Maggie O'Farrell's The Hand that First Held Mine
This book has been getting a ton of great reviews, and I must say, it lives up to the hype. It's the tale of two women, told in alternating chapters--one, trying to be an independent career woman in the 1950s, the other dealing with her newborn and her boyfriend in current-ish times. From the get-go, 1950s Lexie's story is totally enthralling; modern Elina's is a bit slower to get going, but as the two start to come together, I couldn't put the book down. Highly recommended. A.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 09, 2010
2010 book 117
Nancy Pickard's The Scent of Rain and Lightning
Twenty-three years ago, a man was murdered and his wife vanished, leaving just a bloody dress behind. Now their daughter (along with the rest of their close-knit family) is trying to cope with their presumed murderer getting out of jail and coming back to their small town in Kansas. The story flashes back to the day of the murder, building up tension nicely. I really enjoyed these characters and found the mystery's resolution to be satisfying, but thought the very end was a bit improbable. B+.
Twenty-three years ago, a man was murdered and his wife vanished, leaving just a bloody dress behind. Now their daughter (along with the rest of their close-knit family) is trying to cope with their presumed murderer getting out of jail and coming back to their small town in Kansas. The story flashes back to the day of the murder, building up tension nicely. I really enjoyed these characters and found the mystery's resolution to be satisfying, but thought the very end was a bit improbable. B+.
Friday, May 07, 2010
Thursday, May 06, 2010
2010 book 116
Melina Marchetta's Finnikin of the Rock
I really enjoyed an earlier YA novel by Marchetta and immediately picked this one up when all the YA bloggers started buzzing about it. It's a great fantasy story that is a little hard to describe--it takes place ten years after a kindgdom was overthrown and the royal family assassinated, as the son of the head of the king's guard travels with the former king's advisor trying to keep track of their people in exile. When they encounter a young woman with the mysterious power to walk people's dreams, suddenly the hope arises that their kingdom may be restored. Which maybe doesn't SOUND awesome, but it's really a good read, and definitely buzz-worthy. A.
I really enjoyed an earlier YA novel by Marchetta and immediately picked this one up when all the YA bloggers started buzzing about it. It's a great fantasy story that is a little hard to describe--it takes place ten years after a kindgdom was overthrown and the royal family assassinated, as the son of the head of the king's guard travels with the former king's advisor trying to keep track of their people in exile. When they encounter a young woman with the mysterious power to walk people's dreams, suddenly the hope arises that their kingdom may be restored. Which maybe doesn't SOUND awesome, but it's really a good read, and definitely buzz-worthy. A.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
2010 book 115
Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid
The Percy Jackson author is back w/ a whole new series about EGYPTIAN gods! Totally different! But not really. So a brother and sister have been separated since their mother's mysterious death six years earlier, and now their dad has caused a mysterious accident that has let loose a bad God , and they have to use their newfound powers to save everyone and stuff. The narrative device here is that they're taking turns speaking into a tape recorder (and, annoyingly, interrupting each other). There were some good characters but pretty much everything was formulaic. Entertaining, but not nearly as good as the Percy books. B.
The Percy Jackson author is back w/ a whole new series about EGYPTIAN gods! Totally different! But not really. So a brother and sister have been separated since their mother's mysterious death six years earlier, and now their dad has caused a mysterious accident that has let loose a bad God , and they have to use their newfound powers to save everyone and stuff. The narrative device here is that they're taking turns speaking into a tape recorder (and, annoyingly, interrupting each other). There were some good characters but pretty much everything was formulaic. Entertaining, but not nearly as good as the Percy books. B.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
2010 book 114
Kyra Davis' Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights
Davis' second Sophie Katz book is just as entertaining as her first, as Sophie's sister finds out her husband is cheating on her--and then becomes the number one suspect in her murder. Sophie and her love/hate interest must work to clear her name before Sophie is stuck as primary caretaker of her obnoxious toddler nephew. Again, this book was a lot of fun--this series is PERFECT beach reading, y'all--and there's a hilarious sex scene involving an espresso maker. I'm going to try and wait to read the third one till my upcoming vacation--but probably won't make it. :) A.
Davis' second Sophie Katz book is just as entertaining as her first, as Sophie's sister finds out her husband is cheating on her--and then becomes the number one suspect in her murder. Sophie and her love/hate interest must work to clear her name before Sophie is stuck as primary caretaker of her obnoxious toddler nephew. Again, this book was a lot of fun--this series is PERFECT beach reading, y'all--and there's a hilarious sex scene involving an espresso maker. I'm going to try and wait to read the third one till my upcoming vacation--but probably won't make it. :) A.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
2010 book 113
David Cristofano's The Girl She Used to Be
Wow, this may have been the stupidest book I've ever read. It starts off implausibly but interestingly as a woman who's been in witness protection since she and her parents witnessed a murder when she was 6 is tracked down by one of the members of the murderer's family and goes with him willingly. But from implausible it quickly degenerates into ridiculous and then plain dumb. I almost stopped reading three times but then kept thinking maybe it would turn around in the end. No, the end was completely absurd too. D.
Wow, this may have been the stupidest book I've ever read. It starts off implausibly but interestingly as a woman who's been in witness protection since she and her parents witnessed a murder when she was 6 is tracked down by one of the members of the murderer's family and goes with him willingly. But from implausible it quickly degenerates into ridiculous and then plain dumb. I almost stopped reading three times but then kept thinking maybe it would turn around in the end. No, the end was completely absurd too. D.
2010 book 112
Fernanda Eberstadt's Rat
Kind of a coming-of-age novel about a girl growing up in France with her single mother; later, after her mother's boyfriend tries to molest her adopted brother, she decides to take him on the run to find her father in London. The first 2/3rds were strong but I think things trailed off a bit toward the end. Still, Rat and her brother are great characters--likable, self-sufficient, and bold. B+.
Kind of a coming-of-age novel about a girl growing up in France with her single mother; later, after her mother's boyfriend tries to molest her adopted brother, she decides to take him on the run to find her father in London. The first 2/3rds were strong but I think things trailed off a bit toward the end. Still, Rat and her brother are great characters--likable, self-sufficient, and bold. B+.
Friday, April 30, 2010
2010 book 111
P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast's Burned
I've been reading this teen pagan vampire boarding school end of the world series for a while (this is the 6th one) and I think I'm over it. I still like a couple of the characters, but find a lot of their dialogue cringe-worthy ("bullpoopie" is not something a teenager would ever say) and am not at all interested in all the battling against evil they're doing these days. At least the main character is in a magical coma for most of the book, so it focused much more on a character I like. Still, over it. B-.
I've been reading this teen pagan vampire boarding school end of the world series for a while (this is the 6th one) and I think I'm over it. I still like a couple of the characters, but find a lot of their dialogue cringe-worthy ("bullpoopie" is not something a teenager would ever say) and am not at all interested in all the battling against evil they're doing these days. At least the main character is in a magical coma for most of the book, so it focused much more on a character I like. Still, over it. B-.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
2010 book 110
Jandy Nelson's The Sky is Everywhere
In this YA novel, as a girl is struggling to deal with her beloved sister's death, she forms a connection with the new musician in school and bonds with her sister's boyfriend in their shared grief. There were some touching parts, but I didn't really feel this one. B.
In this YA novel, as a girl is struggling to deal with her beloved sister's death, she forms a connection with the new musician in school and bonds with her sister's boyfriend in their shared grief. There were some touching parts, but I didn't really feel this one. B.
2010 book 109
Kyra Davis' Sex, Murder, and a Double Latte
The first book in Davis' Sophie Katz series is a fun marriage of chick lit and mystery focusing on a Jewish biracial mystery author with a band of outrageous friends who starts to think someone is acting out her first book--and intends her to be the victim. I totally guessed the bad guy correctly but the story was no less satisfying for that. A-.
The first book in Davis' Sophie Katz series is a fun marriage of chick lit and mystery focusing on a Jewish biracial mystery author with a band of outrageous friends who starts to think someone is acting out her first book--and intends her to be the victim. I totally guessed the bad guy correctly but the story was no less satisfying for that. A-.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
2010 book 108
A. Lee Martinez's Divine Misfortune
A perfectly pleasant story that takes place in a world just like ours, except all the gods and goddesses are still around and involved in mortal affairs. When Phil is passed over for a promotion, he and his wife decide to find a god to pay tribute to--but end up with some unexpected house-guests. And things just get more complicated from there. Really fun take on mythology and I enjoyed the characters a lot. A-.
A perfectly pleasant story that takes place in a world just like ours, except all the gods and goddesses are still around and involved in mortal affairs. When Phil is passed over for a promotion, he and his wife decide to find a god to pay tribute to--but end up with some unexpected house-guests. And things just get more complicated from there. Really fun take on mythology and I enjoyed the characters a lot. A-.
Monday, April 26, 2010
let's wrestle!
Went to see Let's Wrestle and Quasi at the Cradle tonight--Let's Wrestle came out in pajamas. Their drummer was, no lie, wearing a bright pink fuzzy onesie. They fucking rocked.
2010 book 107
Tom Rachman's The Imperfectionists
This book is billed as a novel, but it's really a series of short stories involving the people involved with an English-language newspaper in Rome. The stories start off strong, then halfway through become unbearably annoying, then depressing, then extremely upsetting. I've noted here before that my biggest pet peeves is when authors write lovable animals just to have something horrible happen to them, and this was one of those books. F.
This book is billed as a novel, but it's really a series of short stories involving the people involved with an English-language newspaper in Rome. The stories start off strong, then halfway through become unbearably annoying, then depressing, then extremely upsetting. I've noted here before that my biggest pet peeves is when authors write lovable animals just to have something horrible happen to them, and this was one of those books. F.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
2010 book 106
Y.S. Lee's The Agency: A Spy in the House
It's the 1880s, and a young girl on the verged of being hanged for thievery is instead taken in by a woman who runs a school--and is trained to be a spy. Her first assignment is to act as a lady's companion to a young woman whose father is suspected of being a smuggler--but things are more complicated than they first appear. This reminded me a bit of Laurie King's Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes books--nice historical details, especially regarding women's roles. Apparently it's the first in a series and I'll definitely be reading the next one--I love books about sassy girl spies. A.
