Introverted Reader

Captain Augustus McCrae: Character Connection

In Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove, Captain Augustus "Gus" McCrae, late of the Texas Rangers, has retired to life on a cattle ranch. His partner, Captain Woodrow Call, does all the work and Gus does all the drinking and talking. Gus is happy that way and, truth be told, so is Captain Call. Gus sits around and drinks all day, watching everyone else work, then ambles into town at night for a game of cards and/or a visit with the town prostitute, Lorie. Gus would be pretty content spending the rest of his days this way. When Captain Call decides that he's going to uproot everyone and drive a herd of cattle to Montana, Gus loudly huffs and puffs and complains, but he goes right along with him. And that's when we get to see what kind of man Gus really is. The man who's happy lazing around the ranch is definitely a part of him, but he is at his best in a saddle and on a trail. He talks and talks and talks to anyone who will listen and to many who wish he'd shut up. His sense of humor cracked me up! He doesn't let reclusive Captain Call withdraw completely. He keeps up the spirits of the younger men. He gives a few inspirational talks, but mostly he just aggravates them until they do what he thinks they should do. He has a very strong, well-defined sense of right and wrong. He does not hesitate to enforce the law, even when it would be easier to let things slide. Personal loyalties do not come before his oath to uphold order. He's had many love affairs and even a couple of marriages, but the woman he thinks of almost constantly is Clara. She's the "one that got away." He…

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February 7, 2013

Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L. A. Meyer: Book Review

Synopsis from GoodReads: After being forced to leave HMS Dolphin and Jaimy, her true love, Jacky Faber is making a new start at the elite Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls in Boston. But growing up on the streets of London and fighting pirates never prepared Jacky for her toughest battle yet: learning how to be a fine lady. Everything she does is wrong. Her embroidery is deplorable, her French is atrocious, and her table manners--disgusting! Then there's the small matter of her blue anchor tattoo. . . . Despite her best efforts, Jacky can't seem to stay out of trouble long enough to dedicate herself to being ladylike. But what fun would that be, anyway? I loved Jacky Faber when I read the first book in the series, Bloody Jack. Then I listened to the second book on audio. Holy cow! I'd heard these audiobooks were awesome but I really didn't understand until I picked one up for myself. Katherine Kellgren brought Jacky to life for me. Narrating in a Cockney accent that I loved, she crowed in triumph, cried in sadness, and took her with me on every emotion in between. It was amazing and a joy to listen to. I already felt this was a strong start to a series, but I will definitely be continuing in the audio format. I can't imagine separating Kellgren and Jacky now! I've waited too long to review this book, but from what I can remember, this second entry is darker than the first. Yeah, the more I think about it, parts got downright dark and creepy. I was seriously worried for Jacky. It was huge fun to see her in a group of proper young Boston schoolgirls. They don't know what hits them when Jacky walks in! We can all…

Cinder by Marissa Meyer: Book Review

4 Stars. I had my reservations about this. I love me a retold fairy tale, don't get me wrong. But it's all science-fictiony. Cyborgs? Androids? Not my thing. And then it's set in a future that sounds a little post-apocalyptic? Definitely not my thing. And yet, searching around for something mildly dystopian to read for a reading [...]

Bookish Miscellany

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Posted: Review: Coldwater by Mardi McConnochie [...]

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February 4, 2013

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls: Book Review

This is the story of Jeannette Walls's childhood growing up with a father who adored his children but who also neglected them shamefully and became downright scary when he drank. Her mother was a carefree spirit who couldn't be bothered to take care of her children. She thought it was good for them to learn to take care of themselves. The first story we get from Jeannette's childhood involves the horrible burns she sustained while cooking hot dogs for herself at the age of three. Childhood doesn't really get any better from there. I'm torn on rating this book. I read it in one day. I really couldn't put it down. But at the same time, this isn't the normal kind of book I read and I can't really say that I enjoyed it. I know that's not really the point with this kind of memoir, but I do typically choose to read for enjoyment. I don't really have much to say about it. I'm not a fan of non-fiction, but this did "read like fiction." I feel like I've read a memoir somewhat similar to this in the past. I know everyone's story is different, but I really think that reading the story of a charming alcoholic's daughter one time was enough for me. This was one time too many. I'd give it three stars except for the fact that I really did rip right through it. Reviewed November 30, 2008 Note: I read much more nonfiction these days, I'm proud to say! Read an excerpt. Buy The Glass Castle at Malaprop’s | Better World Books Friday Flashback Reviews are a weekly feature here on The Introverted Reader. These are old reviews I wrote on GoodReads. Thanks to Angieville and her Retro Friday Reviews for the inspiration and encouragement!…

