Recommendation Week: Books and Love

So it's February 1st, which means Valentine's Day is right around the corner. I've never been one for the whole lovey-dovey holiday (Singles Awareness Day anyone?). But this year I'm going to try to get into the spirit by talking about one of my favorite things: books, of course!

Starting next week, I will be hosting a Valentine's-inspired recommendation week. I'm going to have lists of all sorts of great books to read this time of year, and (if I can get my butt in gear and get writing) hopefully a few love-themed reviews too.

So this is where you come in, dear reader. I need you to recommend some of your favorite love-themed books to me. Now, before you click off because you don't read romance, let me explain this. I'm looking for all types of books. Paranormal romance, chick lit, first love, fairy tale endings, anything you can think of. It can even be tragic love (think Romeo and Juliet) if you want.

Now, what do you do if you're favorite literary romance is from a book that has nothing to do with romance? Well, I also would like to do a post on favorite literary couples. That means I need recommendations for these too. You can recommend any couple from any book, not matter what the topic is.

Please take a moment and participate. You can use the forms below, or follow my links to find the forms in another window. The first is to recommend your favorite books, and the second is to recommend your favorite couples. You can do the book, couple, or both. You can submit either form as many times as you want too.

Thanks for your input. Together we'll put together some great recommendations.

Cozy Holiday Reads

The inspiration for this post started off a little strange. When I first thought up the idea of A Shady Glade Christmas I sent out lots of emails off to people asking for recommendations for holiday reads. Some of those ideas got turned into a few of the posts you've seen so far this month. And others didn't.

So for those of you who are still looking for a great book to read during Christmas (you still have a few days to snag one!) here are some other great books suggestions:

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson
Miss Erin- "Perfect for curling up under a blanket in front of the Christmas tree with a cup of hot cocoa."

Far from You by Lisa Schroeder
The Compulsive Reader- "A wintery read that has to do with angels and miracles."

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
AKR- "A great holiday read. It's set during Christmas, and it's a little bit spooky, but also nice and homey and comfy at the same time. And there's lots and lots of snow."

The Christmas Doll by Elvira Woodruff
HM- "It's a lovely book, though a children book, it's something that I enjoy. It's about a girl and her sister who have no money, and how the older sister is willing to make huge sacrifices for her sister. It features a special doll with a purple heart and a doll shop. It's a treasured story!"

Kissing Snowflakes by Abby Sherr
MW- "I love reading the winter romance books over the holidays. Who says romance is just for summer?"

After by Amy Efaw
RM- "This is perfect for a chilly winter day, a sad, touching novel."


Other Suggestions:
JF- "The books I like to read are all the Harry Potters around Christmas, as well as Christmas Colt by Mallory Stevens, House of Night series by P.C. and Kristen Cast, and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. I know these are all fairly new books but I've taken to reading them in winter, especially the third House Of Night book, because it's set around Christmas."

Angie- "I love reading fairy-tales in general, but in the winter I love it even more. Don't ask me why. But the Once Upon a Time Series, like The Storyteller's Daughter, Snow, The Rose Bride, etc. Pretty much all the books in that series I want to reread in time for the holidays. Even Ella Enchanted. Also, there is something oddly cozy about snuggling up with a blanket and pretty much any Agatha Christie. Finally, the Twilight series seems like a good fit for Christmas - the intensity of the romance, fantasy, and enigmatic atmosphere makes for a great snuggly read."

Thank you to everyone who suggested books! And for the rest of you I hope you find something nice to read this holiday!

*I quoted everybody using initials or blog names. If you see your quote and want to recognized by name, just leave me a comment and let me know and I'll get it changed.*

RW Wrap Up: Ghost Stories

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed my first Recommendation Week on ghost books. For those of you who missed them, here's all the reviews that I featured this week:

Ghost Files: The Haunting Truth by The Ghost Society
Haunted Mansion by Various
The House Next Door by Richie Tankersley Cusick
A Coming Evil by Vivian Vande Velde
Sweet Miss Honeywell's Revenge: A Ghost Story by Kathryn Reiss

Here's a few more ghostly stories from me:

The Seer of Shadows by Avi - This was one of the Cybils finalists last year, and the first one I read. It's about a photographer and his assistant, who in taking a photograph of a high society women find a ghostly face appearing there. This one has got plenty of creeps and chills, and if you can pick it up soon, this one is perfect for Halloween.

The Ghost Wore Gray by Bruce Coville - This is a great ghost story for younger kids. Apparently it's part of a series, but this one is the only one I was ever able to find when I was growing up. Two best friends are investigating why a Civil War ghost is haunting the hotel where they are staying. What is his unfinished business? This is more mystery than horror, which makes it great for readers who are usually too creeped out by the ghost thing. This one's a little hard to find since it's out of print, but check your local library for a copy.