It's the 1880s, and a young girl on the verged of being hanged for thievery is instead taken in by a woman who runs a school--and is trained to be a spy. Her first assignment is to act as a lady's companion to a young woman whose father is suspected of being a smuggler--but things are more complicated than they first appear. This reminded me a bit of Laurie King's Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes books--nice historical details, especially regarding women's roles. Apparently it's the first in a series and I'll definitely be reading the next one--I love books about sassy girl spies. A.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
2010 book 105
Heather Davis' The Clearing
A girl fleeing her troubled life moves to a small town where her great-aunt lives; there, she discovers a young man in the field behind her house who's stuck in 1944 avoiding his own tragedies. They form a connection and things start to go awry. I found their stories touching but the end didn't really satisfy. B/B+.
A girl fleeing her troubled life moves to a small town where her great-aunt lives; there, she discovers a young man in the field behind her house who's stuck in 1944 avoiding his own tragedies. They form a connection and things start to go awry. I found their stories touching but the end didn't really satisfy. B/B+.
2010 book 104
Robin Antalek's The Summer We Fell Apart
The four adult children from a dysfunctional family deal with life after their father's death and flash back to a crucial summer in their younger lives. Each narrates a section of the text--sometimes filling holes in the others--which works well, and the characters are mostly all sympathetic. I especially liked youngest daughter Amy and next-youngest George--very well-done characters. My only beefs with this book: a couple of unanswered questions, a kind of wishy-washy ending, and it seemed like, for the most part, nothing super eventful happened that crucial summer they're all flashing back to (for some of them, anyway). I guess it's really more about the family dynamics than anything else. B+.
The four adult children from a dysfunctional family deal with life after their father's death and flash back to a crucial summer in their younger lives. Each narrates a section of the text--sometimes filling holes in the others--which works well, and the characters are mostly all sympathetic. I especially liked youngest daughter Amy and next-youngest George--very well-done characters. My only beefs with this book: a couple of unanswered questions, a kind of wishy-washy ending, and it seemed like, for the most part, nothing super eventful happened that crucial summer they're all flashing back to (for some of them, anyway). I guess it's really more about the family dynamics than anything else. B+.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
2010 book 103
Maryrose Wood's The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place
OK, I love love loved this book, but am so frustrated b/c it's clearly the start of a series and I'm dying to know what happens next! Anyway, it's set in olden times in England and centers on a young governess (who's been well-trained at a school for Poor Bright Females, which right there gives you a hint of what this book's humor is like) who's hired to teach three children who, it seems, were literally raised by wolves. I've seen a lot of Lemony Snicket comparisons, but the writing here is looser and less clever-on-purpose. As she attempts to civilize them, the reader realizes there's more at stake than just their education. Here's an article and interview with the author for your perusal. A.
OK, I love love loved this book, but am so frustrated b/c it's clearly the start of a series and I'm dying to know what happens next! Anyway, it's set in olden times in England and centers on a young governess (who's been well-trained at a school for Poor Bright Females, which right there gives you a hint of what this book's humor is like) who's hired to teach three children who, it seems, were literally raised by wolves. I've seen a lot of Lemony Snicket comparisons, but the writing here is looser and less clever-on-purpose. As she attempts to civilize them, the reader realizes there's more at stake than just their education. Here's an article and interview with the author for your perusal. A.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
2010 book 102
Sandra Kring's How High the Moon
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this going in--it's about a little girl growing up in the summer of 1955, and her dialogue is a little bit annoying at first (seriously, one of her speeches takes three Kindle pages to get through) though actually I liked her narrative voice. Anyway, her mother has abandoned her to be raised by an ex-boyfriend while she pursues her Hollywood dreams, and the little girl is forced to participate in a Big Sister-Little Sister summer program aimed to teach her to be more respectable, where she's paired with the most popular teenager in town. Things go about how you'd expect, though I will say that a pair of prostitutes really liven the story up, but by the end I was wholeheartedly into the story and even got a little teary. A-.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this going in--it's about a little girl growing up in the summer of 1955, and her dialogue is a little bit annoying at first (seriously, one of her speeches takes three Kindle pages to get through) though actually I liked her narrative voice. Anyway, her mother has abandoned her to be raised by an ex-boyfriend while she pursues her Hollywood dreams, and the little girl is forced to participate in a Big Sister-Little Sister summer program aimed to teach her to be more respectable, where she's paired with the most popular teenager in town. Things go about how you'd expect, though I will say that a pair of prostitutes really liven the story up, but by the end I was wholeheartedly into the story and even got a little teary. A-.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
2010 book 101
Tera Lynn Childs' Oh. My. Gods.
This book is kind of like Mean Girls meets Percy Jackson, only not very good. Actually, the first half is ok, as a girl is forced to move w/ her mom and her new stepdad to a small island in Greece, where she has to go to school w/ kids who turn out to be descendants of the Greek Gods. And there's the usual crush on the popular guy w/ the popular bitchy girlfriend, and the quirky new friend, etc. It's slightly elevated by the protagonist being an athlete--she's a star runner and is working her way to a scholarship to USC--but the end is a terrible mishmash of YA fantasy cliches that just made me want to put it down and not even finish. C.
This book is kind of like Mean Girls meets Percy Jackson, only not very good. Actually, the first half is ok, as a girl is forced to move w/ her mom and her new stepdad to a small island in Greece, where she has to go to school w/ kids who turn out to be descendants of the Greek Gods. And there's the usual crush on the popular guy w/ the popular bitchy girlfriend, and the quirky new friend, etc. It's slightly elevated by the protagonist being an athlete--she's a star runner and is working her way to a scholarship to USC--but the end is a terrible mishmash of YA fantasy cliches that just made me want to put it down and not even finish. C.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
2010 book 100
Diana Wynne Jones' Enchanted Glass
So I pretty much love all of Diana Wynne Jones' books, and while this wasn't close to being one of my favorites, it was a really nice story, about a man who inherits his grandfather's house (and magical trusteeship over the town), the boy who comes to stay with him, the very entertaining townspeople, and the mysterious and menacing man next door. B+.
So I pretty much love all of Diana Wynne Jones' books, and while this wasn't close to being one of my favorites, it was a really nice story, about a man who inherits his grandfather's house (and magical trusteeship over the town), the boy who comes to stay with him, the very entertaining townspeople, and the mysterious and menacing man next door. B+.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
2010 book 99
Sandra Dallas' Whiter than Snow
I didn't love Dallas' last novel but I've enjoyed a couple other of her books and figured I'd give it a shot. It's about an avalanche that strikes a small town in Colorado one afternoon just as the children are walking home from school. Dallas gives the life stories of the families whose children are trapped, and the reader comes to home all of their children will survive--even though they won't. Really good, though I was definitely weepy at the end. A/A-.
I didn't love Dallas' last novel but I've enjoyed a couple other of her books and figured I'd give it a shot. It's about an avalanche that strikes a small town in Colorado one afternoon just as the children are walking home from school. Dallas gives the life stories of the families whose children are trapped, and the reader comes to home all of their children will survive--even though they won't. Really good, though I was definitely weepy at the end. A/A-.
2010 book 98
Paolo Giordano's The Solitude of Prime Numbers
In this first novel by a cute young Italian physicist, a pair of damaged young people make a connection, and we see them grow from childhood to adulthood, trying to become whole. It was generally very moving, though I had mixed feelings about the ending and am still trying to process it. B+.
In this first novel by a cute young Italian physicist, a pair of damaged young people make a connection, and we see them grow from childhood to adulthood, trying to become whole. It was generally very moving, though I had mixed feelings about the ending and am still trying to process it. B+.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
2010 book 97
Christopher Moore's Bite Me
It's unusual that the second book in a trilogy is the best one, but that was the case with this series. Not that the third one wasn't entertaining, since it involves all the earlier character fighting a horde of vampire cats. B/B+.
It's unusual that the second book in a trilogy is the best one, but that was the case with this series. Not that the third one wasn't entertaining, since it involves all the earlier character fighting a horde of vampire cats. B/B+.
Monday, April 12, 2010
2010 book 96
Christopher Moore's You Suck
This was even awesomer than the first one, as part of the narrative duties are taken over by a new human minion, a wannabe goth/vampire teenage girl. Not that her sections are particularly accurate, but they are particularly hilarious. I had planned to read some other books after this one, but I'm dying to find out what happens next! A-.
This was even awesomer than the first one, as part of the narrative duties are taken over by a new human minion, a wannabe goth/vampire teenage girl. Not that her sections are particularly accurate, but they are particularly hilarious. I had planned to read some other books after this one, but I'm dying to find out what happens next! A-.
drop everything and read day!
Apparently today is National National Drop Everything and Read Day, so make sure you take some time out from workin' to read something for fun! Especially if it's by Beverly Cleary, since today is her 94th birthday.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
2010 book 95
Christopher Moore's Bloodsucking Fiends
Funny, light story about a girl who gets turned into a vampire and the boy she falls for. Not much else to say besides that, except I'm reading the sequel next.
Funny, light story about a girl who gets turned into a vampire and the boy she falls for. Not much else to say besides that, except I'm reading the sequel next.
Friday, April 09, 2010
2010 book 94
Denise Mina's Still Midnight
I'm pretty sure this book isn't part of a series, but it almost reads like part of a series, like I should have more information on the protagonist cop than I do. So anyway, a cop (lady cop) w/ a troubled past and marriage gets involved in a case of kidnapping for ransom that at first seems random, and then less so. It's kind of weird that one of the kidnappers is the most likable character in the story, but he is. The end is a little bit of a mishmash but things were entertaining enough. B+/B.
