Picture Post! (June 19)

Well I just finished up a tough 10 days in Aruba. Today I am traveling to Hawaii (it is a loooooong day of flying to get from Aruba to Hawaii). I managed to get a few pics while in Aruba, but this was my favorite find...

A book swap in my hotel!

I loved the shelves and people actually donated!
I wish I had a book to donate but I only had my Nook with me

Teaser Tuesday (June 19)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here's how it works..

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share does not give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 Here are my teasers...

"The Collective had given me everything I needed to find Balik. It was time to go."

p. 277 (ebook), Hope's Daughter by Melanie Cusick-Jones 

Feature & Follow Friday #20

I've missed a couple weeks of F&F Friday since I have just been crazy busy but I'm back this week! Here is today's question...


Q: Happy Father's Day! Who is your favorite dad character in a book and why?


A: I think I'm going to have to say Jack McCall from Beach Music (see my review here.) Jack drove me nuts sometimes when it came to dealing with his parents and siblings, but he was a wonderful father. Jack treated his daughter Leah, like she was an adult even though she was only 8. He respected her, was honest and talked to her about things they were going through. My own dad is similar, but not always as open as Jack McCall is.


Who is your favorite dad character? Is he like your own dad? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Booking Through Thursday: Do Over

This week's Booking Through Thursday asks...


Q: Have you ever bought a book, started reading it and then realized you have already read it? If so, how far did you get?


A: I don't think I have done this (yet). The past few years when I was busy with school I was not reading as much as I do now. The reason I started my blog was to keep track of the books I read. There are so many books I want to read, if I keep to my wishlist then I shouldn't run into this problem- hopefully :)


Have you ever purchased a book you already read? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Picture Post! (June 13)

This week has completely gotten away from me since I got onsite for my program. I'm in Aruba for 11 days, but I am so busy I have not had time to do or see anything- I am hoping this will change. This also means I have not had a chance to take a picture here yet. So this week's picture is an old one. I stayed with an island picture though, this one being from Kauai last year. By next Wednesday I will have a picture from Aruba to share! 

Kauai sunset from my hotel in the North Shore

Teaser Tuesday (June 12)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here's how it works..

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share does not give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 Here are my teasers...

A shiver passed across my back as Balik and I walked - close together, side by side - beneath the green canopy and entered the park. I had a sense of the place being wild and natural in a way that I had not really felt at the other recreation places before.

p. 184, Hope's Daughter by Melanie Cusick-Jones

"The Dovekeepers" by Alice Hoffman

The Dovekeepers
by Alice Hoffman
501 pages

Short Version: Four women tell their stories of being run out of Jerusalem and surviving in the desert.

Why I Read It: The title and cover of this book caught my attention awhile ago. When I found it in the bargain books at Barnes and Noble I jumped on it.

The Book: (From Goodreads)
In 70 CE, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on a mountain in the Judean desert, Masada. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived. Based on this tragic historical event, Hoffman weaves a spellbinding tale of four extraordinary, bold, resourceful, and sensuous women, each of whom has come to Masada by a different path. Yael’s mother died in childbirth, and her father never forgave her for that death. Revka, a village baker’s wife, watched the horrifically brutal murder of her daughter by Roman soldiers; she brings to Masada her twin grandsons, rendered mute by their own witness. Aziza is a warrior’s daughter, raised as a boy, a fearless rider and expert marksman, who finds passion with another soldier. Shirah is wise in the ways of ancient magic and medicine, a woman with uncanny insight and power. The lives of these four complex and fiercely independent women intersect in the desperate days of the siege, as the Romans draw near. All are dovekeepers, and all are also keeping secrets—about who they are, where they come from, who fathered them, and whom they love.

My Thoughts: This book was amazing! I was slow to begin it because I was so busy with work but as soon as I got home I was sitting for hours reading as much as I could until I finished.
The book was written in 4 parts, each part from a different point of view. I was not expecting this and after getting to part 2 was unsure of it. I continued reading and really like how it turned out. Each story was intertwined and continued where the other left off, but also told each woman's individual story. The epilogue in the end was well written and much needed. If it were to leave off after Part 4 there would be a lot of questions, but Hoffman handled the epilogue very well and I felt as if it came to a complete end. This is the second book I've read from this historical time period (the first being The Red Tent by Anita Diamont) and I cannot imagine what these women and their families really went through. They are all so courageous and strong. As I got to know them through their stories it just added to my admiration of them. The magic and witches drew me into the story even more. Hoffman did a very good job making this a part of their lives and not something make believe.

This book is amazing and I think everyone should read it!
5/5 Stars

**I apologize for this short, lacking review but I am running like crazy to get packed for my next trip and am a bit scatter-brained. I just wanted to get something of a review typed so I do not have to bring the hardback book with me. As I slow down and continue thinking about the book I may update my review later.

#8 in 2012 Mount TBR Challenge
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#6 in 2012 Wishlist Challenge

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