Book Review - The Mummy Case (Voice of the Nile, No. One) by Dawn Stewardson

Book Description
Her voice...
...came from beyond the grave. When her ancient jewel-encrusted burial tomb vanished, a long-dead Egyptian princess spoke, demanding its return.

Her voice...
...was sensuous and held secrets of ages and was heard only by rookie investigator Marina Haine. Marina found the missing sarcophagus, but the mummy inside wasn't the princess--she was a modern, murdered woman.

Her voice...
...was not nearly as unnerving or mysterious as Revington York, Marina's raven-haired prime suspect.

Her voice...
...both warned of danger and sang of love. Marina had every reason to believe Rev would land behind bars--but the princess was planning a very different kind of future....

***

February 7

I read this years ago but didn't realize at the time that it was a duet and had a cliff-hanger ending, so I was left bereft. So being in an Egyptology kick lately, and now having the concluding book, I decided to give it a go while waiting for the third Amelia Peabody mystery to come in at the library (which is coincidentally called The Mummy Case).

While The Mummy Case as a whole is highly improbable, it has a certain charm and was a cute read. Even though it is a Harlequin book, I liked that it dealt less with the romance and more with the mystery, probably because it is part of a duo. I've read Dawn Stewardson books before and have been impressed with how well she can develop the plot and characters in so few pages. I look forward to reading the completion the Voice of the Nile. ;P

3.25 stars

Book Review - The Curse of the Pharaohs (Amelia Peabody, Book Two) by Elizabeth Peters

Book Description

It's 1892, and Amelia and Emerson, who is now her husband, are back in England raising their young son Ramses, when they are approached by a damsel in distress. Lady Baskerville's husband, Sir Henry, has died after uncovering what may have been royal tomb in Luxor. Amid rumors of a curse haunting all those involved with the dig, Amelia and Emerson proceed to Egypt and begin to suspect that Sir Henry did not die a natural death. The accidents plaguing the dig appear to be caused by a sinister human element, not a pharaoh's curse.

***

February 5

The Curse of the Pharaohs is a fast, fun, and humorous second outing with Amelia and her husband Emerson. The first half isn't quite as good as the second, but it quickly picks up and is enjoyable until the end. Amelia's outlook is a joy to read and I love how Elizabeth Peters writes her, which to me, seems like it would be very hard to do in a first person narrative (particularly with a character like Amelia Peabody Emerson!). There are some truly hilarious lines and passages, especially between Amelia and Emerson.

One line I just have to keep for prosperity: "It is impossible for any rational mind to follow the peculiar mental convolutions that pass for logic among the male sex."

That is the genius of Ms. Peters writing and I look forward to the rest of the series.

4 stars

Book Review - Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody, Book One) by Elizabeth Peters

Book Description

Set in 1884, this is the first installment in what has become a beloved bestselling series. At thirty-two, strong-willed Amelia Peabody, a self-proclaimed spinster, decides to use her ample inheritance to indulge her passion, Egyptology. On her way to Egypt, Amelia encounters a young woman named Evelyn Barton-Forbes. The two become fast friends and travel on together, encountering mysteries, missing mummies, and Radcliffe Emerson, a dashing and opinionated archaeologist who doesn't need a woman's help -- or so he thinks.

***

February 4

Amelia is a great narrator for this tale. She's intrinsically sensible, has a humourous way about her, and is just a pure joy of a protagonist! The Crocodile on the Sandbank was wonderfully witty, fast, and fun read and I can't wait to get to the rest of the series. :D

4.5 stars

Complete Elizabeth Peters Book List

Book Review - The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale

Book Description

The dramatic story of the real-life murder that inspired the birth of modern detective fiction.
In June of 1860 three-year-old Saville Kent was found at the bottom of an outdoor privy with his throat slit. The crime horrified all England and led to a national obsession with detection, ironically destroying, in the process, the career of perhaps the greatest detective in the land.

At the time, the detective was a relatively new invention; there were only eight detectives in all of England and rarely were they called out of London, but this crime was so shocking, as Kate Summerscale relates in her scintillating new book, that Scotland Yard sent its best man to investigate, Inspector Jonathan Whicher.

Whicher quickly believed the unbelievable—that someone within the family was responsible for the murder of young Saville Kent. Without sufficient evidence or a confession, though, his case was circumstantial and he returned to London a broken man. Though he would be vindicated five years later, the real legacy of Jonathan Whicher lives on in fiction: the tough, quirky, knowing, and all-seeing detective that we know and love today…from the cryptic Sgt. Cuff in Wilkie Collins’s The Moonstone to Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade.

