Review: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Title: The Handmaid's Tale
Author: Margaret Atwood
Format: e-book (Kindle edition)
Read: June 24-27
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes

Summary: In this multi-award-winning, bestselling novel, Margaret Atwood has created a stunning Orwellian vision of the near future. This is the story of Offred, one of the unfortunate 'Handmaids' under the new social order who have only one purpose: to breed. In Gilead, where women are prohibited from holding jobs, reading, and forming friendships, Offred's persistent memories of life in the 'time before' and her will to survive are acts of rebellion. Provocative, startling, prophetic, and with Margaret Atwood's devastating irony, wit, and acute perceptive powers in full force, The Handmaid's Tale is at once a mordant satire and a dire warning. (Pulled from Goodreads)

Review: A classic and among one of those books that had been challenged repeatedly for many reasons.  I enjoy reading banned books, and going WTF at some of the reasons that are given for their "challenges."

There are so many questions left unanswered by the end of the book that I wish there were more.  The cliff-hanger had me simply staring at the book for several moments going..."That's it?..There's nothing more?"

Oh well, another "banned/challenged" book tossed into my epic pile of books.  There will be others..oh, yes, there will be others.  This is just a basic review and I will eventually be adding more to it as time goes on I think.

This review will soon also be available on my blog: <a href="http://caedyslibrary.blogspot.com">Confessions of a Bibliophile</a>.

What's On My Kindle? Episode 2

Welcome to the second edition of What's On My Kindle?

What exactly is What's On My Kindle? This is my own little thing that I am going to be getting out every Saturday or Sunday (depending on what the evil thing known as RL does to me).  Within this post I'll list a few of the books that are currently on my TBR list on my Kindle.  Some are freebies (or were when I bought them), and others I paid for with gift cards, or had a few spare bucks to spend on a book.

All of them, I fully intend on getting to, at some point (and taking a massive chisel to my to-read list and hopefully hack it down to under 1000, again).

No particular order this time, a variety of books from my "unsorted/to be read" category on my Kindle. Trust me, there are a lot of them, and this only glosses over the surface of the archives (as the account my Kindle is connected to is shared by 2 other Kindle users).  Enjoy!

AMERICAN GODS - Who doesn't love Neil Gaiman? Anything Neil Gaiman is WIN in my book.  Days before his release from prison, Shadow's wife, Laura, dies in a car crash.  On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America.

TEN TINY BREATHS - Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is the first book in the Ten Tiny Breaths series.

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER - This novel by Stephen Chbosky, is now a major motion picture.  I'd gotten it because I've heard mixed reviews about both the book and the movie, and when I get those I like too see about things myself.  High School freshman, Charlie, is shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years and socially awkward.  He is a wallflower, and trying to navigate his way through first dates, mix tapes, family dramas, new friends, and even The Rocky Horror Picture Show! The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

THE GREAT GATSBY - What isn't to like about this story?! I loved it when I read it in high school, and I love it even now.  Eventually, I will see the new remake of this movie with Leo, and not because it has Leo in it.

THE COINCIDENCE OF CALLIE AND KAYDEN - There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.  This is the first book in the coincidence series by Jessica Sorensen.  Callie does not have luck on her side when she turns twelve and everything was stolen from her.

What's On My Kindle? - Episode 1

Welcome to the first edition of What's On My Kindle?

What exactly is What's On My Kindle? This is my own little thing that I am going to be getting out every Saturday or Sunday (depending on what the evil thing known as RL does to me).  Within this post I'll list a few of the books that are currently on my TBR list on my Kindle.  Some are freebies (or were when I bought them), and others I paid for with gift cards, or had a few spare bucks to spend on a book.

All of them, I fully intend on getting to, at some point (and taking a massive chisel to my to-read list and hopefully hack it down to under 1000, again).

The books that I'm featuring today are all by the epic YA author David Estes.  Two of his series, are my favorites, and an anthology that I will be reading as well that has stories by several phenomonal YAauthors, most of which I've read at least something by.  I encourage you to check out David Estes if you love YA books!

THE MOON DWELLERS - First book in David Estes second series, YA Dystopian.  In a desperate attempt to escape destruction decades earlier, humankind was forced underground, into the depths of the earth, creating a new society called the Tri-Realms.  In this series we meet Adele, a seventeen-year-old middle class member of the Moon Dwellers, who is sentenced to life in prison for her parents crimes of treason.

THE STAR DWELLERS - Second book in the Dweller's Saga by David Estes.  This series is his second series, and definitely a great read.  If you love YA Dystopian, then this series is for you.  Adele, after rescuing her father and younger sister, is forced to leave her family and Tristan behind to find her mother.

THE SUN DWELLERS - Third book in the Dwellers Saga by David Estes.  YA Dystopian novel.  In this book, Adele must embark on a secret mission to the Sun Realm to assassinate the president, and uncover secrets about her relationship with Tristan that she is not yet ready to face.

FURTHERMORE - An anthology of stories from YA authors Rebekah Campbell, David Estes, Amber Garr, Karen Amanda Hooper, Stephanie Judice, and Leigh Michael.  A first date, a lottery, treachery and deceit.  Eighteen original stories will take you through worlds here and beyond, depths of the earth and the embrace of the sea.  Proceeds from the sale of this Anthology go to cancer research and support.

ARCHANGEL EVOLUTION - Third book in the Evolution series by David Estes.  This series gives us a new look on the way that angels and demons were created.  While Taylor is getting used to her evolution, the Archangel Council has uncovered a bold new secret, on that will allow them to finally defeat the demons.  I highly recommend this series if you love YA paranormal.ANGEL EVOLUTION, DEMON EVOLUTION

Moving Is An Adventure

So I am moved.

Everything is still in boxes and bags and apart and nowhere near done, but things are looking very good. Things will get done slowly but surely. We are also making a list for the maintenance Guy which will be coming by. We are going to see if he van hook up the washer and dryer for us as well. We need a few more light bulbs and such, but this house is 100 times better than where we had been.

There will be pictures when we get settled and things get hooked up and things like that.

Gonna be lazy for a bit.

Moving Sucks

So, currently I am the ONLY PERSON in my house that is awake right now, and I will continue to be the only person awake for the next several hours.  I have been awake for 24 hrs (not entirely consecutive as I took an hour nap between 1230 and 130 am.) and still have several more hours to go before I can take a nap or get even something resembling sleep. Why? Because I'm in the process of getting my house ready to move.

Yup, I'm moving, and things are absolutely freaking crazy right now.  Boxes, bags, crates, bins and various other things are littered and cluttered about my house in controlled chaos (or at least something resembling that).  I apparently did not realize just how much STUFF that I had until I had to pack it all up.  However, I've gotten rid of some stuff that is definitely NOT needed, and found something that I've been missing for a couple of years now and that was honestly the highlight of my night.

I feel complete again, whole, and now I have to continue to bust my butt and get everything situated and sorted and start probably around 530-6ish beginning to move boxes outside in preparation for loading the truck that is due to arrive at around 9am.  Once boxes are out, and things are relatively cleared for the removal of larger objects I may just be able to rest for a little bit (I can hope!).  I've a friend coming over at some point to help move, my roommate's husband's parents are coming to help us move along with a couple of other people.  Things are going to hopefully go very quickly and ultimately we can get to Lake City and get things unloaded in a reasonable, timely manner - or at least get stuff under the carport because there is a slightly higher chance of rain in Lake City than there is here.

Either way, this move is happening getting closer to being done in less than six hours.