The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot (first book is Shadowland). - If you haven't heard of these yet, you really, really should pick them up. All six books reside around Suze, a who is a mediator, aka someone who can see and feel ghosts. Suze's mission is to get the dearly departed to move on, even if she has to kick thier butt into the afterlife herself. This series has got everything: a butt-kicking heroine, plenty of humor, teenage antics, and of course ghosts. Said case of ghosts especially includes Jesse, the hottest dead guy ever (in my opinion, anyway).

And here's some recommendation from readers:
A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb
Ruined: A Novel by Paula Morris
Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley
Ghost Huntress: The Awakening by Marley Gibson
Tryst by Elswyth Thane

A big thank you to everyone who submitted suggestions! I hope the rest of you have found some new reads to try. So that concludes it for this time. If you have suggestions for future Recommendation Weeks, please let me know!

Review: A Coming Evil

A Coming Evil by Vivian Vande Velde

Lisette is expecting her upcoming 13th birthday to be the best year of her life. Unfortunately, the day she turns 13 her parents send her to live with her Aunt Josephine. Because the year is 1940, and the Nazis are moving on Lisette’s home in Paris. Upon reaching Josephine’s house in southern France, Lisette immediately hates it, not only because she misses her home, but because she hates her bratty cousin Cecile and the motley group of children Aunt Josephine has taken under her wing.

Lisette escapes to the woods for refuge from the hated house, but the woods hold a secret of their own. There’s a ghost there, a young man named Gerard who lived during the fall of the Knights Templar (knights as in the Middle Ages). Although scared at first, Lisette eventually finds her growing friendship with Gerard comforting. And she’s going to need that comfort. The Nazis are closing in, and the secret that’s still hiding in Aunt Josephine’s house may cost all of them their freedom.

Although Vivian Vande Velde is known for her fantasy, this book would fall more into the category of historical fiction. The ghost element is the only fantastical thing here, and it is presented in a way that makes it more believable. I loved the way the author juxtaposed Gerard’s life in the Crusades with the life that Lisette herself was experiencing. The ending had plenty of action and although it was wrapped up a little too neatly, I did enjoy it while I was reading. I wish the author had given a little more reason why there was a connection between Lisette and Gerard, but that’s my own lasting complaint.

One of the best merits of the book is that it has a little bit of everything. There is plenty of historical detail, and Lisette definitely matures by the end of the story for readers who are into character over plot. The ghost element adds a nice suspense at the beginning, and then later morphs into just a hint of romance. Really, I can’t think of anything else to ask for in a book of this type. It could have benefitted from maybe just a few more chapters in length, but on the other hand if you’re wanting a quick and interesting read, this is the book for you.

Shady Glade Rating: 8/10

This post brought to you courtesy of Recommendation Week: Ghost Stories. Don't forget to nominate your own favorite ghost books by Friday!

Review: The House Next Door

The House Next Door by Richie Tankersley Cusick

When Emma’s best friend Val needs a date for the big dance, Emma turns to her twin brother Charlie for help. He reluctantly agrees to take her friend, as long as Emma agrees to a dare. That dare turns out to be spending a night in the very creepy, abandoned mansion next to the twin’s house. Though Emma is terrified of the house, she agrees to the dare.

What Emma discovers in the house is way more than she bargained for. There’s a ghost that still lives in the mansion, and he’s been waiting for Emma. It isn’t long before Emma, Charlie and Val are all trying to unravel the secrets of the house and its history. A history which includes a secret love affair and a mysterious fire that ruined the mansion. As Emma digs deeper she realizes that they need to solve the mystery fast. History is about to repeat itself, and last time it didn’t have a happy ending.

If you’re looking for suspense, you’ve definitely found the right book. There’s something strangely alluring about the thought of love from beyond the grave. Although it’s fairly apparent what’s going on to the reader early on, the author still manages to pace the book just right to its conclusion. Once you hit the climax the tale is resolved fairly quickly, and I certainly didn’t see the ending coming. I thought the characters of the neighbors were a little unnecessary, but they don’t really slow the plot down at all. Not the best ghost story I’ve ever read, but it’s definitely worth picking up.

Shady Glade Rating: 8/10

This post brought to you courtesy of Recommendation Week: Ghost Stories. Don't forget to nominate your favorite ghostly books by Friday!

Review: The Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion by Various

Haunted Mansion collects together the first four (or five?) previously released volumes of the Haunted Mansion comics put out by Disney and SLG. Rather than being one long story, the book is filled with several very short stories somehow connected to the mansion and its 999 happy haunts. Each story has a different writer/artist, so you’ll find a wide range of styles and stories in this short book.

First of all, I have to say that if you aren’t an avid fan of the Haunted Mansion at the Disney parks, this is probably not the book for you. Not that you won’t enjoy it, but you may not pick up on some of the nuances provided by these stories.

On the other hand, if you are a fan of the Haunted Mansion, you should definitely pick this one up! The diversity of artistic styles and stories means you are sure to find at least one that you enjoy. Plus, this is a collection of comics, so if you don’t find one you like then you didn’t waste a lot of time reading it.

