Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday (7-31-12)


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, 
they post a different topic, and you get to create your own top ten list. So, this week's 
topic is:

Characters I'd Like to Switch Places With for 24 Hours

1) Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter) - to be the greatest wizard of all time? Seriously, who wouldn't want to be Dumbledore?

2) Valentine Roncalli (Very Valentine) - she designs shoes and lives on the island of Manhattan in a beautiful building ... where do I sign up?

3) Lara Lington (Twenties Girl) - I just loved this story and thought that Lara was a great character. I would love to be in her shoes and have a ghost helping me with my job!

4) Rachel Friedman (The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost) - so, this is her memoir, but she is so adventurous without being crazy. She reminded me a lot of myself.

5) Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice) - how could I not want to trade places with her? She ends up with Mr. Darcy!

6) Zoe (Gold) - I would just want the part where she competes at the Olympics. It might be that I'm really into the Olympics (I am every year), but I would love to feel what it's like to compete in the Games.

7) Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre) - I really identify with Jane and think that she's one of the best female characters ever written. Plus, she ends up with Rochester.

I know there are so many characters who I would love to trade places with, but that's all I can think of for right now! So, who would you trade places with? Let me know!

Monday, July 30, 2012

Review: Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

Picture Perfect
Author: Jodi Picoult
Published: July 2, 2002
Genre: contemporary fiction
Paperback: 369 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): To the outside world, they seem to have it all. Cassie Barrett, a renowned anthropologist, and Alex Rivers, one of Hollywood's hottest actors, met on the set of a motion picture in Africa. They shared childhood tales, toasted the future, and declared their love in a fairy-tale wedding. But when they return to California, something alters the picture of their perfect marriage. A frightening pattern is taking shape—a cycle of hurt, denial, and promises, thinly veiled by glamour. Torn between fear and something that resembles love, Cassie wrestles with questions she never dreamed she would face: How can she leave? Then again, how can she stay?


My Thoughts: For me, this was a bit of a departure from the other Jodi Picoult books that I've read. Instead of a big court case at the center of the drama, this novel focuses on the abusive relationship between Alex Rivers, a big Holywood star with a troubled past, and Cassie Barrett, an anthropologist who has taken care of people all her life. There is no court case, no big moment that the plot was building to. Instead, Picoult takes you into the world of an abusive relationship, and which also happens to involve one of the hottest Hollywood stars. This is a serious novel (all of her novels are serious, but this one seemed to be a bit darker than her other works). She doesn't sugar coat what is happening and, through Cassie, shows us how a woman in this situation thinks.


Cassie is an interesting character. She is flawed, but the more you learn about her and her background, the more you like her and root for her. You understand why she has made the choices that she has made and where those choices have taken her. Alex Rivers is also an interesting character. I do not believe that physical or emotional abuse is ever okay or acceptable, but you learn about Alex's past, you can see why he has turned out the way that he has. The way that he was treated by his father have shaped him into the person he is today. Then, there is Will Flying Horse. He was just too odd for me. I never really liked him, even as he was helping Cassie escape the abuse. I just thought he was too weird and didn't add anything to the story. This is a departure from Picoult's other novels, but just as good as her other works.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Review: Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Night Road
Author: Kristin Hannah
Published: March 22, 2011
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 385 pages
Source: purchased from Barnes & Noble


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable. 

Jude does everything to keep her kids safe and on track for college. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them. 

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

My Thoughts: Kristin Hannah is a truly gifted writer, and this novel proves why she is one of the best. Once again focusing on friendships and family, Hannah tells the tale of the Farraday family and Lexi, a teen that comes from a troubled background but always tries to be a good kid. One night changes all of their lives and the small town that they are from. The novel shows how one choice can change so many people's lives and how to live with the consequences of that choice. I thought that this was a slight departure from the other Kristin Hannah novels that I've read, since it's focused more on the outside choices instead of an itnernal drama. It's still centered around a family, but focuses on something that affected the whole town.

I loved the characters in this story. Lexi was such a beautiful young woman and someone who I loved to read about. Her background is harsh and made her a much more believable character. I thought she was well written and seemed like someone who understands how the world works. I loved the Farraday family. Each of them brought something special to the story. As individuals, they were flawed, but together, they made this beautiful family. To me, that's the mark of a Kristin Hannah novel: a flawed group of individuals that, when brought together, made a beautful family.

