REVIEW: The Bookman's Tale

The Bookman's Tale
by Charlie Lovett
Pages: 369-US Hardback
Publisher: Viking Adult
Release Date: May 28, 2013
My Rating: 4/5
Book Summary: Hay-on-Wye, 1995. Peter Byerly isn’t sure what drew him into this particular bookshop. Nine months earlier, the death of his beloved wife, Amanda, had left him shattered. The young antiquarian bookseller relocated from North Carolina to the English countryside, hoping to rediscover the joy he once took in collecting and restoring rare books. But upon opening an eighteenth-century study of Shakespeare forgeries, Peter is shocked when a portrait of Amanda tumbles out of its pages. Of course, it isn’t really her. The watercolor is clearly Victorian. Yet the resemblance is uncanny, and Peter becomes obsessed with learning the picture’s origins.

As he follows the trail back first to the Victorian era and then to Shakespeare’s time, Peter communes with Amanda’s spirit, learns the truth about his own past, and discovers a book that might definitively prove Shakespeare was, indeed, the author of all his plays.

My Thoughts:

I am always a total sucker when it comes to any sort of historical fiction, especially a story that jumps back and forth between present time and the past. The Bookman's Tale did an absolutely fabulous job of doing just so...smoothly and in such a way that flowed with ease and such intrigue. You can tell that Mr. Lovett really did his homework, and researched every bit of information to make this fiction story so unbelievably.. well, believable. Whether it was the intense description of book binding, Victorian art, Shakespeare, or rare books, you felt your brain growing bigger by the page.

You really connect with our main character Peter, in such a way that towards the end of the book (MUST.KEEP.AWAY.SPOILERS!), i found myself weeping uncontrollably. And my god that has only happened to me on two other occasions from a story. That moment right there is what solidified that this was a great story indeed. 

The only flaw i could possibly find, was that sometimes there was too many characters. You easily forgot about some when they were first introduced, and as they made appearances later on you couldn't remember who the hell they were or what significance they had.

I whole heartedly recommend this new release to ANYONE who loves books, and loves to collect books. It's fun, it's fast paced, and it truly kept me up until all hours of the night. I just HAD TO KNOW how the mystery wrapped itself up.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Weekly meme hosted by Book Journey. 

Here's where you share what you've recently read, are currently reading, and what you're about to read.

Read:

The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett

Currently Reading:

Faefever (Fever #3) by Karen Marie Moning

Up Next:

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

(Netgalley ARC-Release Date: August 20, 2013)

Bout of Books Read-a-thon 7.0

Whoo hoo! I'm finally participating in my first read-a-thon... and my goodness, 7 days?! I'll be able to knock out some books that have been lingering in my TBR for quite some time. Unsure what this read-a-thon is all about? Have a little looksie and the below paragraph and join on in!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. 

- From the Bout of Books team

My Bout of Books TBR:

1. House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe

2. (finish) Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

3. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

I've still got quite a bit to go in the the monster that is The Name of the Wind, so hopefully i'll be able to breeze through that over the next day or two... while also indulging in my X-Files TV marathon. This is for sure going to be the best week ever.

TEASER TUESDAY:The Name of the Wind

Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme where you give a quote from the current book you have your teeth sunk into. Make sure it's spoiler free!

                   The Name of the Wind

by Patrick Rothfuss

'"My father laughed and roughed my hair. "Just pity him, my boy. Tomorrow we'll be on our way, but he'll have to keep his own disagreeable company until the day he dies." 

"He's an ignorant blatherskate," I said bitterly."

-pg. 67

I am more then in love with this book so far, although i do have to admit the 700 and some odd pages is a bit intimidating, especially considering the amount of books i'm trying to read by the end of this month. HOWEVER, i'm only about a 100 pages in so far, and i can already whole-heartedly recommend this!

May 2013 TBR

May 2013

Here it is ladies and gents... this months TBR (and holy fudge, is it a huge one.) Most of these reads I've accumulated through my local library. Their selection over the last year or so has grown to be downright freaking phenomenal. They always seem be on the ball with new releases.

  
   
  

1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

2. The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter

3. A Natural History of Dragons; A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan

4. The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe

5. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

6. Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

7. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

8. Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

This list has me dramatically shaking in my boots. Not only do i have quite a few hefty reads in there, but there are so many! And i'm sure i'll try and sneak a few additional ones in there as the month moves along. Hope you all enjoy your month, and i can't wait to see what you've got your noses dug into.

Waiting On Wednesday: Star Cursed

Weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

Showcase which books you're going crazy over to be released!

Star Cursed

(The Cahill Witch Chronicles #2)

by Jessica Spotswood

Release Date: June 18, 2013

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

I fell in love with the first installment of this series, Born Wicked, from the very first page. It was full of historical loveliness, witchy joo-joo, and a slew of fantastic characters. So, needless to say, i am MORE than thrilled to finally be able to sink my teeth into book number 2. 

Teaser Tuesday: Walking Disaster

Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme where you give a quote from the current book you have your teeth sunk into. Make sure it's spoiler free!

Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

(Beautiful #2)

"The hairdryer was turned on in the bathroom, and I looked at the clock. The only thing worse than having to be okay with Abby leaving on a date with Parker, was Parker having to wait on Abby in my apartment. Keeping my cool for a few minutes while she got her purse and left was one thing. Looking at his ugly mug while he sat on my couch, knowing he was planning how to get into her pants at the end of the night, was another." 

-pg. 152