22. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

This month for the book club we chose a book or author mentioned in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I love Oscar Wilde plays and short stories so I decided to reread The Importance of Being Earnest. I had forgotten how hard it is to read a play as opposed to seeing it performed. But even so, this play is really funny. You pretty much can open to any page and find a funny, clever line. See, here goes: "But I don't like German. It isn't at all a becoming language. I know perfectly well that I look quite plain after my German lesson." The play shows what happens when a man who is leading a double life has his two worlds collide. It is hilarious. And the movie of it with Colin Firth is really funny too. Go see it if you haven't yet.

21. Mr. Knightley's Diary by Amanda Grange

This is a retelling of Jane Austen's Emma from Mr. Knightley's point of view. It is told in the form of Mr. Knightley's diary. I really like it. It is a very quick read. I think the diary format lends itself to that. I also think it is fun to see the story from a different view point and this author I think does a pretty good job. She's true to Jane Austen's original story and characters, but adds a few of her own that are interesting. I think anyone who likes Emma will like this novel.

20. The Grey King by Susan Cooper

This is the fourth book in the Dark is Rising series. I love this book. It is also a Newberry Award winner. This time I listened to the book on tape and it was great. The story is set in Wales and the Welch language is beautiful to listen to, so lyrical. The performer reading it did a wonderful job with voices and accents. The story has Will (from The Dark is Rising, and Greenwitch) going to Wales to recover from a bout with Hepatitus. Because he has been so sick he has forgotten that he is an Old One, but gradually he remembers and also recalls the quest he is on. He meets a mysterious albino boy named Bran and together they try to accomplish Wil's mission and battle the Grey King. It is really good and the weaving of modern story with myth is incredible. I love it and would really recommend listening to the audiobook even if you've previously read it.

19. The Mislaid Magician, or, Ten Years After by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

The rest of the title reads: being the private correspondence between two prominent families regarding a scandal touching the highest levels of government and the security of the realm. This title cracks me up as does the book. This is the third book in this series and I really have loved them all. They were just fun to read and had great mysteries at their heart but the characters were the most fun of all. I really like the main characters and that is why I really loved all of the books. They will definitely be on my list of books to read again.

18. Just Hold Me: Embraced by the Savior's Love by Don H. Staheli

This is a short little book on the power of the Savior's love and atonement. It is very uplifting and heartfelt. He talks a lot about ways to embrace the Savior in your own life, and overcome the hardships of life. I liked it but felt it was a little wordy at times. Overall, I thought it was worth the read. I like to pick up these little books with hopeful messages. I can always use more hope in my life.

17. The Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

This is the second book in this series. It was great too. This time instead of being written in letters, it is written as the diary of the two main characters, Kate and Cecelie. I liked it because it showed two different viewpoints on the same events. Kate and Cecelie go off on their honeymoon trips to tour Europe with their new husbands and get robbed and held up. They get roped into investigating some strange magical occurences and come into their own magically. It was a fun read. I really enjoyed it.

16. Sorcery and Cecelia: The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer

At girl's camp a few years ago when I was in Young Women, some of the girls told me about a book series by an author named Patricia Wrede called The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. I like fantasy books, especially fun children's ones and these girls raved about these books, so I picked up the first one, Dealing with Dragons. I loved it too. The next summer I read one of them to the girls (Kate and Mary were little at the time). They loved it. I got Kate one of them on tape and she listened to it nonstop for like a year (to the point that I think both John and I had parts of it memorized). Anyway, we really liked that series, but I didn't know of anything else that the author had written.

About a month ago I was wandering around at the library and I saw a new book by Patricia Wrede on their fantasy book display. I was so excited. I picked it up and have finally finished reading it. It was awesome! The novel is a mix between Jane Austen and Harry Potter, just the right mix for me. It is written in letters, a format I really enjoy, and the characters are strong yet funny. I really liked it and probably will re-read it, maybe even purchase it. This one is the first in a three book series and I am excited to read the whole series. I would definitely recommend this book and all of the others by Patricia Wrede. Super fun!!