Breathe To Read

Breathe To Read

Sunday, December 31, 2017

2017 in Review

Well - I didn't make my challenge of 75 books this year.  I came close and read 67.  Moving does in fact impact my ability to get reading done.  Lesson learned.

I am going to point out my top 10 books of 2017.  I will link them to the pages I reviewed them so if you are interested in learning what they are about, you can check that out.

Here we go -in no particular order












Wednesday, December 27, 2017

2017 Challenge - Book #67 - A Storm of Swords

Finally finished Game of Thrones book 3 - A Storm of Swords.  It was 1100 pages, so it took awhile.

I love these books.  George R.R. Martin is an incredible writer.



Category - none!  Wanted to read it

This is the continuing saga where the 5 contenders of power have become 4.  Joffrey - of house Lannister - is the king of King's Landing and sits on the Iron Throne.  He is a boy of 13, but is vicious and mean.  He was engaged to Sansa Stark to unite the north and the south, but after Eddard Stark is considered a traitor and is killed, the engagement is broken off.  Joffrey becomes engaged to Margery of house Tyrell from High Garden.  Lord Stannis has been defeated.  King Robb of Winterfell and house Stark holds the north and is winning all his battles.  Daenerys of house Targareyn is making her way across the continent with her three dragons.

In the mist of the battles, another rages beyond the wall.  Jon Snow and the Black have found the king beyond the wall, the wildings, and the Others.  The Others are the living dead who seem to be unstoppable.  King Robb and Catelyn must attend a wedding at the Freys to make amends when Robb marries someone other than who he is told to.  Arya is trying to make her way back home, but she continues to be captured.  Jaime Lannister is being taken back to King's Landing in exchange for the safe return of Sansa to Winterfell. 

Who will be left standing?

I loved this book.  It was action packed.  Death everywhere.  Two more kings will fall.  Alliances are forged.  John Snow is no longer just the Bastard of Winterfell, but the head commander of the Wall.  Even though it was 1100 pages, there were days I would read over 100 because the sequence was just too good to stop.

If you love the TV series, you will love the books even more.

Stars: 5

Saturday, December 2, 2017

2017 Challenge - Book #66 - Diary of Anne Frank

Today's book:  Diary of Anne Frank



Category:  I read it to my kids so it counts

This is the story of a Jewish girl who hid in an Annex in Amsterdam during WWII.  She and her family went into hiding.  She was 13 at the time she started the diary and went into hiding.  For two years, her family and several others, kid in a small Annex until they were betrayed.  The diary is almost a daily account of Anne's life in the Annex and her feelings about all the people that are there with her. 

This, of course, is a classic.  I haven't read it since I was in the 8th grade.  I still find it amazing that it is required reading among middle schools in the US, and - of course - here with us here in Switzerland.  The kids have been really into the story, and asking a lot of questions.  And our plan will be to take them to Amsterdam in the spring to see the Anne Frank house.  It is great that we can take a story from a book and show them in real life.

If for some reason, you have never read this book - or it has been a long time since you have - pick it up.  I think it is good to be reminded - especially in today's climate - what can happen when power falls into the wrong hands.

Stars: 5