To me, the only downside of this book is that I had trouble relating with Jude. I could understand the emotions that she felt, but I am not a mother, so to me, it was difficult to relate to her at times. I enjoyed the story and continue to love Kristin Hannah and her work.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Book Blog Hop, Follow Friday, and TGIF (7-27-12)

Happy Friday everyone! Are you ready for the Olympics this evening? I know I am! I love the Olympic Games and cannot wait for the Opening Ceremonies to begin. I even requested the day off so that I wouldn't miss a second of the pageantry! Now, onto the Friday fun ...


Parajunkee asks:

Summer Reading. What was your favorite book that you were REQUIRED to read when you were in school?


To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. No contest!


GReads asks:


Christmas in July: If Santa were to come down your chimney in the middle of summer, which books would 
you want him to leave for you under the tree?

Wow, there are so many! I really want some of the leather-bound copies of the Barnes & Noble classics. So, I would love to find those under the tree!


Jen at Crazy For Books asks:

Blogging Question: What is one thing that your blog readers probably do not know about you?

Great question! I think that there are lots of things that my readers don't know about me, but I will go ahead and share this little tidbit: I used to work at Walt Disney World. I love everything Disney and could sit and talk about the company for hours and never get bored. Honestly, I'm one of the biggest Disney geeks that you might ever meet!

So, what was your favorite required reading in school? What would you like for Christmas (in July)? What don't I know about you? Let me know, and have a great weekend!







Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday (7-25-12)


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, you highlight an upcoming release that you are eagerly anticipating. This week, I'm looking forward to Motherland by Amy Sohn (release date: August 14, 2012).


Synopsis (from BN.com): With her trademark blend of “social satire, interpersonal drama, and urban glamour” (The New York Times), Amy Sohn delivers a candid, unsentimental look at modern marriage.
In her acclaimed novels, Amy Sohn has beguiled us with her pinpoint observations of how we live and love, giving voice to our innermost thoughts and everyday anxieties. Now, inMotherland, her most diverting book to date, she introduces us to five mothers and fathers in Cape Cod, Park Slope, and Greenwich Village who find themselves adrift professionally and personally.
Rebecca Rose, whose husband has been acting aloof, is tempted by the attentions of a former celebrity f lame; Marco Goldstein, saddled with two kids when his husband, Todd, is away on business, turns to anonymous sex for comfort; Danny Gottlieb, a screenwriter on the cusp of a big break, leaves his wife and children to pitch a film (and meet young women) in Los Angeles; fallen sanctimommy Karen Bryan Shapiro, devastated by her husband’s infidelity and abandonment, attempts a fresh start with a hot single dad; and former A-list actress Melora Leigh plots a star turn on Broadway to revive her Hollywood career. As their stories intersect in surprising ways and their deceptions spiral out of control, they begin to question their beliefs about family, happiness, and themselves.
Equal parts moving and richly entertaining, Motherland is a fresh take on modern marriage that confirms Amy Sohn as one of our most insightful commentators on relationships and parenting in America today.

So, what are you waiting on this Wednesday?


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday (7-24-12)


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, 
they post a different topic, and you get to create your own top ten list. So, this week's 
topic is:

Most Vivid Worlds/Settings in Books

1) Harry Potter - every place in these books is so vivid, you create this amazing mental picture in your head of what they must look like. I'm hoping JK Rowling's next book will be just as vivid.

2) Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan - taking place in coastal Maine, Sullivan paints a vivd picture of the landscape. Made me want to pack my bags and go!

3) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - I remember reading this book and feeling as if I was walking along those paths in the English countryside with Jane. Bronte has such a way with words that I felt like I was there, feeling the wind whipping around me.

4) The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins - this series is known not only for its characters, but it's settings. The country of Panem is so stark and harsh that you conjure some pretty bad images in your mind. Collins definitely has a way with creating her own world.

5) Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear - I love the time period in which these novels take place (early 1920s-1930s), and Winspear has a way of pulling you into the story. I'm not entirely familiar with London and it's many neighborhoods, but Winspear writes so you understand the differences between them.

6) The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani - travelling between the Italian Alps, New York City, Newark, and Minnesota, Trigani takes her readers on an exciting journey. It's a sweeping love story that takes you through so many settings, and each of them is describred so vividly.

7) The Pact by Jodi Picoult - while a heartbreaking novel, I loved how descriptive Picoult was when describing the settings. I could understand how the two families' houses were positioned in relation to one another and how the courtroom looked.

8) Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey - I find Marie Antoinette fascinating and love to read novels based on this time period. I loved how thorough Grey was in her descriptions of everything. It was one of the best books that I've ever read about Marie Antoinette (and it was the first in a trilogy, so I have high hopes for the remaining two books!)

9) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - wow. I think that's the only way to describe the setting's in this book.

10) Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen - one of the most descriptive books I've ever read. And set in a 1930s travelling circus. Just amazing.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Review: Gold by Chris Cleave

Gold
Author: Chris Cleave
Published: July 3, 2012
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 336 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Gold is the story of Zoe and Kate, world-class athletes who have been friends and rivals since their first day of Elite training. They’ve loved, fought, betrayed, forgiven, consoled, gloried, and grown up together. Now on the eve of London 2012, their last Olympics, both women will be tested to their physical and emotional limits. They must confront each other and their own mortality to decide, when lives are at stake: What would you sacrifice for the people you love, if it meant giving up the thing that was most important to you in the world?


My Thoughts: This was my first Chris Cleave novel and I was excited to read it, with the Olympics so close and all (I finished this about 2 weeks before the opening ceremonies). I had heard lots of good things about this writing and thought that this would be the perfect introduction and would get me in the mood for the Olympic Games. I don't know if it got me in the mood or made me a die hard fan, but I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Following two competitive cyclists and their dreams for Olympic gold one last time, Cleave tells a story of how these two women got to where they are and how they feel as they aspire to make it to the games one last time. While a little too much to handle at times, Cleave creates an intriguing story and one where you don't know who to root for, especially as the story of their pasts unravels even more.


I thought that the characters in this book were great. Zoe and Kate are wonderfully written and you can see their development throughout the novel. Jack, Kate's husband, is also well-written. Providing comic relief through the story and keeping it light-hearted when it was starting to become weighed down. Sophie is charming and you cannot help but light up whenever you read her passages. For me, the negative part of this book was the writing, but I do have to clarify. I thought that Cleave is a wonderful writer. No doubt in my mind about that. I felt like he would get bogged down in talking about the physical aspects of athletes: warm-ups, sprints, races, kits, lactic acid build-up. It just became a bit too technical at times and drew away from the story.


I will definitely try more of Chris Cleave's work in the future and hope that it isn't as technical in those books. Have you read any of Cleave's books? Let me know ... I would love to hear your take on them! 

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Review: The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

The Shoemaker's Wife
Author: Adriana Trigiani
Published: April 3, 2012
Genre: historical fiction
Hardcover: 496 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 4 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Majestic and haunting beauty of the Italian Alps is the setting of the first meeting of Enza, a practical beauty, and Ciro, a strapping mountain boy, who meet as teenagers, despite growing up in villages just a few miles apart. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local priest in a scandal, he is banished from his village and sent to hide in America as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Little Italy. Without explanation, he leaves a bereft Enza behind. Soon, Enza's family faces disaster and she, too, is forced to go to America with her father to secure their future.

Unbeknownst to one another, they both build fledgling lives in America, Ciro masters shoemaking and Enza takes a factory job in Hoboken until fate intervenes and reunites them. But it is too late: Ciro has volunteered to serve in World War I and Enza, determined to forge a life without him, begins her impressive career as a seamstress at the Metropolitan Opera House that will sweep her into the glamorous salons of Manhattan and into the life of the international singing sensation, Enrico Caruso. 

From the stately mansions of Carnegie Hill, to the cobblestone streets of Little Italy, over the perilous cliffs of northern Italy, to the white-capped lakes of northern Minnesota, these star-crossed lovers meet and separate, until, finally, the power of their love changes both of their lives forever. 

Lush and evocative, told in tantalizing detail and enriched with lovable, unforgettable characters, The Shoemaker's Wife is a portrait of the times, the places and the people who defined the immigrant experience, claiming their portion of the American dream with ambition and resolve, cutting it to fit their needs like the finest Italian silk.

My Thoughts: Wow. Where to begin with this epic novel. To say it's one of the best books I've read this year is an understatement (and I've read some really good ones). This is an epic story, not just of two people in love with one another, but an epic tale of the American dream. Ciro and Enza come over from America and work in their respective trades, building lives for themselves in this new world. They become masters of what they do and are able to live out the American dream when Ciro opens his own business. They work hard to support themselves and give their lives to building a business and home.

Adriana Trigiani's characters are so real and she continues that in this book. Enza seemed like someone who I would know (if I was alive way back then). I immediately liked her and was rooting for her to find happiness in America. Ciro is endearing from the moment that he is introduced and you can't help but love him, even if he seems a little stupid at times (how could he lead Enza on like that when they were young?!?) I also loved how Trigiani switched between the two as narrators. It made the story so rich when you could see what each one was doing.

So, I loved the book. Why did I only give it 4 stars then? For me, the ending was too fast. It may be a case of wishing that this book would never end, but I felt too rushed. I thought that it could have been a bit more drawn out and not wrapped up so perfectly, or maybe ended a little earlier. Either way, that's the only downside of this book for me. Trigiani is now one of my favorite authors and this book was such a magnificent work. If you haven't read Trigiani's novels, then you need to give her a try. I don't think that you will be disappointed.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Book Blog Hop, Follow Friday, and TGIF (7-20-12)

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you are enjoying your July and getting in lots of reading ... I feel like I have been slacking in my reading lately, but I also haven't LOVED anything that I've read in the past two weeks, so it makes it difficult to get into the groove. Now, onto the Friday fun ...


Jen at Crazy For Books asks:

What’s the ONE super-hyped book you’ll NEVER read?

Great question! There isn't any that I can think of as being super-hyped, but the one that I never got into was The Chronicles of Narnia. Everyone loved that series when I was growing up, but I never wanted to read it.


Parajunkee asks:

Christmas in July! Someone gives you a gift card for two books (whatever that costs). What two books will you buy?


I would buy the leather-bound editions of Pride and Prejudice and To Kill a Mockingbird from Barnes & Noble. I just love their leather-bound classics series!


GReads asks:

Throwback TGIF: Pick a previous question you posted on your blog in the past & revisit your answer. Has it changed since then?

I went back to April 6, 2012, with this good question:

Book Series Finales: Which book, from any series has been your favorite ending? What about your least favorite ending?

My answer has changed since then! While I would still have Harry Potter as my favorite ending to a series, I now have a worst one. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I just hated that whole book and it really ruined the series for me.

So, which super-hyped book will you never read? What two books would you want right now? Let me know, and have a great weekend!






Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday (7-17-12)


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, 
they post a different topic, and you get to create your own top ten list. So, this week's 
topic is:

Books for People Who Like Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

1) Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani - a greatm hilarious novel about a woman in her 30s, living in Manhattan and making shoes by hand. Great read!

2) Always Something There to Remind Me by Beth Harbison - a romantic comedy, almost like a Kinsella novel, where a girl meets up with her high school sweetheart years after they graduated and moved on from one another.

3) any Emily Giffin book - I haven't reviewed any of her novels on my blog, but they are all so good! If you like Kinsella's writing, you would like Giffin's work, too.

4) Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan - four girls who graduated college together and reunite for one of their weddings. It's written in a way that you learn about each girl's experiences in college and where they are in their lives now.

5) If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster - a hilarious novel about home remodeling gone awry. Seriously, it will have you laughing outloud!

6) True Colors by Kristin Hannah - Hannah's novels aren't as light as Kinsella's, but they do share one common feature: all of their characters are real. They aren't really crazy or out there. I love Hannah's novels and I bet you would too.

7) Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling - this is becoming my favorite book of the year, I think! Such a good book and hilarious. If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?!? Go and grab a copy right now!!!

8) A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand - a great summer time read. It's light, easy to get into, and there's some humor thrown in there too.

9) Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews - a good chick lit novel where four women all share a house at the Outer Banks for a month. Pretty funny with some action thrown in, too.

10) The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger - one of the best chick lit novels out there. If you love Kinsella, then you will love this one.

So, which book did you choose? Let me know and have a great Tuesday!



Monday, July 16, 2012

Review: An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear

An Incomplete Revenge
Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Published: February 19, 2008
Genre: mystery
Hardcover: 306 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 4 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): With the country in the grip of economic malaise, and worried about her business, Maisie Dobbs is relieved to accept an apparently straightforward assignment from an old friend to investigate certain matters concerning a potential land purchase. Her inquiries take her to a picturesque village in Kent during the hop-picking season, but beneath its pastoral surface she finds evidence that something is amiss. Mysterious fires erupt in the village with alarming regularity, and a series of petty crimes suggests a darker criminal element at work. As Maisie discovers, the villagers are bitterly prejudiced against outsiders who flock to Kent at harvest time--even more troubling, they seem possessed by the legacy of a wartime Zeppelin raid. Maisie grows increasingly suspicious of a peculiar secrecy that shrouds the village, and ultimately she must draw on all her finely honed skills of detection to solve one of her most intriguing cases. Rich with Jacqueline Winspear's trademark period detail, this latest installment of the bestselling series is gripping, atmospheric, and utterly enthralling.


My Thoughts: I found the Maisie Dobbs series a few months ago, and ever since, each book that I read is better than the last. Following a female private investigator and psychologist, Jacqueline Winspear takes you back in time to the 1930s and she investigates a small town that has fires every year, but no one reports them. Representing a business interest, Maisie dives into the case to find out what is going on in this small town. Her investigation has her dealing with locals, out of towners, and gypsies. Even though there are many characters in this book, each is distinctive and adds something to the story. I also really enjoyed how Winspear dealt with Simon, Maisie's first love. I had been wondering for some time how Winspear would deal with that character, who is a shell of himself since he returned from the war. I thought that she handled it in a way that would give Maisie the closure that she needed and was respectful towards those men who suffered mental illnesses following their service in the military.


If you love historical fiction (specifically anything dealing with WWI or WWII), then you should definitely check out this series. Winspear captures that essence of the British people in a great way and creates a great story, too.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Audiobook Review: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

I've Got Your Number
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Narrator: Jayne Entwistle
Published: January 1, 2012
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 11 discs
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 4 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect! Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life. What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.


My Thoughts: It's no secret that I love Sophie Kinsella audiobooks. They are one of my guilty pleasures. They are so good and they just pull you in ... I truly believe that Sophie Kinsella could write her own version of the dictionary down, and I would listen to the audiobook version of it. Her newest novel doesn't disappoint and had me laughing throughout the entire reading. Poppy Wyatt loses her engagement ring and cell phone, all in the same day. Luckily, she finds a cell phone just lying a waste basket in the lobby of a hotel and invokes that rule of "finder's keepers", against the wishes of the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton. A rapport builds between the two over several weeks, with Poppy helping (or her believing that she is helping) Sam with handling business is a more personal manner, and Sam offering advice to Poppy on how to be a stronger person. This mostly takes place over text messages and phone calls here and there.


The characters in this novel are just like the ones in Kinsella's other works (but not in a bad way). Every single character is relatable and real. I could imagine any of them being people in my own life (maybe not the wedding planner, but just because she is nasty). My only complaint with this novel? The beginning was a little far fetched. The finding of the cell phone in a bin in a hotel lobby was a little weird, and the fact that Sam didn't really protest Poppy keeping the phone for her own personal use. Other than that, it was just a great read (or listen) that I was sad when it ended. I cannot wait to listen to more of Kinsella's work in the future and hope that she continues to create real characters.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Book Blog Hop, Follow Friday, and TGIF (7-13-12)

Happy Friday everyone! I hope that you are having a great day, where ever you are! Enjoying summer to it's fullest? It's hard to comprehend that summer is almost half way over! It makes me sad because I feel like I should have read way more than I have. Well, hopefully I can make up for it this second half of summer. Now, onto the Friday fun ...


 Jen at Crazy For Books asks:

How long does it take you to read a book?

Tough question! It really depends upon the book and the length of it. Sometimes, for a 300-400 pages book, it might take me anywhere between 2-4 days to finish. I just finished a 585 page book in 5 days, so I tend to average about 100 pages a day.


Parajunkee asks:

What drove you to start book blogging in the first place?


Great question! I started book blogging because I was looking for a way to meet other people who love books as much as I do. And that's what I've done! I've met some great people through blogging and have been introduced to some amazing books because of it!


GReads asks:

What are some of the most swoon-worthy quotes you've experienced in a book?

Too many to mention, but I'll try:

"He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." -Emily Bronte

"I have for the first time found what I can truly love - I have found you. You are my sympathy - my better self - my good angel - I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wrap my existence about you - and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one." -Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

And you couldn't have a swooning quote list without Mr. Darcy:

"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." -Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

So, how long does it take you to read a book? Why did you start blogging? What are your fave swoon-worthy quotes? Let me know, and have a great weekend!