RECOMMENDATION OF THE MONTH: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

My recommendation of the month is ‘n television series based on a series of books. The Vampire Diaries is ‘n young adult book series originally written by L.J Smith. Smith completed 7 books in the series, after which she was replaced by a ghostwriter. Though I have not read the books, the television series is one of my favourites. The storyline is well written, fast paced and very dark at times. It never gets old. The storyline is constantly changing, and is very unpredictable. A sign of a great series, the producers don’t hesitate to kill off important characters in the most unexpected ways. When you tune into an episode, you never know what you’re gonna get.

Stefan, Elena, Damon

The Vampire Diaries is a television series produced by the CW Television Network, loosely based on the book series of the same name. The story centers around a modern day love triangle between Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and the vampire brothers Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder).

Stefan & Elena

While Elena initially chooses Stefan, it is no secret that Damon loves her too, and throughout the series it is hinted that Elena might have romantic feelings for Damon as well.

Elena & Damon

It soon comes to light that the brothers had a similar love triangle approximately 145 years ago with Katherine Pierce, the (quite evil) vampire responsible for Stefan and Damon’s transformation into vampires.

Katherine & Damon 1864

It turns out that Elena is a descendent of Katherine Pierce, and Katherine’s doppelganger.

Elena 2009 / Katherine 1864

The question could therefore be asked if Stefan and Damon truly love Elena at all, or if they might actually be projecting their feelings for Katherine onto Elena.

Katherine & Stefan 1864

The plot thickens when Katherine returns to Mystic Falls, seemingly intent on winning Stefan’s heart again – and if she gets to destroy Elena’s life in the process, so much the better.

The contrast between the brothers couldn’t be greater. In their human years and early vampire years, Damon was the naïve, gentle, kind-hearted one, while Stefan was more of a rebel with a dark side. As the years have changed them, Stefan has come to be the dependable, serious one, while Damon has turned into a scheming, cold hearted killer (Elena’s faith in him, however, seems to trigger his softer side). Once the closest of brothers and the best of friends, Stefan and Damon have also come to hate each other over the years. It doesn’t exactly help that they now, again, love the same woman.

The colorful cast of characters also includes vampire slayers and werewolves (naturally), witches and warlocks, to name a few.

Earlier this year Nina Dobrev won the People’s Choice Award for Favourite TV Drama Actress, and in 2010 The Vampire Diaries won the award for Favourite New TV Drama. The Vampire Diaries has also won 12 Teen Choice Awards in two years, including Breakout Show, Best Villain (Somerhalder), Breakout Star Female and Male (Dobrev & Wesley), Best Actress (Dobrev) and Scene Stealer Female and Male (Katerina Graham as Bonnie Bennet & Michael Trevino as Tyler Lockwood). To date the show has been nominated for 37 awards in total.

The series is currently in its third season, each season consisting of 22 episodes. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on DVD, with Season 3 scheduled for release on DVD on 5 September 2012.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE MONTH: CASTLE

This time around my recommendation of the month is not a book, but in keeping with our theme of literature, one of my favourite television shows. To my surprise and befuddlement, not many people I know watch this show. If you are one of them, I would like to tell you a little bit more about Castle.

Castle is a comedy-drama series produced by ABC Studios and Beacon Pictures, starring Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic. At the start of the series renowned mystery writer Richard Castle (Fillion) kills off his main character in his most popular book series. Suffering from writer’s block, Castle mentions to his daughter that he wishes something new and exciting would come across his path. Enter NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett (Katic). Crashing Castle’s book launch party she walks up to Castle, flashes her badge, saying something along the lines of “I’d like to ask you a few questions”. Castle is questioned as copy-cat murders are taking place, a serial killer imitating murders from several of his novels.

Acting in an advisory capacity, Castle assists the NYPD in solving the case. Fascinated by the cops he got to work with, Castle finds his muse for his next book series in Beckett. Using his friendship with the Mayor, Castle gets permission to act as a consultant for the NYPD homicide investigation team, for research purposes, using Beckett as a model for his new heroine, Nikki Heat.

