Practical Magic Written by: Alice Hoffman

For more than two hundred years the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in Town. That seems like a long time to fear a family especially one that helped so many of the towns people. Well, this is rare I read a book which I saw the movie based off of the book first. Usually it is the other way around, I will first read the book then see the movie. I was surprised, I actually enjoyed the book. The book was very different than the movie more a second or third cousin rather than the Practical Magic I saw as a young girl and recently as a young woman. This story was told very uniquely. It was similar in its writing as American Pastoral telling the future as it told the present story, but it did it in a few paragraphs rather than pages. The Owens women were delightful they were beautiful, sassy, mysterious, and all together unique and typical of the female sex. Each women had her own good and bad qualities and had both very selfish personalities, but also very compassionate personalities all in one. Forgive me for being so contradicting, but people are in themselves quite contradicting. It was very interesting how love came into play in this story for the youngest of the Owens women to the oldest, and how it affected them each in turn. The movie showed these women as actual witches with quite impressive powers. The Owens women in this book still have unusual abilities and an odd way about them especially their luck and some very odd garden growth, but they appear more as kitchen witches and women who know very well what to do with herbs and believe in old charms. As its title says "Practical Magic". The book was enjoyable it had its moments where I wished more was said, but a good story none the less, if you love the movie put it out of your mind while reading this book as many things were changed. But, give the book a chance you may like it more.

Myths of The Norsemen Written by: Helen A. Guerber

Odin, Frigga, Thor, Tyr, Bragi, Idun, Niord, Frey, Freya, Uller, Forsei, Heimdall, Hermod, Vidar, Vali, The Norns, The Valkyrs, Hel, Aegir, Balder, Hoder, Loki, these are the Aesier or the Gods. The myths of the Norsemen was such an awesome book! I could not get enough of Odin and his companions. I learned so much about these God beings. Even the Giants, Dwarfs, Elves, and the sagas involving the mortals. It was so fascinating to learn about how the Norsemen defined themselves, and their beginnings.Also, to learn about the different worlds Midgard being the mortal world.  I kept making notes and really enjoyed what culture I discovered reading this book. Unlike the Celtic culture I was delighted to see that the Norsemen cared for their wives and that there were Gods who would bless happily married couples and want there to be love in a marriage. There was great honor and worship in the mortals who followed there Gods, but there was also the weak and evil. Even with the Gods they too like the Greek Gods did all they could to get out of unsavory deals they may have been forced to make. It was also interesting to learn that the Gods were not all immortal and relied upon another Immortal god to keep them young and strong. The book really went into detail to help you figure out how the Gods worked in the Scandinavian world especially with the days and seasons. I really found it fascinating how the old cultural ways of these people influenced so many saying and practices of today. This was a great book to learn a decent amount of the Norse Mythos. I hope to read more on the Norse culture and their heroes and Gods/Goddesses. Something that really was amazing is that these people had such faith in their culture and ways that the wooden posts on their homes would have generations of knowledge carved upon them as well as the stories of their Gods and heroes. When Christian and other world powers were forcing them from their native lands they took their wooden posts with them and sailed the seas. When they reached a port and body of water they would cast the wood into the sea and wherever it landed finally would be where they would make their new home regardless of the conditions. Quite remarkable that most of the tales and stories from these people are taken from these surviving posts.

Enchanted, Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women Written by: Nancy Madore

Erotic bedtime stories for Women. Well, this book was given to me, and needless to say I laughed at first. After all I had only ever read one other Exotic book before and it too was based off of a classic tale. The forward in the beginning also gave me pause and made me wonder what exactly it was I was going to be reading. This book however, was not based on just one tale, but many. There are 13 stories in all, and each one I really rather enjoyed. They are twists on classic stories that really do tell the story from a women's point of view, and how the story should have went in some cases were a woman able to control her own fairy tale. The book itself sends a message to empower women and to embrace themselves and their own sexual desires. And, while doing so to not be shameful of embracing either. I love how Nancy Madore kept telling women in her tales to not shy away from their desires. The stories were clever and rather witty. I found myself laughing and falling in love a few times. I do not know if I'll ever be able to tell these tales to children without a new outlook or smirk on my face when I do, but really the tales were so... enjoyable, arousing and yes quite tantalizing in its telling. I urge some of you to go out pick up this book hunker down for the evening and prepare yourself for some blush inducing bedtime tales.

