Three Summer Reads I Want to Share-The Magicians, The Northside and Conquistadora

I have not posted in quite a while and that is for a multiple of reasons. I have not been able to do a lot of writing and therefore wanted to recap for my blogger friends some interesting books that absorbed me this summer as I am recuperating.  Here are three books to start you off with many more I hope to summarize in the next week. Although my reviews are much abbreviated, I think you will gather my opinion in any case.  Thanks for understanding. Wisteria

The Magicians, by Lev Grossman
ISBN-10: 0670020559
416 Pages
Viking Adult; 1 edition (August 11, 2009)


The Magicians, by Lev Grossman,I was asked to read The Magician King, this books sequel that would publish in August, 2011. I had not read The Magicians and the publisher graciously sent it along as well.This is my idea of an adult version of a world like Narnia. The writing is totally different and the plot as well. A young adult engrossed in fantasy novels finds himself quite unexpectedly in an exclusive school for would be magicians. "The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined...."(back cover).Fans of Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia will appreciate this adult fairy tale and will be awaiting the sequel The Magician King. Fortunately, both are available now in bookstores.

I am currently reading The Magician King, where the travels of Quentin and his friends continue.   If you love fantasy, this is a must read.

The copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher for review.  Above is my honest unbiased opinion. 

The Northside, by Nelson Johnson
978-0937548738
Plexus Publishers
November 2010
358 Pages

The Northside by Nelson Johnson, is a spectacular non-fiction book about the rise of Atlantic City. The focus is mainly on the contributions of African Americans in the mid-20th century as Atlantic City emerged from a small barren island.  I will be reviewing this for Historical Novels Review for the an upcoming issue. I will post a copy of that review once the magazine is published. In the mean time, this is a book any lover of American History will devour with earnest. I couldn't put it down. There is so much history pulled together in this narrative style that is shocking and Johnson is brilliant to document this time period with such skill.  In fact, before I had been sent the copy for review, I had already purchased my own copy after browsing in my local bookstore.  My extra copy is bound for a colleague who can't wait to get his hands on it. Nelson Johnson also wrote Boardwalk Empire, a book that is on my wish list for sure.

I purchased the copy of this book at Amazon.

Conquistadora, by Esmeralda Santiago
Knopf (July 12, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0307268327
432 Pages

Conquistadora, by Esmeralda Santiago is my top pick from my summer reading. It is a sensational historical fiction saga, based on Puerto Rican history and the clash between plantation owners and their slaves. It is also the story of an incredibly strong and rebellious woman named Ana, who has a fearless drive to succeed in life. She becomes a sugar plantation owner in Puerto Rico and despite growing rebellion, she is unyielding. This story takes the reader up to  the time of the Civil War.  The effects of what happened in the Southern States has far reaching implications in the Caribbean Islands and Ana is determined to secure her future.  I purchased this book to read as the history of Puerto Rico drew me to the story as well as the character of a strong woman who emerges to compete with men at a time that it was frowned upon.  I also lived in Puerto Rico when I was a child and attended Spanish schools. Although the memories of my past experiences are fading, I will always have the fondest memories and recall extremely happy times with my family. Puerto Rico introduced me to the language and culture and delicious fruits that were abundant then only there. Fortunately, we live in a time when guava, coconut, mango, papaya and other foods are no longer considered exotic. Read Conquistadora, you will succumb to Esmeralda Santiago's exquisite writing and fall in love with a beautiful story.


© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2011].


I purchased a copy of this book at Amazon.


© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2011].

Mailbox Monday

It was another fun week arriving home to discover treasures lying at my doorstep or at times in the mailbox. I have to give PROPS to the FedEx, UPS and USPS drivers for their patience and will to sludge through the snow and ice to get to my door. Even though there is a path and sand, sometimes they prefer to take that shortcut across the lawn. Here's to you. They are always so curious about my packages. I had one neighbor so curious, he finally asked me what I was getting in the mail all the time. Now honestly, I would never have the nerve to blatantly babble on about another person's personal deliveries. Would you? Do you have a funny story?

Here is what arrived this week in my mailbox:

1. The World in Half by Christina Henrique
2. The Suburban Dragon by Garasamo Maccagnone
3. The Age of Orphans by Laleh Khadivi
4. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
5. Secrets Unveiled by Sheshesna Pedger

...and then I received nine free books for an American History class I am taking. These are all part of a grant that our district applied for and won. I'll let you know each week which book I have to read. Yes, one book a week and they are rather challenging reads.

This week the book is:

William Cooper's Town by Alan Taylor, 549 pages. (427 text)

This Pulitzer Prize winning history about William Cooper and Early American life in the late 1700s is informative and at times remarkably humorous. Can you picture chuckling as you read a history book? Taylor makes our founding fathers real, not polyester clones of perfection. The story is about William Cooper's development and the settlement of Cooperstown. It shows his ubiquitous frenetic desire to gain acceptance into the social stratus of gentility at nearly all costs. James Fenimore Cooper's (his son)wrote the book The Pioneers, a novel where he used Cooperstown and its inhabitants as models for the story. Taylor combines both historical snippets and references to his son's novel throughout the book creating a wonderful historical narrative worthy of the Pulitzer it won.

What was in your mailbox? Does anyone want to know?

African American History August 11, 2008

Required Reading List

As promised here is the list of required reading for my grad course.
I read on the syllabus that there will be supplemental reading and they usually provide an annotated bibliography. If this is the case I will make sure I post that list as well. Enjoy the readings.

1.The Classic Slave Narratives by Gates, Henry Louis
2.Slavery and the Making of America by Horton, James & Horton, Lois
3.The Souls of Black Folk by Dubois, W.E.B.
4.Strange Fruit, The Biography of a Song, by Margolick, David
5.Africa Remembered, Curtin, Philip

Picture on right from loc.gov (public domain)
Picture on left from flickr commons "Pickin' Cotton" by Christina Buffons