I'm pretty sure this book isn't part of a series, but it almost reads like part of a series, like I should have more information on the protagonist cop than I do. So anyway, a cop (lady cop) w/ a troubled past and marriage gets involved in a case of kidnapping for ransom that at first seems random, and then less so. It's kind of weird that one of the kidnappers is the most likable character in the story, but he is. The end is a little bit of a mishmash but things were entertaining enough. B+/B.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
2010 book 93
Wendy Webb's The Tale of Halcyon Crane
This book has a great premise--a woman, who believes her mother died when she was a child, discovers her father actually kidnapped her away in an effort to keep her safe, and s the woman goes to her mother's home and everything is supposed to be all ghosty and Gothic--and was getting great reviews on Amazon, but it was fairly disappointing. For one thing, it needed another round through the editing machine--the writing was clumsy at parts and there was a lot of awkward dialogue, and there were some weird typos in the Kindle edition. And while the story itself was mostly strong, the conclusions were easy to guess and the mysticism wasn't really well-done. Sigh. B-.
This book has a great premise--a woman, who believes her mother died when she was a child, discovers her father actually kidnapped her away in an effort to keep her safe, and s the woman goes to her mother's home and everything is supposed to be all ghosty and Gothic--and was getting great reviews on Amazon, but it was fairly disappointing. For one thing, it needed another round through the editing machine--the writing was clumsy at parts and there was a lot of awkward dialogue, and there were some weird typos in the Kindle edition. And while the story itself was mostly strong, the conclusions were easy to guess and the mysticism wasn't really well-done. Sigh. B-.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
2010 book 92
Sorry for the lack of updates--I've been busy celebrating my birthday this week!
Lisa Grunwald's The Irresistible Henry House
When I was describing the plot of the first half of this book to a friend--it's about a baby boy who's part of a program where orphans spent the first two years of their life being practice babies for a college's home ec department, which apparently was a real thing for a big chunk of the 20th century--and he said it sounded very John Irving-esque (which was my first reaction as well). The John Irving-ness dissipates a bit as the practice baby grows into a surly teenager and the story bogs down a bit, but his involvement with 60s pop culture is pretty entertaining and on the whole, it's a great character study. A-.
Lisa Grunwald's The Irresistible Henry House
When I was describing the plot of the first half of this book to a friend--it's about a baby boy who's part of a program where orphans spent the first two years of their life being practice babies for a college's home ec department, which apparently was a real thing for a big chunk of the 20th century--and he said it sounded very John Irving-esque (which was my first reaction as well). The John Irving-ness dissipates a bit as the practice baby grows into a surly teenager and the story bogs down a bit, but his involvement with 60s pop culture is pretty entertaining and on the whole, it's a great character study. A-.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
2010 book 91
Michael Scott's The Sorceress
Not that this isn't a fun series to read, but it has a few problems that make it kind of a lesser series. Namely, all the action so far--in three books--has taken place in less than a week, which leaves little time for realistic character development. And on that same note, two of the protagonists--the teenagers with A Special Destiny--aren't particularly interesting or likable. Plus the villains come off as completely incompetent when they should be terrifying. Still, the titular sorceress, Peregrine Flamel, is a great character, gutsy and smart, and this book was worth reading for her alone.
Not that this isn't a fun series to read, but it has a few problems that make it kind of a lesser series. Namely, all the action so far--in three books--has taken place in less than a week, which leaves little time for realistic character development. And on that same note, two of the protagonists--the teenagers with A Special Destiny--aren't particularly interesting or likable. Plus the villains come off as completely incompetent when they should be terrifying. Still, the titular sorceress, Peregrine Flamel, is a great character, gutsy and smart, and this book was worth reading for her alone.
2010 book 90
Michael Scott's The Magician
The second book in this series features more good vs evil immortal humans and good vs evil immortal gods and monsters, as Flamel and the twins are pursued by bad guys or whatever. I enjoy these books, but wish that all the action didn't take place in like a day--I guess things are more believable when they move more slowly. But the characters are interesting enough--I especially like Flamel's wife--and it's fun to see which historical figures they encounter (educational!).
The second book in this series features more good vs evil immortal humans and good vs evil immortal gods and monsters, as Flamel and the twins are pursued by bad guys or whatever. I enjoy these books, but wish that all the action didn't take place in like a day--I guess things are more believable when they move more slowly. But the characters are interesting enough--I especially like Flamel's wife--and it's fun to see which historical figures they encounter (educational!).
Saturday, April 03, 2010
new mix!
I know I used to post track listings for all the mix cds I made, but then I got lazy and stopped doing that. I like this one though--I made it for my upcoming birthday!
Songs are first, then artist, b/c I copied and pasted from itunes.
One Evening-Feist
Maneater-The Bird and the Bee
Good Morning (The Future)-Rogue Wave
Four by Four-Shout Out Louds
We Will Stand-Adventures In Stereo
Let Your Love Light Shine-Ann Peebles
Dali-Finn Riggins
The Blessed Breeze-Fruit Bats
In the Sun-She & Him
Give Me All Your Lovin’-The Long Winters
Where's Your Patience, Dear?-Portastatic
Why Modern Rock is A-OK-Roman Candle
Baby Lee-Teenage Fanclub
David-The Radio Dept.
I Hope You Die-Wye Oak
Kindergarten-Zeus
We Are the Men You'll Grow to Love Soon-Let's Wrestle
Boat Behind-Kings of Convenience
The High Road-Broken Bells
Radio-Radar Brothers
Songs are first, then artist, b/c I copied and pasted from itunes.
One Evening-Feist
Maneater-The Bird and the Bee
Good Morning (The Future)-Rogue Wave
Four by Four-Shout Out Louds
We Will Stand-Adventures In Stereo
Let Your Love Light Shine-Ann Peebles
Dali-Finn Riggins
The Blessed Breeze-Fruit Bats
In the Sun-She & Him
Give Me All Your Lovin’-The Long Winters
Where's Your Patience, Dear?-Portastatic
Why Modern Rock is A-OK-Roman Candle
Baby Lee-Teenage Fanclub
David-The Radio Dept.
I Hope You Die-Wye Oak
Kindergarten-Zeus
We Are the Men You'll Grow to Love Soon-Let's Wrestle
Boat Behind-Kings of Convenience
The High Road-Broken Bells
Radio-Radar Brothers
Friday, April 02, 2010
2010 book 89
Michael Scott's The Alchemyst
Man, I hate when books replaces Is with Ys to make things sound more magical. Which is neither here nor there and didn't affect my enjoyment of this book in the least. The story centers on a pair of fifteen-year-old twins in San Francisco who get sucked into a bunch of magical intrigue when they meet Nick and Perry Fleming, better known as Nicholas and Peregrine Flamel (and now I know that JK Rowling didn't invent them--Flamel was an actual alchemist and, according to Wikipedia anyway, has been referenced in all sorts of pop culture places). Anyway, there's a good vs evil battle brewing and of course the twins have a prophecy about them, but the story does go some unexpected places, and I'll definitely check out the next book in the series.
Man, I hate when books replaces Is with Ys to make things sound more magical. Which is neither here nor there and didn't affect my enjoyment of this book in the least. The story centers on a pair of fifteen-year-old twins in San Francisco who get sucked into a bunch of magical intrigue when they meet Nick and Perry Fleming, better known as Nicholas and Peregrine Flamel (and now I know that JK Rowling didn't invent them--Flamel was an actual alchemist and, according to Wikipedia anyway, has been referenced in all sorts of pop culture places). Anyway, there's a good vs evil battle brewing and of course the twins have a prophecy about them, but the story does go some unexpected places, and I'll definitely check out the next book in the series.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
2010 book 88
Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall
One of my favorite guilty pleasures is reading books about paranormal boarding school (like the House of Night books), so this book, about a young witch who gets sent to magic reform school (for witches, fairies, and shapeshifters), was right up my alley. The usual stuff happens--she makes enemies w/ the popular girls, gets a crush on the popular boy, and her only friend is a vampire suspected of attacking other students--but there's a nice lightness and sense of humor about everything, so it was definitely above average. A.
One of my favorite guilty pleasures is reading books about paranormal boarding school (like the House of Night books), so this book, about a young witch who gets sent to magic reform school (for witches, fairies, and shapeshifters), was right up my alley. The usual stuff happens--she makes enemies w/ the popular girls, gets a crush on the popular boy, and her only friend is a vampire suspected of attacking other students--but there's a nice lightness and sense of humor about everything, so it was definitely above average. A.
2010 book 87
Carol Goodman's Arcadia Falls
After her husband's untimely death, a woman and her teenage daughter move to a small town in upstate New York where she can teach at an exclusive arts-relate high school. But soon after her arrival, a student dies, and the woman gets involved in unraveling the mysteries behind the death of one of the school's founders in the 1940s. Anyway, this book starts off strong (despite an unnecessary romantic subplot), with storylines about fairy tales and artists and writers and lovers, but the end's twists are way too easy to guess, and the end itself is entirely overwrought. C.
After her husband's untimely death, a woman and her teenage daughter move to a small town in upstate New York where she can teach at an exclusive arts-relate high school. But soon after her arrival, a student dies, and the woman gets involved in unraveling the mysteries behind the death of one of the school's founders in the 1940s. Anyway, this book starts off strong (despite an unnecessary romantic subplot), with storylines about fairy tales and artists and writers and lovers, but the end's twists are way too easy to guess, and the end itself is entirely overwrought. C.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
2010 book 86
Cornelia Funke's Inkheart
This is one of those books I've been meaning to read for years, but never got around to--and I really don't know why, as the story is the sort that would appeal to me, about a man accidentally releasing villains from a story while sucking his wife into the book, and nine years later it all catches up with him and his daughter. Luckily for me, Karen read it recently and was like, seriously, it's awesome (though of course much more eloquently) so I finally got it from the library. And will be waiting eagerly for the sequels! (Though I'm not sure what they're about, since this reads fine as a stand-alone.) So yeah. A.