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher is a provocative work of nonfiction that reads like a Victorian thriller, and in it Kate Summerscale has fashioned a brilliant, multilayered narrative that is as cleverly constructed as it is beautifully written.

***

The Disappointing Mr. Whicher...or is it the Wandering Ms. Summerscale? No, I've got it! The Bloated Book of Everything Victorian!

I was looking forward to reading, what I thought was, a true crime book with a bit of a look into Mr. Whicher's professional life too. What I got instead was four, possibly more, books in a 304 page book. These four parts consist of the murder of Saville Kent, Mr. Jonathan Whicher himself, an analysis of detective fiction (especially Poe, Dickens, and Collins), the origin of words and phrases in the detection field, many murder/crime stories of the day, other oddly inserted facts and history, etc., etc.

Now, Ms. Summerscale is a fine writer (and researcher for that matter), but it seems as if she wrote for herself instead of us, the readers. While her odd bits and pieces of history are interesting (usually), they are not essential to the plot (or what I thought was the main story), and I found myself glazing quite a bit. Whenever she rhapsodized poetic about Poe, Dickens or any of the other writers of the early detection mystery, it had the overall feel of a research paper and usually didn't have much to do with the murder in the least. The author wandered off way too many times to her own fancy and whenever she went back to the supposed case, it felt as if she had forgotten that she was supposed to be writing about the murder. This left the plotting of the book oddly pieced together and me discombobulated. Now I won't blame the editor, because for all we know, he/she/they pleaded with her to edit down and she wouldn't budge (some authors are like that, so don't always blame the editor!), but really! All this extraneous information was just filler and added nothing to the book. I cannot believe this actually won anything. Another quibble was that she also had a bit of a problem with her 'sensationalistic' chapter endings; they just didn't go (or flow) with the whole book.

My biggest problem with the whole book is there isn't much on the murder, which you would think there would be by the cover, synopsis, praise, and marketing. Only a little speculation is spared on a few other suspects; no why might they have done it, how the family may have felt - I wish there had been more focused on the murder and less on everything else. That's why I picked up the book, I wanted to know about the crime and consequences, not on the way of Victorian life or how it influenced writers, there are other books for that (which are listed in the notes and select bibliography in the back I might add). Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the subject content, but the overall construction of the book with all the un-necessary passages left me dissatisfied and grumpy.

Here are some other good reviews (who also feel the same as I do LoL):
http://www.amazon.com/review/R8XMV7SINXI6Y
http://www.amazon.com/review/RX6JW98OZ5P33
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1SDJSGICZPXK5
http://www.amazon.com/review/RC12XYW9903WX - minus the comment about editors

2 stars

Book Review - Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Book Description
"Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave."

These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.

Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a longstanding physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.

Determined to bring her husband's murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

***

February 1

Smartly written, highly engaging, totally unputdownable - I love this book! Seriously, it's not often that a book will so capture my interest in the first page that I don't put it down for seventy pages (regrettably), and when I next pick it up, keep reading until it's finished - at 509 pages too!

Deanna Raybourn did a wonderful job bringing the characters and Victorian setting alive, and in a fairly realistic fashion. The only iffy thing was how easily it was accepted that Portia was a lesbian. I know that the March's are a peculiar and unconventional bunch, but still. All the 'gay' plotting felt too modern to me and that's my only beef with the book, not that I overly minded it (just enough to mention it :P). The way the story unfolded was seamless and fitting with the atmosphere of the mystery. Lady Julia was a wonderful character and it really is amazing how well everything was brought to life using a first-person narrative. I am looking forward to the next installment and know that won't be enough of these characters!

