Denise Mina's The End of the Wasp Season
I'm pretty sure there are earlier books in this series, but it wasn't necessary to have read them for this one to make sense.* It involves a murder case in Scotland and the pregnant police detective trying to solve it. Parts were predictable, parts threw me for a loop, and I had a big question about the end. Pretty satisfying to see all the pieces come together though. B+.
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* Hilariously, I actually have read the first (and only other) book in this series, but didn't remember it, or anything about it.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Saturday, October 08, 2011
2011 book 260
Leila Sales' Past Perfect
Aaaaaahhhh this is the CUTEST YA book about a girl who spends her summers working as a historical reenactor at a Colonial village, but the summer before her senior year might be traumatic because her ex-boyfriend is working there too. And then she meets a new boy . . . but he works at the RIVAL historical reenactment village. I loved the characters here (the new boy isn't fleshed out as much as I might have liked, but the rest are great) and it was just such a fun situation to read about. A.
Aaaaaahhhh this is the CUTEST YA book about a girl who spends her summers working as a historical reenactor at a Colonial village, but the summer before her senior year might be traumatic because her ex-boyfriend is working there too. And then she meets a new boy . . . but he works at the RIVAL historical reenactment village. I loved the characters here (the new boy isn't fleshed out as much as I might have liked, but the rest are great) and it was just such a fun situation to read about. A.
2011 book 259
DD Barant's Better Off Undead
The fourth book in the Bloodhound Files series (about a criminal profiler who gets kidnapped to a parallel Earth populated mostly by vampires, werewolves, and golems, and forced to work for their government to solve crimes and whatnot) has protagonist Jace dealing with a case involving the werewolf mafia. I was less interested in a medical calamity that I knew would just lead back to the status quo. Still, Barant does a great job of reminding the reader of salient plot points, without drowning the story in exposition. Really a fun series, and great characters (I especially like sullen teenage werewolf Xandra and Jace's nattily-dressed golem partner Charlie). B+.
The fourth book in the Bloodhound Files series (about a criminal profiler who gets kidnapped to a parallel Earth populated mostly by vampires, werewolves, and golems, and forced to work for their government to solve crimes and whatnot) has protagonist Jace dealing with a case involving the werewolf mafia. I was less interested in a medical calamity that I knew would just lead back to the status quo. Still, Barant does a great job of reminding the reader of salient plot points, without drowning the story in exposition. Really a fun series, and great characters (I especially like sullen teenage werewolf Xandra and Jace's nattily-dressed golem partner Charlie). B+.
Friday, October 07, 2011
2011 book 258
A.S. King's Everybody Sees the Ants
I liked King's previous novel pretty well, and this one was pretty good too, about a bullied boy from a slightly troubled family. But it's weirder than that. I liked the characters a lot, and King did a good job doling out revelations. Not much else to say, gotta get ready for services and fasting! B+.
I liked King's previous novel pretty well, and this one was pretty good too, about a bullied boy from a slightly troubled family. But it's weirder than that. I liked the characters a lot, and King did a good job doling out revelations. Not much else to say, gotta get ready for services and fasting! B+.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
2011 book 257
Michael Ondaatje's The Cat's Table
Strong book from Ondaatje, about a young boy traveling more-or-less alone from Sri Lanka to England in 1954, and how the events of that boat ride stay with him through adulthood. Great characters and descriptions--I especially liked how Ondaatje portrayed a child's fascination with, and lack of understanding of, adults, as well as the easy friendships between children. A/A-.
Strong book from Ondaatje, about a young boy traveling more-or-less alone from Sri Lanka to England in 1954, and how the events of that boat ride stay with him through adulthood. Great characters and descriptions--I especially liked how Ondaatje portrayed a child's fascination with, and lack of understanding of, adults, as well as the easy friendships between children. A/A-.
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
2011 book 256
Lauren Oliver's Liesl & Po
Oliver--author of the AWESOME Before I Fall (one of my favorites of 2010) and the pretty-great Delirium--has written an MG book basically out of nowhere (well, not really, as an author's note at the end explains). It has a very old-fashioned kind of voice (except in one instance where someone says "Sheesh"), centering on a young girl, the ghost and its pet she befriends, an alchemist's apprentice, and various villainous adults (and one nice adult). And a cat. It almost feels Dickensian in theme if not in scope (it's an MG book, it's not that long). Oliver weaves her threads together satisfactorily and the illustrations are gorgeous and add to the fairy-tale feel (even in the Kindle version). A/A-.
Oliver--author of the AWESOME Before I Fall (one of my favorites of 2010) and the pretty-great Delirium--has written an MG book basically out of nowhere (well, not really, as an author's note at the end explains). It has a very old-fashioned kind of voice (except in one instance where someone says "Sheesh"), centering on a young girl, the ghost and its pet she befriends, an alchemist's apprentice, and various villainous adults (and one nice adult). And a cat. It almost feels Dickensian in theme if not in scope (it's an MG book, it's not that long). Oliver weaves her threads together satisfactorily and the illustrations are gorgeous and add to the fairy-tale feel (even in the Kindle version). A/A-.
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It's been a long time since I've posted a kitty picture! Here is JB helping me unload the dishwasher, as only a cat can.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
2011 book 255
Rick Riordan's The Son of Neptune
Look, I don't read these books with a critical eye, I read them b/c they are super fun. The second Heroes of Olympus books puts us right back with Percy Jackson (which is awesome, b/c I'd forgotten most of the details of the other guy) as he makes his way to the Roman camp, picks up two new companions (who are pretty great), and of course goes a-questing. Action-packed and with a romance, as always, but also with a lot of sly humor. I have to say, I'm pretty excited for the next one to come out. A.
Look, I don't read these books with a critical eye, I read them b/c they are super fun. The second Heroes of Olympus books puts us right back with Percy Jackson (which is awesome, b/c I'd forgotten most of the details of the other guy) as he makes his way to the Roman camp, picks up two new companions (who are pretty great), and of course goes a-questing. Action-packed and with a romance, as always, but also with a lot of sly humor. I have to say, I'm pretty excited for the next one to come out. A.
Monday, October 03, 2011
2011 book 254
Anne Enright's The Forgotten Waltz
Enright's (winner of the Booker for The Gathering) latest centers on a young Irish woman embroiled in an affair with a married man who has a daughter; she recounts how they got together, interspersed with her fascination with and ruminations on his child. The writing is lovely but I wished the end had more resolution. A-/B+.
Enright's (winner of the Booker for The Gathering) latest centers on a young Irish woman embroiled in an affair with a married man who has a daughter; she recounts how they got together, interspersed with her fascination with and ruminations on his child. The writing is lovely but I wished the end had more resolution. A-/B+.
Sunday, October 02, 2011
2011 book 253
Meg Donahue's How to Eat a Cupcake
Anyone who knows me knows I'll read any book involving cupcakes, no matter how inane it may be. Luckily this one manages to stay away from inanity for the most part, though it is fairly fluffy. It involves two women--Julia and Annie--who grew up together, because Annie's mom was Julia's nanny. They haven't spoken in ten years (since their tumultuous high school years), but after Julia returns home before her wedding and tastes one of Annie's cupcakes, she insists they open a cupcakery together. But with various love interests, lots of secrets, and lots of past hurt feelings, can they make their business a success? I will say that the dialogue sometimes feels really stilted, one secret is dragged out way too long, and one reveal feels like it comes out of nowhere. But I was in the mood for a nice, light read and this totally hit the spot. It comes out in March--add it to your to-read lists if you like cute books about cupcakes!
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
Anyone who knows me knows I'll read any book involving cupcakes, no matter how inane it may be. Luckily this one manages to stay away from inanity for the most part, though it is fairly fluffy. It involves two women--Julia and Annie--who grew up together, because Annie's mom was Julia's nanny. They haven't spoken in ten years (since their tumultuous high school years), but after Julia returns home before her wedding and tastes one of Annie's cupcakes, she insists they open a cupcakery together. But with various love interests, lots of secrets, and lots of past hurt feelings, can they make their business a success? I will say that the dialogue sometimes feels really stilted, one secret is dragged out way too long, and one reveal feels like it comes out of nowhere. But I was in the mood for a nice, light read and this totally hit the spot. It comes out in March--add it to your to-read lists if you like cute books about cupcakes!
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
Saturday, October 01, 2011
2011 book 252
Michelle Hodkin's The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
So teenager Mara has survived a terrible accident that killed her best friend and some other people, and now her family has moved to a new town and she's starting at a brand new school, but she keeps having crazy hallucinations and things get weirder from there. And of course there's the requisite cute bad boy. Plus great brother characters and an unusual school friend (whose plotlines completely trail off, unfortunately). I mostly liked this--certainly I kept reading b/c I wanted answers to various mysteries to be revealed--but the end was fairly ridiculous and didn't really make me want to read the inevitable sequel. B/B-.
So teenager Mara has survived a terrible accident that killed her best friend and some other people, and now her family has moved to a new town and she's starting at a brand new school, but she keeps having crazy hallucinations and things get weirder from there. And of course there's the requisite cute bad boy. Plus great brother characters and an unusual school friend (whose plotlines completely trail off, unfortunately). I mostly liked this--certainly I kept reading b/c I wanted answers to various mysteries to be revealed--but the end was fairly ridiculous and didn't really make me want to read the inevitable sequel. B/B-.
Friday, September 30, 2011
2011 book 251
Edward Eager's Seven-Day Magic
Eager's books were some of my favorites when I was a kid (and still are, really)--I think they laid the groundwork for my love of books where magic comes into the real world. I've been waiting and waiting for Kindle versions to come out (my copies are pretty worn) and was pleased to discover last week that three were available. Of course, they're a motley assortment; Eager wrote seven kids' books, and these three aren't connected at all (four of his books take place in the same universe, two in their own, and this one is a stand-alone that sort of relates to the first four). Anyway, my point is that all of them should be available.
If you were curious, this one is about a group of kids who check a magical book out of the library, except it's way funnier than that description makes it sound.
Eager's books were some of my favorites when I was a kid (and still are, really)--I think they laid the groundwork for my love of books where magic comes into the real world. I've been waiting and waiting for Kindle versions to come out (my copies are pretty worn) and was pleased to discover last week that three were available. Of course, they're a motley assortment; Eager wrote seven kids' books, and these three aren't connected at all (four of his books take place in the same universe, two in their own, and this one is a stand-alone that sort of relates to the first four). Anyway, my point is that all of them should be available.
