living."

"It was... It was nice to spend time with someone so interesting. We were very different, and we disagreed about a lot of things, but he was always so interesting, you know?"

"He wasn't perfect or anything. He wasn't your fairy-tale Prince Charming or whatever. He tried to be like that sometimes, but I liked him best when that stuff fell away"

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations"

"You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices. I hope she likes hers."

Bath and Body Works Haul