Teen Book Club A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray Buy book: $10.68
It's 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma's reception there is a chilly one.
Besides having a beautiful cover, this is a very interesting book. It has a lot of memorable characters, and a great (and creepy) setting. I enjoyed it a lot.
I don't think Gemma's being a brat. I think if anyone were stuck somewhere they really didn't want to be or were somewhere that hot and sticky, they'd be cranky too.
Oooooo! This is good, the story, plot, time period, surroundings. All very interesting and full of possibilities.
Gemma does seem a bit rude to her mother though, you think she would have been at least a little considerate that her mom was out trying to get her a birthday cake.
Who or what is Circe? It sounds familier, strange though.
What does Memsahib mean? I know it's got to be something like Mrs. or Ms. but I still would like to know the meaning.
Can't wait for the tomorrow's read!
Karoi
This book is o.k. so far. I at least think it is better than last weeks. I think Circe is some god, either Egyptian, Greek, or Roman, I am not sure which. I think it is most likely Greek. I'll do a search on it and let you all know what I find.
Write soon,
Andy, 14
Monroe County Library System
Brighton, Rochester, New York
You are right Karoi. Memsahib Does mean Mrs. But mostly madam in short form . I have never seen a book like this. It is definetly confusing but interesting too, full of susupense. I have never read a book with my country language in it. I already holded it. Can't wait to read it.
Karoi, I totally agree with you. I finished this book in, like, two days, I was so riveted. It's so amazing and original!! And I love how the characters and mood go from human, witty, and fun to enchanting and mysterious.
When I read the book, I looked up Circe, and it turns out she is a character from The Odyssey. I think she is an enchantress who lures men to her, then turns them into pigs. I personally think she rocks. So do Gemma and Felicity!!!
I found some information on Circe. She is a sorceress in Homer's "The Odyssey." Go to http://messagenet.com/myths/bios/circe.html for a bio, and mentions of her in the poem.
Later,
Andy, 14
Monroe County Library System
Brighton, Rochester, New York
I know that I'm very shallow, but I ALWAYS judge a book by its cover! Along with the title. If the title and the cover do not intrigue me, i dont read them. But I do look forward to reading the book, I just joined today so...I think I will like the books they pick out for us to read.
~*<><><JeSsE_LyNn><><>*~
Name: Jessica (call me Lynn)
Age: 13
Books Read During the Summer So Far: 13
Favorite Author: Meg Cabbot or Meggin Cabbot
I read this book months ago right after the cover caught my eye on a shelf at Borders. It didnt seem like the kind of book id usually ready, but I bought it anyway and I could not put the book down
Its really an amazing book, and Ive read it about 4 times now. It has amazing quotes and inspirational words
If you have been reading the emails, thats great, though Id definatly recomend buying the book:)
I don't think I would have read these book emails if you wouldn't have told me they were so good! this is a very good book and I can't wait to read more of it.
I just got back from vacation today so I had the pleasure of reading 4 excerpts of this book back-to-back. So far I think it's great and I've already put a hold on it for the library.
Gemma may be being bratty, but come on, what 16 year old girl ISNT bratty at one point or another? (Im a 16 year old girl btw so I know very well lol)
I cant wait to read more responses on this book. Its a favorite of mine
Though im currently in the middle of
-rereading a great and terrible beauty
-reading letters to a young gymnast (also on this site)
-finishing up the 3rd harry potter book for like the 50th time
-and reading the 3rd part of the "Abhorsen" series by Garth Nix
Allamericangirl
Meg Cabbot is a good writer. The only book ive read by her so far is "Haunted" but It was really good. I just have like 5 other authors ive been reading at the moment
Wow, this book is amazing! I would go check it out right now, but I have like 6 other books to read before it. Good job to whoever picked this book out and wonderful, amazing, top-notch job to the author, Libby Bray!
I've read this story already, and I can see how confusing it is just reading the first chapter, and how intriguing. Just for this I'm gonna have to go reread it!!!
By the way, does anyone know of any other books by Libba Bray they'd recommend? I've been searching for books of any kind to read over the summer, really...
yea there is a sequel to a great and terrible beauty that will be out this year (2005) it is called "the rebel angels" other than that i do not know of any other books by Libba Bray (who is an awesome author btw)
This message has been edited by chapteraday on Mar 30, 2005 9:04 PM
This book was a fabulous novel. I normally hate novels that have ordinary people experience magical things but this one I actually loved! I lent it out to a friend and she lent it to someone who lent it to someone. I'm having a hard time tracking it down to read again!
This is a very good book. It is one of the best books I have read in a long while. The title rocks, the cover art rocks. And the sequal rocks be sure to read Rebel Angels, the stunning sequal to this stunning book.