If you were curious, this one is about a group of kids who check a magical book out of the library, except it's way funnier than that description makes it sound.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
awesome comics
Some awesome awesome awesome comics came out this week and I've been busy reading them, hence the lack of book posting. First up, Kate Beaton's Hark! A Vagrant book--I mean, ok, you can read all those comics online but the book format is great, just a really attractive package, and it's so nice to giggle over jokes about history and literature. And mystery-solving teens.
But what I am REALLY excited about is that Love and Rockets New Stories vol. 4 came out this week. Jaime Hernandez is just blowing my mind these days, between the stuff in here and the stories from vol. 3--moving along Maggie's story especially, but filling in these huge gaps in the story of her childhood as well. I cried three times while reading and am already reading the whole thing again. I can't wait till these stories come out in one of those cute little Locas books.
But what I am REALLY excited about is that Love and Rockets New Stories vol. 4 came out this week. Jaime Hernandez is just blowing my mind these days, between the stuff in here and the stories from vol. 3--moving along Maggie's story especially, but filling in these huge gaps in the story of her childhood as well. I cried three times while reading and am already reading the whole thing again. I can't wait till these stories come out in one of those cute little Locas books.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
2011 book 250
Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone
This much-hyped debut centers on a young art student in Prague, only it's a YA fantasy so she was raised by these weird demon creatures and can make wishes to like turn her hair blue (man, if it was only that easy!). She doesn't really know anything about her past and is dealing with ex-boyfriend angst and hanging with her art school friends when an angel dude starts coming after her. I will say that I appreciated that, although this book is being touted as an epic romance type of deal, the author spends the first chunk of the book on world-building and developing the character of our blue-haired protagonist. And the romance rings pretty false at first, but as the story goes deeper and secrets are revealed more or less in a timely manner (hooray, I correctly guessed most of them), I was completely caught up. And then of course, it ends, and I have to wait till god knows how long for a sequel. A-.
This much-hyped debut centers on a young art student in Prague, only it's a YA fantasy so she was raised by these weird demon creatures and can make wishes to like turn her hair blue (man, if it was only that easy!). She doesn't really know anything about her past and is dealing with ex-boyfriend angst and hanging with her art school friends when an angel dude starts coming after her. I will say that I appreciated that, although this book is being touted as an epic romance type of deal, the author spends the first chunk of the book on world-building and developing the character of our blue-haired protagonist. And the romance rings pretty false at first, but as the story goes deeper and secrets are revealed more or less in a timely manner (hooray, I correctly guessed most of them), I was completely caught up. And then of course, it ends, and I have to wait till god knows how long for a sequel. A-.
Monday, September 26, 2011
2011 book 249
Jennifer Castle's The Beginning of After
I didn't mean to read two pretty sad books in a row, but this one was a real weepy, about a teenager whose parents and little brother are killed in a car accident, and like that's not enough to cope with, she's suddenly becoming closer to the neighbor whose father was driving the car. Also there are some awesome cats and dogs. Things aren't entirely believable but they are thoroughly engrossing. A-.
I didn't mean to read two pretty sad books in a row, but this one was a real weepy, about a teenager whose parents and little brother are killed in a car accident, and like that's not enough to cope with, she's suddenly becoming closer to the neighbor whose father was driving the car. Also there are some awesome cats and dogs. Things aren't entirely believable but they are thoroughly engrossing. A-.
2011 book 248
Leah Hager Cohen's The Grief of Others
Lovely, lovely book about a broken family a year after their newborn son died from birth defects (the mother knew the child had no chance to live but didn't disclose that to her husband or older children). Of course, they were kind of broken before that happened too. But with the passing of time, and the entrance of new people (and dogs) into their lives, can they be repaired? I loved the writing here, and especially enjoyed the character of ten year old Biscuit, who searches for answers in books. A.
Lovely, lovely book about a broken family a year after their newborn son died from birth defects (the mother knew the child had no chance to live but didn't disclose that to her husband or older children). Of course, they were kind of broken before that happened too. But with the passing of time, and the entrance of new people (and dogs) into their lives, can they be repaired? I loved the writing here, and especially enjoyed the character of ten year old Biscuit, who searches for answers in books. A.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
2011 book 247
Shannon Hale's Forest Born
The conclusion to the Books of Bayern is a satisfying one, though perhaps not as compelling as the previous three, with its brand-new protagonist who spends a lot of time being insecure about everything. Still a good read though. A-/B+.
The conclusion to the Books of Bayern is a satisfying one, though perhaps not as compelling as the previous three, with its brand-new protagonist who spends a lot of time being insecure about everything. Still a good read though. A-/B+.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
2011 book 246
Shannon Hale's River Secrets
Another great entry in the Books of Bayern series, as several characters from the past couple books travel to a neighboring kingdom to prevent another war. Action-packed with romance = always a good read. A.
Another great entry in the Books of Bayern series, as several characters from the past couple books travel to a neighboring kingdom to prevent another war. Action-packed with romance = always a good read. A.
Friday, September 23, 2011
2011 book 245
Shannon Hale's Enna Burning
The sequel to The Goose Girl departs from the world of already-existent fairy tales and focuses more on the previous protagonist's best friend, a girl who learns to control fire (handy and/or dangerous during a time of war). I have to say, Hale writes some badass heroines, and I like that there's romance but it's not the main plotline in either of these. Can't wait to read the next one (though I think that one's main character is a guy, but he's a likable guy from the previous two books, so that's okay). A.
The sequel to The Goose Girl departs from the world of already-existent fairy tales and focuses more on the previous protagonist's best friend, a girl who learns to control fire (handy and/or dangerous during a time of war). I have to say, Hale writes some badass heroines, and I like that there's romance but it's not the main plotline in either of these. Can't wait to read the next one (though I think that one's main character is a guy, but he's a likable guy from the previous two books, so that's okay). A.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
2011 book 244
Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl
I was in the mood for more fantasy-ish stories, and it turns out Hale has also written a series called the Books of Bayern that seemed interesting. The first is a reworking of the goose girl fairy tale, but really the only resemblance is that a princess becomes a goose girl for the kingdom of the prince to whom she's betrothed, and there's so much more to the story than that. There's some really interesting intrigue here, and our protagonist can talk to birds and her horse, which is always entertaining, and Hale even manages to touch on the iniquity of the feudal system (or whatever system this is, I mean, it's a fairy tale and not historically accurate). Anyway, A, and I'm off to read the next one.
I was in the mood for more fantasy-ish stories, and it turns out Hale has also written a series called the Books of Bayern that seemed interesting. The first is a reworking of the goose girl fairy tale, but really the only resemblance is that a princess becomes a goose girl for the kingdom of the prince to whom she's betrothed, and there's so much more to the story than that. There's some really interesting intrigue here, and our protagonist can talk to birds and her horse, which is always entertaining, and Hale even manages to touch on the iniquity of the feudal system (or whatever system this is, I mean, it's a fairy tale and not historically accurate). Anyway, A, and I'm off to read the next one.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
2011 book 243
Shannon Hale's Princess Academy
Amazon kept recommending books by Hale to me, and I knew I recognized the name but couldn't find any record of her on this blog. So a click on Amazon and I realized--she (along with her husband) wrote the awesome graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge! And since this was also a Newbery Honor book, it seemed worth a read. And it was a super cute MG book where all the girls in a small rock quarrying village are sent to Princess Academy to be trained on lady-ship, since some priests have decreed that the prince is destined to marry a girl from there. Our protagonist, Miri, has always felt small and useless, but discovers some of her talents while there. I definitely saw some of the plot twists coming, but hey, this is an MG book. And it was entertaining enough that it really didn't matter anyway. A.
Amazon kept recommending books by Hale to me, and I knew I recognized the name but couldn't find any record of her on this blog. So a click on Amazon and I realized--she (along with her husband) wrote the awesome graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge! And since this was also a Newbery Honor book, it seemed worth a read. And it was a super cute MG book where all the girls in a small rock quarrying village are sent to Princess Academy to be trained on lady-ship, since some priests have decreed that the prince is destined to marry a girl from there. Our protagonist, Miri, has always felt small and useless, but discovers some of her talents while there. I definitely saw some of the plot twists coming, but hey, this is an MG book. And it was entertaining enough that it really didn't matter anyway. A.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
2011 book 242
Ann Patchett's Bel Canto
I've been meaning to reread this since I read State of Wonder, and the yen suddenly hit me strongly tonight. Patchett is one of those writers who can create completely individual worlds, peoples, circumstances, in each of her books, and really, her masterful language is the only thing that ties them together (especially her most recent few). Anyway, this one definitely holds up, and it's broken my heart every time I've read it.
I've been meaning to reread this since I read State of Wonder, and the yen suddenly hit me strongly tonight. Patchett is one of those writers who can create completely individual worlds, peoples, circumstances, in each of her books, and really, her masterful language is the only thing that ties them together (especially her most recent few). Anyway, this one definitely holds up, and it's broken my heart every time I've read it.
Monday, September 19, 2011
2011 book 241
Kirsten Miller's Kiki Strike: Inside the Empress' Tomb
The second Kiki Strike book is even awesomer than the first one.
The second Kiki Strike book is even awesomer than the first one.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
2011 book 240
Kathleen O'Dell's The Aviary
Wonderful, wonderful MG book about a little girl growing up in a big ol' falling apart mansion--her mother is the caretaker for the elderly woman who lives there, the widow of a famous magician, a kindly woman who loves her roses and her birds. When the girl hears a story about the woman's baby son being kidnapped many years ago, she decides to solve the mystery (with the help of a new friend). O'Dell doesn't drag out plot points that are easy for an older reader to figure out; the pacing in general is pretty strong. Great characters (especially the birds) and great resolution. A.
Wonderful, wonderful MG book about a little girl growing up in a big ol' falling apart mansion--her mother is the caretaker for the elderly woman who lives there, the widow of a famous magician, a kindly woman who loves her roses and her birds. When the girl hears a story about the woman's baby son being kidnapped many years ago, she decides to solve the mystery (with the help of a new friend). O'Dell doesn't drag out plot points that are easy for an older reader to figure out; the pacing in general is pretty strong. Great characters (especially the birds) and great resolution. A.
2011 book 239
Anna Solomon's The Little Bride
So it's the 1880s and a young Russian-Jewish girl is getting ready to get sent to America to be some random dude's bride (a deeply unpleasant process, if this book is accurate at all), but things are even weirder than she expected, as she suddenly has two stepsons who are right around her age. And it's South Dakota, and farming is hard, and winters are awful, and the story moves really slowly (though, to its credit, not always where you'd expect). B.
So it's the 1880s and a young Russian-Jewish girl is getting ready to get sent to America to be some random dude's bride (a deeply unpleasant process, if this book is accurate at all), but things are even weirder than she expected, as she suddenly has two stepsons who are right around her age. And it's South Dakota, and farming is hard, and winters are awful, and the story moves really slowly (though, to its credit, not always where you'd expect). B.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
2011 book 238
Kirsten Miller's Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City
I love this series and hadn't revisited it in a while, but according to Miller's blog, a third one will be coming out in 2012 (5 years since the last one! But she's been busy writing a YA paranormal epic romance series or whatever). Anyway, great, interesting, and very funny group of heroines here.
I love this series and hadn't revisited it in a while, but according to Miller's blog, a third one will be coming out in 2012 (5 years since the last one! But she's been busy writing a YA paranormal epic romance series or whatever). Anyway, great, interesting, and very funny group of heroines here.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
sorry
Sorry for the fewer-than-usual number of book updates this week--I've been busy exploring Pottermore while listening to new music (Wild Flag, Girls, Mates of State, etc) (plus Hopscotch was this past weekend) and have been less focused on reading. Plus fall tv season is starting which cuts into reading time. I was psyched to be managing a book a day for a while there, but that might be unrealistic.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
2011 book 237
Sarah Beth Durst's Drink, Slay, Love
Here is how I described this book earlier this evening, more or less verbatim: "So there is this vampire girl, and she's doing like vampire things with her vampire boyfriend, when a unicorn stabs her and suddenly she can be out in sunlight, so her vampire parents make her enroll in high school so she can lure a bunch of students to a feast for the vampire king of New England, only she kind of has a conscience now and is accidentally making friends and stuff, and there's a cute human boy who is way better than her douchey vampire boyfriend." Durst's writing is for the most part knowingly tongue in cheek and funny (there are a few too many instances of spelling out just what the protagonist is feeling, but it is YA) and the second half of the novel is especially entertaining. A-.
Here is how I described this book earlier this evening, more or less verbatim: "So there is this vampire girl, and she's doing like vampire things with her vampire boyfriend, when a unicorn stabs her and suddenly she can be out in sunlight, so her vampire parents make her enroll in high school so she can lure a bunch of students to a feast for the vampire king of New England, only she kind of has a conscience now and is accidentally making friends and stuff, and there's a cute human boy who is way better than her douchey vampire boyfriend." Durst's writing is for the most part knowingly tongue in cheek and funny (there are a few too many instances of spelling out just what the protagonist is feeling, but it is YA) and the second half of the novel is especially entertaining. A-.
Monday, September 12, 2011
2011 book 236
Sebastian Barry's On Canaan's Side
Barry writes readable novels where past secrets are revealed and sometimes things are a little over-dramatic. This one isn't any different--elderly Lilly, in the aftermath of her grandson's suicide, recounts her life story (including her immigration from Ireland to America just after World War I). Barry's prose is lovely and like I said, it's readable, but the big plot twist is heavily foreshadowed (I couldn't tell if it was meant to be a surprise or not) and the sorrows piled on sorrows are a little much at time. B/B+.
Barry writes readable novels where past secrets are revealed and sometimes things are a little over-dramatic. This one isn't any different--elderly Lilly, in the aftermath of her grandson's suicide, recounts her life story (including her immigration from Ireland to America just after World War I). Barry's prose is lovely and like I said, it's readable, but the big plot twist is heavily foreshadowed (I couldn't tell if it was meant to be a surprise or not) and the sorrows piled on sorrows are a little much at time. B/B+.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
2011 book 235
Gabrielle Zevin's All These Things I've Done
So it's the near future (2083, by my reckoning) and it's a kind of dystopia where chocolate is illegal but otherwise things aren't too different for teenagers. Though maybe 16-year0old Anya isn't really typical--she's the orphaned daughter of a mob boss (chocolate mafia!) and her mother, who was killed in a failed hit on the mob boss. Anya and her dying grandmother are trying to hold the family together, but soon Anya is distracted by the new boy in school (who happens to be the assistant DA's son). I'm realizing that this sounds like super dramatic angsty YA and it's not--Zevin is a solid writer (I've liked all of her books) and Anya is a great character, trying to be tough. I especially liked her relationship with her sister. Anyway, the way it ends makes me think there's a sequel in the works--or at least I hope so, since I really want to know what happens to these characters next. A/A-.
So it's the near future (2083, by my reckoning) and it's a kind of dystopia where chocolate is illegal but otherwise things aren't too different for teenagers. Though maybe 16-year0old Anya isn't really typical--she's the orphaned daughter of a mob boss (chocolate mafia!) and her mother, who was killed in a failed hit on the mob boss. Anya and her dying grandmother are trying to hold the family together, but soon Anya is distracted by the new boy in school (who happens to be the assistant DA's son). I'm realizing that this sounds like super dramatic angsty YA and it's not--Zevin is a solid writer (I've liked all of her books) and Anya is a great character, trying to be tough. I especially liked her relationship with her sister. Anyway, the way it ends makes me think there's a sequel in the works--or at least I hope so, since I really want to know what happens to these characters next. A/A-.
Friday, September 09, 2011
2011 book 234
Heather Dixon's Entwined
This is just a delightful book--and at times, scary, intense, romantic, and hilarious--reworking the twelve dancing princesses fairy tale. Azalea (all the girls are named after plants) is the oldest of eleven--soon to be twelve--sisters living in a castle with remnants of magic in it. When their mother dies, and their strict father forbids dancing, and then they find a magical dance pavilion with a mysterious Keeper, well of course they go dancing every night. But obviously you can't just hang out with a mysterious Keeper all the time and expect things to go okay. Some plot points are easy to telegraph, but since this is a fairy tale kind of story, there's really nothing wrong with that. And I loved the ending. A.
This is just a delightful book--and at times, scary, intense, romantic, and hilarious--reworking the twelve dancing princesses fairy tale. Azalea (all the girls are named after plants) is the oldest of eleven--soon to be twelve--sisters living in a castle with remnants of magic in it. When their mother dies, and their strict father forbids dancing, and then they find a magical dance pavilion with a mysterious Keeper, well of course they go dancing every night. But obviously you can't just hang out with a mysterious Keeper all the time and expect things to go okay. Some plot points are easy to telegraph, but since this is a fairy tale kind of story, there's really nothing wrong with that. And I loved the ending. A.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
2011 book 233
Elissa Schappell's Blueprints for Building Better Girls
I'm not into reading books of short stories--I like something meatier, that I can really get into--but make exceptions for books of interconnected short stories like the ones in this book. In these stories, Schappel delves into the inner lives of women--well, the inner lives of troubled young girls and the women they become. And sometimes their moms. And maybe I shouldn't say troubled young girls, since these girls are actually pretty normal in my experience--aren't all young girls troubled to an extent? Aren't all moms sometimes frustrated with their children (even as they wholeheartedly love them)? Well, it's not like I'm an expert, but I am a woman and I give this an A. Very realistic and interesting characters. I'm going to reread it sometime soon so I can map out all the relationships better. Also, someone should make a personality quiz. "Are you a Paige? Are you a Heather?" (I am not serious about that.)
I'm not into reading books of short stories--I like something meatier, that I can really get into--but make exceptions for books of interconnected short stories like the ones in this book. In these stories, Schappel delves into the inner lives of women--well, the inner lives of troubled young girls and the women they become. And sometimes their moms. And maybe I shouldn't say troubled young girls, since these girls are actually pretty normal in my experience--aren't all young girls troubled to an extent? Aren't all moms sometimes frustrated with their children (even as they wholeheartedly love them)? Well, it's not like I'm an expert, but I am a woman and I give this an A. Very realistic and interesting characters. I'm going to reread it sometime soon so I can map out all the relationships better. Also, someone should make a personality quiz. "Are you a Paige? Are you a Heather?" (I am not serious about that.)
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
2011 book 232
Seanan McGuire's One Salt Sea
The fifth October Daye book is a little bit of a slow starter but heats up about 1/3 of the way in as Toby has to find two missing boys and stop a fairy war. The romance angle was pretty boring, but at least they finally mention her daughter again after forgetting she existed for a couple of books. I'm not really sure where the series is going from here--I think there are two books left--but I'll keep reading. B.
The fifth October Daye book is a little bit of a slow starter but heats up about 1/3 of the way in as Toby has to find two missing boys and stop a fairy war. The romance angle was pretty boring, but at least they finally mention her daughter again after forgetting she existed for a couple of books. I'm not really sure where the series is going from here--I think there are two books left--but I'll keep reading. B.
Monday, September 05, 2011
2011 book 231
Tricia Springstubb's Mo Wren, Lost and Found
The sequel to What Happened on Fox Street is a stronger book, though still on the light/heartwarming side, as Mo tries to deal with moving away from her beloved Fox Street so her father can pursue his dream of opening a sports bar. B+.
The sequel to What Happened on Fox Street is a stronger book, though still on the light/heartwarming side, as Mo tries to deal with moving away from her beloved Fox Street so her father can pursue his dream of opening a sports bar. B+.
2011 book 230
Cate Tiernan's Immortal Beloved
OK, straight off I need to say that this book has a TERRIBLE title, the kind that makes you think it's some ridiculous paranormal romance about soulmates (I hate books like that). But actually, it's about an immortal girl who has gone through some dark stuff, and now she's fled to like a halfway house for immortals, where she's going to deal with her past and have some self-discovery while farming and meditating. There is a love interest, but the romance isn't really a main part of the book (such a relief). It does end really abruptly, but it's the first of a trilogy so I guess that's ok. Anyway, interesting world-building and I look forward to the sequel. A-.
OK, straight off I need to say that this book has a TERRIBLE title, the kind that makes you think it's some ridiculous paranormal romance about soulmates (I hate books like that). But actually, it's about an immortal girl who has gone through some dark stuff, and now she's fled to like a halfway house for immortals, where she's going to deal with her past and have some self-discovery while farming and meditating. There is a love interest, but the romance isn't really a main part of the book (such a relief). It does end really abruptly, but it's the first of a trilogy so I guess that's ok. Anyway, interesting world-building and I look forward to the sequel. A-.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
2011 book 229
Scarlett Thomas' PopCo
This is one of my all-time favorite books, and I'm not entirely sure why, since I've never been super into math and there is a fair amount of math talk. Of course, there's also codes, mysteries, toys, marketing, and a little romance. And some hilariously outdated tech talk (Hotmail! Being shocked by wireless!). I bought it for my Kindle since it was only like 6 bucks--some of the charts get cut off a bit but most of the non-text parts are intact. I just love this book.
