I want to start off this review by saying, the description on the back is completely misleading. I bought this book assuming I would learn about Pilate and more about Jesus being crucified, but that didn't take place until the last 20 or so pages of the 368 page book! Although the back summary was misleading, all in all it was a great book. It lead me to Google Pilate and learn a great amount about the Roman Empire. One large downfall of this novel is the timing. As I mentioned, the main focus of the book didn't take place until the very end, so less-meaningful events were often stretched out while important details were rushed. I think May would have done much better with a short series rather than one novel.

Basic Synopsis: The main character of this book is a girl named Claudia who is the daughter of Roman royalty. What makes Claudia unique is her "sight". All of Claudia's dreams happen to come true. Drawn to goddess Isis, (much against her fathers wishes) she becomes an initiate and a follower. Soon after she meets a man named Pilate and becomes quickly enamored by him, leading her to cast a love spell for his affections.  Her spell is successful and the couple is married shortly after. After her marriage, Claudia quickly starts to realize that her husband is unfaithful and finds solace in the couples young daughter. Claudia starts losing all of her family members at once due to conflict within the empire, which leads her into the arms of a handsome gladiator from her past. After a mandatory move to Judea, Claudia meets a Messiah, the self-proclaimed "King of Jews" named Jesus, who becomes the focus of her visions. She goes on to tell Pilate of her dreams of death and crosses surrounding Jesus, but as history goes on to tell, Pilate doesn't listen.

My Rating: I give this book a 3.9 out of 5 stars. If it wasn't for the sometimes rushed or lengthy writing, I would've given it a full 5. The way the author describes woman's roles in the Roman empire makes this a very fascinating read.

So a local library is having a spring cleaning book sale and of course I over indulged in books. I went three days in a row and decided to show you which books I picked up on each day! :)

*Since I'm currently going through a severe historical-fiction phase, I've bolded all of the historical-fiction books!*

Tuesday:
"The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver. $2.50
"The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. $1.50

Wednesday:
"Spells of Enchantment" by Jack Zipes. (This is a collection of rare western fairy tales). $2.00
"An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobglobins, Brownies, Bogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures" by Katharine Briggs. $2.00
"The Accidental Bestseller" by Wendy Wax. $0.60
"Atonement" by Ian McEwan. $0.60
"Pilate's Wife" by Antoinette May. $1.25 (Currently reading).
"Midnight Never Come" by Marie Brennan. $1.25
"The Birth of Venus" by Sarah Dunant. $2.00

Thursday (today):
"Sepulchre" by Kate Mosse. $1.50
"The Fellowship of The Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien. $0.75
"The Russian Concubine" by Kate Furnivall. $0.75
"Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See. $0.75


Happy Reading! <3

This past weekend was full of reading binges, the first of which being on Friday when I completely attacked The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter. I honestly read this book solely because the cable was out and I had nothing better to do, but I then realized it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. This book is slightly forgettable and definitely doesn't have the writing, but based on pure entertainment factor it was a winner. If you love Greek Mythology and indulging in Young Adult romance, this is the book for you.

Basic Synopsis: The story is based around a high school senior named Kate whose mother is quickly dying of cancer. As per her mother's last wish, she and her pack up everything to move to the town where she grew up, named Eden. Kate is soon befriended by a man named Henry who is claiming to be Hades, God of the Underworld. Henry tells Kate that if she agrees to live with him for 6 months of the year, he will save her mother. Kate agrees knowing that she cannot lose her mother, not realizing that she still has to pass seven "Goddess Tests" to see if she is worthy of ruling the Underworld and being Hades' new Persephone.

My Rating: I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars. The rating is average because while being somewhat predictable, it was highly entertaining. I will definitely add this book to a list of Guilty Pleasures that I will read more than once. :)

I consider myself a lover of all books, but every once in a while a book comes along that I just can't get over it. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden is definitely one of books. I acquired this book long ago and just recently decided to give it a chance. The first few paragraphs were bland and I wasn't sure about it, but once I got past them I literally could not put the book down! 499 flew by over the course of only one day!

Brief Synopsis: Based in the 1920's, the novel focuses on a girl named Chiyo who lives with her sister, ill mother and aging father in a poor town called Yoriodo. Chiyo is described as beautiful with her strange blue eyes, while her sister (6 years her senior) is considered 'pudgy' or 'average'. Chiyo's father soon sells the girls to a man named Mr. Tanako, a man they think they can trust. Mr. Tanako then sells Chiyo to an okiya ( a Geisha House) and her sister is sent to a brothel because she isn't nearly as good looking as her sister. Chiyo's life in the okiya becomes almost unbearable with the senior Geisha Hatsumomo causing her great misery. Chiyo finds her sister Satsu and they hatch a plan to run away together, but Chiyo gets caught and she never see's her sister again. The story then goes on to tell of Chiyo's hardships in the okiya and how she eventually puts her past behind her and becomes the breathtaking Geisha known as Nitta Sayuri.

Rating: I give this book 5 stars out of 5. This is a book I will always consider one of the best books I've ever read.

So my post today is a matter of opinion; when is it time to completely stop reading Young Adult novels? I'm 21, should I have outgrown this genre completely? I would love to hear what everyone else thinks :)

I have decided that the next book I am going to read (for the challenge) is "The Hobbit" by J R R Tolkien. I would love to hear everyone's book suggestions! Leave them in the comments below :) XO

I have just finished reading, "Lone Wolf" By Jodi Picoult. The book had 421 pages and amazingly beautiful cover art. As Jodi Picoult is my favorite author, her books generally take me about two days at most to finish. However with this book, it too me much longer. I think because of the subject matter I wasn't allowing myself to get as close to the characters as I needed to be, because of how painful it was.

The book deals with the issue of life support and when is the appropriate time to remove a family member's life support. After a car accident, Cara's father, Luke, is on life support and decisions must be made about his life. Since Cara is only 17 and under the legal age her absent brother Edward is summoned from Thailand to make the decision, after being absent from the family for 6 years following a fight with Luke. The book is bland at parts, and excruciatingly painful at others. The only time I cried this hard over a book was when Dumbledore died.

I cut this short because as with Jodi Picoult's books, there are many surprises and I promised to leave out spoilers.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. 

Last night as I was laying in bed I was thinking that there are just some series that I have  to re-read. One of the series that stuck out the most was Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events". I bought the first book at my school's book fair back when it was first published and devoured it and then devoured the rest of the series as they were released. I am so excited to re-read this series!

Also I've realized that unless I get my ass in gear there is no way I am going to meet my goal of 50 books in 2012, sooo I made a daily goal. Everyday I have to read a minimum of 100 pages. :)

Videos will be filmed today!

I was at my parents house today and decided to skim through my book shelf, where I found my favorite book from my childhood: "Dangerous Angels" by Francesca Lia Block. I am SO excited to re-read it! I am also filming my first youtube video tonight :)

2012 Book Challenge!

I have decided to partake in the 2012 reading challenge! This challenge consists of me setting a goal for the total number of books I'm going to read this year, and hopefully completing my goal. I have set my goal to be 40 books, but I'm quite nervous that I wont reach it unless I start some heavy reading soon! I also plan on making a you tube channel that is completely focused on my books. :)

Here is a list of the books I've read already this year:

1. "To Ride a Silver Broomstick"- Silver RavenWolf
2. "The Hunger Games"- Suzanne Collins
3. "Wicca: A guide for the solitary practitioner"- Scott Cunningham

As you can see I really need to work harder. Right now I am reading "Lone Wolf" by Jodi Picoult and as with any of her books, I'm sure I'll become hooked and read it in a matter of hours.

Happy Readings!