Howdy all!

This is just a quick message to note that my blog will be moving from its current address to http://randomactsofdarcy.blogger.com. I haven't been happy with what I've been doing with this blog, so I decided to get a fresh start, and broaden out my scope a bit.

This will be the last post from this blog, I hope to hear from you on my new and improved blog, Random Acts of Darcy!

The Hollow Kingdom

The Hollow Kingdom, by Clare B. Dunkle is actually the first book in a trilogy, but the book works well as a stand-alone (I know this from experience; I had no clue it was a trilogy the first time I read it).

This story is about two sisters, Kate and Emily, who come to live with their aunts at Hollow Hill. Their new home is enormous, and surrounded by a beautiful forest, which the girls love to explore. It isn't long, however, before Kate begins to feel like someone is watching her. This feeling only occurs at night, and no matter where she goes,she can't shake the feeling. One night, her worst nightmares are realized as she comes face-to-face with a hideous monster who declares himself to be the king of the goblins, Marak. After introducing himself, Marak continues to tell Kate that he has chosen her to be his bride. The rest of the story consists of Kate's struggle with the goblin king, and the adventures that follow.

I love this book; it's rich with great descriptions and humor; Clare B. Dunkle has a real talent with words and makes every word count for something. Kate is resourceful and serene, a great mix of characteristics, and Marak, even though he is described as ugly, shows such kindness and humor towards the other characters that you can't help wishing he were real.

One of my favorite segments from the book is when Marak informs Kate of his intentions to make her his bride (sorry, it's pretty long):

"'Yes, i should have seen myself,' said Kate, finding her voice with an effort. 'I'm looking in a mirror, aren't I? I want my reflection back where it belongs.'

'I'll be your reflection.' Marak teased. 'You'll come and sit before me, and I'll tell you how beautiful you are. I'll tell you that there's no woman in the whole land to compare with you, just like magical mirrors are supposed to.'

Kate decided to ignore his impertinence. It was the only ladylike thing to do. 'Why did you came here?' she demanded angrily. 'Why are you bothering me?'

'I'm here tonight for the same reason that I was here last night,' he replied. 'Are you sure you really want to know why? You look a little upset.' He crossed his wiry arms and leaned forward to study her carefully. 'There's no insanity in your family, is there?'

The irony of this question coming out of the mouth of a grotesque illusion left Kate speechless for a few seconds. Insanity? Not until he came along. She shrugged, looking blank.

'No insanity,' Marak concluded in relief. 'That's good. You do keep surprising me,' he admitted. 'I thought I had you sound asleep. Then there you were, sitting up and shrieking like a teakettle. Really, Kate!' he reproved, shaking his bony head at her. What if someone had heard you?'

'Are you a ghost?' Kate asked quickly before she could lose her nerve. Suppose he did something dreadful!

'No,' he answered. 'I am alive, just as you are.'

'Then you're a devil?' she guessed.

How wicked do you think I am?' He chuckled. 'You think I'm evil incarnate just because I irritate you? There must be a special place in hell for people who use your first name without permission.' He threw back his head and laughed loudly at his own joke.

Kate glared at him in embarrassed rage. 'Then what are you?' She demanded.

Marak considered her shrewdly.

'I'm a goblin,' he replied and grinned at her. Kate shuddered. Those frightful teeth! She stared at him, completely at a loss. She tried to think of everything she had ever heard about goblins, but it wasn't much."

I could go on and on, giving you the entire book, but I had better stop now so I don't give too much away!

Ella Enchanted

Ella Enchanted By Gail Carson Levine is probably my most frequently read book. I first read it in fourth grade, and I can't even tell you how many times I've read it since then.

Ella Enchanted is a retelling of the Grimm fairy tale, Cinderella. I know there are a lot of fairy tale retellings, but this is one I highly recommend!

When she was born, Ella would not stop crying so Lucinda, a fairy who was at Ella's birth, gives Ella a "gift".

"My gift is obedience. Ella will always be obedient"

Immediately, Ella's mother and fairy godmother beg Lucinda to take away the curse, but she won't. Ella must either accept her obedience for the rest of her life, or find a way to break the curse herself.

Levine takes Ella, along with the reader, through meeting with her evil stepmother and stepsisters, through finishing school, escaping from finishing school, a giant's wedding, and many other adventures!

Ella's character is witty, sarcastic and clever; she is always finding ways to dodge the fairy's curse and fend for herself. I love Ella because she isn't the typical locked-away-in-a-tower princess expecting prince charming to come along. There is (of course) a prince for Ella, Prince Charmont, also referred to as "Char." Char is a generous prince, and one of Ella's best friends from the moment they meet. Ella and Char are always bantering back and forth, trying to make the other laugh; this makes the reader laugh in response.

I can't recommend this book highly enough! It is a great read, not too difficult, and like any good fairy tale, it ends with a "happily ever after."

To give you a taste of Ella Enchanted, here is a passage taken from the beginning:

"Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally.

Mother rarely insisted I do anything. Father knew nothing of the curse and saw me too infrequently to issue many commands. But Mandy was bossy, giving orders almost ass often as she drew breath. Kind orders or for-your-own-good orders. 'Bundle up, Ella.' Or 'Hold this bowl while I beat the eggs, sweet.'

I disliked these commands, harmless as they were. I'd hold the bowl, but move my feet so she would have to follow me around the kitchen. She'd call me minx and try to hem me in with more specific instructions, which I would find new ways to evade. Often, it was a long business to get anything done between us, with Mother laughing and egging each of us on by turn."

As I said before, it's a great book, and if you are looking for an easy, entertaining read, consider Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine for the role!

On Reading... One Time or Several?

I work in a bookstore. As a bookseller, I get the chance to talk to some interesting people. A few weeks ago, a lady came in and bought a few books I have read. As I was ringing her up, I made the comment "Oh, I love these! I've read them probably a million times!" The lady looked at me as if I were crazy and replied "Oh, I never read books more than once. Why bother? I already know how the story is going to end."

This conversation was shocking to me! First of all, why would you buy a book if it is only going to be read once? Wouldn't the library be an easier (not to mention cheaper) method? Second, is that REALLY why you read a book? Just to find out how it ends? For me, that's not the case. Of course I want to know that everything is going to work out in the end, and I am a sucker for a "happily ever after" ending, but I love stepping into the world of a novel, meeting the characters, and enjoying the writing style of the author. If I love a fictional world, I want to experience it as many times as possible! Which of course means reading a book multiple times.

I'm not saying either method is better; after all, I probably miss out on a lot of great books because I re-read old favorites occasionally, but my method works for me.

What about you? Do you read books once, ten times, a undred times, as many times as you feel inclined? And why?

To Blog or Not to Blog?

Well, here goes nothing! I am finally stepping out of the ranks of oblivion and into the vast open spaces of the world wide web! Many of you have made this step already, and I am just behind the times. Yes, for those of you who know what I am talking about, I am talking about joining the ranks of those known as "Bloggers."

I have never necessarily craved having my own blog, but this semester I received an assignment to create a blog, and the old adage is true: if you are going to do something, do it right! (Well, I don't know that it is really an OLD adage, but it's a familiar adage.) So I make my way into the world of the bloggers, and try this trend out for myself!

I'm not really sure how one begins a blog, so I will conclude my first (very short) entry and bid anyone who is out there adieu, and say "WOOHOO!!! I AM NOW A BLOGGER!!!!"