This is one of my all-time favorite books, and I'm not entirely sure why, since I've never been super into math and there is a fair amount of math talk. Of course, there's also codes, mysteries, toys, marketing, and a little romance. And some hilariously outdated tech talk (Hotmail! Being shocked by wireless!). I bought it for my Kindle since it was only like 6 bucks--some of the charts get cut off a bit but most of the non-text parts are intact. I just love this book.
2011 book 228
Chelsea Campbell's The Rise of Renegade X
Sometimes you just have to reread one of your favorite books about a teenage boy, raised by his supervillain mother, who finds out his father is a superhero. And there's romance and adventure and rayguns. So awesome.
Sometimes you just have to reread one of your favorite books about a teenage boy, raised by his supervillain mother, who finds out his father is a superhero. And there's romance and adventure and rayguns. So awesome.
Saturday, September 03, 2011
2011 book 227
Lisa McMann's The Unwanteds
This is one of those MG books with an interesting premise--it's a dystopian society where, at the age of 13, kids are divided into Wanted, Necessary, and Unwanted, and the Unwanteds are sent to be eliminated, only really they're taken to a secret world of creativity and magic NO REALLY THAT IS WHAT THE WORLD IS LIKE--but that's written in such a way that it's cheesy and obvious to adults (and I read--and love--a fair amount of MG/YA books, so I know they can be done well). The writing just feels sloppy sometimes, with a third person omniscient narrator focusing mainly on one kid, but very occasionally breaking into the thoughts of another character out of nowhere (this seems like it must be a shortcut to get to know the other characters, but it doesn't really work, and they all remain ciphers). Plus, like I said, cheesy and obvious. Too bad. I almost didn't finish but wanted to see if my predictions were right, and they all were. B/B-.
This is one of those MG books with an interesting premise--it's a dystopian society where, at the age of 13, kids are divided into Wanted, Necessary, and Unwanted, and the Unwanteds are sent to be eliminated, only really they're taken to a secret world of creativity and magic NO REALLY THAT IS WHAT THE WORLD IS LIKE--but that's written in such a way that it's cheesy and obvious to adults (and I read--and love--a fair amount of MG/YA books, so I know they can be done well). The writing just feels sloppy sometimes, with a third person omniscient narrator focusing mainly on one kid, but very occasionally breaking into the thoughts of another character out of nowhere (this seems like it must be a shortcut to get to know the other characters, but it doesn't really work, and they all remain ciphers). Plus, like I said, cheesy and obvious. Too bad. I almost didn't finish but wanted to see if my predictions were right, and they all were. B/B-.
2011 book 226
Diana Abu-Jaber's Birds of Paradise
I've read a couple of Abu-Jaber's earlier books (though really only remember her memoir and how sumptuously she described food) so was looking forward to this one--it's about a family in Miami that's been falling apart at the seams since daughter Felice ran away when she was thirteen. It's told primarily from the POVs of the parents and daughter--I think the book could have benefited from more with the older brother (owner of a successful organic market) and with less of the father's work drama (development deals are boring) but I was very happy with how much there was of the mother's baking. Anyway, this didn't really disappoint--speedy plot and winning characters, and lots of delicious-sounding desserts. A-.
I've read a couple of Abu-Jaber's earlier books (though really only remember her memoir and how sumptuously she described food) so was looking forward to this one--it's about a family in Miami that's been falling apart at the seams since daughter Felice ran away when she was thirteen. It's told primarily from the POVs of the parents and daughter--I think the book could have benefited from more with the older brother (owner of a successful organic market) and with less of the father's work drama (development deals are boring) but I was very happy with how much there was of the mother's baking. Anyway, this didn't really disappoint--speedy plot and winning characters, and lots of delicious-sounding desserts. A-.
Friday, September 02, 2011
2011 book 225
Stephanie Burgis' Kat, Incorrigible
Very charming MG book about an early 1800s-era girl who discovers she's inherited her mother's magical powers--there's also lots of Austen-lite plot going on, as her detested stepmother is trying to marry her older sister off to a rich jerkwad, and her other older sister is trying to find her true love. And some other stuff. Very likable characters--the three sisters are especially great together. A-.
Very charming MG book about an early 1800s-era girl who discovers she's inherited her mother's magical powers--there's also lots of Austen-lite plot going on, as her detested stepmother is trying to marry her older sister off to a rich jerkwad, and her other older sister is trying to find her true love. And some other stuff. Very likable characters--the three sisters are especially great together. A-.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
2011 book 224
Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood
Cas is a teenage boy who, since his father died, travels around with his mother hunting--and slaying--ghosts. But when he heads to Canada to stop the famous Anna Dressed in Blood, he gets more than he bargained for--she's much stronger, and more aware, than any ghost he's faced before. OK, so the premise sounded a little silly to me, but the first chapter totally hooked me and it stays fairly strong from there (occasionally characters do idiotic things that no one in real life would ever do, but mostly the plot is good). It's pretty grisly at parts and something bad happens to a cat, so fair warning there. B+.
Cas is a teenage boy who, since his father died, travels around with his mother hunting--and slaying--ghosts. But when he heads to Canada to stop the famous Anna Dressed in Blood, he gets more than he bargained for--she's much stronger, and more aware, than any ghost he's faced before. OK, so the premise sounded a little silly to me, but the first chapter totally hooked me and it stays fairly strong from there (occasionally characters do idiotic things that no one in real life would ever do, but mostly the plot is good). It's pretty grisly at parts and something bad happens to a cat, so fair warning there. B+.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Americus
I don't count graphic novels toward my book totals, so I usually forget to mention the ones I'm reading (and most are volumes of the series I love--20th Century Boys, Unwritten, iZombie, Fables, etc). But I want you guys to know that Americus exists--it's an awesome story about a teen boy and a librarian teaming up to stop their favorite books from being banned! And some other stuff too. You can even read the whole thing online here (though the last few pages aren't up yet).
I also recommend the adorable new Sara Varon book, Bake Sale.
I also recommend the adorable new Sara Varon book, Bake Sale.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
2011 book 223
Colin Meloy's Wildwood
I'm not at all a Decemberists fan and probably would have avoided lead Decemberist Meloy's MG book out of spite if not for three things: 1) his big sister is Maile Meloy, and I love her books (she has an MG book of her own coming out in October); 2) the charming illustrations by Carson Ellis, who also did the Mysterious Benedict Society illustrations and who is apparently married to Meloy; and 3) a sample chapter given out at Midwinter was just intriguing enough to make me put my reservations aside.
So, with all that said, was it worth it? Actually, yes, it was a pretty great MG fantasy/adventure book! (And the illustrations do add a lot.) It's the story of 12 year old Prue and what happens when her baby brother is kidnapped by a bunch of crows and she goes into the Impassable Woods to find him--with one of her classmates (a Jewish comic book geek!) tagging along. And since I knew nothing more than that, pretty much everything that happened next surprised me. It's very much in the tradition of classic books like the Narnia series, and the writing is occasionally stilted, but there are some really fun characters, some interesting grey bits (as opposed to black/white good/evil stuff), and a nice subtle pro-environmental message. Gotta say, it's a solid A-.
I'm not at all a Decemberists fan and probably would have avoided lead Decemberist Meloy's MG book out of spite if not for three things: 1) his big sister is Maile Meloy, and I love her books (she has an MG book of her own coming out in October); 2) the charming illustrations by Carson Ellis, who also did the Mysterious Benedict Society illustrations and who is apparently married to Meloy; and 3) a sample chapter given out at Midwinter was just intriguing enough to make me put my reservations aside.
So, with all that said, was it worth it? Actually, yes, it was a pretty great MG fantasy/adventure book! (And the illustrations do add a lot.) It's the story of 12 year old Prue and what happens when her baby brother is kidnapped by a bunch of crows and she goes into the Impassable Woods to find him--with one of her classmates (a Jewish comic book geek!) tagging along. And since I knew nothing more than that, pretty much everything that happened next surprised me. It's very much in the tradition of classic books like the Narnia series, and the writing is occasionally stilted, but there are some really fun characters, some interesting grey bits (as opposed to black/white good/evil stuff), and a nice subtle pro-environmental message. Gotta say, it's a solid A-.
Monday, August 29, 2011
2011 book 222
Miriam Toews' Irma Voth
Toews has written a whole bunch of really great novels that I loved, and luckily, this one was no exception. It reads a little bit different than the earlier ones--it feels more dreamy, somehow, though the plot has a fair amount of action. Our titular Irma is a young Mennonite girl whose family has immigrated from Canada to Mexico, but she's been more-or-less cast out after marrying a local boy. Things only get more complicated when she's hired as a translator on a film about Mennonites, and the film is causing an uproar in the community (well, mostly an uproar with her father). And that's only the first half of the story. Irma's journey--and the gradual revelation of past family secrets--isn't an easy one, but as always, Toews has created a world of sympathetic, complicated, and ultimately lovable characters. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
Toews has written a whole bunch of really great novels that I loved, and luckily, this one was no exception. It reads a little bit different than the earlier ones--it feels more dreamy, somehow, though the plot has a fair amount of action. Our titular Irma is a young Mennonite girl whose family has immigrated from Canada to Mexico, but she's been more-or-less cast out after marrying a local boy. Things only get more complicated when she's hired as a translator on a film about Mennonites, and the film is causing an uproar in the community (well, mostly an uproar with her father). And that's only the first half of the story. Irma's journey--and the gradual revelation of past family secrets--isn't an easy one, but as always, Toews has created a world of sympathetic, complicated, and ultimately lovable characters. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
2011 book 221
Vanessa Diffenbaugh's The Language of Flowers
I swear I read a review of this where the author talked about encountering a book on the language of flowers (I actually own a book like that and have always found it intriguing myself) and how that inspired her (though this article kind of denies that--as a side note, also check out this fairly negative review of the book, also from NPR). Anyway, it seemed an interesting enough read, even though I hate when things are overly heartwarming (and yet I like happy endings--sorry, authors). So it flashes back and forth in time between protagonist Victoria's liberation from the foster care system and how she tries to make her way as an adult, and her brief time with a particular foster home in her childhood and how that is still influencing her life . . . I didn't find it as saccharine as the NPR reviewer did, though some of the dialogue was overly cheesy and the love interest was perhaps too perfect. I don't know, B+?