5 stars

Book Review - Dragonwyck by Anya Seton

Book Description

First published in 1944, Dragonwyck was a national bestseller that was made into a major motion picture starring Gene Tierney and Vincent Price in 1946. A classic gothic romance, the story features an 18-year-old Miranda Wells who falls under the spell of a mysterious old mansion and its equally fascinating master. Tired of churning butter, weeding the garden patch, and receiving the dull young farmers who seek her hand in marriage, Miranda is excited by an invitation from the upstate New York estate of her distant relative, the intriguing Nicholas Van Ryn. Her passion is kindled by the icy fire of Nicholas, the last of the Van Ryns, and the luxury of Dragonwyck, and a way of life of which she has only dreamed. Dressed in satin and lace, she becomes part of Dragonwyck, with its Gothic towers, flowering gardens, acres of tenant farms, and dark, terrible secrets. This compelling novel paints a marvelous portrait of a country torn between freedom and feudal traditions; a country divided between the very wealthy and the very poor. Poor tenant farmers at Dragonwyck, the European royalty who visit, and American icons such as Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, and the Astors are vividly brought to life. This is a heart-stopping story of a remarkable woman, her breathtaking passions, and the mystery and terror that await her in the magnificent hallways of Dragonwyck.

***

January 31

WARNING: Do NOT read the first Editorial Review at Amazon, just titled Review (it says it's a Kirkus review after the fact), it gives away the whole book.
Here's a link to a good review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2N2VZK2COV9LK/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=156849484X

---

I enjoyed this fast and easy Gothic read - my first Anya Seton book! Not much to say, the plot was predictable, yet absorbing, the characters were fine - Miranda was a bit too distant as the heroine, and the little historical tidbits were interesting, although they didn't quite flow with the storyline. However, I'm glad I started with a lesser rated Seton book and am thinking that is the way to go; start with bad (or not so great) and end with the good or better rated books. :P

One of the reasons I read this is because I've seen the film version of Dragonwyck playing on TCM and/or FMC, and I plan to catch it next time! :D

3.5 stars

Quiz - Pure Fun!!!

Your result for Name That Tune - TV Edition Test...

Totally Completely Addicted!

Wow! You truly ARE addicted to TV! You watch way too much! You should really get up off that couch (or bed or computer) and get out and live some! Click Here for the answer key.

And please rate this test if you enjoyed it!!

Take Name That Tune - TV Edition Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Your result for Name That Tune - 90's Edition Test...

Child Of The 90's!

Wow! You ARE a child of the 90's! Let me guess, you were born in the mid-late 80's and probably remember all the cool toys, tv shows and music from that era!! I bet you graduated high school within the last 5-8 years, didn't you? Click Here for the answer key.

And please rate this test if you enjoyed it!!

Take Name That Tune - 90's Edition Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Your result for Name That Tune - Movies Edition Test...

Movie King/Queen!

You Rock! You must own just about every movie ever made and have seen them tons of times! I bet you have a room in your home dedicated to your movie collection! I bet you also have every soundtrack ever released! Click Here for the answer key.

And please rate this test if you enjoyed it!!

Take Name That Tune - Movies Edition Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Your result for The Elemental Astrology Test...

Triplet, lack Fire

You scored 10 fire, 31 earth, 55 air, and 72 water!

You express 3 elements strongly and lack expression of another.


The limited presence of the Fire element in your horoscope may suggest the need to experience life more actively. It may benefit you to become more vital, for you may lack the passion and spark that the fire signs afford. This doesn't mean that you don't enjoy life, but merely that you don't seem to know how to insert yourself into the action; pleasure, thrills and glory will be slow coming your way. Your pleasures are apt to be more subtle and sensitive, without the dramatics and flash. Although this void does not guarantee an introvert, you are not likely to be the extrovert. You lack the dare-devil courage of the fire signs, and this includes the utter self-confidence these signs bestow. Because of this, you may like to stand back and let the other person make the first move in an encounter. If anything, you underestimate your abilities and worth. You like to test the water before you jump in, and the fire of competition can hold you back sometimes. By underrating your abilities, you are apt to often end up assisting others whose talents are less than your own, but whose reflection drive and desire is greater. Actually, you don't like having the spotlight on you, and you may prefer such a subordinate role. Self-expression, both emotional and creative, may be difficult for you. In some cases, a person lacking fire in their chart may try to force self-expression and many of the more aggressive fire sign traits in order to compensate for the lack of these traits. Characteristic of this would be the less than talented, over-achiever in a sport who attains a modest level of skill and the ability to win through extreme hard work and long years of perseverance.


You probably actually express one or two elements very strongly, so follow the link(s) to the ones that have the highest percent of expression.


For more on each element, click here for Earth, here for Air, and here for Water.


The other element: Fire



Wanna know more about your astrological chart? Go here

Take The Elemental Astrology Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Your result for The Elemental Astrology Test...

Dual Air & Water

You scored 10 fire, 10 earth, 45 air, and 52 water!