Initially reluctant to co-operate and uncomfortable with the idea of having an author in their midst, Beckett and her team (Kevin Ryan, Javier Esposito and Lanie Parish) soon realize that Castle’s years of writing crime novels have honed his skill as a criminal profiler, and Castle turns out to become a valuable member of their team, helping the NYPD solve murder cases.

Every episode has subplots concerning the characters’ private lives, mostly Castle’s relationship with his precocious teenage daughter and eccentric mother. Another important storyline throughout the series is Beckett’s reason for becoming a cop: solving her mother’s cold case murder. Adding a theme of romance for us hopeless romantics, the show also explores the obvious chemistry between Castle and Beckett and the question of whether or not they will ever admit their feelings for one another.

Castle has been running for three years, and has recently entered its fourth season. Just this year Castle won the People’s Choice Awards for Favourite TV Crime Drama and Favourite TV Drama Actor (Fillion).

The studio has also very cleverly released tie-in works. The three novels Castle has written based on Beckett and the NYPD, namely Heat Wave, Naked Heat and Heat Rises, have actually been written by a ghost writer, listing “Richard Castle” as the author. All three books landed on the coveted New York Times Bestseller List, Heat Rises debuting at the number 1 spot.

The books' covers and content are also in keeping with the show, true to the images shown on the show and plot lines Castle weaves.

A scene from the series where Beckett supports Castle at a launch party for Heat Wave.

Castle also introduced a graphic novel based on Derrick Storm (the character he killed off in Season 1) in the final episode of Season 3.  This graphic novel Castle: Richard Castle’s Deadly Storm was published by Marvel Comics(!) and also landed a spot on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Richard Castle even has his own page on the FantasticFiction website!

Lovers of literature will appreciate the way the show handles Castle's career as an author.  The brainstorming, the drafts, the deadlines, the interviews, the launch parties.  The cast will also win you over, and you will undoubtedly come to love them and their quirks.  I can't say a single bad thing about this show.

Bottom line: Castle is awesome.  Watch it!

RECOMMENDATION OF THE MONTH: THE ICE QUEEN ~ ALICE HOFFMAN

My recommendation of the month is a very intriguing book called The Ice Queen, by Alice Hoffman. This book is one of those that caught my eye because of the cover, and I was rewarded with a fascinating story inside.

In a moment of rage our (nameless) heroine wishes for something truly awful, and her wish comes true. Guilt ridden, the heroine believes herself to have some kind of power over life and death, and lives her life pushing others away, preferring to spend time with books instead of people, and imagining herself as a creature of ice. The antisocial librarian has become so completely obsessed with death that she soon becomes an expert, and consults with a member of the local Police Department on all manner of cause and consequence of death. As you would imagine this type of lifestyle is quite depressing. Our heroine continues to live in this frozen emotional state until her concerned brother has enough of her isolating lifestyle, and insists that she move to Florida to be near him and his wife.

Uttering an idle wish to be struck by lightning, the heroine’s wish is granted, but does not leave her dead. Suffering several physical effects from the lightning strike she begins a new journey in life when she becomes part of a University research project and befriends other members of the “struck by lightning group”. I always love when a book teaches me something in addition to entertaining me, and The Ice Queen describes all kinds of effects a lightning strike can have on the human body. Amongst other things, our heroine (now with a fitting scar over her heart) loses the ability to see the colour red and has a clicking sound in her head. She soon finds herself drawn to a mysterious fellow survivor known as Lazarus (because he came back to life in the mortuary), whose breath is so hot that he can set paper on fire. They soon begin a passionate and obsessive love affair: a woman of ice and a man of fire.  Do opposites truly attract, or do they actually repel each other? Can fiery heat melt a heart of ice?  The answer is not quite as obvious or straightforward as you would think.