I swear I read a review of this where the author talked about encountering a book on the language of flowers (I actually own a book like that and have always found it intriguing myself) and how that inspired her (though this article kind of denies that--as a side note, also check out this fairly negative review of the book, also from NPR). Anyway, it seemed an interesting enough read, even though I hate when things are overly heartwarming (and yet I like happy endings--sorry, authors). So it flashes back and forth in time between protagonist Victoria's liberation from the foster care system and how she tries to make her way as an adult, and her brief time with a particular foster home in her childhood and how that is still influencing her life . . . I didn't find it as saccharine as the NPR reviewer did, though some of the dialogue was overly cheesy and the love interest was perhaps too perfect. I don't know, B+?
2011 book 220
Jackson Pearce's Sweetly
I was super excited to read the companion novel to Sisters Red, and was intrigued by the premise of a Hansel/Gretel reworking. See, when Ansel and Gretchen were little kids, they were in the woods and something took Gretchen's identical twin. Now that they're young adults, they've been kicked out and make their way cross-country, ending up at the home of a pretty, young chocolatier. Sounds cool, right? But while I liked Gretchen, I just felt like Pearce left too much of the reveal for the very end, so the whole time I was reading I was just like, what is the point of anything they're doing? It wasn't nearly as satisfying as its predecessor. B/B-.
I was super excited to read the companion novel to Sisters Red, and was intrigued by the premise of a Hansel/Gretel reworking. See, when Ansel and Gretchen were little kids, they were in the woods and something took Gretchen's identical twin. Now that they're young adults, they've been kicked out and make their way cross-country, ending up at the home of a pretty, young chocolatier. Sounds cool, right? But while I liked Gretchen, I just felt like Pearce left too much of the reveal for the very end, so the whole time I was reading I was just like, what is the point of anything they're doing? It wasn't nearly as satisfying as its predecessor. B/B-.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
2011 book 219
Laura Lippman's The Most Dangerous Thing
I've loved pretty much all of Lippman's books, so it was kind of a bummer to find this one so . . . disappointing. The characters are ok, more or less, but the story and the reveal are just not very interesting. There's a guy who gets really drunk and dies in a car crash, and something happened with him and his friends when they were kids, and now they're all annoyingly troubled adults . . . Even the flashes back and forth in time, while giving a sense of dread to things, don't propel things forward much. I feel a little bad for thinking so, since at the end an author's note says that this is Lippman's most autobiographical novel. I just wasn't into it. Even a brief appearance by Tess Monaghan couldn't save it. B-.
I've loved pretty much all of Lippman's books, so it was kind of a bummer to find this one so . . . disappointing. The characters are ok, more or less, but the story and the reveal are just not very interesting. There's a guy who gets really drunk and dies in a car crash, and something happened with him and his friends when they were kids, and now they're all annoyingly troubled adults . . . Even the flashes back and forth in time, while giving a sense of dread to things, don't propel things forward much. I feel a little bad for thinking so, since at the end an author's note says that this is Lippman's most autobiographical novel. I just wasn't into it. Even a brief appearance by Tess Monaghan couldn't save it. B-.
Friday, August 26, 2011
2011 book 218
Terry Pratchett's I Shall Wear Midnight
The fourth (and presumably final) Tiffany Aching book involves various romances, lots of witches, and something spreading dissent about those witches. I actually had completely forgotten the plot of this one and so was a little surprised when it took such a turn for the dark (not in a bad way! I only remembered the romance). Still, Tiffany is a remarkable bad-ass, so it's still a fun read.
The fourth (and presumably final) Tiffany Aching book involves various romances, lots of witches, and something spreading dissent about those witches. I actually had completely forgotten the plot of this one and so was a little surprised when it took such a turn for the dark (not in a bad way! I only remembered the romance). Still, Tiffany is a remarkable bad-ass, so it's still a fun read.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
2011 book 217
Sorry for no post yesterday, I went to see Richard Buckner and David Kilgour (both of whom played several of my favorite songs and generally were awesome).
Terry Pratchett's Wintersmith
Oh, Tiffany Aching, what scrapes you get into! But somehow you always are awesome anyway. And the parts with the kitten make me giggle. Off to start the fourth (and final?) Tiffany Aching book, then on to something non-Pratchett.
Terry Pratchett's Wintersmith
Oh, Tiffany Aching, what scrapes you get into! But somehow you always are awesome anyway. And the parts with the kitten make me giggle. Off to start the fourth (and final?) Tiffany Aching book, then on to something non-Pratchett.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
2011 book 216
Terry Pratchett's A Hat Full of Sky
I don't have much to say about this Tiffany Aching book, except that this series is really some of Pratchett's strongest writing.
I don't have much to say about this Tiffany Aching book, except that this series is really some of Pratchett's strongest writing.
Monday, August 22, 2011
2011 book 215
Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men
Well, after reading all the regular Discworld witches books, of course I had to restart the Tiffany Aching series, b/c she is just the best little witch! It's interesting that, though this is technically a YA book, it seems much more serious than the other witches books (which do tend toward the silly). Not that there isn't humor here, b/c it's a Pratchett book, so of course there is. I'd forgotten that the main witches are only briefly in this one--it really is Tiffany's story. And, of course, the Nac Mac Feegles.
Well, after reading all the regular Discworld witches books, of course I had to restart the Tiffany Aching series, b/c she is just the best little witch! It's interesting that, though this is technically a YA book, it seems much more serious than the other witches books (which do tend toward the silly). Not that there isn't humor here, b/c it's a Pratchett book, so of course there is. I'd forgotten that the main witches are only briefly in this one--it really is Tiffany's story. And, of course, the Nac Mac Feegles.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
2011 book 214
Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why
After reading all those slightly silly Discworld books, I was in the mood for something more serious, and there are few things more serious than a book about teen suicide. Not to sound flippant; this was my third time reading this and I still cried more than once. I still don't know how they're going to make a movie of this--it's about a girl who records tapes telling the story of how she decided to kill herself, and it's about the boy who's listening to those tapes. I really wonder how they'll translate it to screen (probably not very well).
After reading all those slightly silly Discworld books, I was in the mood for something more serious, and there are few things more serious than a book about teen suicide. Not to sound flippant; this was my third time reading this and I still cried more than once. I still don't know how they're going to make a movie of this--it's about a girl who records tapes telling the story of how she decided to kill herself, and it's about the boy who's listening to those tapes. I really wonder how they'll translate it to screen (probably not very well).
2011 book 213
Terry Pratchett's Carpe Jugulum
Witches vs Vampires, hahahaha!! This Discworld book is great--fewer fat jokes than the previous one, and it features the Nac Mac Feegles (from the Tiffany Aching books). Love those witches.
Witches vs Vampires, hahahaha!! This Discworld book is great--fewer fat jokes than the previous one, and it features the Nac Mac Feegles (from the Tiffany Aching books). Love those witches.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
2011 book 212
Terry Pratchett's Maskerade
It's really just a pleasure to read a book about the Discworld witches for the first time--especially one that involves an opera ghost. :)
It's really just a pleasure to read a book about the Discworld witches for the first time--especially one that involves an opera ghost. :)
Friday, August 19, 2011
2011 book 211
Terry Pratchett's Lords and Ladies
So it turns out I HAD read this one before but completely forgotten it, which is a shame b/c it's pretty awesome--in this one, our three witches have to deal with elves coming back. And there's a wedding, and some Shakespeare references. And the witches are awesome, as always.
So it turns out I HAD read this one before but completely forgotten it, which is a shame b/c it's pretty awesome--in this one, our three witches have to deal with elves coming back. And there's a wedding, and some Shakespeare references. And the witches are awesome, as always.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
2011 book 210
Terry Pratchett's Witches Abroad
I've decided to read all the Discworld Witches books, since I've only ever read the first two (Wyrd Sisters and this one) and, of course, the Tiffany Aching books. I may take a break if the Pratchett starts to overwhelm me though (sometimes such arch narration can). Anyway, I love this one--as the witches get tangled up in fairy tales--and am curious to see how the later ones compare.
I've decided to read all the Discworld Witches books, since I've only ever read the first two (Wyrd Sisters and this one) and, of course, the Tiffany Aching books. I may take a break if the Pratchett starts to overwhelm me though (sometimes such arch narration can). Anyway, I love this one--as the witches get tangled up in fairy tales--and am curious to see how the later ones compare.
shelf awareness
Check it out, there's a new thingie on the right sidebar there where you can sign up for the Shelf Awareness newsletter--it's pretty awesome, lots of reviews and book news--and if you sign up for it you can be entered for giveaways and whatnot.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
2011 book 209
Terry Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters
I'm clearly on a rereading fantasy books kick--and there are few characters I like more than Pratchett's witches.
I'm clearly on a rereading fantasy books kick--and there are few characters I like more than Pratchett's witches.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
2011 book 208
Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys
I remembered even less of this one than I did of American Gods, so it was really a joy to rediscover these characters and their world. Why doesn't Gaiman write grown-up books anymore?
I remembered even less of this one than I did of American Gods, so it was really a joy to rediscover these characters and their world. Why doesn't Gaiman write grown-up books anymore?
2011 book 207
Neil Gaiman's American Gods
It's been years since I read this, and since the only thing I really remembered were the Zorya, I figured I'd give it a go and see if I still liked it. Plus apparently Tom Hanks is making a tv version for HBO, which clearly demands a refresher. Anyway, I did still like it, and I'm off to read Anansi Boys now.
It's been years since I read this, and since the only thing I really remembered were the Zorya, I figured I'd give it a go and see if I still liked it. Plus apparently Tom Hanks is making a tv version for HBO, which clearly demands a refresher. Anyway, I did still like it, and I'm off to read Anansi Boys now.
Monday, August 15, 2011
2011 book 206
Yannick Murphy's The Call
Great great great story about a country vet (who mostly works on horses) and his family and what happens after his young son is involved in a hunting accident. I really enjoyed the writing style and descriptions of animals and of the woods. Sorry, not feeling well today and not up for any kind of analysis, but after reading--and deleting--the samples for five or six Kindle books, I was pleased to find this one. A/A-.
Great great great story about a country vet (who mostly works on horses) and his family and what happens after his young son is involved in a hunting accident. I really enjoyed the writing style and descriptions of animals and of the woods. Sorry, not feeling well today and not up for any kind of analysis, but after reading--and deleting--the samples for five or six Kindle books, I was pleased to find this one. A/A-.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
2011 book 205
Nina Revoyr's Wingshooters
I really liked Revoyr's The Age of Dreaming so figured I'd check this book out--it's about a half-Japanese girl in the 1970s who ends up living with her grandparents in a very white Wisconsin town, and what happens when a black couple moves to the area. There is an extremely awesome dog--an English Springer Spaniel, like the awesome dog I had when I was a kid--and of course something terrible happens to it (I HATE when bad things happen to animals in books--it always feels like a deliberate choice by the writer to make readers cry, and not at all natural). Anyway, it's fairly over-written--too many emotions and things spelled out by the narrator looking back on her childhood--and the end is more than a little melodramatic. And I just can't get past the dog thing. B/B-.
