Mia is a normal 14 year old worried about her appearance, her friends and her algebra mark until she finds out she is next in line in the Principality of Genovia.
Now she must go through princess lessons and make-overs with her grandmere. She now has a bodyguard and gets driven to school in a limo. Is her date for the high school dance for real?
This is a cute book and reminds me of Georgia Nicholson. Mia, however is much more sensible and not nearly as flighty.
Rating: 
(3.5/5)
This is book number two in the princess diaries series. I realized, there are 13 books in this series! It goes on forever!!
This time, Mia has found out that her mom is pregnant and marrying her Algebra teacher. Mia can handle this, but what she can't handle is being forced to do a sit down television interview with one of prime time's biggest stars. She tries to get out of it but ends up making a fool of herself. Mia also has a secret admirer. Trying to juggle all these things, plus school, proves to be quite something!
In the previous book, Michael was made out to be completely in love with Mia (and Mia was clueless to it). Now it seems like it's the exact reverse. I wonder if this was just what Cabot thought would make the book easier to write or what. I'm sure somewhere down the road (in the next 11 books) they will get together, but unfortunately it just wasn't meant to be in this one.
Another fun book. Good readings for exam time because I don't have to be dedicated to the book or think that much when I'm reading it. Mia is quite the character, but I still enjoy Georgia Nicholson more.
Where this book was before me: New Albany, Indiana -> Me!
Rating:
(3.5/5)
Mia is a seemingly regular teenager. She worries about how she's taller than most of the guys she knows, her hair is somewhat triangular, and the fact that she has a flat chest. Like this isn't enough, Mia finds out that she is the princess of a small European country and in line for the throne. This causes her to have to be followed around by a bodyguard, take princess lessons from her mean old grandmother, and deal with the paparazzi. Talk about destroying a teenage life! Mia thinks she'll now never get a date to the upcoming dance.
This book is listed as book #99 on the BBC top 100 of all time. It just made the cut. I'm not quite sure why though. It's a cute and fun story, but not amazing literature. Actually, it sort of reminds me of the Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison, but Mia isn't as flighty as Georgia.
I have the next couple of books in the series though, so I'll continue to read them. It's a quick read and one that doesn't require much thought!
Where this book was before me: Hamburg, Germany -> New Albany, Indiana -> Me!
Rating:
(4/5)
McNally's Trial is a sequel book about Discreet Inquiror, Archy McNally. Archy is a bon vivant playboy who investigates for his father's clients. This time he is approached because a client's funeral homes are making too much money.
There are the requisite slime balls,beautiful women and rich folk. Archy, this time takes on an unpaid assistant,Binky. Binky is a dolt who somehow manages to help and not deep six the investigation.
Sanders actually had me wondering for a while with this one. One can not help but like Arch, rogue that he is and smile at some of the situations he finds himself in.
Rating:
(4.0/5)
This is a typical romance for big city boy meets small city girl and they fall in love. Boston Macnamera comes into Ohio's most haunted town, Cuttersville, from Chicago and he doesn't quite know why. His boss sent him to the local plastic company and for reasons unknown Boston is now stuck in this small city. He rents a home from Shelby Tucker's gran, which just happens to be along the haunted town tour that Shelby runs. Of course, once those two see each other it's instant lust. Then weird things start happening. Shelby and Boston get locked in rooms together where there are no locks. The spirits seem to be out to hook up Boston and Shelby, even though Boston believes that he is heading back to Chicago at any time.
This was a fun little fling book to read after a more serious read. It's not going to win any Pulitzers, but it suits a purpose. This book sets the reader up to only wonder when the couple will have sex, and when they will end up together. There were some fun parts in the book, and it was a quick read. If you're into romance, pick it up. Despite the pink cover, it's not really a chick lit book so don't be fooled!
Rating:
(3.5/5)
I really do love Ishiguro's style of writing. Ishiguro's description of places and events is so well done.
Masuji Ono was a renown artist who has retired after WWII. He was a political artist who now believes he made 'mistakes' in good faith. Ishiguro writes about Ono's reflection and his inner turmoil. Ono seems to not have suffered any consequences of his actions although a colleague did. Of course there is no 'good' answer to any of this.
The cultural differences between Japan and Canada are so fascinating to read about. Marraige negotiations,even relationships between people are so different. Personally I thought Ichiro was an ill-mannered little boy. But this is again obviously is a culturl difference
Rating:
(4.0/5)
The Big Love!!! Alison is looking for just that but she really can't define what the Big Love is.
Alison's first real boyfriend goes out for mustard at a dinner party and never returns. What a way to get dumped!! Alison must then find her way through the minefield of anger, confusion and desperation.
I found this book to be quite disjoint and often rambling. An interesting read but Alison is a bit too neurotic for me. I also found the ending was just too pat and not really explained
Rating:
(3.5/5)
Nancy Astley comes from a family of oyster farmers. For the first 19 years of her life she doesn't know much outside of the kitchen and life of an oyster farmer in the late 1800s. Her only source of fun is to visit the theatre every so often and catch live performances, until she sees Kitty Butler onstage dressed as a man. Nancy is immediately captured by Kitty's performance and spends the money on the train ride to see Kitty on stage many times until Kitty eventually invites Nancy into her dressing room. Nancy realizes that she is falling in love with Kitty, and sets out with Kitty to London, far away from her parents, as Kitty's dresser. What follows are the ups and downs of Nancy's life and how she finds herself and learns to love.
But, like so many, Nancy doesn't fall in love with the people that are right for her. She spends just as much time picking herself up as she does being happy. It's interesting to see her change her lifestyles so quickly to suit her lovers.
I'm really daft when it comes to symbolism in books, but Nancy really is like the oysters she shucked every day. Her exterior is rather rough, but with the right environment you can get at what you really want - a very interesting character.
The writing of this novel immediately captures you and keeps the pages turning. The descriptions are fantastic and almost lyrical. The characters are well drawn and quite realistic because they have so many flaws.
Rating:
(4.5/5)
There is a lot of controversy about A Million Little Pieces. Even Frey's stay in the treatment centre could evidently be a lie. Taking all that into consideration, this book is still worthy of attention.
Frey brings you down to the addict's level. There are very graphic descriptions of bodily functions or lack thereof; vomiting, bloody shit,etc.
Frey is adamantly against the 12 step program and one wonders if part of the reason for writing this book is too laud himself for 'beating' the drugs without the program.
There is a sickening description of a dental procedure done without novocaine. Why would any reputable dentist agree to do such a procedure?
Frey's writing style can be a little annoying to start with as he tends to write very short sentences and absolutely no paragraphs. It also gets a tad confusing as quotation marks are non-existent.
I found the book to be an interesting insight into an addict's recovery and treatment
Rating:
(4.0/5)
This is the third book in A Series of Unfortunate Events. Once again Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are put with a new guardian only to have Count Olaf showed up disguised to try and get their fortune. This time the orphans ended up at Aunt Josephine's place. Aunt Josephine is deathly afraid of, well, everything. From telephones to realtors to the oven - you name it, Aunt Josephine is scared of it. She's also a grammar fiend.
True to all other books in this series, there are cute ways of explaining words that children reading the series may not understand. Same thing for cliches that are used. This book was perfect for sitting in the waiting room at my dentist's office. A fun little series, I'm interested in seeing what else these 3 kids get up to!
Rating:
(3.5/5)
