Angieville

On the eve of 2008, I thought I'd see if I could come up with a best of list for 2007. I decided to go with twelve instead of ten. That way you get one for each month of the year. It's been such a good year book-wise and making such a list is sort of my thank you to all the authors, editors, publishers, illustrators, and booksellers who make my days good days. Best of 2007 (in order of publication) Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs Ironside by Holly Black The Well of Shades by Juliet Marillier Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer Beastly by Alex Flinn Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris Long May She Reign by Ellen Emerson White

And so ends the trilogy that began with A Great and Terrible Beauty , continued with Rebel Angels , and concludes in this final volume, The Sweet Far Thing . I liked the first one well enough because of its unique blend of a wild, magical, mythical realm barely constrained behind stiff Victorian curtains. I really got into the second one as the plot became more complex, Gemma came into her own powers, Felicity and Ann's stories became more layered, and poor beautiful Pippa was relegated to the Realms indefinitely. When I saw how thick the third one was, my eagerness ratcheted up a notch. After all, I have been sitting around lately asking for longer books. Suddenly, here one is. Unfortunately, 800 pages later, the best thing about it remains the first four words, it's lovely title, taken from a poem by W.B. Yeats. And it does capture the extremely bittersweet feel of the last portion of the book. But somehow this installment failed to capture my imagination. It frustrated me mo...

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have been cast as Bella and Edward respectively in the upcoming movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight . I'm am, tentatively, very excited. Just look at them. Kristen/Bella: "Dude, you are a total vampire." Robert/Edward: "I am such a vampire. Watch me brood." Angie/Fangirl: "Yay!"

The sorting hat says that I belong in Ravenclaw! Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose intelligence is surest." Ravenclaw students tend to be clever, witty, intelligent, and knowledgeable. Notable residents include Cho Chang and Padma Patil (objects of Harry and Ron's affections), and Luna Lovegood (daughter of The Quibbler magazine's editor). Take the most scientific Harry Potter Quiz ever created. Get Sorted Now! Link via Laughter & Loveliness 100% Ravenclaw, the test said. 94% Gryffindor, 84% Hufflepuff, and 32% Slytherin. So, given my character results, I'd guess I'm a somewhat less ruthless Snape or a somewhat less crazy Luna. Both of which I'm fine with.

This is the fourth book in Shinn's Twelve Houses series . Each volume focuses on one of the six companions and this one follows the youngest--Cammon. The boy who reads souls. Heretofore, Cammon has been something of a delightful enigma. The scruffy little brother with a good heart, not an ounce of tact, and the ability to gauge a person's true intentions. In this volume, he comes into his own and it was a treat to be one up on the rest of the characters for once. To actually be inside his head. Cammon is still Cammon, but we do get a little more information on his background and abilities as a reader. When he is chosen to assess the true intentions of Princess Amalie's suitors, the inevitable humorous and dangerous consequences follow. In fact, this was the most predictable of the four novels so far. Although I was surprised (and perfectly delighted) with how much of it was Senneth's story. She is my favorite character and, in the end, all the books are about Senneth, t...

Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc. Guess I'd better start brushing up on my Occlumency skills. (Link via A Chair, a Fireplace & a Tea Cozy )