This is one of those books I've been meaning to read for years, but never got around to--and I really don't know why, as the story is the sort that would appeal to me, about a man accidentally releasing villains from a story while sucking his wife into the book, and nine years later it all catches up with him and his daughter. Luckily for me, Karen read it recently and was like, seriously, it's awesome (though of course much more eloquently) so I finally got it from the library. And will be waiting eagerly for the sequels! (Though I'm not sure what they're about, since this reads fine as a stand-alone.) So yeah. A.
Monday, March 29, 2010
2010 book 85
L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Avonlea
I always forget how many books it takes for Anne and Gilbert to finally get together. Still, this one has some cute matchmaking and finds Anne transitioning into adulthood (but not changing much).
I've started a few recent books but just can't seem to get into any of them. Maybe I'll read some silly YA to let my brain rest a little.
I always forget how many books it takes for Anne and Gilbert to finally get together. Still, this one has some cute matchmaking and finds Anne transitioning into adulthood (but not changing much).
I've started a few recent books but just can't seem to get into any of them. Maybe I'll read some silly YA to let my brain rest a little.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
2010 book 84
Jean Hegland's Into the Forest
So some blog somewhere mentioned this 1996 novel about a pair of sisters living on their own after some unexplained national catastrophe, and I like dystopias so figured I'd give it a chance. And it starts out strong, as we find out how the sisters came to be living alone, but I found a lot of the plot points unrealistic or just silly, and the end was completely ridiculous. B-/C.
So some blog somewhere mentioned this 1996 novel about a pair of sisters living on their own after some unexplained national catastrophe, and I like dystopias so figured I'd give it a chance. And it starts out strong, as we find out how the sisters came to be living alone, but I found a lot of the plot points unrealistic or just silly, and the end was completely ridiculous. B-/C.
Friday, March 26, 2010
2010 book 83
L.M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle
I've been talking about this lately so of course had to reread it. Because it's awesome.
I've been talking about this lately so of course had to reread it. Because it's awesome.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
2010 book 82
Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder's Except the Queen
Serviceable but not particularly interesting fantasy about two sisters who are banished from the fairy world and have to learn to live as humans, only they get caught up in the middle of some magical machinations. B/B-.
Serviceable but not particularly interesting fantasy about two sisters who are banished from the fairy world and have to learn to live as humans, only they get caught up in the middle of some magical machinations. B/B-.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
2010 book 81
Seanan McGuire's A Local Habitation
The sequel to Rosemary and Rue isn't as good as its predecessor--there's not much in the way of character development (and no mention of the protagonist's daughter, who I've been wondering about since finishing the first book) and the mystery's resolution wasn't particularly interesting. I do like McGuire's world-building, though, and this is less cheesy than a lot of other urban fantasy books. The third one comes out in September--she's really cranking these out--and I might read it, since I do enjoy the main character, and also b/c a high school friend knows the author. B.
The sequel to Rosemary and Rue isn't as good as its predecessor--there's not much in the way of character development (and no mention of the protagonist's daughter, who I've been wondering about since finishing the first book) and the mystery's resolution wasn't particularly interesting. I do like McGuire's world-building, though, and this is less cheesy than a lot of other urban fantasy books. The third one comes out in September--she's really cranking these out--and I might read it, since I do enjoy the main character, and also b/c a high school friend knows the author. B.
links and the like
Gothamites are stupid.
New Ben and Jerry's flavors for spring! I'm excited to try Boston Cream Pie. (BTW, today is Free Cone Day, if you feel like waiting in a really long line for ice cream.)
There's a new Shel Silverstein book coming out next year. I always hated the Giving Tree--it's depressing as hell--but liked his poems.
If you missed girl scout cookie season like I did, you can make your own!. If you're really ambitious, I mean. I'll stick to snickerdoodles.
New Ben and Jerry's flavors for spring! I'm excited to try Boston Cream Pie. (BTW, today is Free Cone Day, if you feel like waiting in a really long line for ice cream.)
There's a new Shel Silverstein book coming out next year. I always hated the Giving Tree--it's depressing as hell--but liked his poems.
If you missed girl scout cookie season like I did, you can make your own!. If you're really ambitious, I mean. I'll stick to snickerdoodles.
Monday, March 22, 2010
2010 book 80
Aharon Appelfeld's Blooms of Darkness
During the Holocaust, a young Ukrainian Jewish boy is hidden in a brothel. There's not much else to say about this story, which I probably would have liked a lot more if the jacket hadn't given the ending away. Still, solid wartime coming of age stuff. B.
During the Holocaust, a young Ukrainian Jewish boy is hidden in a brothel. There's not much else to say about this story, which I probably would have liked a lot more if the jacket hadn't given the ending away. Still, solid wartime coming of age stuff. B.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
2010 book 79
Carrie Ryan's The Dead-Tossed Waves
The sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth is about the earlier protagonist's daughter, and after a night of rule-breaking, she and some friends have to reverse her mother's journey from the previous book. I wasn't as interested in this character or her love triangle and it felt like a little too much of a rehash of the first one. B/B-.
The sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth is about the earlier protagonist's daughter, and after a night of rule-breaking, she and some friends have to reverse her mother's journey from the previous book. I wasn't as interested in this character or her love triangle and it felt like a little too much of a rehash of the first one. B/B-.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
2010 book 78
Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall
Every year there's some sad but wonderful YA book that makes me cry and cry, and this is 2010's. In this story, a typically shallow teenage girl dies in an accident--and then relives her final day seven times (evvvery review is gonna say something like "Groundhog Day for the teen set" but the book does acknowledge the movie so I'm fine with the concept). So like I said, it's sad but wonderful and it made me cry, and you all should read it. A.
Every year there's some sad but wonderful YA book that makes me cry and cry, and this is 2010's. In this story, a typically shallow teenage girl dies in an accident--and then relives her final day seven times (evvvery review is gonna say something like "Groundhog Day for the teen set" but the book does acknowledge the movie so I'm fine with the concept). So like I said, it's sad but wonderful and it made me cry, and you all should read it. A.
2010 book 77
L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables
This book never stops being awesome! This time around, I was reading the Project Gutenberg edition on my Kindle (it has some crazy typos). I have the whole Anne series on there, plus a few other Montgomery books. I am annoyed that the silly Kilmeny of the Orchard merits an e-book, but The Blue Castle doesn't. Anyway, Anne! Awesome! I chuckled at Marilla the whole way through.
This book never stops being awesome! This time around, I was reading the Project Gutenberg edition on my Kindle (it has some crazy typos). I have the whole Anne series on there, plus a few other Montgomery books. I am annoyed that the silly Kilmeny of the Orchard merits an e-book, but The Blue Castle doesn't. Anyway, Anne! Awesome! I chuckled at Marilla the whole way through.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
2010 book 76
Susan Beth Pfeffer's This World We Live In
I was really looking forward to this book after loving the first two books in this YA trilogy about what happens after an asteroid crashes into the moon--but it was a terrible conclusion to the series! It never matched its predecessors' scariness or intensity, the romantic plot was completely unrealistic and badly written, and the end was unsatisfying on every level. It's a complete disappointment. C.
I was really looking forward to this book after loving the first two books in this YA trilogy about what happens after an asteroid crashes into the moon--but it was a terrible conclusion to the series! It never matched its predecessors' scariness or intensity, the romantic plot was completely unrealistic and badly written, and the end was unsatisfying on every level. It's a complete disappointment. C.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
2010 book 75
Lisa Lutz's The Spellmans Strike Again
The fourth and, sadly, final book about the hilarious family of PIs came out today and I rushed right out and got it b/c this is one of my favorite series of all time. Seriously. The books aren't really about the mysteries, which mainly serve to move the plot forward as we get to know the characters, especially protagonist Isabel, the wayward daughter. In this volume, Izzy is finally trying to be a grown-up, but it's hard when doorknobs keep disappearing from the family home, she's trying to bust a rival PI, and she's gotten an out-of-work actor friend to pose as a butler. And it all ends just the way I hoped it would! LOVE this series. A.
The fourth and, sadly, final book about the hilarious family of PIs came out today and I rushed right out and got it b/c this is one of my favorite series of all time. Seriously. The books aren't really about the mysteries, which mainly serve to move the plot forward as we get to know the characters, especially protagonist Isabel, the wayward daughter. In this volume, Izzy is finally trying to be a grown-up, but it's hard when doorknobs keep disappearing from the family home, she's trying to bust a rival PI, and she's gotten an out-of-work actor friend to pose as a butler. And it all ends just the way I hoped it would! LOVE this series. A.
2010 book 74
Sarah Addison Allen's The Girl who Chased the Moon
I'm constantly amazed by the number of book titles that start with "The girl who". Anyway, this one is about a girl who, after her mother's death, goes to live with her grandfather in small-town North Carolina. Only the small town has a touch of magic--like a room whose wallpaper always changes, and mysterious lights in the woods. The girl learns about her mother's past and befriends the cake baker next door, a woman who was once a troubled classmate of her mother's. The story occasionally veers over the line into heartwarming/cheesy but I didn't mind. Definitely recommended. A-.
I'm constantly amazed by the number of book titles that start with "The girl who". Anyway, this one is about a girl who, after her mother's death, goes to live with her grandfather in small-town North Carolina. Only the small town has a touch of magic--like a room whose wallpaper always changes, and mysterious lights in the woods. The girl learns about her mother's past and befriends the cake baker next door, a woman who was once a troubled classmate of her mother's. The story occasionally veers over the line into heartwarming/cheesy but I didn't mind. Definitely recommended. A-.
