At bedtime this past Tuesday evening, I read late into the night until I finished the book I've had open for a couple of weeks. When I bought it at the bookstore the first part of this month, I thought it was going to be a good book. Well, it wasn't BAD per se. but it wasn't as good as I had hoped. To me, the first 2/3rds of the book was more a teen-fantasy romance. I guess to some adult women, that is their forte. But I wasn't that impressed. There is a romance, a bit of witchcraft, horror, and mystery all rolled into one plot. The main characters are the same as Irving's....including the horse, Gunpowder. You have Katrina, Ichabod, and Brom. With backup of Charlotte, Giles, and Katrina's parents along with servants and relatives of aforementioned. Now the last 1/3rd of the book was quite good. A predictable ending, expected. But a goodly twist in the end. And of course, there is Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman. Again, the author of this tale takes us through the schoolmaster, Mr. Crane, meeting the Van Tassel family....its all 'seen' and narrated through a woman's point of view...Katrina's. Recommending this book would be something I would tell only those that love the classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving [which I really like]. And to those that don't like being thrown off your horse and a bit of October mystery and tall tales of New England/New York...well, then, just leave it on the shelf. Three out of 5 star rating from me. [the online critics disagree with me for the most part...most have 4 or 5 stars]
Book: The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo
Classic: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
- - - -
Then, Wednesday morning we woke up to a low-lying fog. After breakfast, and before the fog lifted, Bud and I drove to Hans Suter Refuge on the Bay to walk some. This is what we saw:
- - - -
Then, Wednesday morning we woke up to a low-lying fog. After breakfast, and before the fog lifted, Bud and I drove to Hans Suter Refuge on the Bay to walk some. This is what we saw:
We left the park, and stopped to shop for groceries for the day and by the time we left the store, the fog had lifted and the sun was shining brightly. Driving home I had to stop [finally] at this one intersection that for the last 14 years has had this huge [estimated about 10 feet tall] red reindeer [lighted at night] in the flower bed. I got a chance to grab my cell phone before the light turned green and got a picture of it. The photo doesn't do it much justice...it's a favorite of mine. I look forward to seeing it each holiday
season.
I'll take your word for it on the book. Too bad only a 1/3 of it was good.
ReplyDeleteThat reindeer is impressive. I wonder where they store that the rest of the year.
I've wondered the same thing about storage.
DeleteNow I've seen the red reindeer, so it must be Christmas! I also will skip the book for now. But I always enjoy hearing about books from your point of view. :-)
ReplyDeleteYep...Red reindeer, it MUST be Christmas.
DeleteNeat reindeer! Bud looks like he is pondering something in the foggy picture. I like the feeling this implies. When you commented that "Bud would founder" on my latest post comment what do you mean? I know founder in horses, but.....
ReplyDelete...just like a horse (like our Thanksgiving meal)....over eat...founder in excessive feeding.
DeleteWell we don't want Bud to have a lack of blood flow in his feet! That would be serious.
DeleteRofl...good one.
DeleteI notice this year that the fad seems to be one color for lights especially Christmas trees. I for one am still back into bubble lights! So nice to see them back again. Your deer it seems was ahead of its time..
ReplyDeleteI remember the bubble lights from my folks decorations. They're back in style? Awesome.
DeleteI’m doing the same thing.....finishing a book that turned out to be not as much fun to read as I thought it would. But somehow I’m compelled to finish it!
ReplyDeleteLove all those foggy photos! I love weather.....fog, rain, snow. I don’t love intense heat, though! We have lots of that so it’s nice to have this cooler weather!
I figure I have to endure the heat of summer to enjoy the mild winters!
DeleteI pay no attention to ratings on books or movies because it is all about personal taste. what I give one star others might give 5.. I read what the book is about, the blurb that tells us and if it is something I think I might like I start to read and then put it down and don't read it. I would not have read this book, the thing is if I bought the book I would feel I had to. I use library or free books and I love the prime read for free in kindle books. 9.99 a month and all the books I can read... just click return if I don't like it
ReplyDeleteI buy books. I like one of our rooms that has become our library!
Deleteps I don't give bad reviews because I know it is ME that doesn't like it
ReplyDeleteOpinions...good or bad, can be helpful to others. At least that's how I see it.
DeleteAnd I always enjoy your opinions whether in agreement or not! Wink :) I don't know why people have to get mad just because one disagrees.
DeleteSo true.
DeleteFog lends an air of mystery to photos whatever the subject! Love the reindeer!
ReplyDeleteI am always glad to read book reviews. I used to finish reading a book even if I did not really like it. Now I feel that time is short, and there are still a lot of good books to be read.
I just finished 'Daybreak' by Belva Plain, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It is about complex family relationships, and there is a surprise ending practically on the last page!
Air of mystery indeed. Thanks for the heads up on the Bemba Plain book!
DeleteI love the red reindeer! What is it made of? Does it belong to the city? Beautiful and mystical mist pictures.
ReplyDeleteI think it belongs to the country club. Not sure. And I think it's made of wood.
DeleteI so love those foggy scenes.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know you enjoyed the series.
DeleteI love foggy mornings! You got some amazing shots!
ReplyDeleteYou & me both! Thanks.
DeleteHi Anni you are a better woman than I am. If a book doesn't grab my attention 100% after 2 chapters I put it in my donate stack.
ReplyDeleteLove the fog photos
Happy Before Christmas Weekend
Cecilia
I think it kept me curious enough to the end 'cause I knew the story from the get go.
Delete