I really liked Revoyr's The Age of Dreaming so figured I'd check this book out--it's about a half-Japanese girl in the 1970s who ends up living with her grandparents in a very white Wisconsin town, and what happens when a black couple moves to the area. There is an extremely awesome dog--an English Springer Spaniel, like the awesome dog I had when I was a kid--and of course something terrible happens to it (I HATE when bad things happen to animals in books--it always feels like a deliberate choice by the writer to make readers cry, and not at all natural). Anyway, it's fairly over-written--too many emotions and things spelled out by the narrator looking back on her childhood--and the end is more than a little melodramatic. And I just can't get past the dog thing. B/B-.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
2011 book 204
Kathryn Miller Haines' The Girl is Murder
Great little noir-ish story about a fifteen year old girl in 1942 whose life has been upended--her father lost a leg at Pearl Harbor, her mother killer herself, and now she has to start at a whole new public school after going to private school her whole life. Money is a problem, since her father's obvious limp is affecting his business as a private eye. So of course she decides to assist him with his caseload. I loved the narrative voice and atmosphere, but the whole thing was well worth reading. A/A-.
Great little noir-ish story about a fifteen year old girl in 1942 whose life has been upended--her father lost a leg at Pearl Harbor, her mother killer herself, and now she has to start at a whole new public school after going to private school her whole life. Money is a problem, since her father's obvious limp is affecting his business as a private eye. So of course she decides to assist him with his caseload. I loved the narrative voice and atmosphere, but the whole thing was well worth reading. A/A-.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
2011 book 203
Lisa Goldstein's The Uncertain Places
It's Berkeley in the 70s, and Will has just been introduced to Livvy, who comes from a large and somewhat mysterious family. And weird things keep happening. But when Livvy falls into an enchanted sleep, Will has to do some pretty crazy things to get her back. And that's just like, the first third of the book! Goldstein's book defies easy categorization--I guess it's urban fantasy, but set in the past? And it doesn't really have the usual urban fantasy tropes. And it's really more of a growing-up story/novel about people than one about fairy tales being real. Well, clearly I'm having trouble articulating anything about this book. I'll just say that I liked it a whole lot and found the end thought-provoking. A-.
It's Berkeley in the 70s, and Will has just been introduced to Livvy, who comes from a large and somewhat mysterious family. And weird things keep happening. But when Livvy falls into an enchanted sleep, Will has to do some pretty crazy things to get her back. And that's just like, the first third of the book! Goldstein's book defies easy categorization--I guess it's urban fantasy, but set in the past? And it doesn't really have the usual urban fantasy tropes. And it's really more of a growing-up story/novel about people than one about fairy tales being real. Well, clearly I'm having trouble articulating anything about this book. I'll just say that I liked it a whole lot and found the end thought-provoking. A-.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
2011 book 202
Martha Brooks' The Queen of Hearts
Short but compelling novel about a young girl in a TB sanitorium in the early 1940s. It ended a bit abruptly, though--Brooks really could have told more of the story. B+.
Short but compelling novel about a young girl in a TB sanitorium in the early 1940s. It ended a bit abruptly, though--Brooks really could have told more of the story. B+.
Monday, August 08, 2011
2011 book 201
Lara Zielin's The Implosion of Aggie Winchester
After slogging through the 2000+ pages of historical epic and star-crossed romances of the Tea Rose trilogy, I was ready for something more contemporary and this seemed like it'd fit the bill. And it starts off strong--goth outcast teen Aggie finds out on the same day that her mom (who is also the principal of her high school) has cancer and her best friend is pregnant. But then things get really annoying. Aggie is terminally stupid and kind of a brat, and the end is a) completely predictable, and b) full of overly emotional and unrealistic dialogue and activities. Ughhhhh I disliked it so much. C-.
After slogging through the 2000+ pages of historical epic and star-crossed romances of the Tea Rose trilogy, I was ready for something more contemporary and this seemed like it'd fit the bill. And it starts off strong--goth outcast teen Aggie finds out on the same day that her mom (who is also the principal of her high school) has cancer and her best friend is pregnant. But then things get really annoying. Aggie is terminally stupid and kind of a brat, and the end is a) completely predictable, and b) full of overly emotional and unrealistic dialogue and activities. Ughhhhh I disliked it so much. C-.
Sunday, August 07, 2011
2011 book 200
Jennifer Donnelly's The Wild Rose
The wrap-up to the Rose trilogy is grossly unsatisfying, mainly b/c the couple at its core, with their supermagical special timeless looooooooove, are total jerkwards. I think I was supposed to like and/or sympathize with them, but they were terrible and selfish people. Also, there was one final twist at the end that was just silly. Which isn't to say the book is all bad; the other characters are still interesting, and it's a fairly strong WWI epic (featuring Lawrence of Arabia, no less). But wow. I had enough problems with the superspecial magical love of the previous two couples, but these ones were the worst. B-.
The wrap-up to the Rose trilogy is grossly unsatisfying, mainly b/c the couple at its core, with their supermagical special timeless looooooooove, are total jerkwards. I think I was supposed to like and/or sympathize with them, but they were terrible and selfish people. Also, there was one final twist at the end that was just silly. Which isn't to say the book is all bad; the other characters are still interesting, and it's a fairly strong WWI epic (featuring Lawrence of Arabia, no less). But wow. I had enough problems with the superspecial magical love of the previous two couples, but these ones were the worst. B-.
2011 book 199
Jennifer Donnelly's The Winter Rose
The sequel to The Tea Rose picks up a few years after the last one left off--it's now 1900 in London and we're back in the thick of things with Fiona Finnegan and her family (though a likable lady doctor and a Jewish nurse and her relatives have been added to the mix). At times, these books are frustrating to read--Donnelly keeps adding all these artificial obstacles to various people getting together and dragging it out--it's like a bad romantic comedy half the time with everyone falling in love at first sight but then beset by miscommunications and bad timing. I mean, this book is 720 pages long, and it's a lot to slog through to get to the inevitable happy ending. Still, I loved the characters (except for the ones who were assholes) and really did want to know what would happen to them--and Donnelly threw in a few surprises toward the end (as a reward for her diligent readers?). I'm off to read the third one now, b/c dammit, I need to see how things end up. B/B+.
The sequel to The Tea Rose picks up a few years after the last one left off--it's now 1900 in London and we're back in the thick of things with Fiona Finnegan and her family (though a likable lady doctor and a Jewish nurse and her relatives have been added to the mix). At times, these books are frustrating to read--Donnelly keeps adding all these artificial obstacles to various people getting together and dragging it out--it's like a bad romantic comedy half the time with everyone falling in love at first sight but then beset by miscommunications and bad timing. I mean, this book is 720 pages long, and it's a lot to slog through to get to the inevitable happy ending. Still, I loved the characters (except for the ones who were assholes) and really did want to know what would happen to them--and Donnelly threw in a few surprises toward the end (as a reward for her diligent readers?). I'm off to read the third one now, b/c dammit, I need to see how things end up. B/B+.
Friday, August 05, 2011
2011 book 198
Jennifer Donnelly's The Tea Rose
I've enjoyed Donnelly's YA books, but somehow her historical adult trilogy had completely escaped my attention. The first, The Tea Rose, centers on a young girl in London at the time of Jack the Ripper. She dreams of starting a shop with her love interest, but of course things are never that simple, or else this book would be a lot shorter. Despite patently unbelievable plot points, incorrect history, and a whole lot of sometimes unnecessary drama, I found this story to be entirely engrossing. Donnelly populates her world with likable (ok, not all likable) and realistic characters, and really brings the late 1800s to life. A-/B+.
I've enjoyed Donnelly's YA books, but somehow her historical adult trilogy had completely escaped my attention. The first, The Tea Rose, centers on a young girl in London at the time of Jack the Ripper. She dreams of starting a shop with her love interest, but of course things are never that simple, or else this book would be a lot shorter. Despite patently unbelievable plot points, incorrect history, and a whole lot of sometimes unnecessary drama, I found this story to be entirely engrossing. Donnelly populates her world with likable (ok, not all likable) and realistic characters, and really brings the late 1800s to life. A-/B+.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
2011 book 197
Nicole Peeler's Eye of the Tempest
More fantasy fighting and shenanigans as Peeler spends most of this book setting things up for whatever will happen in the next one--and once again, interrupting the protagonist every time she's about to get with her love interest. Peeler's narrative is firmly tongue-in-cheek most of the time, which makes reading such a silly book work. B.
More fantasy fighting and shenanigans as Peeler spends most of this book setting things up for whatever will happen in the next one--and once again, interrupting the protagonist every time she's about to get with her love interest. Peeler's narrative is firmly tongue-in-cheek most of the time, which makes reading such a silly book work. B.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
2011 book 196
Patricia Wrede's Across the Great Barrier
The sequel to The Thirteenth Child features more magical alternate-Wild-West adventures. The protagonist is very likable, but the story just wasn't that exciting this time around. B.
The sequel to The Thirteenth Child features more magical alternate-Wild-West adventures. The protagonist is very likable, but the story just wasn't that exciting this time around. B.
Monday, August 01, 2011
2011 book 195
Emily Arsenault's In Search of the Rose Notes
Arsenault's The Broken Teaglass was one of my favorites of 2009, so I was eager to read her second novel-slash-mystery. Rose Notes is slightly more traditional but no less compelling, centering on Nora, and her childhood best friend getting back in touch because a body has been discovered--their babysitter, who went missing sixteen years earlier. Nora returns to her hometown to see her friend and talk about the missing Rose, but gets sucked into some investigations amidst flashing back to the fall when Rose disappeared, when the younger girls were obsessed with books about paranormal activity. Anyway, really interesting characters (I won't say "likable"--Nora's friend, in particular, is a super major brat) and I found the resolution satisfying. A/A-.
Arsenault's The Broken Teaglass was one of my favorites of 2009, so I was eager to read her second novel-slash-mystery. Rose Notes is slightly more traditional but no less compelling, centering on Nora, and her childhood best friend getting back in touch because a body has been discovered--their babysitter, who went missing sixteen years earlier. Nora returns to her hometown to see her friend and talk about the missing Rose, but gets sucked into some investigations amidst flashing back to the fall when Rose disappeared, when the younger girls were obsessed with books about paranormal activity. Anyway, really interesting characters (I won't say "likable"--Nora's friend, in particular, is a super major brat) and I found the resolution satisfying. A/A-.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
2011 book 194
Dana Reinhardt's The Summer I Learned to Fly
The life of a thirteen-year-old girl changes one summer when her widowed mother opens a cheese shop and when she meets a new boy with the help of her pet rat. Reinhardt has written a few other solid YA books and this was no exception--the cast of characters was really likable, especially a Vespa-riding surfer who works in the shop and an Irish busker. A-.
The life of a thirteen-year-old girl changes one summer when her widowed mother opens a cheese shop and when she meets a new boy with the help of her pet rat. Reinhardt has written a few other solid YA books and this was no exception--the cast of characters was really likable, especially a Vespa-riding surfer who works in the shop and an Irish busker. A-.
2011 book 193
Shirley Jackon's We Have Always Lived in the Castle
This is one of those classic books that somehow I'd never read, and of course there's a reason it's a classic. Maybe a few too many shades of "The Lottery" but excellent atmosphere and characters.
This is one of those classic books that somehow I'd never read, and of course there's a reason it's a classic. Maybe a few too many shades of "The Lottery" but excellent atmosphere and characters.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
2011 book 192
Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus
When a book gets as much buzz as this one has for months before it comes out (and it doesn't even come out till September), I'm always a little leery--how can it possibly live up to the hype? Well, it turns out people are buzzing so much about it because it's just THAT GOOD. Seriously. It's the story of a mysterious night-time circus full of wonders--but really it's the story of two rival magicians (actual magic, not just stage magicians) who each train a student to defeat the other's in a mysterious contest--and how the circus ties into that. And there's romance, and beauty, and a hint of creepiness. Also, there are lots of kittens.
Morgenstern's writing is nearly impeccable and completely draws you in--I started this during dinner and planned to finish it tomorrow, but couldn't wait that long to see what would happen. Morgenstern didn't disappoint. A+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
When a book gets as much buzz as this one has for months before it comes out (and it doesn't even come out till September), I'm always a little leery--how can it possibly live up to the hype? Well, it turns out people are buzzing so much about it because it's just THAT GOOD. Seriously. It's the story of a mysterious night-time circus full of wonders--but really it's the story of two rival magicians (actual magic, not just stage magicians) who each train a student to defeat the other's in a mysterious contest--and how the circus ties into that. And there's romance, and beauty, and a hint of creepiness. Also, there are lots of kittens.
Morgenstern's writing is nearly impeccable and completely draws you in--I started this during dinner and planned to finish it tomorrow, but couldn't wait that long to see what would happen. Morgenstern didn't disappoint. A+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
2011 book 191
Hillary Jordan's When She Woke
So this book is basically The Scarlet Letter meets The Handmaid's Tale. Hannah lives in a near-future dystopia where, after having an abortion, she's arrested and dyed red (criminals are dyed different colors; red = murder). Then some other stuff happens to her--she makes a friend, she falls in with a mysterious group, she's ostracized from society, and through it all, she's still in love with the man who knocked her up. Jordan is occasionally heavy-handed with her world-building (I completely agree with what clearly are her political views, but this book isn't going to convince anyone who doesn't) but the story is engrossing and moves quickly (I read it all in one sitting) and Hannah's struggles with religion make her even more sympathetic. A-.
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A galley was provided by the publisher.
So this book is basically The Scarlet Letter meets The Handmaid's Tale. Hannah lives in a near-future dystopia where, after having an abortion, she's arrested and dyed red (criminals are dyed different colors; red = murder). Then some other stuff happens to her--she makes a friend, she falls in with a mysterious group, she's ostracized from society, and through it all, she's still in love with the man who knocked her up. Jordan is occasionally heavy-handed with her world-building (I completely agree with what clearly are her political views, but this book isn't going to convince anyone who doesn't) but the story is engrossing and moves quickly (I read it all in one sitting) and Hannah's struggles with religion make her even more sympathetic. A-.
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A galley was provided by the publisher.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
2011 book 190
Amor Towles' Rules of Civility
I'm just going to flat-out say it: this is going to be on my best of the year list. Doesn't matter about all the awesome books by great writers coming out this fall. This is tops.
I read a review that summarized it as "Mad Men in the 1930s" and that's accurate enough; our protagonist, Katey, is a young secretary with a madcap best friend whose world changes thanks to a chance encounter on New Year's Eve 1938. Towles nails a variety of New York cultures and populates the city with a myriad of believable and likable characters. And the writing is impeccable and beautiful. Great, great story--completely absorbing. A+.
I'm just going to flat-out say it: this is going to be on my best of the year list. Doesn't matter about all the awesome books by great writers coming out this fall. This is tops.
I read a review that summarized it as "Mad Men in the 1930s" and that's accurate enough; our protagonist, Katey, is a young secretary with a madcap best friend whose world changes thanks to a chance encounter on New Year's Eve 1938. Towles nails a variety of New York cultures and populates the city with a myriad of believable and likable characters. And the writing is impeccable and beautiful. Great, great story--completely absorbing. A+.
Monday, July 25, 2011
2011 book 189
Randy Russell's Dead Rules
A teenage girl dies and ends up in Dead School, a sort of weird purgatory boarding school afterlife. With the requisite cute bad boy ghost, of course. But she's still madly in love with her boyfriend and wants to figure out how they can be together forever. Russell doles out information to the reader so that s/he's all antsy waiting for the protagonist to figure everything out, but in a good way. A-.
A teenage girl dies and ends up in Dead School, a sort of weird purgatory boarding school afterlife. With the requisite cute bad boy ghost, of course. But she's still madly in love with her boyfriend and wants to figure out how they can be together forever. Russell doles out information to the reader so that s/he's all antsy waiting for the protagonist to figure everything out, but in a good way. A-.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
2011 book 188
Sara Zarr's Sweethearts
Another solid-but-kind-of-a-downer from Zarr, this one centers on a former outcast who's reshaped her life--and how things change when her childhood sweetheart--who she thought was dead--comes back into her life. A-.
Another solid-but-kind-of-a-downer from Zarr, this one centers on a former outcast who's reshaped her life--and how things change when her childhood sweetheart--who she thought was dead--comes back into her life. A-.
2011 book 187
Sara Zarr's Story of a Girl
Zarr is one of those YA authors people always rave about, so I figured I'd give her a shot. And this is a really solid story, about a girl who got involved with an older guy when she was only 13, and has spent her teenage years trying to live her bad reputation down--and trying to deal with her dysfunctional family. It's kind of a downer but a really good read. A-.
Zarr is one of those YA authors people always rave about, so I figured I'd give her a shot. And this is a really solid story, about a girl who got involved with an older guy when she was only 13, and has spent her teenage years trying to live her bad reputation down--and trying to deal with her dysfunctional family. It's kind of a downer but a really good read. A-.
2011 book 186
Rosie Alison's The Very Thought of You
A novel involving the lives of various British ppl during WWII--a child evacuated to a fancy old Yorkshire manor-turned-school; her mother, relishing freedom; the unhappily married couple who own the estate; and friends of the couple who work at the embassy in Warsaw (by far the most interesting characters--and it turns out they're real). Anyway, it starts off strong but bogs down badly in the second half, when it just turns depressing. B.
A novel involving the lives of various British ppl during WWII--a child evacuated to a fancy old Yorkshire manor-turned-school; her mother, relishing freedom; the unhappily married couple who own the estate; and friends of the couple who work at the embassy in Warsaw (by far the most interesting characters--and it turns out they're real). Anyway, it starts off strong but bogs down badly in the second half, when it just turns depressing. B.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
2011 book 185
William Goldman's The Princess Bride
This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, so I was psyched to look it up on Amazon and see that the Kindle version was 5 bucks. Unfortunately, the Kindle version is the 30th anniversary edition, whcih features TWO nearly impenetrable forewords discussing the very realistic but fictional Florin, the also fictional Goldman family, and all sorts of Hollywood namedropping. The only redeeming parts are the bits involving Andre the Giant (and at least some of those are fictional too). Then, at the end, is another impenetrable afterword featuring more of the same (plus Stephen King) as well as the first chapter of the fictional and/or unfinished sequel (which is terrible). So the first 8 percent and last 15 percent of this version aren't worth reading (believe me, I really tried). Too bad, because the original novel is a clever masterpiece.
This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, so I was psyched to look it up on Amazon and see that the Kindle version was 5 bucks. Unfortunately, the Kindle version is the 30th anniversary edition, whcih features TWO nearly impenetrable forewords discussing the very realistic but fictional Florin, the also fictional Goldman family, and all sorts of Hollywood namedropping. The only redeeming parts are the bits involving Andre the Giant (and at least some of those are fictional too). Then, at the end, is another impenetrable afterword featuring more of the same (plus Stephen King) as well as the first chapter of the fictional and/or unfinished sequel (which is terrible). So the first 8 percent and last 15 percent of this version aren't worth reading (believe me, I really tried). Too bad, because the original novel is a clever masterpiece.
Monday, July 18, 2011
2011 book 184
Cristina Garcia's Dreams of Significant Girls
Three girls--an Iranian math genius, a rebellious German-Canadian girl, and a Jewish Cuban girl who loves books and desserts--spend three summers together at a ritzy Swiss boarding school. This book is pretty likable, though a twist at the end involving two of the girls' fathers pissed me off, and I found the epilogue to be mostly unsatisfactory. B.
Three girls--an Iranian math genius, a rebellious German-Canadian girl, and a Jewish Cuban girl who loves books and desserts--spend three summers together at a ritzy Swiss boarding school. This book is pretty likable, though a twist at the end involving two of the girls' fathers pissed me off, and I found the epilogue to be mostly unsatisfactory. B.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
2011 book 183
Jenny Wingfield's The Homecoming of Samuel Lake
I can't figure out why this book isn't being super buzzed about, b/c it is damn excellent. Maybe Once Upon a River is cornering the market on grim near-historical tales? (Though this is not nearly as grim for most of the time.) Anyway, this is the story of what happens in 1950s Arkansas when a preacher isn't assigned a church, and his family goes to live with his mother-in-law and all her complicated relatives (great characters, all), and what happens when his daughter Swan (yes, one of our main characters is named Swan Lake) befriends a troubled neighbor boy. Now, this book wasn't perfect--the villain was perhaps over the top (he abuses his family, horses, and kills kittens for fun) but was absolutely terrifying nonetheless (Wingfield really captures his family's fear). And parts of it are just dreadful to read--I cried several times, though to be fair, one of those times I cried from happiness. Any book that makes me cry from happiness gets an automatic A.
