The Lost City of Z- Review

Book: The Lost City of Z

Author: David Grann

Publisher: Doubleday

Goodreads Summary:

A grand mystery reaching back centuries. A sensational disappearance that made headlines around the world. A quest for truth that leads to death, madness or disappearance for those who seek to solve it. The Lost City of Z is a blockbuster adventure narrative about what lies beneath the impenetrable jungle canopy of the Amazon.

My thoughts:

Wow, who wouldn't want to read it after a build up like that!! I have always been interested in explorers, especially from this era of the gentleman explorer. I loved that men of that time period could go to school through the Royal Geographic Society and graduate as an "Explorer". How cool would that be? I can just picture this group of khaki clad men wearing pith helmets and smoking a pipe, roughing it out in the jungle but still remembering tea time. Or really, that is what I would like to imagine, since in reality these men did endure terrible conditions and harrowing situations. And, like Pecy Fawcett and his men and their quest for Z, some never returned from the "green hell".

I really loved this book. It was not an easy read, in parts I felt like I had to hack through areas with a machete myself to get through some sections, but for the most part I found it interesting and educational. I have a degree in history, so I actually do enjoy reading about the past. As I said, some of it was tough to get through. I didn't want to know quite so much back story on past expeditions, but I guess the author couldn't really tell much about the last one, since that is the mystery- what happened to Fawcett and his men? Grann pursues the answer to this question, following in the footsteps of other expeditions that hoped for the same thing- and all of these other expeditions died or disappeared as well, with only one exception in 1996, where the group managed to nearly escape with their lives. I wanted to read more about Grann's journey to the Amazon, and to his answer. The end felt kind of like an afterthought, to hurry and finish the book, by the time the novel really started discussing Grann. Maybe this is because we have made exploration so much easier, with our GPS systems, all-terrain vehicles, helicopters. The same things that make exploring easier and safer, kind of detracts from the over all adventure of it all.

The book was fascinating- the thing that got my attention the most was the accounts of the insects and how very destructive and dangerous they were to the intrepid who took their chances in the jungle. Fawcett was said to have a "freakish constitution", able to keep moving at a grueling pace, on an empty stomach, and did not fall prey to the psychotic fauna like the rest of his men. He was not sympathetic to those who could not handle as much as he could, and no one really could. They faced things such as maggots that will burrow in healthy flesh, malaria carrying mosquitoes, millipedes that will squirt cyanide, it seems that all the insects are lethal and made to kill you in terrible disgusting ways. There is even a "kissing bug" that bites you on the lips, and you don't feel the effects until twenty years later, when you have safely assumed you have survived the Amazon experience. And if the bugs don't kill you, the fish or the natives will. Or you will starve to death. Not a pleasant undertaking, when you look at all the potential ways you could die. These men were brave and ground breaking, and didn't profit well from it- or at least Fawcett didn't. His family was practically destitute, but he gave his life for science and the pursuit of knowledge, and the world gained from his bravery.

So did Grann find out what happened to Fawcett? You will have to read and see what you believe.

The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies - Review

Book: The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies

Author: Ammi-Joan Paquette

Illustrator: Christa Unzner

Publisher: Tanglewood

Reviewed for netGalley

Goodreads Summary:

What better way to celebrate the wonderful world of nature all around us than a hunt for local fairies? Children learn to spot the tell-tale signs of fairies in residence in this delightful mix of photos and illustrations. Then children can take their tracking skills outside to discover the magic in their own backyard.

My thoughts:

I really, really wanted to like this book. I love the concept of looking for fairies with children, how fun and magical! I was one of those kids who believed in fairies, and would spend time looking for them in my garden as a child. So, I was excited when I saw this book. Unfortunately, none of it worked for me. I absolutely did not like the mixture of drawn illustrations with photos, it turned me off, and I couldn't see the point of it. It made it seem more fake than real. The story had some cute moments, such as the fairies drying their wings by moonlight. But the rest of the book was creepy- I think if the illustrations had been handled differently, with drawings only, no photos, I would have like it better.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where you list the books you read last week and the ones you hope to read this week!

Read Last Week:

Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie: Leftover from my Crusie Craze from two weeks ago. I felt I needed to finish this one. I read it when I needed to take a break from Z, and I really enjoyed it. I liked the idea behind the story, that these women were tired of living for or through someone, and had decided to take their own lives into their hands. Nell kind of bothered me- I felt sorry for Gabe. She was pushy and aggressive, not assertive.

