A book that you’ve read more than 3 times - Gone with the Wind

Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times


There's actually a few that I've read more than once, but the one I've probably read the most times is Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. 

I don't think I need to expand much on what Gone with the Wind is, but in case you've lived under a rock since 1936... The book centers on a spoiled Southern belle named Scarlett O'Hara and her experiences before, during, and after the American Civil War. Since I first read it in elementary school (seriously, I did, because it is also my favorite movie), I've probably read it maybe 15 times? Like I said, the movie is my favorite, but I love the book even more. The movie pretty much sticks to the same story, but changes a few details. Those are either major or minor details depending on your view of the book. My favorite character from the book is Mammy. She is a "house slave" that is owned by the O'Haras. She is extremely dedicated to the family, especially to Scarlett. She also has some of the funniest lines in the whole book. The book shows a different way that slaves were treated than you'd normally think. After they are freed, many of the O'Hara's slaves continue to stay at the plantation. Mammy stays with Scarlett until the very end of the book. When the book was released, many Southerners were upset with Margaret Mitchell for her portrayal of the South. Certain things just weren't expected to be talked about and then she went and put it all in a book. I would recommend it to fans of war novels, historical fiction, fiction, romance, adventure, etc. The book has something for everyone. Pin It

Cleopatra's Daughter Review

Day 01 – The best book you read this year


This is actually a really hard decision. Also, it's only August 3rd, so who knows what the rest of the year may bring. I also had to go back to my 2011 reading challenge on goodreads to see what I had read this year. 

I'm going to go with Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran. As you can tell from the title, the book is about Cleopatra Selene, the only daughter of the more famous Cleopatra. Most people forget that she even exists, let alone that she played a huge part in Egyptian, Roman, and African history. It begins with Selene, as she was known, being brought to Rome by Octavian after the deaths of her parents. She and her twin, Alexander Helios, are paraded through the streets of Rome as war captives. They are then taken to the home of Octavian's sister and their father Marc Antony's "true" wife, Octavia. There they are raised as true Roman citizens, but are unable to completely fit in and forget where they come from. The story follows Selene as she grows into a beautiful and formidable young woman. 


I would definitely recommend this to fans of historical fiction. Michelle Moran has an amazing way of putting you right there in the story. After I finished this book, I immediately went to the library and checked out her other books: The Heretic Queen and Nefertiti. I had to wait a little while for Madame Tussaud to come out but I devoured that as soon as I could too. She made Cleopatra Selene so real for me that I couldn't stop reading about her. As soon as I finished all of Michelle Moran's books, I went out and found Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray, as well as the Sphinx's Princess series about Nefertiti by Esther M. Friesner, and the Numinous World series by Jo Graham which  concerns various people from this time period.  Pin It