book review: Juliet

Juliet by Anne Fortier:

"Juliet, an ambitious, utterly engaging historical novel on the scale of The Thirteenth Tale and The Birth of Venus, follows a young woman who discovers that her family’s origins reach all the way back to literature’s greatest star-crossed lovers. When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy, she is told it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a winding and perilous journey into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose legendary love for a young man named Romeo rocked the foundations of medieval Siena. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in Shakespeare’s unforgettable blood feud, she begins to realize that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is the next target. It seems that the only one who can save Julie from her fate is Romeo—but where is he?"

I saw a review of this book in one of the many Sunday newspaper inserts (USA Today, maybe?) a while ago and have had it on my list to purchase since. Then I happened to be in Borders during their closing sale and there it was. I couldn't resist.

I was hooked from page 1. I instantly connected with the main character, Julie Jacobs and had a hard time putting the book down each night. I honestly felt like I was right there with her, in Italy, as she tried to solve her family's mystery.

Juliet has everything a girl could ask for in a book: history, romance, danger, mystery, and Italy. You do not need to be a Shakespeare aficionado to enjoy this book, but you may want to brush up on the main ideas of the story if you are unfamiliar.

5 Stars!

following the trends

When I was a freshman in college I read Eat, Pray, Love. I loved it. Then it became the new "it" book and everybody else loved it too. Then it faded away as most fads do and now that the movie has come out we all love it again. Normally I'm one to resist media fads (at least I like to think so), but this book really struck a chord with me. I can tell this not because I enjoy talking about the book (which I do) or because I saw the movie right when it came out (which I did not) but by looking around my room. When I moved home from college my room contained all the same decorations I've always had but now it's becoming more and more like World Market. I bought a new comforter today (for $5) and when I put it out along with my new curtains (also $5) my mother said "wow, it's very...Bali in here." Sure enoug, I have new candles and new wall hangings all making it seem like I'm Liz Gilbert just coming home from her trip. Even my new office has fallen victim to the cultural decoration attack.

I can't give all the credit to Ms. Gilbert and her wonderful story. I was bitten by the travel bug a long time ago and books like hers only inflame it. The funny part is-I'm totally fine with all the new decor. I think now I'll go turn on some of the world music I've been downloading and pretend like I'm on vacation.

Twilight

Another thing that's coming a week from tomorrow is TWILIGHT! Yes, I will be there. I'm ready. Are you?

a new collection

I'm in the middle of reading Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Over the summer I bought some vintage books from garage sales. I now have Sherlock Holmes, the complete works of Shakespeare, a children's stories and poem book, Gulliver's Travels, Treasure Island, 101 Dalmatians (the original), and Kid Napped. I just bought Alice and Peter Pan from Barnes and Noble because the copies I have are family heirlooms and I didn't want to hurt them when I read them. I'll also probably buy soon a new copy of Treasure Island, Grimm's Fairy Tales and a Hans Christen Anderson book.

edward

The first night I arrived home from school I started reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I finished the third one last week and am I'm having post-good book separation anxiety. I finally started another but it took a while to find the right one.

The Twilight series is amazing and I highly recommend it. In fact, it is so good that I have fallen in love with the male lead, Edward Cullen. He's even invading my dreams. It's bad. I'm not sure it's healthy to fall in love with literary characters, but I have...once again.

Now I'm waiting for the next book to come out in August and the movie to come out in December. I hope I can make it.