Domi's Book Palace

Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2017 Category: Russian Classic This book took me a little while to get into, but once I got through the first few chapters, I was hooked! This is a long, philosophically dense book, but do not let that deter you. It is anything, but boring, and it will make you think. The main conflict in the novel is Faith vs Doubt. The characters are so dynamic that I believed they were real people. Definitely take your time reading this one. I read it in two months, and there is so much to it that I want to read it again. I think I will read a different translation every time. I actually regret that I can't read it in Russian. I would love to experience this novel in it's original glory .

Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2017 Category: Classic with a Number in the Title The Sign of Four is Arthur Conan Doyle's second novel. While I enjoyed A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four is more complex and the writing style is greatly improved. There are some definite racist remarks in this book, but I realize that this was a typical view of the time period, especially in England, so historically accurate. I have read some Sherlock Holmes years ago, but I don't remember reading this one. I love the monologues, and the character development is good too. I noticed that in A Study in Scarlet, Watson claims that he has a shoulder injury, but in The Sign of Four, he states that his leg is where he is injured. I'm wondering if perhaps Watson may be a bit of an unreliable narrator?

MMD Reading Challenge 2017- For Fun Category: Book recommended by someone with great taste Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2017 Category: 20th Century Classic I had such mixed feelings about this book. It is a Christian allegory, that has some great themes, and it does make you think, but I wasn't a fan of the writing style. Much-Afraid is called by the Shepherd to make a journey to His Kingdom of Love, where he will give her a new name. It was a really strange mix of biblical language and more modern language. She kept switching between Thee and Thou and You, etc. Also, it was really repetitive. The descriptions were wordy, but repetitive. I felt like I was having De'ja vu. I also felt like I was being spoon-fed a majority of the time. It actually has some very similar themes to Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis, which I will be re-reading for my challenges this year, but Till We Have Faces is far superior in my opinion. There was one part in this book that drove m...

Challenge: MMD Reading Challenge 2017- For Fun Category: Book Chosen for the Cover I really don't read a lot of  urban fantasy, but this cover just grabbed me, and that is what this category is all about! I really enjoyed this. It was very well-written, and hard to put down. The language is pretty graphic at times as is the violence, which mostly happens in the second part of the book. It was set in an alternative Johannesburg "ghetto" in South Africa, though, so it wasn't really unnecessary, just too descriptive for me at times. The ending was sad, but still hopeful. Zoo City is the name of the ghetto where "Zoos", people who have committed a serious crime and have an Animal counterpart linked to them as a result. It has more to do with guilt of the individual than a specific crime. The magic system was very unique, at times creepy, but always engaging. I would really like to see a sequel to this book.

Back to the Classics 2017 Reading Challenge : Category: Classic about an animal or which includes the name of an animal in the title MMD Reading Challenge 2017 - For Fun :  Book set somewhere you've never been, but would like to visit I'm giving this book 4 stars. I enjoyed it so much. Dot gets lost in the Australian Bush and is befriended by a Kangaroo. She meets many creatures while trying to find her way back home. I loved the descriptions of the Bush and the creatures that live there. This is a really good children's book, and the only problem I had with it is that all humans are demonized. There is no distinction made between poachers and those who hunt for food. I have always wanted visit Australia, even though some things about Australia terrify me, for example, killer spiders. I actually used to watch the Dot movies when I was a kid. I had no idea that it was based on this book until I was looking for books to read for the Challenges. I'm really glad I foun...

I read this book for the MMD Reading Challenge 2017- For Fun Category: Book in a Genre you Usually Avoid I avoid celebrity memoirs, mostly because I feel that I can get enough celebrity news from the internet and tv. I don't want to read books about that subject in most cases. I chose The Princess Diarist because I love Star Wars, and this memoir takes place during the filming. I had very mixed feelings about this book. Fisher is hilarious and relatable, at times far to crass for my liking, but candid. Her diaries from when she was young were probably the most interesting part to me. Her affair with Harrison was just so heartbreaking to me. She tries to defend him, but I think it's awful. Right after he "rescues" her from some co-workers who have gotten her plastered, he takes her into his car and makes out with her. He was 15 years older than her, and married with two kids. It was also heartbreaking because she idolized him so much. The contrast between her diari...

1. Book Chosen by the Cover- Zoo City by Lauren Beukes 2. Book w/ Reputation of being un-put-downable- Where'd you Go Bernadette by Maria Semple 3. Book set Somewhere You've  Never Been but Want to Visit- Dot and the Kangaroo by Ethel Pedley 4. Book Already Read- Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis 5. Juicy Memoir- Destination Dachshund: Three Months, Three Generations, and Sixty Dachshunds: A Travel Memoir by Lisa Fleetwood 6. Book about Books/Reading- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 7. Book in a Genre You Usually Avoid- The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher 8. Book You Don't Want to Admit You are Dying to Read- Heat Wave by Richard Castle 9. Book in Backlist of New Favorite Author- Girl in the Red Hood by Brittany Fichter 10. Book Recommended by Someone w/ Great Taste- Hinds' Feet on High Places 11. Book You Were Excited to Buy/Borrow but Haven't Read Yet- Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis 12...