Vacation Reads Recap

Last recap post of 2011!  The Vacation Reads challenge was a fun one.  Reading stories set in other locations is always a good "trip" and I even enjoyed mentioning why I would want to visit.  Here's what I read:

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

3. The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar

4. A Bride's Story 1 by Kaoru Mori

5. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

6. Honolulu by Alan Brennert

Honolulu

Title: Honolulu

Author: Alan Brennert
Publisher: St. Martin's
ISBN: 978-0-312-36040-5
Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Vacation, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: When I first started reading Honolulu, it really reminded me of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. However, the further I got into it, the more different and lush it became. This is a wonderful historical fiction piece about Korean "picture brides" and life in Hawaii in the early 1900s. Brennert's writing brings both Jin and Honolulu to picturesque life making this a must-read.
Rating: 5 stars

Vacation Reads Challenge: Hawaii is beautiful and I would love to go back. However, it would be very interesting to see what it was like before it was a state, which is how it is depicted here.

Suite Scarlett

Title: Suite Scarlett

Author: Maureen Johnson
Publisher: Brillance Audio
ISBN:
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, Young Adult Contemporary, Vacation, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Listening to Suite Scarlett was a definite delight. Johnson's humorous writing hooked me immediately, and I loved how the story had deep roots in theatre. There were plenty of ups and downs, as one expects from a YA Contemporary, and, of course, Scarlett grew over the course of the story. Listening to it, I was also able to form deeper emotions towards the characters based on how they were read. This was a very cute story.
Rating: 4 stars

Vacation Reads Challenge: New York is such a fun place to visit. I would love to stay in a hotel like the Hopewell - it sounds so quaint in an otherwise bustling city.

A Bride's Story Vol. 1

Title: A Bride's Story Vol. 1

Author: Kaoru Mori
Publisher: Yen
ISBN: 978-0-316-18099-3
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Historical Romance, Vacation, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Unlike most manga, A Bride's Story moves at a slow, leisurely pace. This is good, though, because it allows the reader to become imersed in Mori's beautiful art depicting a time and place much different from what Westerners are used to. Mori really takes the time to bring the historical feel of 19th century central Asia to life in this delightful story about a young bride and her even younger husband.
Rating: 4 stars

Vacation Reads Challenge: Central Asia along the spice road must have been a sight. I would love to be able to see all of those rich tapestries and carpets and smell all those delightful spices.

The Bookman

Title: The Bookman

Author: Lavie Tidhar
Publisher: Angry Robot
ISBN: 978-0-85766-034-3
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Full Steampunk Ahead, Vacation, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I have not read many steampunk novels before, but I do love the genre - and The Bookman is a perfect example. This is a story of adventure, automatons, and aliens set in an alternate Victorian England and populated with both real and fictional people of the time period. And, since most readers are booklovers, the plot largely centers around books (which makes Tidhar's writing roughly reminiscent of one of my favorites - Jasper Fforde). This book is a delight for any fan of the genre, and a good introduction for those wanting to try steampunk.
Rating: 4 stars

Vacation Reads Challenge: Victorian England was a time of intrigue and the start of modern age as we know it - who wouldn't want to visit? And throw in Tidhar's fun alternate history and you have a location just waiting to be explored!

Outlander

Title: Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Publisher: eBook
No ISBN
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: E-Book, TBR Pile, Book Blogger Recommendation, Show Me the Free (Borders), Vacation Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Outlander is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and after reading it, I can see why it has lasted so long. I have never read a romantic time-travel before, but I can see that Gabaldon really knows this genre. The story as well as the characters were highly engaging, although it did drag a little in a few parts, but I honestly think that was due to the fact I was reading an ebook and couldn't really see how much of the story was left. I now what to pick up the rest of the series.
Rating: 5 stars

Vacation Reads Challenge: I have always wanted to visit the Scottish countryside. I think it would be just beautiful. I think, though, I would prefer to visit it now a days, rather than in the time of the clans.

The Help

Title: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Publisher: Amy Einhorn
ISBN: 9780399155345
Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Borrowed Books, Books to Movies, Vacation Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Everyone has been talking about The Help, I can see why. This novel is phenomenal, and I cannot wait to see the movie next month (I will add a review of it to this for the Books to Movies Challenge). Stockett presents a tough topic is a charming manner, excellently capturing the voices of all three of her protagonists. This is the type of book that just begs to be discussed, making it an excellent book club pick.
Rating: 5 stars

Books to Movies Challenge: The Help movie was definitely worth it. Yes, some things had to be changed so that it could work in a movie storyline, but all that was to be loved was still there. I am so glad that Hilly's mother had a larger role - she totally cracked me up.

Vacation Reads Challenge: 1960s Mississippi is so far removed from the way that I grew up that I would love to travel back in time and down South to really experience it.

Vacation Reads Challenge

I always think of books as a way to travel to other places which is why Ruby Read's Vacation Reads Challenge appealed to me. The challenge is to read 6 books featuring places you would like to visit, real or imaginary.

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

3. The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar

4. A Bride's Story 1 by Kaoru Mori

5. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

6. Honolulu by Alan Brennert