Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Cody by Eoin Colfer, 309 pages

"After being held prisoner for years, Artemis Fowl's father has finally come home. He is a new man - an honest man, much to Artemis's horror. He makes his son promise to give up his life of crime, and Artemis has to go along with it. But not until he has completed one last scheme.
Artemis has constructed a super-computer from stolen fairy technology. Called the 'C Cube,' it will render all existing human technology obsolete. He arranges a meeting with a powerful Chicago businessman, Jon Spiro, to broker a deal for the C Cube. But Spiro springs a trap - he steals the C Cube and mortally injures Butler. Artemis knows his only hope of saving his loyal bodyguard is to employ fairy magic; so once again he must contact his old rival, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police. It is going to take a miracle to save Butler, and Artemis's luck may have just run out..." -Jacket

**SPOILER ALERT**

Okay, first of all I was really worried about Butler and hoped he wouldn't die after I read the jacket description of this book. I'm glad that he didn't, but I didn't like how the healing process went for him in this book at first. After thinking about it, however, I thought it was appropriate and a good lesson for Artemis to learn - that sometimes your actions have consequences that can't be undone and you have to live with them.

I have to say it again that Mulch Diggums cracks me up. He is the perfect comic relief in every book. In this one he's Mo Digence, working on commission for the Chicago mob. He's hired to break into, and kidnap Artemis in order to break the Eternity Code so Spiro can use the C Cube. Mulch warns Artemis and a plan is formulated to steal the cube back. Holly agrees to help in exchange for Artemis having his memory wiped.

I like that over the course of these first three books the main characters have started to develop friendships and loyalties to one another. Artemis is becoming more human instead of just ruthless. Like the others, this one is a lot of fun and had me laughing.

Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer, 277 pages

"At the start of his second adventure, Artemis is at boarding school in Ireland when he receives an urgent video e-mail from Russia. In it is a plea from a man who has been kidnapped by the Russian Mafiya - a man Artemis had thought he would never see again: his beloved father. As Artemis rushes to his rescue, he is stopped by a familiar nemesis, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police. But this time, instead of battling the fairies, he is going to have to join forces with them if he wants to save one of the few people in the world he loves." -Jacket

This book, more so than the first one, reminded me of the wit and humor of Percy Jackson, something I loved about that series. Mulch Diggums steals the show for me in this one. (Why does passing gas continue to be funny even when you're an adult?!) Artemis shows a little more heart in this book than in the first one and I have no doubt he will quickly become a hero from here on out. Books 3 and 4 are on their way!

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, 277 pages

"Stay back, Human.

You don't know what you're dealing with."

-Back Cover

This was a fun, quick read with fabulous characters. I love that Artemis is 12 and schemes the way he does. I like that he doesn't start out as a good guy and only starts to have a few pangs of remorse and decency towards the end of this book. But, my favorite part of this book might have been the farting dwarf. Let's just say that one of my daughters has farts that are almost as powerful! 

I'm interested to see what happens in book 2 because of the epilogue of this book. I hope Captain Short and Root will make another appearance. 

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, 406 pages

"This only novel by a young and sheltered Victorian clergyman's daughter introduces two of the world's imperishable lovers. The tender attachment of Heathcliff to young Cathy grows into a savage and devouring passion, destroying one generation and nearly wrecking a second." -Back Cover

I read Wuthering Heights in high school and hated it. I figured that I would give it another try and see if 20 years of maturity would change my opinion. I think it did. I can now understand the obsessive, intense, and destructive nature of Heathcliff and Cathy's love, whereas as a teenager I felt like all love stories should end with "and they lived happily ever after." This one is pretty much "not happily ever after" from start to finish.

This time around I could feel sorry for both Heathcliff and Cathy. I found myself thinking, "If only he had stayed two minutes longer to hear what she said after 'it would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now.'" Minutes later she says those classic words, "If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger."

I pretty much felt sorry for all the characters in this book. It's a tragic love story with all the characters falling victim to that love - Hindley, Hareton, young Cathy, Edgar, Isabella, even Ellen Dean. Heathcliff and Cathy could not let go and forgive and forget. They had to continually punish each other and those around them regardless of the consequences.

I loved that the story was told from Ellen's point of view with a mixture of past and present. I loved how the story ended and now, as a 30-something adult, I can recommend this book as the classic that it is.

The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, 161 pages

"In The Murder at the Vicarage Miss Marple bends her sharp powers of detection to solving a nasty murder in the quiet village of St. Mary Mead. Seven people wanted Colonel Protheroe dead, but who was desperate enough to shoot him in the vicar's study?" -Jacket

I haven't read an Agatha Christie book in years so I can't remember if her stories are usually told from the main character's/detective's point of view or not. This one is told from the vicar's point of view. Miss Marple solves the case, but is only the in the story briefly. I'm not sure if that helped or hurt the story because you didn't really get to know her line of reasoning. Still, she is a funny character and I could picture her watching people and making deductions about them.

It was a fun, quick read and I always love a good mystery. I think I've only read Christie mysteries with Hercule Poirot as the detective so now that I've found a collection of five of her detectives all in one book at the used bookstore I'll have to get acquainted with her other sleuths.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Take 2

I just had to read it again.

It was even better the second time.

There are a lot of characters in this book and I wanted to make sure that I really knew each one. I wanted to catch any little details I had missed the first time. There were several that made me laugh out loud.
There are so many things I love about this book:

1. Letter-Writing
Letter-writing is a lost art in this world of Twitter, Facebook, blogs, email, etc. I honestly can't remember the last time I wrote a letter - let alone one by hand - or bought a stamp. I figure my relatives and friends see what I'm up to through my blog. I communicate through comments. This book made me somewhat nostalgic for the days before all that modern technology. I also loved how the author threw in cables and telegrams when the characters needed to convey something urgent.

2. Literature
Reading and the love of books play a major role in this story. (Obviously, since it's about a literary society.) I've said it before and I'll say it again: Books are magical. They have the power to transport you away to new worlds, new ideas, and away from your troubles. Books brought these characters together and gave them an escape from a grim reality. After reading this book I'll be re-reading Wuthering Heights, Agatha Christie, and discovering Charles Lamb.

3. The Human Spirit
The human spirit is a powerful thing. So are characters who display it. The second time through I learned so much more about Dawsey and his quiet strength. And I still wish I could be more like Elizabeth.

4. Well-Written Characters
The characters in this book are so, so endearing. They are brought to life brilliantly - and so full of life. A well-written character stays with you. You learn from them. You are inspired by them. I've decided to add Guernsey to my list of places I want to visit someday.

And now I'm off to see if my collection of Agatha Christie includes any Miss Marple...