The Wind in the Willows (Journey Through The Classics)

The Wind in the Willows

By: Kenneth Grahame

 

 

I love it when a book surprises me. I love it when a book proves me wrong. The Wind in the Willows did just that. This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for a couple of years now. While I was curious enough to buy it, I was never really in that big of a rush to read the book. For some reason, I just didn't think it was going to be that great of a read. Truthfully, I wondered if I would even finish it. I was wrong.

 

This is the charming story of a handful of animals who live in the woods and along the riverbank. Mole has decided he wants to spend the day outside. He meets Rat and from there the adventures begin. Rat introduces Mole, and the reader, to a host of wonderful characters. You get to meet the eccentric Toad. He's a wealthy animal who likes to follow whatever whim he's interested in. He takes up a love of driving cars and proceeds to get into numerous accidents. His friends have an intervention, even go so far has to lock him in a room for his (and everyone on the road) safety. However, he escapes and finds more trouble than he thought he could.

 

While there are a handful of other characters to meet and enjoy the book centers pretty much around Mole, Rat, and Toad. Toad is the character that stood out the most for me. I loved reading about his adventures. His daring escape from the dungeon and all that happened on his way back home. He was a character who didn't disappoint. I think my favorite part of the story was when all the animals joined together to take back Toad's beloved house from the Wild Wooders who moved in while Toad was in the dungeon.

 

This is a book I can see myself reading again sometime. It was a fun, charming romp through the English countryside with some great animals.



Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

From the moment I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. Reading it within 1 day, I was amazed at how Sarah brings you into the storyline and the characters.

In May of 1933 during a freak snowstorm, Vera Ray came home early one morning after working and discovered that her 3 year old child, Daniel, went missing. While some people say he ran away, she knew that they were wrong, and rather he was taken. She takes it upon herself and does what she can as a determined mother to find her child. However, being poor at that time period didn't help. The police took no interest in her or what she had to say.

77 years later during another snowstorm in May, Claire, a newspaper reporter, stumbles upon the story of the missing boy and is determined to give his story an ending. Having lost her baby herself, she felt for the mother and wanted to finish her story for her. The book goes from past to present, which allows the reader the full story of Vera and her missing son, as well as Claire's search for the truth about him.

This was an amazing book that I will be buying to add to my bookshelf. Sarah is a phenomenal writer and I look forward to reading her next book!

The Classics... Oh, how I've missed you!

The Wind in the Willows

By: Kenneth Grahame

 

When Mole decides he has had enough tiresome spring-cleaning for one day, the scrappy nonesuch throws down his broom and bolts out of his house looking for fun and adventure. He quickly finds it in the form of the Water Rat, who takes the wide-eyed Mole boating and introduces him to the mysteries of life on the river and in the Wild Wood. Mole also meets Ratty’s good friends: the kindly, solid Badger and the irrepressible Toad. Soon, the quartet’s escapades—including car crashes, a sojourn in jail, and a battle with the weasels who try to take over Toad Hall—become the talk of the animal kingdom. --bn.com

 

I'm going on an adventure! I'm hitting the open river with a mole, a river rat, and various other animals. I have no idea what lies ahead, but I have a feeling The Wind in the Willows is going to take me on an adventure like no other I've gone on before.

 

After a rather extended break from reading the classics, the old itch has begun in earnest. I've missed reading the books of legend and days gone by. I miss the world they take you to and the characters you miss. So my Journey Through The Classics picks up again with this famous critter tale. I'm hitching a ride on a river rat's boat and I'd love for you to join me!

One Small Fib by Jan Romes

When I won this book on a twitter contest, I was excited to start reading it especially after seeing so many good reviews on this books! I started reading this on my flight home, from Washington -> California. The first thing I found funny was the fact that the main character was also a flight attendant! Too funny if you ask me. Well, from the moment I started the book I couldn't put it down. I was able to read the majority of the book during the duration of the flight. The chemistry between the 2 characters, Allie and Kipton was a love/hate relationship. Kipton was a billionaire, used to getting whatever he wants. Allie was a hard working girl, raised by a hooker of a mom, while trying to save up for her dream of owning a bed and breakfast. So when Allie is assigned as a special flight attendant to Kipton, he meets this fiery girl who is unlike anyone he is used to talking to; she actually speaks her mind and says what she wants to say, versus what he wants to hear. In the end, they probably have more in common than one would think!  "One Small Fib" is a fun romantic comedy that's sure to make you laugh. There are also a lot of heated moments between the two characters that leave you feeling the sense of attraction between the two.  I truly enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading more books written by Jan Romes!

Changes are afoot!

While I have loved running this blog by myself, everything in life grows and changes. As it is with this blog. During the time I've had Jen's Corner, I have been given incredible opportunities. Several of those have been people using my blog to do their own reviews for books they have read. For the past several months I have thought long and hard about what the future of my blog will be. Should I shut It down and try to do reviews for other blogs? Should I take a break from reviewing all together? Should I see if anyone else would like to run this blog with me? I have weighed the pros and cons for each possibility and finally came up with my choice.

I have taken on another blogger who will become my partner in crime. Because of this, the blog will no longer be called Jen's Corner. Instead it will now be called Miss Book Lovers! In the coming months you will meet my new blog mate and get to know her. We have several fun ideas for what we want to do. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!

The changes won't be severe, but slight and pleasant. I encourage you to check back often to see what's new. I will keep you posted!!