The Ice Queen is a fascinating read for several reasons. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be “different”. This book is unlike anything else I’ve ever read. It is quite dark and intense, but instead of being gloomy, as one would expect, the core of it all is actually light – hope, peace and love; in true Hoffman tradition, I would even call it magical. Alice Hoffman’s unique story weaved in between fact, fiction, fairytales, legends and myths, along with her beautiful command over prose kept me hooked and invested until the very end. I am certain it will do the same for you.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE MONTH: SURRENDER THE NIGHT - MARYLU TYNDALL

My previous recommendation of the Month was Surrender the Heart by Marylu Tyndall, the first book in the Surrender to Destiny series. As you might recall, I loved everything about that book, and it is with great pleasure that I give a heartfelt recommendation for the second book in the series, Surrender the Night.

A pampered British Lieutenant falls for a lowly Baltimore farm girl. Step into a breathtaking novel of adventure and romance set amid the War of 1812. During an assault by an enemy sailor, timid farm girl Rose McGuire is saved by the least likely of heroes—a British Naval Lieutenant. Now that he’s wounded, she’ll have to heal as well as hide him. Alex Reed is being aided and abetted by his enemy—albeit an innocent and attractive one. But he might be doing Rose more harm than good if his presence on her farm is discovered. As their love blooms, trouble looms. Will this couple survive another British invasion? ~ as per Marylu Tyndall's website.

This second book follows the story of Alexander Reed and Rose McGuire, familiar faces from Surrender the Heart. While its prequel saw battles at sea; in Surrender the Night the British are now making their way onto American soil, destroying homes and assaulting women as they go. One night, home alone, Rose is attacked by the vile Garrick character who tormented Marianne so in Surrender the Heart, but is saved by the intervention of Alex Reed, the very man who protected Marianne and allowed her to escape. However, during his defence of Rose, Alex is shot and left unconscious. Though harboring hate in her heart for the British who killed her parents and are threatening her freedom, Rose begins to nurse Alex back to health in grattitude for saving her from a terrible fate. Too weak to make his way back to his ship, Alex is forced to stay on Rose’s property. Placing her family at great risk by secretly harboring a British Naval Lieutenant during the War, Rose hides Alex in the barn, but Alex’s intervention in another unsettling situation sees him unexpectedly appointed as the Drummond’s servant, Alex’s identity of course only known to Rose. Right?

Enemies at war, neither Alex nor Rose can understand the other’s motivation for their help. Initially distrustful of each other, Alex and Rose are forced to spend time together to keep up appearances. In doing so they are also forced to admit (at least to themselves) that their perceptions may have been wrong, and they must question their own views of the war, as well as the so-called enemy. Each haunted by events from their past, feelings of inadequacy and guilt, the rising threat of an unavoidable battle between their countrymen and the unwelcome interference of a jealous suitor seems to build up to more tension than these two confused souls can take. Their hearts reaching out to each other, their souls forbidding it, can an American farm girl and an English nobleman surrender their fates to God and allow themselves to love?

Surrender the Night is a beautiful sequel to Surrender the Heart. We again meet up with some beloved characters from the first book, meet some lovely new ones, and get a glimpse of Luke and Cassandra’s story which will be told in Surrender the Dawn. Sadly, this third instalment is not available in South Africa yet, but here’s hoping it might be in time for my Christmas stocking? I truly adore this series and can’t wait to pick up the next instalment.

Marylu Tyndall has a knack for effortless storytelling. Her characters are really well developed and very believable. You as reader come to care about them a great deal, and when they find themselves in danger you find yourself holding your breath. The chemistry between the characters, especially between Rose and Alex, is very real and tangible as well, and the description of dramatic events puts you on the edge of your seat. The British invasion and description of the historic destruction of Washington is really well written, making you as reader feel that you’re experiencing the events first hand. The sign of a truly gifted author.

I also love how Marylu leaves interpretation of the titles of the books up to her readers. I interpret the meaning of Surrender the Night as surrendering the darkness of your past to God; giving Him all of your hurts, fears and mistakes and trusting Him to heal you. You have to let go of what you're holding on to in order to receive something new. You have to surrender the night to embrace the dawn - a life full of light.

