"Goddess of Spring" by P.C. Cast

I first got hooked on P,C. Cast by reading the House of Night books (I still love them and am looking forward to the release of the next one).  Since then I've read a lot of Cast's books.

"Goddess of the Spring" is part of her "Goddess Summoning" book set.  All of these books take myths or fairy tales and mix them up with modern women and love stories.

"Goddess of the Spring" sees the spring goddess Persephone, changing places with a bakery owner from Oklahoma.  Not only does she get mixed up in the world of gods and goddesses, she also gets sent on a mission to the underworld.  Trust me, after this book hell will seem hot and steamy for totally different reasons.

This isn't mythology as you know it, and it's not trying to be academic or historic.  Mostly the book is just a lot of fun.

To read my review of "Goddess of Spring" by P. C. Cast, click here.
To visit Cast's official website, click here.

"The Time of Singing" by Elizabeth Chadwick

I'm a sucker for a good historical novel.  I love the combination of historical fact and historical plausibility, and how we get the feeling of a period rather than just the facts.  If you're interested in fiction set during the Middle Ages, then I'd recommend "The Time of Singing" by Elizabeth Chadwick.  The novel spans a longish time period with a lot of characters and a lot of historical information.  Chadwick managed to take all of this information and story line (and it's a lot), and weave it together into a coherent and gripping novel.

To read my longer review of "The Time of Singing" by Elizabeth Chadwick, click here.
To visit Elizabeth Chadwick's official website, click here.

If you enjoy "The Time of Singing", I recommend reading Elizabeth Chadwick's other fantastic novels set during the Middle Ages.  I would also recommend Philippa Gregory and Posie Graeme-Evans's novels.  I haven't read anything by the following authors (yet), but I've been told they write in the same genre: Margaret George, Rosalind Laker, Alison Weir.

"Northanger Abbey" by Jane Austen

Having recently reread "Pride and Prejudice", I've been thinking about Jane Austen.  Although I'm very familiar with her life and work, I realized that I had never actually read "Northanger Abbey". 

For some reason, "Northanger Abbey" seems to be the forgotten one of Austen's books.  I can't even count how many movies, plays, books and songs have been inspired by her more popular novels (especially "Pride and Prejudice"), but I can't think of any references to "Northanger Abbey".

In some ways, "Northanger Abbey" is classic Jane Austen.  We have a heroine who is good-hearted, but also realistically imperfect.  The novel is full of period information ranging from the fashionable areas of Bath to simple matters of propriety.  The story is focused on mainly domestic settings with a small group of characters.  As usual, there's a love story that includes a few misunderstandings but ends happily.

In other ways, "Northanger Abbey" is unique among Austen's work.  There is a self-conscious narrator.  At times the narrator (assumed to be the author) interjects and speaks directly to the reader.  There are also discussions inserted into the novel.  For example, there is a whole discussion on novels and readership (a theme that is continued through the story as well).

Reading it I can understand why it has not been received as enthusiastically as some of Austen's other novels.  The main character, for example, is slightly younger and more naive.  For most of the novel she is fairly passive and lets the other characters control the action.  Her main love interest is about a decade older than her (not surprising given the time period), but he seems intent on teaching rather than wooing her.  Indeed, one of her main attractions seems to be that she is eager to please him and agree with whatever he tells her (even if it's what her opinion should be).  Perhaps another time I'll go into a longer feminist reading of "Northanger Abbey" as there's plenty of interesting points to discuss. 

Despite not finding it her best novel, I did enjoy reading "Northanger Abbey".  The highlight of the novel, for me, was Austen's use of irony and sarcasm.  If you pay attention, the book is actually very witty and full of humour.

The Sweetheart Season by Karen Joy Fowler

Since I read a lot, I'll read pretty much anything that catches my attention or is recommended to me.  I'll often go to the library and check if they have any other books by an author I've enjoyed before. 

This is how I found the book "The Sweetheart Season" by Karen Joy Fowler.  Like millions of readers (especially women and book clubs) around the world, I read Fowler's popular The Jane Austen Book Club.  Having read that novel, I was curious about Fowler's other works.

"The Sweetheart Season" was written before "The Jane Austen Book Club", and you can tell.  It's just not as good.  It was thought out and planned, but Fowler just didn't develop the characters as well.  The main problem with the novel is that you just don't care.  I kept thinking that I would get involved at some point, but it never happened.  Reading the book was a test of perseverance, and I never gained an interest in the setting, story, or characters.

For another review of "The Sweetheart Season", click here or here.
To visit Karen Joy Fowler's website, click here.