Monday, March 15, 2010
2010 book 73
Catherine Fisher's Incarceron
A young man in a prison that's a whole world (the titular Incarceron) is convinced he was born outside and longs for an escape, even though he's not sure outside even exists. Thanks to a special key, he makes contact with a young girl, the warden's daughter, who is betrothed to the Queen's son and feels a pawn in her own life. This was first published in England in 2007 and just came out here in January--it's kind of Hunger Games-y so I can see there being a market for it. The end is only moderately satisfying, but that's b/c there's a sequel coming out in December (surprisingly, this series doesn't seem to be a trilogy). Anyway, it's an entertaining enough story but I have a cold and am not up to thinking about it in any kind of real way right now. B.
A young man in a prison that's a whole world (the titular Incarceron) is convinced he was born outside and longs for an escape, even though he's not sure outside even exists. Thanks to a special key, he makes contact with a young girl, the warden's daughter, who is betrothed to the Queen's son and feels a pawn in her own life. This was first published in England in 2007 and just came out here in January--it's kind of Hunger Games-y so I can see there being a market for it. The end is only moderately satisfying, but that's b/c there's a sequel coming out in December (surprisingly, this series doesn't seem to be a trilogy). Anyway, it's an entertaining enough story but I have a cold and am not up to thinking about it in any kind of real way right now. B.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
jewy movies
As an Oscar party last weekend, Lisa and I were discussing Jewy movies, but had a hard time thinking of more than a few. Luckily Heeb* has stepped in with the 100 greatest Jewish movie moments. It's a pretty awesome list!
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*I HATE the name of this magazine/website.
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*I HATE the name of this magazine/website.
2010 book 72
Katherine McMahon's The Crimson Rooms
It's London in 1924 and the whole world is still in shock from WWI, including Evelyn Gifford, one of the country's first female lawyers. As she struggles to be accepted by society and by her fellow legal types, she has to help a woman reclaim her children, try and clear a former soldier of murdering his new bride, and deal with a Canadian who's arrived in the middle of the night with a child in tow--Evelyn's dead brother's child? Meanwhile, there's a romantic subplot so poorly written that I felt sure the object of her affections would turn out to be the killer (it goes something like "oh, I've only met him twice, but I can't stop thinking about him, I'm in love!" and never gets more natural or realistic from there), which kind of taints the rest of the story. Only the murder part has a satisfying wrap-up of any kind, anyway. B-.
It's London in 1924 and the whole world is still in shock from WWI, including Evelyn Gifford, one of the country's first female lawyers. As she struggles to be accepted by society and by her fellow legal types, she has to help a woman reclaim her children, try and clear a former soldier of murdering his new bride, and deal with a Canadian who's arrived in the middle of the night with a child in tow--Evelyn's dead brother's child? Meanwhile, there's a romantic subplot so poorly written that I felt sure the object of her affections would turn out to be the killer (it goes something like "oh, I've only met him twice, but I can't stop thinking about him, I'm in love!" and never gets more natural or realistic from there), which kind of taints the rest of the story. Only the murder part has a satisfying wrap-up of any kind, anyway. B-.
Friday, March 12, 2010
2010 book 71
Cathleen Schine's The Three Weissmanns of Westport
When I first heard about this book--a retelling of Sense and Sensibility with middle-aged and elderly Jews--it didn't appeal to me at all. It sounded like the usual generic chick lit, plus that's one of my least favorite Austen books. But then the New York Times gave it a major, major rave and I thought, hey, maybe it's good!
My first instincts were correct.
This is a perfectly adequate book, but was exactly what I was expecting--a generic, popular, book club kind of book. And Schine even has the audacity--after being ridiculously loyal to the original source material--of rewriting the ending in a moderately ridiculous way. B-.
Mom, you should still read it! I think you'll like it.
When I first heard about this book--a retelling of Sense and Sensibility with middle-aged and elderly Jews--it didn't appeal to me at all. It sounded like the usual generic chick lit, plus that's one of my least favorite Austen books. But then the New York Times gave it a major, major rave and I thought, hey, maybe it's good!
My first instincts were correct.
This is a perfectly adequate book, but was exactly what I was expecting--a generic, popular, book club kind of book. And Schine even has the audacity--after being ridiculously loyal to the original source material--of rewriting the ending in a moderately ridiculous way. B-.
Mom, you should still read it! I think you'll like it.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
2010 book 70
Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess
I always forget how different this is than the Shirley Temple movie version, and how its happy ending involves a monkey! I've always liked this book--Sara Crewe could easily be one of those holier-than-thou heroines, but somehow she has just enough temper, imagination, and spunk to be likable.
I always forget how different this is than the Shirley Temple movie version, and how its happy ending involves a monkey! I've always liked this book--Sara Crewe could easily be one of those holier-than-thou heroines, but somehow she has just enough temper, imagination, and spunk to be likable.
this is so true
"Never did she find anything so difficult as to keep herself from losing her temper when she was suddenly disturbed while absorbed in a book. People who are fond of books know the feeling of irritation which sweeps over them at such a moment."
--A Little Princess
--A Little Princess
2010 book 69
A few weeks ago I stumbled across a new magazine/website called the Jewish Review of Books, which seems like it should be right up my alley, nu? But there was this article about Jews not writing fantasy which just seemed weird to me, since so much of my favorite Jewish fiction involves magic and mysticism (authors like Isaac Bashevis Singer, Cynthia Ozick, everything involving golems ever, etc etc etc), which I think certainly qualified as fantastical. Anyway, Michael Chabon responded* to this silliness (bringing up the many, many comic books written and created by Jews, and if that shit isn't fantasy I don't know what is) and mentioned an author I'd never heard of. So:
Lisa Goldstein's The Red Magician
It's Hungary in 1944 and a mysterious redheaded stranger comes to a small Jewish town to warn them that death is coming--but of course no one believes him. He wins the loyalty of a young girl and the enmity of the local rabbi, and various magical battles ensue. This was written in 1982, but doesn't feel dated--I do wish it was lengthier though, since parts of it feel a bit rushed (though I can forgive Goldstein for glossing over the Holocaust a bit).
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*Also check that io9 post and its comments for a bunch more Jewish fantasy writers. I had no idea Peter Beagle was Jewish! *hearts The Last Unicorn*
Lisa Goldstein's The Red Magician
It's Hungary in 1944 and a mysterious redheaded stranger comes to a small Jewish town to warn them that death is coming--but of course no one believes him. He wins the loyalty of a young girl and the enmity of the local rabbi, and various magical battles ensue. This was written in 1982, but doesn't feel dated--I do wish it was lengthier though, since parts of it feel a bit rushed (though I can forgive Goldstein for glossing over the Holocaust a bit).
__
*Also check that io9 post and its comments for a bunch more Jewish fantasy writers. I had no idea Peter Beagle was Jewish! *hearts The Last Unicorn*
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
2010 book 68
Alan Bradley's The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag
The sequel to the awesome Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie brings us back to Flavis de Luce, child prodigy and poisoner, as she gets involved in a mystery dealing with a dead child, marijuana, and puppets. I will say that the mystery isn't really that interesting or even really a major part of the story, but I enjoyed reading it anyway--the de Luce family is completely entertaining. B+.
The sequel to the awesome Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie brings us back to Flavis de Luce, child prodigy and poisoner, as she gets involved in a mystery dealing with a dead child, marijuana, and puppets. I will say that the mystery isn't really that interesting or even really a major part of the story, but I enjoyed reading it anyway--the de Luce family is completely entertaining. B+.
Monday, March 08, 2010
2010 book 67
Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why
Another reread--I loves this book when I read it a couple of years ago, and my heart was broken again this time around.
Another reread--I loves this book when I read it a couple of years ago, and my heart was broken again this time around.
2010 book 66
Eleanor Porter's Pollyanna Grows Up
I'd forgotten how terrible the Pollyanna sequel is--the first half is okay, as Pollyanna goes to Boston to cheer people up/complete their lives there, but then the story skips ahead and it's one romantic foible and miscommunication after another. I hate stories like that.
I'd forgotten how terrible the Pollyanna sequel is--the first half is okay, as Pollyanna goes to Boston to cheer people up/complete their lives there, but then the story skips ahead and it's one romantic foible and miscommunication after another. I hate stories like that.
2010 book 65
Jean Webster's Daddy-Long-Legs
The library has been slow to get books to me recently (well, really, it's just that I'm waiting for a bunch of March books to come out already) so I loaded up my Kindle with classics from Project Gutenberg to entertain me in the interim. I loved this story--about an orphan girl who gets sent to college by an anonymous benefactor, told through her very funny letters to him--and was very happy to reread it, even though the e-book edition doesn't have all the cute little drawings referred to in the letters. It's especially a fun re-read when you know the ending and can look for all the little clues.
The library has been slow to get books to me recently (well, really, it's just that I'm waiting for a bunch of March books to come out already) so I loaded up my Kindle with classics from Project Gutenberg to entertain me in the interim. I loved this story--about an orphan girl who gets sent to college by an anonymous benefactor, told through her very funny letters to him--and was very happy to reread it, even though the e-book edition doesn't have all the cute little drawings referred to in the letters. It's especially a fun re-read when you know the ending and can look for all the little clues.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
2010 book 64
Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth
I've been enjoying my post-apocalyptic YA lit, so figured I'd finally give this one a chance--it's about a girl growing up generations after a zombie outbreak, living in a village fortified against the zombie hordes who chill outside their fences. She dreams of seeing the ocean but isn't sure it actually exists. There's also a fairly stupid love quadrangle involving the girl, her best friend, and a pair of brothers. Anyway, it moves at a fairly good pace, and I was pretty terrified of the menacing zombies. The next book in this series comes out next week and I'll definitely be reading it. B+.
I've been enjoying my post-apocalyptic YA lit, so figured I'd finally give this one a chance--it's about a girl growing up generations after a zombie outbreak, living in a village fortified against the zombie hordes who chill outside their fences. She dreams of seeing the ocean but isn't sure it actually exists. There's also a fairly stupid love quadrangle involving the girl, her best friend, and a pair of brothers. Anyway, it moves at a fairly good pace, and I was pretty terrified of the menacing zombies. The next book in this series comes out next week and I'll definitely be reading it. B+.
Friday, March 05, 2010
2010 book 63
Geoffrey Becker's Hot Springs
This terribly unrealistic novel involves a slightly crazy woman who has convinced her new boyfriend to help her kidnap the child she gave up for adoption five years ago, and now they're on the run. Only there's no tension whatsoever, the adoptive parents are ridiculously flat characters (actually, all the characters are), and the ending feels rushed and incomplete. C.
This terribly unrealistic novel involves a slightly crazy woman who has convinced her new boyfriend to help her kidnap the child she gave up for adoption five years ago, and now they're on the run. Only there's no tension whatsoever, the adoptive parents are ridiculously flat characters (actually, all the characters are), and the ending feels rushed and incomplete. C.
partially read
John Banville's The Infinities
I've hated every Banville book I've read (or tried to read), but this one had Greek gods in it so I figured I'd give it a chance. No, it was as pretentious, impenetrable, and annoying as all of his other books. Even the jacket-writer didn't read it, labeling one woman the stepmother of the children she birthed (and if the jacket writer had made it even 20 pages in, s/he'd have caught that). I skipped ahead to the end and that was awful too. So glad I didn't waste much time on this.
I've hated every Banville book I've read (or tried to read), but this one had Greek gods in it so I figured I'd give it a chance. No, it was as pretentious, impenetrable, and annoying as all of his other books. Even the jacket-writer didn't read it, labeling one woman the stepmother of the children she birthed (and if the jacket writer had made it even 20 pages in, s/he'd have caught that). I skipped ahead to the end and that was awful too. So glad I didn't waste much time on this.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
2010 book 62
N.K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
The first in a new fantasy trilogy, this story involves nobles, gods, and lots of intrigue. When a young woman is summoned by her grandfather to be one of the possible heirs to their kingdom (or whatever), she finds herself in danger of losing her life, as well as befriended by enslaved gods (one of whom is very Sandman-ish). I didn't always love the narrative voice here (the body of the story is interrupted frequently by the narrator's later inner thoughts, which is more effective at some times than others) but will definitely read the second book when it comes out. B+.
The first in a new fantasy trilogy, this story involves nobles, gods, and lots of intrigue. When a young woman is summoned by her grandfather to be one of the possible heirs to their kingdom (or whatever), she finds herself in danger of losing her life, as well as befriended by enslaved gods (one of whom is very Sandman-ish). I didn't always love the narrative voice here (the body of the story is interrupted frequently by the narrator's later inner thoughts, which is more effective at some times than others) but will definitely read the second book when it comes out. B+.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
2010 book 61
Jenn McKinlay's Sprinkle with Murder
I saw this mentioned earlier this week on the cupcake blog, which loved it, and how could I resist a cozy mystery whose protagonist owns a cupcake shop (my mom apparently felt the same way--we both got it for our Kindles!). Anyway, the story is perfectly serviceable, the characters are likable, and though the writing is at time a little stilted (McKinlay tends toward overexplanations of simple things like Googling), this book gets an A b/c it has a bunch of delicious-looking cupcake recipes at the end! I want to make the Tinkerbells. And you can bet I'm looking forward to the sequel, which is apparently called Buttercream Bump Off. Hee.
I saw this mentioned earlier this week on the cupcake blog, which loved it, and how could I resist a cozy mystery whose protagonist owns a cupcake shop (my mom apparently felt the same way--we both got it for our Kindles!). Anyway, the story is perfectly serviceable, the characters are likable, and though the writing is at time a little stilted (McKinlay tends toward overexplanations of simple things like Googling), this book gets an A b/c it has a bunch of delicious-looking cupcake recipes at the end! I want to make the Tinkerbells. And you can bet I'm looking forward to the sequel, which is apparently called Buttercream Bump Off. Hee.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
2010 book 60
Kenneth Wishnia's The Fifth Servant
It's 1592 in Prague and the new scholar/rabbi in town suddenly finds himself having to solve an accused blood libel case before the Jewish community is demolished, with only the help of the famous rabbi Judah Loew and a Christian butcher's daughter. A subplot involving the protagonist's estranged wife feels completely superfluous, and the end wrapped up fairly messily, but the historical stuff was great. B/B+.
It's 1592 in Prague and the new scholar/rabbi in town suddenly finds himself having to solve an accused blood libel case before the Jewish community is demolished, with only the help of the famous rabbi Judah Loew and a Christian butcher's daughter. A subplot involving the protagonist's estranged wife feels completely superfluous, and the end wrapped up fairly messily, but the historical stuff was great. B/B+.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
2010 book 59
Kate Atkinson's When Will There Be Good News?
I found out recently that Atkinson has a fourth Jackson Brodie book coming out in August (yay!) which made me want to reread the last one--which, on rereading, I would totally argue is the best of the three. It's great how Atkinson sprinkles humor and literary references into what is otherwise a fairly grim story involving a guy murdering a family, a horrible train crash, a swimming pool accident, and seriously crazed domestic abuse. Plus Jackson Brodie, the hardened cop Louise Monroe, and awesome and intrepid mother's helper Reggie. I hope we get to see the latter two characters in the new book too.
I found out recently that Atkinson has a fourth Jackson Brodie book coming out in August (yay!) which made me want to reread the last one--which, on rereading, I would totally argue is the best of the three. It's great how Atkinson sprinkles humor and literary references into what is otherwise a fairly grim story involving a guy murdering a family, a horrible train crash, a swimming pool accident, and seriously crazed domestic abuse. Plus Jackson Brodie, the hardened cop Louise Monroe, and awesome and intrepid mother's helper Reggie. I hope we get to see the latter two characters in the new book too.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
2010 book 58
E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
Sometimes you just want to reread a book you know you'll enjoy. And who can't relate to Frankie feeling like an outsider from her popular boyfriend's secret society, b/c she's a young cute girl? And who doesn't revel in how completely she outsmarts everyone? This was one of my favorites of last year and I still love it.
Sometimes you just want to reread a book you know you'll enjoy. And who can't relate to Frankie feeling like an outsider from her popular boyfriend's secret society, b/c she's a young cute girl? And who doesn't revel in how completely she outsmarts everyone? This was one of my favorites of last year and I still love it.
Friday, February 26, 2010
2010 book 57
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's One Amazing Thing
In the days before I had this blog, I read Divakaruni's novel Mistress of Spices, which was a perfectly enjoyable novel, but pretty much exactly the story you'd expect from a book called Mistress of Spices. So I wasn't in any big hurry to read this new novel by her, until good reviews started turning up in my Google Reader (I do think the NPR story mischaracterizes the story in a slightly Orientalist manner--one of the very first pages has a character reading Chaucer, and clearly the book is more of an homage to the Canterbury Tales as opposed to the Arabian Nights stories). Anyway, it's about nine people who get trapped in an earthquake, and one suggests they all tell a story from their lives to help pass the time and distract themselves while they wait for rescue, and all of the stories are surprisingly moving and interesting. A.
(A review copy was provided by the publisher.)
In the days before I had this blog, I read Divakaruni's novel Mistress of Spices, which was a perfectly enjoyable novel, but pretty much exactly the story you'd expect from a book called Mistress of Spices. So I wasn't in any big hurry to read this new novel by her, until good reviews started turning up in my Google Reader (I do think the NPR story mischaracterizes the story in a slightly Orientalist manner--one of the very first pages has a character reading Chaucer, and clearly the book is more of an homage to the Canterbury Tales as opposed to the Arabian Nights stories). Anyway, it's about nine people who get trapped in an earthquake, and one suggests they all tell a story from their lives to help pass the time and distract themselves while they wait for rescue, and all of the stories are surprisingly moving and interesting. A.
(A review copy was provided by the publisher.)
2010 book 56
Patricia Wrede and Carolina Stevermer's The Mislaid Magician, or Ten Years After
The third Kate and Cecy book, as the title indicates, jumps ten years into the future and returns to the epistolary style of the first book, as the cousins and their children get caught up in another mystery involving a mysterious prowler, ley lines, and a mysterious girl. Lots of mysteriousness (though the latter of those mysteries is way too easy to figure out, the rest is fairly satisfying). B+/B.
The third Kate and Cecy book, as the title indicates, jumps ten years into the future and returns to the epistolary style of the first book, as the cousins and their children get caught up in another mystery involving a mysterious prowler, ley lines, and a mysterious girl. Lots of mysteriousness (though the latter of those mysteries is way too easy to figure out, the rest is fairly satisfying). B+/B.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
2010 book 55
Patricia Wrede and Carolina Stevermer's The Grand Tour
In the second book about cousins Cecilia and Kate, the two are on a grand tour of Europe with their respective husbands, which creates a problem for the storytelling--they can't really write each other letters when they're together. Wrede and Stevermer instead decide to tell the story through one's diary and through a deposition the other is giving, which seems unnecessary really. Still, it's another satisfying historical/magic adventure with very likable characters. B+.
In the second book about cousins Cecilia and Kate, the two are on a grand tour of Europe with their respective husbands, which creates a problem for the storytelling--they can't really write each other letters when they're together. Wrede and Stevermer instead decide to tell the story through one's diary and through a deposition the other is giving, which seems unnecessary really. Still, it's another satisfying historical/magic adventure with very likable characters. B+.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
2010 book 54
Sarah Blake's The Postmistress
Well, this book was a huge disappointment. It's been getting a ton of buzz--helped by a blurb from the chick who wrote The Help, and I had hopes it would be a good read--or at least, a cheesy-yet-satisfying one. But it was really not very good. It's about three women in 1940-1--one an American war reporter in London, one a postmistress in small-town MA, and one the small town's brand new bride. And their stories eventually come together, but none is compelling or satisfying in the least. The war reporter's story had potential--a novel just about her would have been a much better one--but the other two characters are poorly sketched and generally uninteresting. C.
