marjoleinreads

A Rather Lovely Inheritance by C.A. Belmond

marjoleinreads — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:39:04 +0000

YA authors Melissa Walker and Mari Mancusi on better.tv

marjoleinreads — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:48:00 +0000

Watch this great video of better.tv about the fabulous YA authors Melissa Walker and Mari Mancusi!

Review of Very Valentine

marjoleinreads — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:53:00 +0000

My review of Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani is now posted on the blog of American book Center, click here to read it

Envy by Anna Godbersen

marjoleinreads — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:52:00 +0000

In this third book in the The Luxe Series, it is Manhattan 1900. Elizabeth Holland has returned home at the luxury brownstone at Gramercy Park no 17. And she is soon in the society pages again. We are traveling by train to Florida with the wealthy aristocratic characters of The Luxe; Henry Schoonmaker and his wife Penelope (are they really happy together, or is Henry in love with somebody else?) Elizabeth’s sister Diana Holland, former maid of the Holland ladies, Carolina Broad, and Penelopes brother.
In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen’s bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan’s most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets. . . .
It is really just as perfect as the previous two books, you are hooked from page one.
Its like stepping in a time machine to come out in Manhattan in 1900, and get a good look in the life of the rich and whealthy people of that time, with lots of gorgeous dresses!

COMING UP LATER:INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR OF THE THE LUXE SERIES, ANNA GODBERSEN!

Long may she reign by Ellen Emerson White

marjoleinreads — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:51:00 +0000

The last book in the President’s Daughter Series by Ellen Emerson White.
After being kidnapped by terrorists in the previous book, and having large problems functioning normal with a disabled hand and leg, Meg is going away from the White House to go to college. She will have to live in a dorm there, surrounded by Secret Service agents. And that’s where most of this final book is going about.
The previous books had a very nice plot and attention span, but thats the thing that misses in this book. It was to be honest my least favorite of the series, I expected more of it. Meg is really whining about almost everything in this book, and is really moody. That makes it really dreadfull to read, I skipped a few pages here and there..otherwise the moody attitude of Meg was reigning too long..

Taking Liberty by Ann Rinaldi

marjoleinreads — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:15:00 +0000

Taking Liberty by Ann Rinaldi tells the story of Oney Judge, George Washington’s runaway slave. Oney Judge works with her mother in the house of Lady and General Washington, the later president of the United States. There are more African-American people working in and around the house, as slaves.
America is in war with Great Britain, and the slaves are having their own war: to be a free person and not to work as a slave for rich white people.
Some slaves have already run away, and the rumors about them are the talk of day for the slaves in the house of the Washington’s
Oney is working as a maid for Lady Washington, and it seems Lady Washington is very fond of her, and Oney gets better food, and is treated better than other slaves.
When her mother is insulted for theft and send out to work in the cotton fields, Oney feels very lonely. But she gets the change to travel with Lady Washington to their house in New York and Philadelphia. But then..a spokeslady for rights of African American people shows up and talks to Oney, she can be a free girl, and she is told that Lady Washington only is nice to her, so she will be more attached to her and will not run away..what will Oney decide to do? Stay working as a well treated slave for Lady Washington, or will she choose to be a free girl?
I really like reading good historical fiction like this. I have read a lot of good reviews about the books of Ann Rinaldi, and I can totally connect to this reviews.
It enjoyed every minute of this book, I learned a bit more about American History by reading this, and I will certainly learn more about American History in a fun way by reading more books by Ann Rinaldi.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

marjoleinreads — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:06:00 +0000

Rebecca Bloomwood loves shopping. She loves it so much that she has some problems with paying all the bills. But what does it matter? Rebecca has a fabulous flat in London’s trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season’s must-haves. The only trouble is that she can’t actually afford it—not any of it.
Her job as a journalist at the magazine Succesful Saving isn’t paying that much, and now her bank is chasing her with threaths, she has to pay her bills, or else..
She tries cutting back. But none of her efforts succeeds. Becky’s only consolation is to buy herself something … just a little something….
Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life—and the lives of those around her—forever. It took a long time for I picked up the Shopaholic books. I have read Shopaholic takes Manhattan a year ago and I really liked it. It is written in the same stayle Meg Cabot uses in her adult fiction books. The story is also here told in letters from the bank to Rebecca, I really think this makes the story more hilarious.And hilarious Shopaholic is. Rebecca is a real naive but funny shopaholic. I received the book yesterday, and finished it today. Good sign!
I really hope to read all the other Sophie Kinsella books, but instead of Rebecca I can cut myself back..
And yes, I am looking forward to seeing the Shopaholic movie, wich will run from March here in the Netherlands.

Movie Review; The Nanny Diaries

marjoleinreads — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:44:00 +0000

Last year, I have read the book of The Nanny Diaries, by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus.It is certainly one of the most funny and best books I have read, and I was really happy to hear that it was made into a movie, wich was released last year. Yesterday I (finally) watched it, and here is my review!
The movie the Nanny Diaries starts, and we are in the Museum of Natural History in New York. An antropological museum, because the main character, Annie, is very interested in antropology.
We pass various museum vitrines with the natural habitats of people in different cultures: Amazone Indians, African Masai people. and at least, the natural habitat of the people of the whealty Upper East Side of New York City.
In the more primitive cultures, there is a say that it takes a village to raise a child. In the Upper East Sise of NYC it only takes one person: the nanny.Annie is not sure what she wants do in life, being just graduated. When she walks in Central Park, she runs into a boy and his mom. They meet, and the mom hears her name Annie as Nanny. The Chanel wearing mom (Mrs. X)is searching for a nanny, and gives Annie her card.
Annie decides to take the job, but real soon, she discovers she is just a sort of little slave girl of a lesser class in the eyes of the Upper East Side class.The boy she is taken care of, Grayer, is difficult to handle, his mom is too busy with shopping on 5th Avenue, lunches , yoga classes, and attending benefits.
Grayer is only allowed to read serious things, preferrably in French, and only eats natural biological food, and French haute cuisine.The activities he and the nanny are allowed to do are visiting museums, the stock exchange, and the French Culinary Institute. Annie secretly decides to do only real fun things with him (eating peanut butter out of the jar, riding the subway)
When Annie accidentally discovers that Mr.X has a mistress, Annie is split between different feelings. Does she has to tell Mrs. X the truth? Or does she risks her job and the safety grayer has found in his new nanny? And then she discovers the Nanny Cam.. Besides that, she meets her apartment neighbour , Harvard Hottie..
Annie is brilliantly played by Scarlett Johansson. It really sets a realistic view of what really happens in the life of a nanny. I also liked that there where many little recerence jokes to Mary Poppins. If you like movies as The Devil Wears Prada, you certainly MUST see The Nanny Diaries!

Review of Princess Diaries 10;Forever Princess

marjoleinreads — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:47:00 +0000

My review of Princess Diaries 10; Forever Princess by Meg Cabot is now posted on the blog of the American Book Center.

Click here to read it

Ordered my copy..

marjoleinreads — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:18:00 +0000

Today I ordered my copy of Envy, the third novel in the The Luxe Books series by Anna Godbersen!
I am so excited to read it, ca’n hardly wait! It will arrive in a few days..
And when I have finished, stay tuned for an interview with the one and only author of the The Luxe books, the fabulous Anna Godbersen!
Yesterday I saw a few very Luxe photos on a blog. There was an The Luxe event earlier in London, where you could win a contest and walk in a really Luxe Victorian dress(as in the pink dress at the cover of book 1) here some pics of the winner..gosh I love that dress..