Book of a Thousand Days- Shannon Hale

Book of a Thousand Days- Shannon Hale

From Goodreads- When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years for Saren's refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment.

As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. But the arrival outside the tower of Saren's two suitors—one welcome, and the other decidedly less so—brings both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows.

Based on a Brother's Grimm fairy tale "Maid Maleen", Book of a Thousand Days was both magical, and inspirational.

After refusing to marry Lord Kyasar, Lady Saran and her maid, Dashti, are imprisoned for seven years as punishment. They see light only through a small flap that they can push open, and have food that should last the seven years, but is quickly disappearing due to rats. Dashti quickly takes over trying to make everyday bearable for her, and her mistress, Lady saran. There is hope for both though, Khan Tegus.

I really enjoyed this book. Lyrically written, and wonderfully executed, this book is a joy to read. Adventure, perserverance, and love are all found in this pleasurable read. I love that Dashti is the main character, and that the story is told through her eyes. The girls are strong in this book, and that is always a plus in my book. Most important who doesn't like a good vs. evil fairy tale.

Final words, this is a great fantasy, that offers so much to it's readers. Looking forward to passing this on to my daughters.

Review of Cult Insanity- Irene Spencer

Cult Insanity- Irene Spencer


From the publisher- Life for Irene Spencer was a series of devastating disappointments and hardships. Irene's first book, Shattered Dreams, is the staggering chronicle of her struggle to provide for her children in abject poverty and feelings of abandonment each time her husband left to be with one of his other wives. Irene was raised to believe polygamy was the way of life necessary for her ticket to heaven.

The hard knocks of her environment were just the beginning of Irene's shocking tale. Insanity ran rampant in her husband's family and was the source of inconceivable events that unfolded throughout Irene's adult life. CULT INSANITY takes readers deeper into her story to uncover the outrageous behavior of her brother-in-law Ervil -- a self-proclaimed prophet who determined he was called to set the house of God in order -- and how he terrorized their colony. Claiming to be God's avenger and to have a license to kill in the name of God, Ervil ordered the murders of friends and family members, eliminating all those who challenged his authority.

For those who were gripped by Shattered Dreams, the rest of the story will blow them away. CULT INSANITY is a riveting, terrifying memoir of polygamist life under the tyranny of a madman.


Cult Insanity is the story of Evril Lebaron, the brother in law of author Irene Spencer, a ruthless psychotic man, who killled 25 people, including family and church members. Irene Spencer was warned by her family that the Lebarons were a insane family, little did she know how insane some were.

As it's mentioned above, Cult Insanity is a sequel to Shattered Dreams, but it is not necessary to have read Shattered Dreams before you read Cult Insanity. I've never read Shattered Dreams, but I want to now. I don't know much about the polygomy ways, but after reading this book I really want to know more. This book was a real eye opener to what goes on in these compounds, and i'm speechless that these women think this is what God wants.

There are several books out there about Evril (doesn't that sound so much like Evil) Lebaron, but none have that personal touch that Irene Spencer brings. I really felt her terror while she was out there in Northern Mexico living in such close proximity to Evril. The evilness of Evril is transparent in every page as the story digs deeper and deeper into the sick mind of Evril. Again i'm dumbfounded why anyone would put themselves in such harm's way, and feel like they have no choice but to live life that way.


Final words, this a gripping, disturbing book, and after reading it I defnitely want to know more about polygomy.

Sunday Salon

This week I manage to buy some new books, get to the library, and read a couple of books. It was the third week of school for the kids, and the permission slips for after school clubs are rolling in, which means I'm now on taxi mode. I'll be more in my car than at home starting now until Christmas break.

Books read this week- After having a slow start, I manage to read 4 books this week.

Falling for You- Jill Mansell, The Pre-nup- Beth Kendrick, Twenties Girl- Sophie Kinsella, and Impossible- Nancy Werlin. Twenties Girl was the one book that I really liked this week. Look for my review, I should be getting to it soon. I usually like Beth Kendrick's books but The Pre-nup wasn't very good, and I felt the same way about Falling for You.

Abandoned Books-This week I abandoned one book, Perfecting Kate by Tamara Leigh. Perfecting Kate is a christian lit book, I don't mind christian fiction books but this one was overly preachy. There wasn't a page that didn't have at least 4 mentions of religion.

Book bought or checked out - This week I bought 4 books, Twenties Girl- Sophie Kinsella, Revenge of the Spellmans- Lisa Lutz, The Rise and Fall of the Queen of Suburbia- Sarah May, and Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn- Sarah Miller. I checked out of the library, Impossible- Nancy Werlin, and put on hold South of Broad- Pat Conroy.

Currently Reading- I'm about to start Revenge of the Spellmans, and then I think I'll pick up Standing Still- Kelly Simmons

1001 Books Challenge- Every month I choose a book for my 1001 Books Challenge, so for September I've chosen from the 1900's list, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S. Thompson. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Have a great Sunday and Labor Day!

Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday is a weekly event hosted by Jenny of Take Me Away.

"It is the time each week to recognize those older books… an older book you’ve always wanted to read, or one that you have read and love; maybe one from your childhood; or review an older book -- how about even a classic!"

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From Amazon- The book that made Collins one of America's favorite authors sweeps readers from the sophisticated playgrounds of Europe to the glittering gambling palaces of Las Vegas, plunging into the world of the Santangelo crime family. The book introduces street kid Gino Santangelo, who makes it all the way to the top, and his beautiful and daring daughter, Lucky.

This book is a favorite of mine, and one of the best books i've read. I really typically don't read Jackie Collins novels, but as a teenager I would read whatever I could get my hands on. This book had everything, mobsters, casinos, love, greed, secrets, you name it. When I think back as a teenager I sure did read a lot of trashy novels.

No longer Wishing

As I was running around town today, shopping, I was thinking about my Wishful Wednesday post and deciding what book I was really wishing for. Well, I came up with two Twenties Girl, and Revenge of the Spellmans, so what did I do? I headed for the bookstore and bought them.

So on this Wednesday I'm no longer wishing for any books.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

From the Publisher:

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when -- or if -- it will go away.

Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens -- town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician's assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing -- even murder -- to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn't just short. It's running out.

This book has a whopping 1088 pages.

Out on November 10, 2009

Obsessing over Dirty Dancing

I've been obsessing with the movie Dirty Dancing lately, maybe its because I've been burnt out on reading, but I've watched this movie 3 times since Saturday night. This movie is one of my all time faves. When you know every word in a movie by heart, you know you have a problem.

I wish there was a book out there that had a similiar feel to it. Does anybody know of any? I'm desperate to find something that will really draw me in, and right now the only thing i'm not tired of is Dirty Dancing. LOL!






Again if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.