BOOK: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, 290 pages

Southern Reading Challenge, Once Upon a Time III, herding cats

What led you to pick up this book?
I've seen it at the library for months, on the popular fiction shelf; it was recommended by jenny for the herding cats challenge; and it was time to read a southern book.

Summarize the plot, but don't give away the ending!
The estranged Waverley sisters of North Carolina are magical with an apple tree in the back yard. Each has a gift - one with food, one with hair, and are trying to learn to love.

What did you like most about the book?
It was very charming, and the magic worked in ways that I don't usually get, but it was so gentle and seemed natural.
The men were mostly perfect, and the southern local flavor was all over it.
I liked how the families in the town had traits, that everyone in the town knows about, and it is just understood. Like one family where the men marry older women. It's true in small towns with families that have been around for ages.

What did you like least?
Can't think of much. I'd give it a 4.5/5.

What did you think of the main character?
I really liked the sisters, Claire and Sydney, each making huge changes in their life and trying to begin a new relationship.

Any other particularly interesting characters?
I loved Evanelle, the old aunt whose gift was to give people something they would need. She never knew why they needed it, but she had to give it to them.

Share a quote from the book:
She was so southern that she cried tears that came straight from Mississippi, and she always smelled faintly of cottonwood and peaches.

You are who you are, whether you like it or not, so why not like it?

Some things couldn't be explained. Some things could. Sometimes you liked the explanation. Sometimes you didn't. that's when you called it myth.

Share a favorite scene from the book.
There was a pretty steamy scene under the apple tree, and I liked the scene with Sydney's high school sweetheart and his wife as they come to grips with Sydney's return.

What about the ending?
A little perfect but it matched the tone of the book and I would have been disappointed with any other ending.

Which of your readers are most likely to enjoy this book? Why?

most of these people liked it

also reviewed by : tinylittlelibrarian,
marg at reading adventures,
les at lesley's book nook,
lori at shetreadssoftly,
melanie the indextrious reader,
terri at reading,writing, and retirement
stephanie at confessions of a bookaholic
icedream reading in appalachia
maggie at maggie reads

BOOK: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, 232 pages

Once Upon a Time Challenge; young adult

I won't embarrass myself and admit how long it took me to realize that this was a version of Cinderella. This was a very cute story, with a strong heroine who faces a difficult dilemma - she has been cursed with obedience by a fairy at her birth. There are fairies, ogres, elves, gnomes, all the little and strange people that should be in a fairy tale. And there was a prince charming, who admired Ella's independence, and intelligence, and humor. It seems that most of the rewritten fairy tales I've read have had this trait - the male admires the strong qualities of the female lead, which is so different from the classic fairy tale where the female was just a beautiful person and the male comes along to save her. Bravo for the modern take on this.

I was enchanted with this short tale and finished it quickly, and now I am off to look for the movie, which looks to be excellently cast.

CHALLENGE: Once Upon a Time III

It's baaack! Carl is hosting the 'most looked forward to' challenge of the season in the blogosphere. Last year I discovered that this is not my most favorite genre, but I'm sure there are still a few books that will grab my attention in the fantasy, folk, myth, or fairy tale section.

from Carl's site (I had to include the Einstein quote):

“The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.”
~Albert Einstein

fan⋅ta⋅sy: a genre that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting.(Wiki)

fairy tale: a fictional story that may feature folkloric characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and talking animals, and usually enchantments, often involving a far-fetched sequence of events. (Wiki)

folk⋅lore: the traditional beliefs, legends, customs, etc., of a people; lore of a people; The traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people, transmitted orally. (Dictionary dot com)

my⋅thol⋅o⋅gy: a body of myths, as that of a particular people or that relating to a particular person; a set of stories, traditions, or beliefs associated with a particular group or the history of an event, arising naturally or deliberately fostered. (Dictionary dot com)

I am only going to commit to 'the journey' this year, and then if I read more, it will feel like I've gone about and beyond, instead of stressing that I haven't got my list completed. There are more options or quests to be found on Carl's site and a place to sign up. Thanks for hosting Carl!



This is really as simple as the name implies. It means you are participating, but not committing yourself to any specific number of books. All reading is a journey, perhaps none more so than reading fantastical fiction. By signing up for The Journey you are agreeing to at least read one book within one of the four categories during March 21st to June 20th period. Just one book. If you choose to read more, fantastic! If not, then we have still had the pleasure of your company during this three month reading journey and hopefully you have read a great book, met some interesting people, and enjoyed the various activities that occur during the challenge. It has always been of utmost importance to me that the challenges that I host be all about experiencing enjoyable literature and sharing it with others. I want you to participate. Hence, The Journey.

Possible books:
1. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
2. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
3. Skellig by David Almond

maybe another year:
4. Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
5. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
6. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde
7. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason