September Wrap-Up

September was such a busy month, I don't know how I found time to read. Have to say my favorite was Canvas Bound. Tempted to keep track of this new series. :) 

Birth of a Nation

A group of friends create the opportunity to change history. They grab it with both hands, oblivious to what consequences altering time may bring. George Brinton McClellan is ecstatic over his latest promotion. Charged with bringing the rebels in Virginia to heel, he prepares to meet the rabble with a well trained, disciplined army. What he doesn't know is that events of the distant future are about to alter his life in ways he never expected. Birth of a Nation is a story of change, warning of the dangers when one people try to impose their will on others. The year is 1861 and the American Civil War threatens to ravage a continent. Can the band of friends from an uncertain future succeed in their quest, or is history doomed to repeat itself?

*May Contain Spoilers*

James Butler pens a novel where history is being rewritten. In a futuristic setting where the government has control over every aspect of citizen life, including internal thought, one man invents a time machine that opens a portal into the past. Birth of a Nation takes readers back to the Civil War, only this time, with help from the future, the Confederacy will succeed. 

James Butler is also the name of the main character in this book. He's intelligent, hopeful, insightful, and strong in his beliefs. When he transports hundreds of people and supplies to the year 1861, James is determined to alter the destiny of the United States. Readers will connect with him based on his dream to make a difference. 

The plot of the novel is intriguing by itself, even for a non-history buff and someone who can barely make it through war stories. I had trouble with the opening of the novel as it didn't strike me as being fully believable, especially the notion that the government had "Thought Police" and a single internal question could be considered treasonous. After the time travel device had transported the group of travelers back in time, the writing style and events became more understanding. Though the descriptive following of the Civil War was hard to keep a reign on and the characters ended up melding together. But, I kept reading. I enjoyed the time travel and altering history aspects of the book, but I couldn't help but wonder how much of history they were actually destroying because of what they'd taken to the past with them and how they planned on bringing parts of the future to the past. 

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (67)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

    

01. Currently Reading:
Birth of a Nation by James E Butler. I don't like war novels or history, but I do like time travel so I'm giving this one a shot.

02. Recently Finished:
I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler. When a girl's older sister finds out she has cancer, Tess must stand up and be the strong one for her family.

03. Reading Next:
The Cuckoo's Calling by J. K. Rowling under a pen name (Robert Galbraith) I had heard the Rowling wrote a book under a pen name earlier this year and when I came across it, I knew that I had to read it.

Teaser Tuesday (79)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



Birth of a Nation (Kindle Loc. 330-31)
   - James Butler

The ball was rolling now, and nothing would stop it until it went one hundred, fifty years back to a better time and place. Or at least, they would make it a better place.

WWW Wednesday (66)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

01. Currently Reading:
The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester. Novel about a wife suffering from Alzheimer's, a husband whose memories help him feel alive, and the family surrounding them.

02. Recently Finished:
Canvas Bound by Laura M. Kolar. Wonderful book about a young painter and why her pieces come to life.

03. Reading Next:
Birth of a Nation by James Butler. A science fiction novel about time travel and the chance to change the past.