Although you often feel pulled between intellectual and emotional orientations of life, heavy doses of Air and Water elements can make you very much attuned to both realms of experience. Neither the abstract nor the feeling-intuitive world is alien to you, and you are thus able to develop a mode of operation that encompasses both types of perception. This results in your being able to give depth to your ideas and in your ability to gain detachment and perspective on feelings and deeper yearnings. You are physically and psychologically sensitive; a dreamer, an escapist, perhaps a little fantasy-prone. You have an amazingly fertile imagination and specialized skills for dealing with people. You know how to tune in to people, and communicate concisely.


For more on these two elements click here for Air and here for Water


The other elements: Fire and Earth


Wanna know more about your astrological chart? Go here

Take The Elemental Astrology Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Your result for The Elemental Astrology Test...

Water Dominant

You scored 10 fire, 10 earth, 10 air, and 52 water!

The water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. The element of water relates to the emotional and spiritual plane. Water signs operate entirely on the level of feelings -but not just any feelings. The element of water relates to our deepest, most primal emotions, as well as to the needs and longings of our soul. These feelings are buried deep in our unconscious and subconscious minds, and many times we would like to keep them locked up there and even forget they exist because we are frightened by the power and intensity that they carry.
Water is a �feminine� energy, receptive, responsive, and fluid. Water sinks, always seeking the lowest and deepest point, and water will continue to flow until it is contained. Water has no shape or structure of its own, and instead takes on the characteristics and form of its container. The element of water is irrational, instinctive, emotional, and entirely right-brained.
Like air signs, water signs seek to make connections; only water seeks to connect on deep transformational levels that air would never consider exploring. Water signs are concerned with healing and with the power of emotional release, and water signs are the most comfortable with any kind of emotion, so long as it is intense. Something that water shares with fire is a tendency to exaggerate and to be overly dramatic.
Water signs are perhaps the most retentive of all the elements. Water remembers each and every emotional experience, no matter how painful. At times, it almost seems that water enjoys exploring the painful memories and emotions the most of all, as they are frequently the most intense experiences. One of the hardest lessons for water signs is learning how to let go, to truly release the pain and negativity and allow the true healing process to complete itself.
Water signs feel the most deeply of any of the elements. They may not always be able to communicate the depth of their feelings, the extent of their pain and joy, because words do not come easily to water signs. Water signs have an ongoing struggle with finding ways of communicating and expressing their feelings that truly encompass the intensity of the experience. Ultimately, words are inadequate; some things can only be communicated through direct emotional, energetic connections.
Because the element of water has no structure of its own and must be contained, water sings tend to have the most difficulty accepting and respecting interpersonal boundaries-particularly emotional ones. Water sings must learn to respect the emotions and the comfort level of others, and that not everybody is able to bare their soul and share their deepest feelings five minutes after being introduced. This can be a very difficult and painful lesson.
Water signs recharge through intense emotional connections, as well as through proximity to water. Individuals with an emphasis in water in their charts can clear their emotional bodies of the accumulated negativity by spending time in and near water: These individuals often find that they are happiest living near lakes rivers, or oceans; otherwise, they may be attracted to rainy climates. Even if easy access to a body of water isn�t available, taking long, hot showers, or soaking in a warm bath can have the same energizing and clearing effect.


The other elements: Fire, Earth, and Air



Wanna know more about your astrological chart? Go

Take The Elemental Astrology Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Loved this test!\l/

Your result for The Choose your next planet Test...

Jupiter

You scored 2% temperature (higher=warmer), 86% gravity(higher=more gravity), and 88% for the size of your planet.

From what I've gathered, you appear to prefer a planet that is colder, large, and has lots of gravity. You are in luck! I have the perfect planet for you. Your new home is Jupiter!

The average temperature of your new home is a frigid -244 F. Don't count on any relief in the summer time, because Jupiter doesn't have any seasons. Time may not fly on Jupiter, but your days certainly will. They only last 10 Earth hours. Of course your years will go much slower. By the time you are 7 years old you will probably be ready for a nursing home.

Make sure you are ready for the tremendous gravity on your new world. It's 250% of Earth's gravity. Expect to be under 4 feet tall by the end of your life with all that force dragging you down. It will take some getting used to.

Since Jupiter is so massive, there will be many smaller communities throughout your world. Perhaps you may wish to live on its famous Great Red Spot. You won't have to worry about any sleazy Jupiter-Mart chains popping up all over your planet because it's too big for that. Even if it did, you could just move away from the mess. Speaking of which, you have some great vacation spots nearby. Jupiter has 63 identified satellites, and one of them, the moon Europa, might even have drinkable water beneath its surface. Enjoy your new home!

