Favourite Summer Reads

Even though it is most definitely not summer yet. (Here, anyway.) I was thinking this morning about the books I love to read the most in Summer. I know that my absolute favorite book to read in the summer is The Historian. Which I most assuredly plan on reading again soon. It is one of my favorite books anyway, but there is something about reading it in the hot summer with a cup of really strong coffee that just seems magical to me. Other books I will probably want to read are anything from L.M. Montgomery. The way she describes nature and life in her books is fantastic. Then there are always seafaring stories. I love the sea and one of my biggest dreams is to learn how to sail and eventually get my own sailboat. There you have it, some of my favorite summer reading adventures.

What kind of books do you want to read this summer?

 

Things I Have Learned About Marriage

Warning: This post will be rather sappy.

I got married on July 31st 2010 to the most awesome man ever. We met online like true nerds through the game Neverwinter Nights. We were friends for years before we ever started dating. Which was difficult, since he was from the USA and I am from Canada. But for all those people out there that say long distance relationships can never work, my husband and I are proof that it can work. Anyway, when we started dating we had to travel back and forth and were only able to see each other every 3 or 4 months. Needless to say it was terrible. Super terrible. 5 days after we were married, he had to leave back to the states again. Not a fun time, but so worth it. Finally, we were able to go through the immigration process. That’s right, he gave up his country, friends and family for me because he didn’t want me to miss my family. Anyway, we have been married nearly 3 years now and here is a list of some of the things I have learned. I love being married. It is great.

- Be sappy! Tell each other you love each other a billion times a day. It never gets old.

- Have fights. Yell and argue, but make up really fast. Don’t hold on to arguments.

- Hold hands. I learned this from a very smart lady. She told me that you can’t be mad if you’re holding hands. Very true!

- Share everything with each other! Be it music, movies or your dreams. Share it all.

- Go out and take adventures. Even if you are just going for a walk.

- Communication. Always communicate. This was always difficult for me. I am one of those chicks who says: “I’m fine.” When I’m really not.

- Love each other for your faults and your strengths. Don’t get annoyed by little things.

- Be comfortable in silence. Have your space and don’t be offended if your significant other needs personal time. We all do!

- Laugh. Always remember to laugh!

I have more, but I don’t want to bore you. Just wanted to share about my marriage randomly. I got married at 19 to the greatest man in the world and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

The Magic of a Storm

I love storms. I love being outside in them, being at the beach watching the waves roll and crash and I love being inside all warm and cozy while reading. I also love reading about storms. How often have you just curled up with a book, reading about the cold, stormy weather and hearing the rain lash against the windows? There is just something about storms in stories that automatically draws you in. All the good sea-faring stories have storms, many fantasy stories have epic storms. The kind that make you extremely grateful to be inside reading about them. I love reading about storms in any fictional story I read.

Do you prefer reading about storms or sun and good weather?

Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth By: J.V. Hart

Capt. Hook was an incredibly fun book. I picked it up at the library once because it had a ridiculous cover that I loved. Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. This is a story of high adventure and mischief. The main character is both awful and loveable all at once. This book will make you laugh and keep you reading.

Here is the book description from Amazon:

With his long black curls, a shadowy family tree, and an affinity for pet spiders, James Matthew bears little resemblance to his starched-collar, blue-blooded peers at Eton. Dubbed King Jas., he stops at nothing to become the most notorious underclassman in the prestigious school’s history. For James, sword fighting, falling in love with an Ottoman Sultana, and challenging the Queen of England are all in a day’s skullduggery. But when he sets sail on a ship with a mysterious mission, King Jas.’ dream of discovering a magical island quickly turns into an unimaginable nightmare.

Read it! It’s awesome!

Recommended Age: 14 and up.

Change In Books

I found an awesome quote in a book I was reading last night. I was reading Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery and  this is what one of the characters said:

“Changes ain’t totally pleasant but they’re excellent things,” said Mr. Harrison philosophically. “Two years is about long enough for things to stay exactly the same. If they stayed put any longer they might grow mossy.”

That got me thinking about different stories and how the characters react to change they cannot control. It made me think of all of the fantasy stories I have ever read and the characters suddenly being thrust into adventures and near death experiences. It fascinates me how different writers capture the reactions of the characters differently. These are the thoughts I drifted off to sleep to. I was wondering how I would react being thrown into an adventure.

How would you react if you were thrown into an adventure of epic proportions?

 

Stardust By: Neil Gaiman

Stardust was a book I read after having watched the movie and loved it. It was a very pleasant surprise to find that I loved the book just as much. This is a book filled with dreams and adventure. I honestly just love the pure imagination that went into this book and the writing was fantastic. If you have ever felt unsure whether you wanted to try this book or not, I would definitely tell you to try. This one is going onto my “must be re-read” shelf! Read it!

Recommended Age: 17 and up.

Sexual Content: Minor

Book Blurb!

I discovered that writing a blurb for the back cover of your own book is terribly difficult!

This is all I have been able to come up with so far and seeing as how I’ve stared at it for a long time, I find myself unable to form an opinion.

Blurb for my upcoming book Tree of Roses:

The land of Vedrunthus is a stranger place than Natiir Xylus ever thought. When he locates the warship he has been searching for, he finds himself on a journey that he never expected. Drawn into a series of odd events with a group of even odder strangers, he discovers Queen Ostayla’s evil plot and rather more villainous personages than he would like. Soon enough, he realizes he cannot keep his secret any longer and the journey takes him to places he never thought he would need to go with people he cannot seem to get rid of.

©Lea Jurock

What do you think? Does it sound even remotely interesting?

Favorite Places in Books

Today I was thinking about how much I adore certain places in books. I love to read fantasy novels where they quest through wild or haunted woods, or victorian novels where they amble through the dim streets of London. Then there are the books where the characters are sailing over the ocean to unknown places. I love it when there is a huge, old library in a large mansion or palace. There are so many dear places that  I love to visit in books and stories.

Where are your favorite places in books?

Books I Wish Would Be Made Into Movies

Here are some books that I would love to see made into movies.

First we have The Historian which is one of my favorite books. This would make a great movie as the story is filled with mystery, adventure and travel.

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell would make an amazing movie. It would be strange but something marvelous to behold if done right.

The Forgotten Garden is a story of love, mystery and betrayal. It would make a tragic but lovely movie.

Silent in the Grave and the rest of the series I could see being made into a miniseries or something. The mysteries are awesome.

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman. Ghost Pirates. Enough said.

The Name of the Wind would make a spectacular fantasy movie. I would definitely line up to see that on opening night.

Which books would you love to see turned into movies?

The Chronicles of Faerie By: O.R. Melling

The Chronicles of Faerie is a series of four books. The Hunter’s Moon, The Summer King, The Light-bearers Daughter and the Book of Dreams. These are amazingly magical faerie books. It was these books that gave me the dream of going to Ireland one day. The stories are so vivid and detailed, filled with magic and amazing characters. These are adventures I plan on going on again and again. I strongly recommend these books to anyone with a love of the fantastic!

Recommended Age: 15 and up.