Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.
Happy Monday!
I have had a glorious day working in the garden in the sunshine. It is so nice to finally have some sun and no rain! I am really hoping to actually use my garden this year so I am working hard to tame it so I can happily sit in the sunshine reading a good book during the summer. There is a lot of work to do before I get to this stage.
My chosen book to feature off my TBR this week is one that I bought relatively recently and hope to read soon.
334 BC. Alexander the Great is just twenty-one years old when he sets out with a small army to challenge Persia, the largest and most powerful empire in the world.
Together, his Macedonian army marches East into the unknown – winning battles against overwhelming odds, storming impregnable fortresses from the Aegean through to India.
But there is another Alexander. Prince of the Macedonian royal house of Lyncestis, he becomes Alexander the Great’s general and most trusted friend.
Alexander of Lyncestis is between this friendship and the duty to avenge his murdered brothers. And he is under threat, too. Others – Persians, Greeks, Macedonians – see him him as a rival for the throne. For six years of conspiracy and battle, his life hangs by a thread.
I hope everyone has had a nice weekend. This week has been slightly better on the blog front and a lot better on the reading front. I definitely managed more blogging this week than I did last week.
Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It is all about sharing the books that you have recently added to your bookshelves. These books can be physical books, ebooks and of course audiobooks.
Hello!
I’ve been really good so far this month with my book buying and I have only bought one book so far, which arrived this week. I am currently reading Blade Breaker so I am hoping to get to this book once I finish it. I am really enjoying this series so far so I thought I had better buy the next book so it is ready to read.
I have managed a good amount of reading today which has been nice.
My chosen poem this week is by the American poet Emily Dickinson (1830-1886).
A Light Exists in Spring
A light exists in spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad On Solitary Fields That Science cannot overtake, But Human Nature feels.
It waits upon the Lawn, It shows the furthest Tree Upon the furthest Slope you know; It almost speaks to you.
Then, as Horizons step Or Noons report away Without the Formula of sound It passes, and we stay -
A quality of loss Affecting our Content, As Trade had suddenly encroached Opon a Sacrament -
The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?
Hello!
I had a great day reading yesterday but this was sadly because I had caught some sort of bug and felt really rough so all I did was curl up on the sofa and read my book.
What I am Currently Reading
I’m still plodding along with The Fires of Heaven and I am really enjoying it so far. I read the first 100 pages of Blade Breaker yesterday and couldn’t put it down, sadly I haven’t done so well today but that is due to work.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it a really clever read. Here is my review if anybody is interested.
What I Think I will Read Next
As per usual I have no real idea what I want to read next but I am craving a nonfiction read so I might go down that route.
Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Blurb
Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman.
Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers.
The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities.
All of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction.
For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.
Review
Why did I take so long to read this book? This book sat on my TBR for so long and I really can’t tell you why because I am yet to find a book by Moreno-Garcia that I haven’t loved. It took me quite a long time to finish this book but that was because this thing called work kept getting in the way of my precious reading time.
This book is a really clever take on the H. G. Wells story called The Island of Doctor Moreau. I loved this refreshing new take on a classic and I thoroughly enjoyed the feminist twist that Moreno-Garcia included.
I really enjoyed how this book was told between Carlota’s and Montgomery’s perspectives but that was also one thing that slightly let this book down for me because some chapters I found too repetitive. Carlota was a very interesting and unconventional character who was both beguiling and annoying at the same time. It was very hard to make her out at times but all became clear as the story continued.
Montgomery was a very sad character who had many demons lurking that were created by his extremely tragic back story. The man had hardly known a moment of happiness or peace in his life but to me he was a fascinating character who really added to the story. He was loyal, he was sensitive, he was kind and understanding and cared for others but he was also brash and hard with a temper.
This book was very much a slow burner for me but I didn’t mind that as it just added to the feeling of suspense. This book was a great historical fiction read with a sci-fi twist that really felt like a classic sci-fi story just like Wells. Moreno-Garcia did brilliantly at keeping the original feeling of a Wells sci-fi novel but with a modern edge and I loved it. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.
(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)
About the author
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of several novels, including Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. She has also edited a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu’s Daughters). Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination.
I hope everyone has had a good weekend. I am afraid this week I have been pretty poor at updating my blog. I have just really struggled for time and energy but I am hoping next week things will be better. My reading hasn’t been very good either so I am hoping I improve there as well.
I hope everyone has had a good week so far. I’m hoping for some serious reading tomorrow whilst the husband watches the Grand Prix.
My chosen poem this week is by the American author and poet Ella Higginson (1862-1940).
Four-leaf Clover
I know a place where the sun is like gold, And the cherry blooms burst with snow, And down underneath is the loveliest nook, Where the four-leaf clovers grow.
One leaf is for hope, and one is for faith, And one is for love, you know, And God put another in for luck - If you search, you will find where they grow.
But you must have hope, and you must have faith, You must love and be strong - and so - If you work, if you wait, you will find the place Where the four-leaf clovers grow.
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have managed a few bits of reading today but not as much as I would like. I really just want some big reading sessions.
My chosen quote today is by the author Roald Dahl (1916-1990).
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
Lady Book Dragon 