Mique Reads

Format: ebook Categories: Classic by a Woman Author--Back to the Classics 2020 ( Books and Chocolate )  Three Books by the Same Author (#2)-#mmdchallenge 2020 ( Modern Mrs. Darcy )  "There is no drop of water in the ocean, not even in the deepest parts of the abyss, that does not know and respond to the mysterious forces that create the tide."  In this 2nd book of her "sea trilogy", Carson, with her lyrical prose, reveals the power, beauty, and complexity of the ocean and it's history. She does get a bit too technical at times. I started skimming at the parts where she droned on about pressure per cubic foot, etc. But really most of the book is very accessible to the the average reader, and even though it contains some outdated/inaccurate information, this book is still worth reading. Carson has an amazing ability to see the big ecological picture, how everything connects in the ocean, and how dependent we are on it. I particularly enjoyed the ch...

Format: ebook Categories: 20th Century Classic- Back to the Classics 2020 ( Books and Chocolate ) Three Books by the Same Author (#1) - #mmdchallenge 2020 ( Modern Mrs. Darcy ) "Yet so quietly did he approach that the sound of his wings, if sound there were, was lost in the whisper song of the water turning over the shells on the wet sand."       Wow! Reading this was like watching Planet Earth, Blue Planet, or pretty much anything narrated by David Attenborough. Carson has a way with words. That's for sure. I appreciate her lyrical style. This book covers the Atlantic Coast of North America, mainly by following the lives of a sanderling, a mackerel, and an eel. I admit that as much as I love animals and the ocean, I thought I was going to be bored during the mackerel section. I was so wrong. It turned out to be one of my favorite sections of the book! This is a book I know I'm going to re-visit

Format: ebook Category:  a book outside of your (genre) comfort zone. #mmdchallenge 2020  ( Modern Mrs Darcy )      This is a graphic novel, which is definitely not my go to genre. In fact, I don't think I've ever read a graphic novel. Comic strips? Yes, but not a graphic novel. I'm not even really sure why. It's just never been on my radar. I did enjoy this one. To me, it's sort of got a Ray Bradbury vibe mixed in with a bit of "It's a Wonderful Life". It's spooky, haunting, and heartwarming. There are parts that are confusing, but there is a reason for that. I can't really say why because it will give away too much. All I can say is that, ultimately, this is a story about family. 

  I will again be participating in the Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge, hosted by  Modern Mrs Darcy  My tentative choice for each category is listed in Red.  Note: This is one of my favorite challenges. I have participated in the past with various success. I wasn't able to finish every category last year, but I just love participating.  1. A book published the decade you were born- Here be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman (1985) 2. A debut novel- The Other Alcott by Elise Hooper 3. A book recommended by a source you trust- The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan   4. A book by a local author- The Siren by Kiera Cass (Myrtle Beach, SC)  5. A book outside of your (genre) comfort zone- The Underwater Welder by Jeff Lemire (Graphic Novel)  6. A book in Translation- Antigone by Sophoceles (Greek)  7. A book nominated for an award in 2020- Granted by John David Anderson (2019/2020 SC Children's Book Award Nominee)  8....

I will again be participating in the Back to the Classics Reading Challenge hosted by   Karen @Books and Chocolate . My tentative choice for each category is listed in Red. Note: I always try to go for all twelve categories, but I've never succeeded. I'm OK with that, though. I just really love participating. In 2019 I completed Tier 1: Six Categories. We'll see how it goes this year. THE CATEGORIES:  1. 19th Century Classic. Any classic book originally published between 1800 and 1899. The Lifted Veil by George Eliot 2. 20th Century Classic. Any classic book originally published between 1900 and 1970. All books in this category must have been published at least 50 years ago. The only exceptions are books that were published posthumously but were written at least 50 years ago. The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson 3. Classic by a Woman Author. The Edge of the Sea by Rachel Carson 4. Classic in Translation. Any classic originally written in a novel other...

This year I was intending on reading 12 categories for the Back to the Classics 2019 Reading Challenge, hosted by Karen at  Books and Chocolate , but I ended up doing 6 instead because, well, life with chronic illness happens, and I need to be flexible. I've earned ONE ENTRY. Here are the links to my reviews for each category. Classic by a Woman Author- The Wreath (Kristin Lavransdatter #1) by Sigrid Undset Classic in Translation- The Wife (Kristin Lavransdatter #2) by Sigrid Undset Classic Tragic Novel- The Cross (Kristin Lavransdatter #3) by Sigrid Undset 19th Century Classic- The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald Classic from the Americas- My Ántonia by Willa Cather Classic from Africa, Asia, or Oceania- The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell My contact info is mique3483 [at] gmail [dot] com

Format: Paperback Category: A book you chose for the cover ( Modern Mrs. Darcy) "Walking the stacks in a library, dragging your fingers across the spines -- it's hard not to feel the presence of sleeping spirits."   The cover of this book caught my eye with it's simple design and colors, the word, "bookstore", and...Bonus! It glows in the dark! I had high hopes for this one, but it was kind of a letdown. It has all the right ingredients for a great story, but I found the writing to be sub par, and the characters weren't engaging me. The plot was entertaining, and it did have a few humourous and witty moments.  CAWPILE Rating: C- 2 A- 3 W- 3 P- 5 I- 6 L- 4 E- 4 Avg= 3.9= ⭐⭐