Happy reading!

RECOMMENDATION OF THE MONTH: A WALK TO REMEMBER ~ NICHOLAS SPARKS

This time around my recommendation of the month is a relatively old book. By that I just mean that it's not as current as my previous recommendations. The reason I am making it my recommendation of the month is because it is one of my all time favourite books, and probably the book I've read the most. If you've never read this masterpiece, it really is a book you need to add to your must-read-list!


This book was published in 1999, and given to me that same year as a birthday gift from my big brother. (How amazing to have brothers who buy you books?!) During my High School years, this was the book I turned to for comfort. Whenever I was feeling down, or lonely or bored, this book would keep me company, help me while away the time and cheer me up all at the same time. I have come to love these characters, and this timeless story about first love and faith will always be in my top 5 books of all time. My recommendation of the month is A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks.


Every April, when the wind blows from the sea and mingles with the scent of lilacs, Landon Carter remembers his last year at Beaufort High. It was 1958, and Landon had already dated a girl or two. He even swore that he had once been in love. Certainly the last person in town he thought he’d fall for was Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town’s Baptist minister. A quiet girl who always carried a Bible with her schoolbooks, Jamie seemed content living in a world apart from the other teens. She took care of her widowed father, rescued hurt animals, and helped out at the local orphanage. No boy had ever asked her out. Landon would never have dreamed of it. Then a twist of fate made Jamie his partner for the homecoming dance, and Landon Carter’s life would never be the same. Being with Jamie would show him the depths of the human heart and lead him to a decision so stunning it would send him irrevocably on the road to manhood… - as per Nicholas Sparks' website.

Like most novels there are several different covers, this is what mine looks like.

Jamie and Landon have "known" each other all of their lives. They live in the same small town, go to the same school, attend the same church, but they've never been friends. Landon is popular, Jamie is not. Jamie doesn't wear fashionable clothes, she carries her Bible around with her, she does charity work. Jamie is pretty much the most boring girl in Beaufort; or so Landon thinks. As newly appointed Student Body President, Landon must attend the school dance, with a date. Having previously dismissed the idea of going, Landon is dateless at the last minute, and reluctantly asks out the only girl who hasn't been asked; Jamie. Once in her company Landon begins to realise that Jamie is a lovely girl, misunderstood by her peers. As they start to spend more time in each other's company, Landon has to deal with redicule from the popular kids, Jamie's disapproving father, and most importantly the mystery of Jamie's misunderstood life and unshakeable faith in a God she can't see.

There is also a film version of the book wherein Shane West and Mandy Moore bring Landon and Jamie to life; Mandy Moore won several awards for her beautiful portrayal of Jamie.

I love the film version too, but many changes were made in order to modernise the story set in 1958 to a more contemporary account. The movie version was released in 2002, and was directed by Adam Shankman. If you've seen the movie it doesn't mean you know the book. At all! My favourite scene in the book, the title scene, is not even in the movie! But still, they made it work. The movie is a great addition to the story, but I strongly recommend that you read the book first.

The description from Nicholas' website pretty much sums up the outline of the story, but the core is so dazzling and heartbreakingly real that I can't share that here without giving the story away. It's quite simply one of those books you have to read for yourself. I sincerely hope that you do.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE MONTH: SURRENDER THE HEART - MARYLU TYNDALL

There are few things I enjoy more than wandering through a bookstore, searching for the next jewel to add to my beloved collection. It’s hard to explain the feeling when you’ve started reading a book and realize you’ve discovered something really special. I’ve had some really good finds this year, and this past weekend I discovered another.


