Wednesday, October 10, 2012

November 2012 Book 2: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier


Read comments from your teacher!!!!

Sapphire Blue, #2 of the trilogy.
This series was originally written in German.

9 comments:

mfriedewald said...

This month’s book picks both seemed really uninteresting to me when I first saw the covers and read the jackets. So much so that I ended up using “Eeny-meenie-miny-moe” to determine which of these two evils I was to be cursed with for the days to come. Not to mention the covers – super girlie!!

Generally, I like my Sci-fi to be somewhat realistic and I have a hard time relating to stories that I can’t imagine happening in real life – no aliens, no magic, no dragons, no thank you. BTW - time travel falls into this category - BUT!!!...

Initially, I found the main character (Gwyneth) to be very immature and childish. She is supposed to be 16, but her behavior and comments made her seem more like a 12 year-old. She was also very attached to her mother and I felt that most teenagers wouldn’t relate to her character – but she seemed to mature and become more independent after just the first few chapters. From that point, she became very likable, and the plot grew thicker and more complex with every page! My only complaint is that, while most books in a trilogy can stand on their own, this book was essentially the first part of a greater story that may not have closure until the last book in the series. So don’t go thinking you’re going to read just this one and not the 2 that follow!

So, over all - two thumbs up! This book is a quick, easy read overflowing with twists and turns, unexpected discoveries, suspense and excitement. I can’t wait to read Sapphire Blue and Emerald Green...which of course, I can't seem to find at any local libraries!

Mrs. Schatz said...

Mrs. Northrup writes:
Sixteen-year-old Gwyneth has always been assured of a normal life, while her cousin, Charlotte, has been thoroughly prepared for time-travel (everyone expects she has the gene). So Gwen is bewildered when she is catapulted back in time for the first time without any preparation. Thrust into a perilous situation, she must unravel the mysteries of a secret society and her own birth, deal with her abrupt trips back in time, and her attraction to the gorgeous-but-obnoxious Gideon.
The characters in Ruby Red were all really enjoyable. I feel as if each character in this book has a secret that has yet to be revealed to us. There are parts of each character that remain a mystery. This book comes to an abrupt end and really makes you wanting for more……
So overall, I do recommend and am waiting (patiently) for Sapphire Blue and Emerald Green
Veronica N.

Brandy said...

It took a few chapters to get into this book, but it lured me in. I like fantasy and time-travel so it wasn't difficult for me to be interested. I like the main character, but like Mrs. Friedewald, she comes off as a little immature, but don't we all sometimes? Especially when facing a new challenge. I like the fact that the ending leaves me wanting to read more, and it certainly does do that. I found myself rooting for Gwyn as she faced her obstacles. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will be interested to read books 2 & 3.

Mrs. Schatz said...

Mrs. Goff writes:
I enjoyed the book. I would recommend this book and am waiting for the next two. There were a lot of characters introduced but I think you will see more of them in the next two books. As you read the book, you start to think maybe these characters aren’t who you think they are. Who is Gwen really? Who are Lucy and Paul? And especially who is Falk de Villars and what part is he going to play? If you enjoy time travel and fantasy, then this is the book for you.

Mrs. Schatz said...

Mrs. Williams writes:
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, unlike some of my friends who had a time with it. I enjoyed the romance between Gwen and Gideon. It was just enough teasing and fighting to know that their certainly was an underlying relationship brewing. The time travel scenes were very vivid and I could picture exactly what the author was trying to portray. All the characters were woven into the storyline and made you wonder what exactly their purpose was.
Thumbs up!
Penny Williams

Mrs. Schatz said...

From Ms Ogilvie:
I very much enjoyed Ruby Red, and I'm excited to read the next part. Some other readers commented that they found Gwyneth to be childish, but being a 16 year old who has been indulged and guarded by her mother to protect her from this big secret, I think it's natural for her to be that way. I found it refreshing to read about a teenager who is not growing up too fast.

I found the story line interesting. I liked that it was about time travel without being too technical or SciFi. I enjoyed hearing about the period costumes and meeting the characters. I really like stories that are given to you piece by piece like a puzzle--way more fun than stories that are predictable or have too much foreshadowing. I found myself wanting to know what would happen and to where they would travel next. I very much look forward to the next book.

Crystal DeLong said...

I had tried Beauty Queens, but couldn't get into it, so I decided to read Ruby Red. From the first page I was hooked, combining two of my favorite genres, history and sci-fi. While my interest was initially caught, I then found the story dragging on until about halfway through when I couldn't stop reading. Once Gwyneth actually started time traveling things got much more interesting. There is enough intrigue and mystery in the plot to make you want to read the sequels. One thing I really liked was the Gwyneth seemed much more like a real teenager.

If you enjoy science fiction, adventure, mystery and just a little bit of romance, then this book would be a great choice.

Heidi Overfelt said...

Ruby Red was a great, quick read. I was totally engrossed in the adventures of Gwyneth. It was an odd mix of Harry Potter and Dr. Who - an adventure mixed with mystery. Unfortunately, the book ended on a cliffhanger. I am busy reading the sequel now...

Mrs. Hasan said...

Loved, loved, loved Ruby Red!!! I couldn't get enough of it, and when I finished reading it, I downloaded Sapphire Blue to my Kindle! Great time travel story with lots of fun, humor, love, and suspense. YOU MUST READ THIS!!!