The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force, Written by:Daniel Wallace

Star Wars, well, I must admit I am not a die hard fan of Star Wars, I find a lot of events, and even the technology contradicts itself, but it does add authenticity to the Star Wars universe since our own is just as contradicting. That being said, I do enjoy the movies the original and somewhat of the new. I did enjoy some Sith books, and even a few books on tape, mostly due to my husband, and inlaws. Well, the Jedi from what I have seen have not overly been explained in a lot of these movies and books. The Jedi Path though it was not by any means detailed was insightful. I felt like it was a guide to help you figure out what you wanted to know and gave you those terms to look up in other books. So it was a good reference book. I also enjoyed the little comments made by the "Jedi" The illistrations were pretty cool too. I do enjoy how it made mention of the other species and force users as well. I did not realize so many other creatures/planets used the Force. The book was an easy read, and for those of you who know the Star Wars Universe you may find yourself smirking and even laughing over what you know. After all this book is supposedly given to a youngling and studied/referenced until Knighthood. So It begins first in Yoda's hands and ends in Luke's. I am not giving away plot the book says so even before the first page. It was an enjoyable read, and I found myself asking my more Star Wars knowledgeable husband questions concerning the book and what it was making reference to. A good read if you want to further know the mysterious Jedi Order.

Ps. Happy Birthday to Stormy!

Proven Guilty Book 8 Written by: Jim Butcher

Happy B-lated Halloween to all of you! I could not wait to log onto a computer and tell you about the latest book I have had the pleasure of listening to! I am so happy that these books are unabridged. That way I get every juicy little detail right down to the smart ass jokes Bob the Skull tells to the whitty Relgious banter between Harry and Michael. Book 8 in the Harry Dresden series titled Proven Guilty, written by Jim Butcher, and read by James Marsters. Was just fabulous! I had started listening to this book a few weeks ago on a road trip, but it being such a long book had to wait to finish it on this latest trip to VT, now the splitting of the trips proved even better. The first half of this book takes place in a more populated area Chicago of course, but also in a setting that is dear in my heart. I will not tell you what venue exactly, but for those of you who appreciate badges, long lines, and small glimpses of a nerd hero you will totaly appreciate this. The plot was very technical as always and I found myself wishing I had a hat to grab onto and chew just to contain my excitement. My husband who was driving I also caught having shocked faces and sudden gasps at what was occuring. Harry did not dissapoint, neither did some other very loved characters. This book was not exactly fast pace but rather gathered more intensity as it went along. Of course there were a dozen or so things coming for Harry at every angle.

Of course you will probably be frustrated at how human and thick skulled everyone is, but that makes it all the more real in a very non-fiction book. The second part of the book was listened to, and this could not have been more perfect! On the way to VT during a snow storm! I was shocked October and that much snow, but it only added to the perfect setting that Mr. Butcher was already describing, the characters find themselves in a not so very good place. Want a hint? Bob the skull is promised by Harry he will not take him with him, but rather bring him home before they set off on their quest. The story is amazing and so many questions are becoming clearer, but not the answers. A new big question has been asked, and another one answered. Friends stay true and yet something is very off.

I simply want to know more about Mouse, and what is going on with this oh so special Dog and of course Mr. the cat. I also found myself sitting on the side of the road the book having concluded going... what next? This book really picked up some new trials for Harry to face, and I really want to know again, what next? So, I cannot wait until the holidays are here, yes more driving, but more Harry Copperfield Blackstone Dresden too.

The Night Circus written by: Erin Morgenstern

Not to be over dramatic but  The Night Circus was truly mesmerizing and magical! “The Circus arrives without warning.” Indeed. I was somewhat afraid I would be influenced by other books and circus tales, but this book had its own feel to it. Old, and timeless is what this story was to me. It was told in such a way I found myself flustered and trying to understand how these timelines fit and why they were told in the order they were. I swear I felt myself seeing the circus and smelling popcorn and caramel apples. In fact I had to make popcorn a few times while reading this book. It was a complex tale, and the circus itself was so well done I really wish I could see this for myself. My imagination felt like it was on overtime while reading this book trying to picture everything that was described to me, and my mind would construct what the pages and words told me, but then I would deconstruct it and make it better. I found myself not wanting the book to end, trying to prolong each chapter so as not to reach the end when the story must end. Alas, the story itself was not all grand performances and standing applauds. Erin Morgenstern wrote a wonderful story, and I feel like she could write many more just about the characters she introduced even briefly each felt like they had a bigger more important story to be told, and we were only given a glimpse and not even behind the curtain. I dare not give any of the plot away, but I was also slightly saddened over the lack or true love in the main characters yes, there was love, but somehow it felt hollow at times. There was something missing, and perhaps it was intentional if that was the case then I tip my bowler to the author and wrap a red scarf about my neck this instant. If it wasn’t intentional well, all is forgiven as I enjoyed the circus and the ideas and concepts behind it. I do not think I have read a book quite like this.I greatly enjoyed how the author tipped her hat to the Circus fans, as though we fans are merely spectators we too are a part of the story. I loved how she appreciated the Circus fans. I almost wonder if that was a thank you to her future readers. I'd like to think so. There are similar stories I could mention even circus ones, but I do not wish to steal away from the Night Circus or “Le cirque des Reves” This book could be for all ages, though I think each generation would take something from the book in their own way as would each reader. I think I will read this again and hopefully my imagination can see the grand sights even better than the first time.

The celts The people who came out of the darkness Written by Gerhard Herm

Well, If I thought House of Leaves was a tough book to digest, I picked a book on just as difficult of level, but in an entirely different way. I just finished reading “The Celts” “The people who Came out of The Darkness” Written by: Gerhard Herm. This book was a history book that’s what it very much read like. 50000BC to 1210AD. Is quite a bit to digest in a little less than a month. The beginning alone left my head spinning and my tongue tied. Have any of you studied Etruscans, Latin, Gaelic, Welsh, German, Celt, etc… well this book was obviously full of names, cities, places, all using very similar words, and at times so very different. Plus, names family names changed as time went on and then would change again. I tried to pronounce a lot of the words out loud to better memorize what I was reading, I sounded as if I had cotton and rocks in my mouth while I gurgled Scotch, really it was not pretty. Still, I was confused also by Roman names as there were so many Julius Cesar’s, or those with similar names and campaigns across the Celtic world. Which, after reading this book I realized, the Celts not exactly the type of people who have one homeland, rather they were a nomadic folk who set up home wherever they felt. This book is set up in series to define the Celts. First the actual people who emerged from Darkness and believed in this rule “The right lay in their arms: to the brave belong all things.” Really, that says a lot about who the Celtic people were. Then it moves on to the Roman Nightmare which though the chapter end the nightmare itself in history never really ended for these people. Battles are fought over and over, kings are made and then fall. Then the author writes of the Heirs of Alexander and the Celts plus how the Great Alexander perceived these people. The books also brings us throughout the world and where the Celts traveled. Germany, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Rome, Egypt, etc… These people though they lived so many places where a word of mouth type of folk and kept their tales and history this way adapting them though time. Their religious beliefs also are told though for whatever reason Rome decided to annihilate the Druids practices as much as they could and not allow them to practice their religion. The Celts themselves were berserkers/head hunters. But, that was only a piece of whom they were. They were also a race who learned escapism very early on in such a way that it was also their blessing and their downfall. Yes they were numerous and everywhere, but each Celt would bow to no other and so Rome constantly caused brothers, cousins, kings, to go up against one another. Yes, they would fight, but they would not fight together, and they would die. I would have liked to have better understood more of the religious side as well as the actual family side with a Celt. There seems to be a very big piece missing on the average Celtic life. Such as the women, elderly, and children. They are mentioned in the book, and old descriptions are drawn upon, but for the most part this piece of the Celt is in shadows or not there at all. I found myself cheering the Celts on throughout their battles and integration, but I also felt like I was missing pieces throughout the whole book. And, this book was very very detailed. I would have liked to have better to understand the Celtic Gods, but seeing as there were 164 plus I can understand how that would be difficult. The book also touched upon Atlantis, something that it says maybe can’t be scoffed at like in olden times, and speaks about the worlds geography and the changes that occurred. I rather enjoyed this book, and while reading saw some specials on Celtic people, or TV shows mention the head hunters, who were also great artists and even had mass production in business. If you are looking for a book to tell a story, well this isn’t exactly the book for you, but if you are looking for a book to give you an idea of where to look to find a story and have more of a non-fiction eye that draws upon history and archeologist findings then this book is for you. It even goes with The Celtic people still surviving and ending with the tales of King Arthur, and how this Kings tale draws upon ancient Celtic beliefs and legends. I think I would read this book again I have sticky notes all over it and inside it will make yourself feel like an investigator.