Well, this book was a huge disappointment. It's been getting a ton of buzz--helped by a blurb from the chick who wrote The Help, and I had hopes it would be a good read--or at least, a cheesy-yet-satisfying one. But it was really not very good. It's about three women in 1940-1--one an American war reporter in London, one a postmistress in small-town MA, and one the small town's brand new bride. And their stories eventually come together, but none is compelling or satisfying in the least. The war reporter's story had potential--a novel just about her would have been a much better one--but the other two characters are poorly sketched and generally uninteresting. C.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
2010 book 53
Anne Ursu's The Shadow Thieves
Sub-par middle-grade fantasy where, yet again, the Greek gods are real, and two cousins have to stop a plot by a bad guy to overthrow the underworld. Honestly, the only reason I finished was that there was a really awesome cat character. Otherwise it lacked in terms of plot and narrative tension, and the human characters were fairly one-dimensional. C.
Sub-par middle-grade fantasy where, yet again, the Greek gods are real, and two cousins have to stop a plot by a bad guy to overthrow the underworld. Honestly, the only reason I finished was that there was a really awesome cat character. Otherwise it lacked in terms of plot and narrative tension, and the human characters were fairly one-dimensional. C.
2010 book 52
Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer's Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot
Really, really fun YA told in letters between two cousins in 1817--one has gone to London for the season and the other left behind in their small town. They get caught up in a crazy plot and have to try and stop some evil wizards from carrying out their evil wizard plans--and of course there's some great romance along the way. Can't wait to read the sequel. A.
Really, really fun YA told in letters between two cousins in 1817--one has gone to London for the season and the other left behind in their small town. They get caught up in a crazy plot and have to try and stop some evil wizards from carrying out their evil wizard plans--and of course there's some great romance along the way. Can't wait to read the sequel. A.
Friday, February 19, 2010
2010 book 51
Susan Beth Pfeffer's The Dead and the Gone
The second book in Pfeffer's disaster trilogy is, in some ways, even grimmer than the first. It starts off slowly, since readers of the first one are familiar with the moon-related chaos, but things pick up soon enough as we watch main character Alex struggle to keep his two younger sisters and himself alive when their parents don't return. Devout Catholics, they're helped along by the Church, but even the Church's resources can't save everyone. I find the portrayal of religion in these books interesting; the only church figure in the first book is a total asshole of an evangelical, but the Catholic authorities in this one are pretty cool and their faith is something that helps sustain the characters. Anyway, like I said, these books are grim; I had to take frequent breaks to watch cartoons or play bejeweled. Which, frankly, speaks to the power of the story. And my own sheltered life. A.
The second book in Pfeffer's disaster trilogy is, in some ways, even grimmer than the first. It starts off slowly, since readers of the first one are familiar with the moon-related chaos, but things pick up soon enough as we watch main character Alex struggle to keep his two younger sisters and himself alive when their parents don't return. Devout Catholics, they're helped along by the Church, but even the Church's resources can't save everyone. I find the portrayal of religion in these books interesting; the only church figure in the first book is a total asshole of an evangelical, but the Catholic authorities in this one are pretty cool and their faith is something that helps sustain the characters. Anyway, like I said, these books are grim; I had to take frequent breaks to watch cartoons or play bejeweled. Which, frankly, speaks to the power of the story. And my own sheltered life. A.
2010 book 50
Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life as we knew it
Pfeffer wrote a bunch of YA books in the 80s (remember The Year Without Michael? Or the various sisters at 16?) but her 2008 novel is a much grimmer affair. It's all told in diary format, starting off with the usual 16-year-old girl worries, but then an asteroid hits the moon, causing scores of natural disasters and throwing life totally off-kilter. I think part of the reason I found this so distressing was that, since my tv died today, I spent the afternoon reading in my bedroom with my little tv on (I like the noise) and so everything felt all out of wack anyway. But I had to keep reassuring myself that there wasn't a moon-related apocalypse and my microwave still worked! Pfeffer does a great job with the atmosphere and with the protagonist and her family relationships--I was almost scared to get toward the end, wondering what would happen. Apparently there's a companion novel out and another on the way, and I'll definitely be reading those too. A.
Pfeffer wrote a bunch of YA books in the 80s (remember The Year Without Michael? Or the various sisters at 16?) but her 2008 novel is a much grimmer affair. It's all told in diary format, starting off with the usual 16-year-old girl worries, but then an asteroid hits the moon, causing scores of natural disasters and throwing life totally off-kilter. I think part of the reason I found this so distressing was that, since my tv died today, I spent the afternoon reading in my bedroom with my little tv on (I like the noise) and so everything felt all out of wack anyway. But I had to keep reassuring myself that there wasn't a moon-related apocalypse and my microwave still worked! Pfeffer does a great job with the atmosphere and with the protagonist and her family relationships--I was almost scared to get toward the end, wondering what would happen. Apparently there's a companion novel out and another on the way, and I'll definitely be reading those too. A.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
2010 book 49
Paul Tremblay's The Little Sleep
Readable but ultimately unsatisfactory mystery about a PI plagued by narcolepsy and hallucinations, told in the usual hard-boiled style. B.
Readable but ultimately unsatisfactory mystery about a PI plagued by narcolepsy and hallucinations, told in the usual hard-boiled style. B.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
2010 book 48
Heidi Durrow's The Girl who Fell from the Sky
A beautiful, sad, but somehow hopeful book about a biracial girl growing up in the 80s who's sent to live with her grandmother after a family tragedy. I can't think of anything else to say about it except that it's an early contender for my best of 2010 list and you all should read it. A.
A beautiful, sad, but somehow hopeful book about a biracial girl growing up in the 80s who's sent to live with her grandmother after a family tragedy. I can't think of anything else to say about it except that it's an early contender for my best of 2010 list and you all should read it. A.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
2010 book 47
Belinda Bauer's Blacklands
A dark and disturbing novel about a boy whose uncle was murdered by a serial killer as a child and left his family totally dysfunctional. When he strikes up a correspondence with the killer in an effort to find his uncle's body, things don't go according to his plan. The library has categorized this as a mystery but it isn't really, though it is really suspenseful. A-.
A dark and disturbing novel about a boy whose uncle was murdered by a serial killer as a child and left his family totally dysfunctional. When he strikes up a correspondence with the killer in an effort to find his uncle's body, things don't go according to his plan. The library has categorized this as a mystery but it isn't really, though it is really suspenseful. A-.
Monday, February 15, 2010
2010 book 46
Alexandra Bullen's Wish
This is one of those YA novels that I probably would have liked when I was 14, but doesn't appeal to me now. It's the usual stuff about a girl whose twin sister died in an accident and now she's moved to a new town, made friends w/ the popular girl, and fallen for a cute guy who happens to be the popular girl's boyfriend, and her guy friend neighbor likes her. Only there are some magical dresses and wishes involved. B.
This is one of those YA novels that I probably would have liked when I was 14, but doesn't appeal to me now. It's the usual stuff about a girl whose twin sister died in an accident and now she's moved to a new town, made friends w/ the popular girl, and fallen for a cute guy who happens to be the popular girl's boyfriend, and her guy friend neighbor likes her. Only there are some magical dresses and wishes involved. B.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
2010 book 45
Shirley Damsgaard's Witch Way to Murder
My mom has recommended this series to me a few times--it's about a librarian and her grandmother, both witches, who get involved in mysteries--and since I like librarians, magic, and mysteries I figured I'd give it a go. Unfortunately this first one is pretty weak--the main character is traumatized by a tragedy in her past which isn't ever explored and makes her really surly, the romantic subplot is completely trite, and the villains are totally cartoonish. Plus some of the librarian stuff is just silly. The characters have potential, though, and I especially liked the perky and observant assistant librarian. B/B-.
My mom has recommended this series to me a few times--it's about a librarian and her grandmother, both witches, who get involved in mysteries--and since I like librarians, magic, and mysteries I figured I'd give it a go. Unfortunately this first one is pretty weak--the main character is traumatized by a tragedy in her past which isn't ever explored and makes her really surly, the romantic subplot is completely trite, and the villains are totally cartoonish. Plus some of the librarian stuff is just silly. The characters have potential, though, and I especially liked the perky and observant assistant librarian. B/B-.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
2010 book 44
Kristin Cashore's Fire
The second Graceling book is actually a sort of prequel that takes place in a neighboring land. It feels a little more cliched/trite, as a half-human woman, mistrusted by most who meet her, ends up helping out an army or whatever. The romantic subplots were especially predictable and not entirely well-done, but it was still a good read, and I hope the third one comes out soon! B/B+.
The second Graceling book is actually a sort of prequel that takes place in a neighboring land. It feels a little more cliched/trite, as a half-human woman, mistrusted by most who meet her, ends up helping out an army or whatever. The romantic subplots were especially predictable and not entirely well-done, but it was still a good read, and I hope the third one comes out soon! B/B+.
Friday, February 12, 2010
2010 book 43
Kristin Cashore's Graceling
So the second book in this YA fantasy series came out recently, and was getting good reviews, and I was all, oh I should read those, but then it seemed like they were about a girl assassin or something and I was like eh, but then Emma was like, no seriously it's good and you should read it, so I did and it was awesome!
Anyway, it's a fantasy land where some people are graced (with a capital G) with various gifts like cooking, only our protagonist is graced with killing and her uncle the king uses her as an intimidation device, siccing her on various people he wants punished. Of course she has her own secrets, and meets a prince from a neighboring kingdom with his own graces, and they go on a mission together and it's all surprisingly moving and sinister and great. And I'm getting the second one for my Kindle right now! A.