I fall into this second category, so I loved this book. It was interesting to see all the stories that the writers came up with about the same set of characters. Like how that ghost in the coffin (it’s in the hallway) came to be there and why he wants out. There’s a story about how one of the people shown in the portrait gallery came to be a resident, and why the groundskeeper braves the mansion even though he’s terrified of ghosts. My favorite stories though had to be the two about Fifi, the dearly departed dog from the pet cemetery who’s stuck in a tutu for eternity because that’s what she was dressed in before she died. You’ll find a whole host of other characters here too including the Bride, Madame Leota, and the Headless Knight.

My only complaint is that the book was way too short! I wish it had been a complete compilation of the comics, instead of just the first few volumes. This collection is also missing the serialized story that tells the background of the mansion itself. Other than that, it was wonderful, and I’ve reread it several times. Incidentally, if you’re a fan of the Haunted Mansion (which I assume you are if you’ve made it this far down the review) you should also check out The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies by Jason Surrell. It’s a great book to learn about the planning, construction, back story and mechanics of the ride.

Shady Glade Rating: 9/10

This post brought to you courtesy of Recommendation Week: Ghost Stories. Don't forget to nominate your own favorite ghost books by Friday!

Review: The Ghost Files

Ghost Files: The Haunting Truth by The Ghost Society

The summary for this one is pretty much summed up on the title page. It reads: "Ghost Files: The Haunting Truth. For those who are very practical about identifying, documenting, and classifying Apparitions, Ghosts, and Spirits from early men to our time. Or, how to see a ghost when you much prefer to look away and if you're very good, how to make contact."

So that pretty much sums it up. This covers the different types ghosts, ghost history, different ghosts from different cultures, and how to make contact with ghosts. Now before you get worried about the book, I do want to say that it's written for kids. In fact, it technically qualifies as a picture book (being all of 36 pages long. So really, it's not written to be scary at all.

The thing that makes Ghost Files such a fun book is all the little extras. It's got pull out letters, hidden text, pull tabs, moving parts, even a Ouija board (though that's not what they call it). Unfortunately, this is a book that you really need to see in person to appreciate it's complexity. The fun little extras make it great for kids, but I had a blast flipping through it too. Seasoned ghost experts won't read anything they don't already know, but if you're a ghost newbie, or just want to learn some interesting facts about ghosts, this is a good way to go.

Shady Glade Rating: 8/10

This post brought to you courtesy of Recommendation Week: Ghost Stories.

Recommendation Week: Ghost Stories

So this is an idea I mentioned way back in June, but I'm going to do the first one now. I actually am working on a bit of surprise for these in the future, but since Halloween is fast approaching, I thought I'd go ahead and do one now. You'll just have to wait for another time for the surprise (probably after the Cybils...)

You can find all the details at the original post, but the idea is this. For each theme I'll choose some books to feature throughout the week. Meanwhile, you (the reader) have until Friday to give me your own recommendations for that theme. Then on Saturday I'll have a wrap up post that will include a master list of recommendations (mine and others). Sound good? Then here we go.

The theme for this week is ghost stories. Ooh, scary. Heh, I thought it fit in with Halloween. These can be books that are about ghosts, ghostly occurrences, or feature ghost characters. On a side note, don't you just love this ghost picture? He's so cute, and I love that you can see his shadow through him. Anyway, back on topic. Here's some books I'll be featuring this week:

A Coming Evil by Vivian Vande Velde
Ghost Files: The Haunting Truth by The Ghost Society
Haunted Mansion by Various
The House Next Door by Richie Tankersley Cusick
Sweet Miss Honeywell's Revenge: A Ghost Story by Kathryn Reiss

There's a preview of what's coming up for me. Now it's your turn. Submit all your ghostly book suggestions here (either comment below or send me an email) by this Friday. We're going to keep this one strictly to books. I know there's plenty of good ghost movies out there, but that's for another post.

Name Those Categories!

So, judging by the comments I received on this post, many of you think my recommendation week is a good idea. Cool! I think it's a good idea too.

I'm still toying around with ideas on how I want to implement it, but here's where I need your help at the moment. In order to make this work, I need a theme/category for each week. I can come up with some, but I'd like to know what you'd like to hear recommendations about.

These can be broad or more specific, but try to make them more specific than just a genre. In other words don't say "fantasy". Okay. What kind of fantasy? Do you like paranormal fantasy? High fantasy? Just fairies? Just vampires?

Here's another broad example: historical fiction. Okay. What time period? Do you want to include time travel in that? Let me know.

One last example before I open this up: summer reads. The reason this one bugs me is because, personally, I think every great book is a great summer read. But not everyone sees it that way. So do you mean books that take place in summer? Light, fluffy, fun-but-no-substance reads? Chicklit and/or romance books?

Anyway, start suggesting away. I'll take every suggestion (and add in some of my own) and maybe we'll get this thing going!