The Lost City of Z by David Grann: This was our book club book, (which I write about on my other blog) and I was right, it did take up most of my concentration for reading last week. Review forthcoming on this blog hopefully today or tomorrow.

Currently Reading:

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - My mom gave me this book to read, she loved it. I read the back and it does sound like a book I would enjoy. I have this weird obsession with India, I am looking forward to reading it this week.

The Bucolic Plague by Josh Kilmer-Purcell - My friend Valerie recommended this one after we read Farm Life. I have been waiting weeks for it to come in from the library, and it finally did! I had to finish Z before I could dive into, which I plan to do very shortly.

It's Monday, What are you reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila atBook Journey where you list the books you read last week and the ones you hope to read this week!

Read last week:

I know, I went a little Crusie crazy last week! I was very sick last week with a high fever, and when I woke up long enough to read, I only felt like reading these books. I enjoyed them all very much, they were a great distraction and were entertaining.

Currently Reading:

This is our book club book for the month - I am very excited to read it! I am focusing only on this book this week, as I want to finish it, and I feel that it will take all my concentration.

Wolf Camp - A Review

Book: Wolf Camp

Author: Katie Mcky

Illustrator: Bonnie Leick

Publisher: Tanglewood

Goodreads Summary:

In a delightful mix of intrigue and humor, a young girl named Maddie goes to a Wolf Camp and comes back with disturbing new habits--wolf-like habits. Kids will be fascinated with the idea of transformation into an animal, and parents will recognize the sense of change their children undergo at summer camp.

I apologize for the sudden rash of picture books! I am catching up on my netgalley reviews.

What did I think?

I absolutely loved this book! The illustrations were brilliant - they seemed old fashioned yet modern. And the details were fantastic- from the longing in Maddie's eyes when she wanted to eat the grasshopper to the bits of leaves and sticks in her hair when she returned home from camp (and the rest of the year). I didn't like that she scared the collie - and the picture of him being afraid was too realistic for me! Poor baby. I did like that he kept one eye open around her after that. The story itself was cute - it reminded me of my own "wild" days of childhood, roaming the outdoors and overactive imagination. I think all kids would like this book, and I can picture them getting in touch with their inner wolves after hearing it, so parents, grandparents, and teachers watch out!

The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Frères - Review

Goodreads Summary:

Every day, Chef Marcel and his sons recite the recipe for the famous cheese soup of the Bistrot des Sept Freres--the trendiest mouse cafe in all of Paris. But when a culinary judge is due to arrive and Chef Marcel has run out of his secret ingredient, it is Petite Michelle who saves the day. This adorable story and whimsical illustrations of Marie LeTourneau will delight children, while providing une petite lecon on the language and culture of France.

What did I think?

Well, I thought it was cute! I thought the illustrations were beautifully done, I thought the character introductions were well presented, and I loved the French pronunciation guide for the French words in the story. I am a huge Francophile, so I was so excited to read this book, which I read through netGalley. And I think illustrations of mice are super cute too. I can easily see this book being checked out over and over in our school library. Very whimsical, very endearing, reminded me somewhat of Ratatouille.

A Great and Terrible Beauty- Review

Goodreads Summary:

A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.'

And what did I think?

I really liked it! It did remind me a lot of the movie The Craft, just set in a boarding school in Victorian England rather than wherever The Craft took place. I found myself thinking more about this thrown together group of friends than the central plot. While the girls occupied rather stereotypical roles at first, they began to evolve and grow. They started out as the pretty one (Pippa), the clever one (Ann), the charming one (Felicity), and the mysterious one, Gemma, the main character - or so Felicity describes them one emotionally wrought night. By the end of the book, through Gemma's eyes we see them as much more than these one dimensional characters. Pippa demonstrates a control over her own life, making her own choices; we see that while Felicity is power hungry she is filled with pain; Gemma begins to battle her own guilt over her mother's death; and Ann- ok I am not sure how Ann grew as a character. Although they are friends, they still can be awfully horrid and manipulative as well. (And as a small side note, I love the names Gemma and Pippa!)

The love story in this seems to be just getting off the ground- the question remains, will Gemma and Kartik become an item? We shall see.

The magic and mystery plot line, which was the main plot, was a little thin - I enjoyed it, I just wish it had had a little more force and oomph behind it. I did enjoy the mystery surrounding the diary however - which revealed a shocking secret!

I am looking forward to reading the second in the trilogy, Rebel Angels. I don't think I will begin it right away, I will wait for my friends to catch up, since I read this book as part of a "secret" online young adult book club. Just a few friends indulging in young adult fiction. Four of us actually. Hmmm.