Magyk by Angie Sage: Book Review

The seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a new born girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus? The first book in this enthralling new series by Angie Sage leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters and magykal charms, potions, and spells. Magyk is an original story of lost and rediscovered identities, rich with humor and heart. Another book I've waited too long to review... Magyk was a lot of fun to read! Funny and suspenseful, I kept turning the pages right through to the end. That means a lot when you consider that I read it while striding away on the elliptical machine at the gym. The Heap family reminded me a lot of the Weasleys--there were about a million of them, they were talented, and they were poor. But they loved each other a lot and that made everything okay. I guessed pretty early what was going on but this is a book written for the middle grades; they might not guess as quickly. I've had a lot of practice at this kind of thing! I need to track down the rest of the series soon. I need to see what's going to happen next! I recommend this for boys and girls from around the age of 10 and up. They should all tear through it the same way I did! Read an excerpt. Find author Angie Sage on Twitter and…

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty: Book Review

Captains Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call have retired from active duty in the Texas Rangers and tried to settle in to life as ranchers. When an old buddy shows up talking about how beautiful Montana is and how much land is available for ranching, Captain Call is seized with the idea of being the first man to drive cattle up there. He gathers a crew and, along with Gus and a handful of loyal workers, takes off to cover the 3000 miles to Montana. I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this western. I've read a few of them, and even a few of McMurtry's other novels, but I didn't love any of them the way I loved this. It was just so epic in scale, it gave me a sense of how the "frontier" must have felt back in the day. And yet all these people wandered in and out of each other's lives in a way that is almost unbelievable. In a way it makes sense--there weren't many people, so surely they would all know each other--but the sheer distance makes it feel improbable. I guess I'll never know. It does make for good storytelling. The story switches back and forth between a lot of characters, which is occasionally a turnoff for me. It mostly worked in this book though. I never cared about Elmira one bit and couldn't wait to move on when I got to her sections, but even she served a purpose in the big scheme of things. I never had any trouble keeping track of who was who. Each character was so distinct that there was no danger of confusing anyone. Gus was hands-down my favorite character. I'll probably write a blog post about him alone one of these days. He had…

Coldwater by Mardi McConnochie: Book Review

Author Mardi McConnochie imagines what the lives of the Brontë sisters would have been like if they had grown up on a remote island/penal colony off the coast of Australia. In this fictional tale, their father is the warden of the colony, paranoid to the point of madness and with a giant God-complex. He makes life hard for everyone on the island, including his daughters. Charlotte is the sensible one, Emily is overly sensitive with a large streak of the fey in her, and Anne is caught somewhere between them. The girls realize after their father is shot (it happens on the first page) that they need to try to take control of their own lives, and so they set about trying to earn money the only way they can--by writing. They know it's not a very practical plan when they live in Australia and all the publishers are in England, half a world a way, but what other hope do they have? Their father won't be around forever. I really don't know why this is rated so poorly on Goodreads because I thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe people are upset that the lives of these classic authors are so very fictionalized? I haven't read reviews yet to see what's going on. I love Jane Eyre and I tend to love Gothic stories. Seeing Charlotte Brontë in her own Gothic story was a treat for me. Emily irritated the heck out of me, but Wuthering Heights irritated the heck out of me too, so I thought she was well-represented. I haven't read any of Anne's work although I intend to. The island is so gloomy and atmospheric that it becomes a character in its own right. I felt so very bad for these sisters. Growing up alone like they have, they…

Bookish Miscellany

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Posted: Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys Review: Dog On It by Spencer Quinn Review: Across the Nightingale Floor: Journey to Inuyama by Lian Hearn Review: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield Readers' Workouts My sign up post for the Banned Books Reading Challenge Read: I didn't finish anything. They're all big books! Currently Reading: Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak, translated by Max Hayward and Manya Harari Cinder by Marissa Meyer, read by Rebecca Soler From Notting Hill With Love...Actually by Ali McNamara (Starts off so cute, I just went out and bought a copy for my mom for her birthday) Don't Know Much About Mythology by Kenneth C. Davis Up Next: I do believe that I will finally finish Don't Know Much About Mythology this week. It's been interesting enough to keep reading, but it has literally taken me four months to read it. Wow. I have The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring by Richard Preston lined up for my next nonfiction pick. What are you reading this week? I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop's, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and Better World Books. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.

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January 28, 2013

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield: Book Review

Vida Winter is called the Charles Dickens of her age. No one has ever been able to find out the story of her life. Any reporter who tries gets a beautiful story, but still, it's only a story. But now Vida is old and sick and she must share her story with the world. She chooses Margarate Lea, amateur biographer, to write the final story that everyone has been waiting for. I loved this! It has a very dark, gothic feel to it that reminded me of both Jane Eyre and Rebecca. Vida's story is full of twists and turns and is a delight to read. If you like the Bronte sisters, pick this one up. It's perfect for a dark and stormy day. Reviewed October 24, 2008 Read an excerpt. Buy The Thirteenth Tale at Malaprop’s | Better World Books Friday Flashback Reviews are a weekly feature here on The Introverted Reader. These are old reviews I wrote on GoodReads. Thanks to Angieville and her Retro Friday Reviews for the inspiration and encouragement! I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop's, my local independent bookstore located in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC; and Better World Books. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.