Month: December 2017

A Christmas Carol

~ Hillary Rose ~ 2 Comments

Title: A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
Genre: Classics, Fantasy, Holiday, Literature
First Published: December 19th, 1843

A Christmas Carol: the timeless classic of Ebenezer Scrooge that has been adapted by film more times that I could count. The story of a changed heart of a man who missed out on the true meaning of life. Ultimately, it is a story of redemption, which is the whole point of Christmas in the first place.

Told in five staves, A Christmas Carol takes us on a fantastic journey with Scrooge as he has one supernatural encounter after another. First he is greeted by the ghost of his business partner, Jacob Marley, who implores him to change his avaricious ways before he meets a similar fate. Later, he is visited by three spirits of Christmas: Past, Present, and Future. These spirits remind him of where he has been, show the beauty and the struggle of the here and now, and hint at the possibilities to come. Scrooge must face his past and improve his present if he is to have a chance of redemption in his future.

I cannot tell you enough how much I love this book. My husband and I read it out loud together every single year, and it is probably my favorite Christmas tradition. I love the old english writing and the nostalgia throughout the story. And the themes of Christ-like love, charity, and redemption are themes that are just as relevant and needed today as they were then.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! And “God bless us, every one.”

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Gift ideas for the nerds on your list:

~ Hillary Rose ~ 8 Comments

As we rapidly approach Christmas (one week!), I thought a post about last-minute gifts for the readers on your list might be helpful. And so, I present my top picks for the season!

1. The Illustrated Editions of Harry Potter, books 1-3 

 

These hardcover beauties are number one on my list for obvious reasons. Illustrator Jim Kay has brought the magical world of J.K. Rowling to life in these illustrated editions. They have released one book a year since 2015, so only the first three books (The Sorcerer’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Prisoner of Azkaban) are available. Prices have gone up on Amazon, but I have also seen them at Costco for about half-price!

2. Cards Against Muggles 

Cards Against Muggles

Continuing with the Harry Potter themed gifts, I present Cards Against Muggles, a spin-off of the popular game Cards Against Humanity. At $79.95, this is a pricey gift for the muggle in your life, but quite possibly the best gift to put under their tree.

3. Hermione’s Time Turner

This is an authentic recreation of Hermione’s time turner from The Noble Collection. A beautiful gift for the Hermione in your life. $49.00 on Amazon.

4. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Pocket Boxed set

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings box set

I cannot go on about this set enough. I got this last year from my hubby and it is my favorite set of any books I own. And at $31.46 at Barnes & Noble, this leatherette-cover set is a steal!

5. Arwen’s Evenstar Pendant 

I got this necklace for Christmas probably fifteen years ago, and it’s still one of my favorite jewelry pieces. This is also by The Noble Collection, for $49.00 on Amazon. If you are shopping for a dude, others ideas are Aragorn’s ring, Gandalf’s pipe, sword replicas… the list goes ever on and on…

6. Tales and Tea Leaves Sampler, inspired by Lord of the Rings

Lord of the Rings inspired tea

This loose-leaf tea sampler set comes with six different LOTR inspired brews: The White Tea of Kings, Wizard’s Grey, Second Breakfast, Elevenses, Enchanted Tea, and Barrels of Tea. I absolutely love this loose-leaf collection! It’s perfect for your all-day marathons.

7. Hobbit Meal Times Clock

Can you tell that I’m obsessed with LOTR yet? Last but not least for your fans of Tolkien, this wooden clock is a fun addition to your kitchen, and $42.00 on Amazon.

8. A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) Leather-Cloth Boxed Set, books 1-5

This is another gorgeous set of books, much like the Lord of the Rings set above. Amazon has this for $57.69. The only drawback in my opinion would be that the series is not yet finished, and I prefer to have complete collections of series, especially collectible editions like this.

9. Dark Horse Deluxe Game of Thrones: Dragon Egg Bookends

From $199.99 on Amazon, these babies are a little bit on the expensive side, but they are sure to make a statement on your bookshelf. I was lucky enough to get these for Christmas last year, and it is such a fun way to display your editions of A Song of Ice and Fire.  

10. The Great Gatsby Book Scarf

The Great Gatsby Book Scarf

This fun literary scarf goes for $48.00 at Storiarts. They have lots of other options, too, including Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes, and Shakespeare. In addition to scarves, they also sell coordinating gloves and headbands!

I hope you enjoyed this holiday gift guide for the readers in your life. Happy Holidays!

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River Secrets

~ Hillary Rose ~ Leave a comment

Title: River Secrets
Author: Shannon Hale
Series: The Books of Bayern, 3/4
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: January 1st, 2006

Note: This post reviews the third book of The Books of Bayern series. You may like to read the first two books in the series, The Goose Girl and Enna Burning, before reading this review.

The kingdoms of Bayern and Tira are far from peaceful. The war between them a year ago left both kingdoms hating the other. In an attempt toward peace, the kingdoms each send ambassadors to the other kingdom, along with trusted members from court. Razo, friend to his king and queen, cannot for the life of him understand why he has been chosen to be among those sent to Tira. Never having been strong, or tall, or particularly useful in battle, he goes reluctantly, feeling like anyone would have been a better choice than he.

When he arrives in Tira, only to learn that mysterious murders are underway, he realizes that he might just have a part to play for Bayern after all. Using his own skill set as a rather resourceful spy, Razo is determined to uncover the mystery behind the murders. But will the beautiful Dasha, liason of Tira, who has caught his eye, help or hinder his mission?

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Enna Burning

~ Hillary Rose ~ Leave a comment

Title: Enna Burning
Author: Shannon Hale
Series: The Books of Bayern, 2/4
Genre: Fairytale, Fantasy, YA
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: September 1st 2006

Note: This post reviews the second book of The Books of Bayern series. You may like to read the first book in the series, The Goose Girl, before reading this review.

When Enna first realizes that her brother can channel and control fire, she is certain that it is a power that can only lead to destruction. That is, until she learns that she, too, has the same ability to wield fire. As the kingdom of Bayern lies on the edge of defeat, her newly discovered abilities may have the power to save her kingdom and everyone she loves from the attack of Tira. But Enna must find a way to control her gift before it consumes her completely.

Though Enna Burning is the second book of this series, they can be read as stand-alone stories. However, since the characters in this book are first introduced in The Goose Girl, I recommend starting there. Shannon Hale is a favorite of mine in this genre, but this story didn’t grab me as much as some of her other books have. Having said that, it was still a fun read, and I look forward to reading the next two books in this series!

If you enjoyed this review, please consider following Reads & Roses. It would mean the world to have you on my team!

Reads and Roses is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.