When my best friend came to visit me earlier this year (sheesh, was it really way back in January?!), I was making up time waiting to pick her up by strolling through CUM (my absolute favourite store in the whole wide world – Christian merch plus books = nothing better!) when this beautiful cover caught my eye. I read the back of the book and my heart soared when I realized that it’s a historical novel. You know by now I’m a total nut for those! I bought it, and being the diligent student that I am (a pain, I know), I put it away to read another day as I was getting a head start on my university assignments for the year. Needless to say the year picked up speed, and I never got around to actually reading it. So last weekend I submitted my final assignments, and thought I’d treat myself by reading a book before I delve into exam prep. Going through my unread pile, my eye again caught this one, and I thought “Perfect”. And perfect it is!

“Swashbuckling romances anchored in faith” is what Marylu Tyndall promises on her website, and that is exactly what she delivers!

Surrender the Heart is the first book in the Surrender to Destiny series. The story is set in Baltimore in 1812 and follows Marianne Denton and Noah Brenin, acquaintances who have very negative opinions of each other based on terrible memories of each other as children, now betrothed by the will of their fathers and against their own, but both unable to object. Upon the death of Marianne’s father she desperately needs to marry in order to unlock her inheritance, her only chance of caring for her ill mother and younger sister. Noah, a merchantman carrying the guilt of his brother’s accidental death, is desperate to please his unreasonable father and must marry Marianne to obtain her inheritance to support the family business. While Marianne realizes Noah only wants to marry her for her money, Noah has no idea that the Denton fortune is not a fortune at all, but only stands at seven thousand pounds, everything else having been gambled away by Marianne’s father prior to his death. Noah, however, decides to set sail to England and sell enough merchandise to make a year’s worth of profit in one trip, ensuring he would not have to marry Marianne at all. Noah deserts Marianne at their engagement party, and rushes to get his cargo to England before war between America and England breaks out. Desperate to unlock her inheritance to buy much needed medicine for her mother, Marianne realizes Noah’s intent and undertakes to do whatever it takes to ensure he has to marry her. Unbeknownst to Noah, Marianne follows him aboard his ship, but an accident leaves her unconscious and Noah sets sail to England only to discover Marianne aboard his ship the following day. He is, however, unwilling to waste any time by first returning her to Baltimore, leaving Marianne stuck aboard his ship for months to come. Noah is desperate to succeed, Marianne is desperate to see him fail, for if he has no need of her money, he won’t marry her… right?

A clash of wills and motivations sees many stubborn games that soon get Marianne and Noah captured by a British warship. Let down by every man she’s ever known, a mistrustful Marianne believes that God also has deserted her. Guilt ridden by his brother’s death, Noah thinks God simply doesn’t care about him. These two question their place in God’s universe even more as they are forced to serve the enemy, danger and malice surrounding them daily. Working aboard an enemy ship Noah realizes that Marianne is not the spoilt little rich girl he always thought her to be, and Marianne begins to see that Noah is not the mean spirited bully she always thought he was. Forced to put aside their differences, depend on each other, trust each other and work together to escape the British Navy that holds them captive, the question arises whether Marianne and Noah can surrender their hearts to each other, and to the God they both desperately want to believe in.

Surrender the heart is a beautiful story about destiny. It emphasizes how God uses the most seemingly ordinary of people to accomplish great acts (I especially loved the book’s dedication; I believe it is “To everyone who has ever felt ordinary”), and how God uses everything, even the most terrifying situations, to set in motion miracles that change the lives of thousands.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose ~ Romans 8.28

A FINAL NOTE ON DEE HENDERSON'S O'MALLEY SERIES

In my previous post I recommended that you read Dee Henderson's O'Malley series, eventhough at that point I had only read the first book in the series.

I have since completed all six books as well as the prequal, and have something very important I would like to add.

What makes the O'Malley series so special is the fact that it deals with legitimate concerns non-believers might have. The series questions things like why bad things sometimes happen to good people, why all prayers aren't answered, how Jesus could have been ressurected from death after three days, and why an all powerful God would like to have a personal relationship with sinners, to name but a few.

If you have friends who are struggling with the Christian faith, these books can shed a light on how you can approach their concerns. It even highlights some bible verses you can use to answer some of these questions!

These books would be a wonderful gift to Christians, old and new!