So the second book in this YA fantasy series came out recently, and was getting good reviews, and I was all, oh I should read those, but then it seemed like they were about a girl assassin or something and I was like eh, but then Emma was like, no seriously it's good and you should read it, so I did and it was awesome!
Anyway, it's a fantasy land where some people are graced (with a capital G) with various gifts like cooking, only our protagonist is graced with killing and her uncle the king uses her as an intimidation device, siccing her on various people he wants punished. Of course she has her own secrets, and meets a prince from a neighboring kingdom with his own graces, and they go on a mission together and it's all surprisingly moving and sinister and great. And I'm getting the second one for my Kindle right now! A.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
2010 book 42
Louise Erdrich's Shadow Tag
When I heard this book was coming out, I thought, yay, a new Louise Erdrich book, they're always good, and so I added it to my library hold list immediately. And then the reviews started coming out and they all mentioned that this novel, primarily about a troubled marriage, clearly referred to Erdrich's own marriage to Michael Dorris (cf. the NY Times review, p. 2). They of course were famous collaborators--I read their joint novel The Crown of Columbus, when I was in middle school and it was one of my favorite books for years, probably b/c it was the first I'd read that was an academic/literary mystery type of book--who famously divorced amidst accusations of child abuse, and then Dorris killed himself.
So this book broke my heart, both from its excellent writing and from the thought that their marriage could ever have been that exquisitely awful.
It's a definite departure from Erdrich's other novels, and definitely refers, if not specifically to her marriage, then to the difficulty of being married to an artist and serving as his muse, while trying to raise a family and not go crazy when you realize he's been reading your diary. So yeah, it's pretty dark. And like I said, heartbreaking. A.
When I heard this book was coming out, I thought, yay, a new Louise Erdrich book, they're always good, and so I added it to my library hold list immediately. And then the reviews started coming out and they all mentioned that this novel, primarily about a troubled marriage, clearly referred to Erdrich's own marriage to Michael Dorris (cf. the NY Times review, p. 2). They of course were famous collaborators--I read their joint novel The Crown of Columbus, when I was in middle school and it was one of my favorite books for years, probably b/c it was the first I'd read that was an academic/literary mystery type of book--who famously divorced amidst accusations of child abuse, and then Dorris killed himself.
So this book broke my heart, both from its excellent writing and from the thought that their marriage could ever have been that exquisitely awful.
It's a definite departure from Erdrich's other novels, and definitely refers, if not specifically to her marriage, then to the difficulty of being married to an artist and serving as his muse, while trying to raise a family and not go crazy when you realize he's been reading your diary. So yeah, it's pretty dark. And like I said, heartbreaking. A.
2010 book 41
Tash Aw's Map of the Invisible World
What starts off as a story about two orphaned brothers, adopted by different families in 1960s Indonesia, quickly becomes a story of those turbulent political times, as the younger brother's Dutch-born father is hauled away by the police and he tries desperately to track him down, with the help of an American woman from his father's past. This wasn't quite as good as Aw's first novel, The Harmony Silk Factory, but did a good job of vividly portraying Indonesia and its revolutionaries. B+/B.
What starts off as a story about two orphaned brothers, adopted by different families in 1960s Indonesia, quickly becomes a story of those turbulent political times, as the younger brother's Dutch-born father is hauled away by the police and he tries desperately to track him down, with the help of an American woman from his father's past. This wasn't quite as good as Aw's first novel, The Harmony Silk Factory, but did a good job of vividly portraying Indonesia and its revolutionaries. B+/B.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
links and whatnot
Links to stuff I've shared on Google Reader (and now, Google Buzz):
Part 1 of an interview w/ Jim Rugg, who had an awesome signing Saturday at Chapel Hill Comics (and is from Pittsburgh!). He rules.
Sweet Valley High: The sequel??
I am eagerly awaiting the Powers tv show.
Part 1 of an interview w/ Jim Rugg, who had an awesome signing Saturday at Chapel Hill Comics (and is from Pittsburgh!). He rules.
Sweet Valley High: The sequel??
I am eagerly awaiting the Powers tv show.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
2010 book 40
Tanya Huff's The Enchantment Emporium
Urban fantasy about a young woman who comes from a large family of people with powers of some sort, who inherits a shop from her grandmother and moves to Calgary and finds romance and danger and has to save the city (with some family help). This more-or-less held my attention, but I didn't love the jumpy narrative style. B.
Urban fantasy about a young woman who comes from a large family of people with powers of some sort, who inherits a shop from her grandmother and moves to Calgary and finds romance and danger and has to save the city (with some family help). This more-or-less held my attention, but I didn't love the jumpy narrative style. B.
Monday, February 08, 2010
2010 book 39
Gabrielle Zevin's Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
I loved Zevin's novel Margarettown (it was one of my favorites of whatever year it came out) but hadn't kept up with her to know she was still writing books. A recent review of her latest novel (which I'm still waiting for the library to order) made me check out her other stuff--this was a YA novel about a girl who hits her head in a fall and forgets the past four years of her life and all the accompanying teenage drama. Things go pretty much as you'd expect in terms of family and romance, but Zevin's characters are (for the most part) solid (the exception being the troubled boy who rescues the main character), and she manages to inject some humor into the proceedings. A-/B+.
I loved Zevin's novel Margarettown (it was one of my favorites of whatever year it came out) but hadn't kept up with her to know she was still writing books. A recent review of her latest novel (which I'm still waiting for the library to order) made me check out her other stuff--this was a YA novel about a girl who hits her head in a fall and forgets the past four years of her life and all the accompanying teenage drama. Things go pretty much as you'd expect in terms of family and romance, but Zevin's characters are (for the most part) solid (the exception being the troubled boy who rescues the main character), and she manages to inject some humor into the proceedings. A-/B+.
percy jackson
The Guardian has a great piece on the Percy Jackson books, the author and his son, and the inevitable Harry Potter comparisons (I love this series even more now than I know the author is a HP fan). Can't wait for the movie!
Sunday, February 07, 2010
2010 book 38
Charles Todd's The Red Door
Todd is actually a mother and son writing team, and this is their 11th mystery about a Scotland Yard Inspector--I haven't read the first 10, which wasn't a huge detriment to enjoying this one, but I did wonder what exactly happened to this guy in WWI that causes him to be haunted by a Scottish soldier. Anyway, a missing persons case involving a wealthy family gets tied into a small-town murder of a woman who never stopped hoping her husband would come home from the war. It was readable enough but I doubt I'll read the others. B.
Todd is actually a mother and son writing team, and this is their 11th mystery about a Scotland Yard Inspector--I haven't read the first 10, which wasn't a huge detriment to enjoying this one, but I did wonder what exactly happened to this guy in WWI that causes him to be haunted by a Scottish soldier. Anyway, a missing persons case involving a wealthy family gets tied into a small-town murder of a woman who never stopped hoping her husband would come home from the war. It was readable enough but I doubt I'll read the others. B.
2010 book 37
Sarah Beth Durst's Into the Wild
Fairy tale characters have escaped their stories and Rapunzel and her daughter are in charge of guarding the last remnants of the wild. Unfortunately the daughter is an angsty teenager and somewhat annoying. Anyway, when someone makes a wish in the magic well, the wild escapes and Rapunzel's daughter has to try and make things right. The concepts here were entertaining, but it was thoroughly predictable (especially the very end). B. If you want to read about fairy tale characters chilling in the modern world, hit your local comic book store and start reading Fables.
Fairy tale characters have escaped their stories and Rapunzel and her daughter are in charge of guarding the last remnants of the wild. Unfortunately the daughter is an angsty teenager and somewhat annoying. Anyway, when someone makes a wish in the magic well, the wild escapes and Rapunzel's daughter has to try and make things right. The concepts here were entertaining, but it was thoroughly predictable (especially the very end). B. If you want to read about fairy tale characters chilling in the modern world, hit your local comic book store and start reading Fables.
Friday, February 05, 2010
2010 book 36
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Man, the Harry Potter books never stop being awesome.
Man, the Harry Potter books never stop being awesome.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
2010 book 35
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
It's easy to choose a book you know will be a good read over an unknown quantity sitting in your library pile.
It's easy to choose a book you know will be a good read over an unknown quantity sitting in your library pile.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
2010 book 34
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I know I've always said this is my least favorite of the HP books, but it's really grown on me the past few re-reads. Once you reconcile yourself to Harry's all-caps temper tantrums and Dumbledore's trickling tear, it's really a good story that expands the whole HP universe.
Well, I think day 4 of the snowpocalypse will be my last one--now to decide if I want to read the last two HP books or take a break and try something from my library pile. I still haven't decided if I want to read the new Joshua Ferris book--have any of you read it, and is it worth a go?
And yay, Lost comes back tonight!!
I know I've always said this is my least favorite of the HP books, but it's really grown on me the past few re-reads. Once you reconcile yourself to Harry's all-caps temper tantrums and Dumbledore's trickling tear, it's really a good story that expands the whole HP universe.
Well, I think day 4 of the snowpocalypse will be my last one--now to decide if I want to read the last two HP books or take a break and try something from my library pile. I still haven't decided if I want to read the new Joshua Ferris book--have any of you read it, and is it worth a go?
And yay, Lost comes back tonight!!
Monday, February 01, 2010
2010 book 33
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
I'll say this for Rowling--she knows how to write an entertaining story. I hate sports, and yet reading her recountings of her imaginary sport is somehow riveting. This book is also crucial for setting up future plotlines and introducing the awesome Bill Weasley. OK, now I'm off to try and dislodge my car from the snow.
I'll say this for Rowling--she knows how to write an entertaining story. I hate sports, and yet reading her recountings of her imaginary sport is somehow riveting. This book is also crucial for setting up future plotlines and introducing the awesome Bill Weasley. OK, now I'm off to try and dislodge my car from the snow.
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