Take The Choose your next planet Test at HelloQuizzy

Quiz -The Chakra Test

Your result for The Chakra Test...

The Visionary

You have scored 65% Imagination - Your dominant Chakra is the "Third Eye or Indigo Chakra"

The "Third Eye or Indigo Chakra" is where our intuitive and visionary energy comes from. It is located on one's forehead. And this is the chakra most developed in you at this time.

Depending on your percentage score, there is always more room for development. When this chakra is under-active, one's may not think clearly, become confused and begin to rely on authoritarian figures. If over-active and out of balance with your other chakras, you may be prone to fantasy. You may even begin to see and believe in things that are not there.

What is most important is to find balance amongst all 7 chakras. Have a look at what percentages you scored on the others and work to increase their power and balance with each other.

Root Chakra: 35% Passion, Sacral(Spleen) Chakra: 0% Desire, Solar Plexus (Navel) Chakra: 18% Purpose, Heart Chakra: 39% Balance, Throat Chakra: 61% Expression, Third Eye Chakra: 65% Imagination and Crown Chakra: 47% Spirituality!

"Third Eye Chakra" Key Words: Intuition, Invention, Psychic Abilities, Self Realization, Perception, Release, Understanding, Memory, Fearlessness

"Third Eye Chakra"Attributes: Color - Indigo Sense - Sixth sense, Higher mind Element - Time Seat -Primordial Power

If you enjoyed this test, I would love the feedback!

Take The Chakra Test at HelloQuizzy

Quiz - Which Season Colours Emphasize Your Beauty? Pictures Test

Your result for Which Season Colours Emphasize Your Beauty? Pictures Test...

Summer

You scored 62 percent on Summer!

• Summer is a cool tone and like winter complexions, the summers among us have blue or pink undertones. Skin is very pale and pink. Summer colouring usually occurs in natural blondes, and even pale-skinned brunettes with pale eyes. If you’re a trying to discriminate between winter and summer, winters are usually brunettes and summers are mostly natural blondes.

• Best Colours for Summer: Summers have a low level of contrast between their hair, eye colour and skin tone. For you to look your best, choose soft neutrals and pastels, as well as muted colours with cool undertones. Powder blue, dusty pink, mauve, lavender, plum, and pale yellow are all great colour choices.


• Worst Colours for Summer: Avoid intense, vivid hues because they will look harsh and drown you out. Nor should you wear earth tones. Stay away from black and orange.

• Do you agree?

• No? Probably you are unique natural beauty - mixed type

• Yes? Lets find out more about your personality! Just for fun!

Summers are nurturing, comfortable looking after guests and family, possibly appearing cool to outsiders until they are part of the circle of friends. Highly perceptive they will notice small details that others may not and act as natural peacemakers working in the background to keep harmony. Practicality mixed with a reserved nature means that classic elegance, traditional decorating, antiques, fine china, music and the arts is more comfortable to a Summer than modernity and sophistication. Summers are the perfect host, calm and collected, with everything planned down to the minute details - events at a Summer home will generally be elegant and run smoothly.

Take Which Season Colours Emphasize Your Beauty? Pictures Test at HelloQuizzy

Quiz - The Elemental Beauty Test

Your result for The Elemental Beauty Test...

Enduring Beauty

33% Earth, 17% Air, 42% Water and 8% Fire!

You have equal parts of Earth and Water.

When people speak of meeting someone that is very deep, they are more than likely talking about someone like you! Many of the people that share Earth and Water elements display a lot of seriousness, are self-protective, and display a lot of depth in everything they do. You tend to be a very hard working because you aren't happy unless you have something to keep you occupied. You aren't afraid to take on emotional burdens either, because it gives you something to do or think about. You need to feel needed and wanted. You enjoy knowing that people can count on you and that you have the resources to see things through. You have a great attachment to money as well, which means that you gyrate toward things such as a secure job. You enjoy possessions, including obtaining and providing for a family.

You are definitely a survivor and can make it through any type of catastrophe. You have a rather traditional sense of values as well, and value community.

The negative side of you may tend to become overly attached to your past and fear what your future will hold. Your challenges may come in the form of being able to be a more positive thinker.

Take The Elemental Beauty Test at HelloQuizzy