I can't figure out why this book isn't being super buzzed about, b/c it is damn excellent. Maybe Once Upon a River is cornering the market on grim near-historical tales? (Though this is not nearly as grim for most of the time.) Anyway, this is the story of what happens in 1950s Arkansas when a preacher isn't assigned a church, and his family goes to live with his mother-in-law and all her complicated relatives (great characters, all), and what happens when his daughter Swan (yes, one of our main characters is named Swan Lake) befriends a troubled neighbor boy. Now, this book wasn't perfect--the villain was perhaps over the top (he abuses his family, horses, and kills kittens for fun) but was absolutely terrifying nonetheless (Wingfield really captures his family's fear). And parts of it are just dreadful to read--I cried several times, though to be fair, one of those times I cried from happiness. Any book that makes me cry from happiness gets an automatic A.
2011 book 182
Meg Cabot's Overbite
The sequel to Insatiable is perfect pool reading. It's got even more vampire and vampire hunting action! B.
The sequel to Insatiable is perfect pool reading. It's got even more vampire and vampire hunting action! B.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
2011 book 181
Meg Cabot's Insatiable
I enjoyed those other books by Cabot that I read recently, so figured I'd check out her non-YA vampire series, whcih focuses on a woman who writes for a soap opera called Insatiable. She's not just a writer, though, she's got a psychic power that lets her see how people will die. Then of course she meets a vampire, who's not just any vampire, but the PRINCE OF VAMPIRES!! And even though the character constantly rails against the whole vampire trend and its lame heroines, she does fall into some of the tropes herself--like Cabot has them fall in love instantly--but she's at least more interesting than most chicks from paranormal romances, with a great dog, an entertaining best friend, and an unemployed but likable brother. There's also an interesting vampire hunter character with his own job-related drama and some very funny writing, so I do think it's worth a read. B+.
I enjoyed those other books by Cabot that I read recently, so figured I'd check out her non-YA vampire series, whcih focuses on a woman who writes for a soap opera called Insatiable. She's not just a writer, though, she's got a psychic power that lets her see how people will die. Then of course she meets a vampire, who's not just any vampire, but the PRINCE OF VAMPIRES!! And even though the character constantly rails against the whole vampire trend and its lame heroines, she does fall into some of the tropes herself--like Cabot has them fall in love instantly--but she's at least more interesting than most chicks from paranormal romances, with a great dog, an entertaining best friend, and an unemployed but likable brother. There's also an interesting vampire hunter character with his own job-related drama and some very funny writing, so I do think it's worth a read. B+.
Friday, July 15, 2011
2011 book 180
Alissa Grosso's Popular
Five girls are in a group called the clique and they're the most popular girls in school. But they all sort of hate each other and some are actively plotting against their queen bee. And then like 2/3rds of the way in, it turns into a completely different book, which I had some mixed feelings about. B.
Five girls are in a group called the clique and they're the most popular girls in school. But they all sort of hate each other and some are actively plotting against their queen bee. And then like 2/3rds of the way in, it turns into a completely different book, which I had some mixed feelings about. B.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
2011 book 179
Michael Northrup's Trapped
I frequently have the discussion about current YA books vs. the YA books we had growing up in the '80s and '90s, and how today's tend to be meatier/deeper. This book is a good example of that--one of my favorite books when I was a kid was No Time for Rabbits, about a few kids and a teacher trapped in a school during a blizzard. And Trapped is the modern version of that, but it's much more harrowing and there really isn't much humor. Which, frankly, is more realistic. Anyway, great story--some of the characters aren't well-developed and the end is a bit abrupt, but it managed to give me the chills on a day with record-breaking heat, so. A-/B+.
I frequently have the discussion about current YA books vs. the YA books we had growing up in the '80s and '90s, and how today's tend to be meatier/deeper. This book is a good example of that--one of my favorite books when I was a kid was No Time for Rabbits, about a few kids and a teacher trapped in a school during a blizzard. And Trapped is the modern version of that, but it's much more harrowing and there really isn't much humor. Which, frankly, is more realistic. Anyway, great story--some of the characters aren't well-developed and the end is a bit abrupt, but it managed to give me the chills on a day with record-breaking heat, so. A-/B+.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
2011 book 178
Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
I don't think I've read this since we covered it in middle school (my childhood copy has marginal notes and doodles in pink pen) and it holds up really well--I guess it's a classic for a reason. The only thing I really remembered was Aunt Sissy, so it was a really nice rediscovery and a great exploration of pre-WWI New York immigrant culture (very interesting discussions of Jews, too).
I don't think I've read this since we covered it in middle school (my childhood copy has marginal notes and doodles in pink pen) and it holds up really well--I guess it's a classic for a reason. The only thing I really remembered was Aunt Sissy, so it was a really nice rediscovery and a great exploration of pre-WWI New York immigrant culture (very interesting discussions of Jews, too).
Monday, July 11, 2011
2011 book 177
Cecilia Galante's The Sweetness of Salt
When her estranged older sister invites an overachieving valedictorian to visit her in Vermont, family secrets emerge and also other cheesy things happen. This book was totally overwritten--no subtlety at all--and very predictable. C.
When her estranged older sister invites an overachieving valedictorian to visit her in Vermont, family secrets emerge and also other cheesy things happen. This book was totally overwritten--no subtlety at all--and very predictable. C.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
2011 book 176
Nevil Shute's A Town Like Alice
I haven't read this book in years--not since I started this blog in 2004, anyway--but it's always been one of my favorites (and that didn't change this time around). I've read it several times but only ever remember the first quarter of it well--because really it's a stunning story (in that it leaves you feeling stunned). For those who have never read it, it's the story of one Jean Paget--one of the bravest, cleverest, and funniest women in literature--and her experiences as one of a group of women and children on a forced march by the Japanese during WWII (based on the experiences of a similar group in Sumatra). That's only the first part though--what happens to her afterward, as narrated by her somewhat elderly and very British lawyer, is somehow just as compelling. And surprisingly romantic.
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I feel I should mention that this book was written in 1950 and thus contains some fairly racist/colonial terminology. It doesn't make the story any less great, but makes for some slightly uncomfortable moments for the modern reader.
I haven't read this book in years--not since I started this blog in 2004, anyway--but it's always been one of my favorites (and that didn't change this time around). I've read it several times but only ever remember the first quarter of it well--because really it's a stunning story (in that it leaves you feeling stunned). For those who have never read it, it's the story of one Jean Paget--one of the bravest, cleverest, and funniest women in literature--and her experiences as one of a group of women and children on a forced march by the Japanese during WWII (based on the experiences of a similar group in Sumatra). That's only the first part though--what happens to her afterward, as narrated by her somewhat elderly and very British lawyer, is somehow just as compelling. And surprisingly romantic.
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I feel I should mention that this book was written in 1950 and thus contains some fairly racist/colonial terminology. It doesn't make the story any less great, but makes for some slightly uncomfortable moments for the modern reader.
2011 book 175
Helen Grant's The Glass Demon
Grant--author of The Vanishing of Katharina Linden--is back with another tale of possible supernatural shenanigans in small-town Germany. Lin's dad is a professor at Oxford or someplace and he's all obsessed with these lost medieval stained glass windows that are supposedly infested with a demon, so he drags the family to a forest in Germany to research/search for them. Things get melodramatic pretty quickly (the end is completely ridiculous) and Lin is exceptionally moronic at times. I don't know why I even finished this, except to find out what embarrassing thing "Lin" was short for. C.
Grant--author of The Vanishing of Katharina Linden--is back with another tale of possible supernatural shenanigans in small-town Germany. Lin's dad is a professor at Oxford or someplace and he's all obsessed with these lost medieval stained glass windows that are supposedly infested with a demon, so he drags the family to a forest in Germany to research/search for them. Things get melodramatic pretty quickly (the end is completely ridiculous) and Lin is exceptionally moronic at times. I don't know why I even finished this, except to find out what embarrassing thing "Lin" was short for. C.
2011 book 174
Samantha Sotto's Before Ever After
Shelley, a young widow, is astounded when a man comes to her house claiming to be her young dead husband's grandson (with photographic evidence) and that her husband Max is actually alive. As they travel to find him, Shelley tells the story of their courtship--which actually contains the story of her husband's long life. Interesting characters and I especially liked Max as an eccentric tourguide of Europe. But though it had the end it needed to have, it still felt unsatisfying for some reason. B.
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An ARC was provided by the publisher.
Shelley, a young widow, is astounded when a man comes to her house claiming to be her young dead husband's grandson (with photographic evidence) and that her husband Max is actually alive. As they travel to find him, Shelley tells the story of their courtship--which actually contains the story of her husband's long life. Interesting characters and I especially liked Max as an eccentric tourguide of Europe. But though it had the end it needed to have, it still felt unsatisfying for some reason. B.
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An ARC was provided by the publisher.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
2011 book 173
Megan Abbott's The End of Everything
Why are there so many books about young missing girls? I guess American culture is fascinated by them, judging by the media, but it still seems strange. I will say that this book--about a 13-year-old girl whose best friend goes missing, and who is determined to find her--goes some pretty unexpected places. B+.
Why are there so many books about young missing girls? I guess American culture is fascinated by them, judging by the media, but it still seems strange. I will say that this book--about a 13-year-old girl whose best friend goes missing, and who is determined to find her--goes some pretty unexpected places. B+.
2011 books 171 and 172
Maryrose Wood's The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place Book 1: The Mysterious Howling and Book 2: The Hidden Gallery
I love love love these books. I wanted to reread the second one, but of course had to start with the first so it would all be in context! Wood's narrative voice on these is hilarious and I love her plucky heroine and her three raised-by-wolves charges. Lots of mysteries are unfolding and I can't wait for the third one and hope some answers are forthcoming.
I love love love these books. I wanted to reread the second one, but of course had to start with the first so it would all be in context! Wood's narrative voice on these is hilarious and I love her plucky heroine and her three raised-by-wolves charges. Lots of mysteries are unfolding and I can't wait for the third one and hope some answers are forthcoming.
Thursday, July 07, 2011
2011 book 170
Rae Carson's The Girl of Fire and Thorns
So you know how sometimes you're reading a book and get so absorbed that you look up and some large amount of time has passed? This is one of those books. It's about a young princess and a lot is going on in her life when we meet her--it's her sixteenth birthday and also her sudden wedding day to the king of a nearby land, and oh yeah, she's the one person in a century gifted with a Godstone, a blue stone on her stomach that indicates ties to God and to a future unknown Service (the theology here is really very complex and interesting). But she's a fearful little thing, inexperienced in the courtly life, much more interested in books (especially holy texts and military history)--and pretty soon it's not just the politics of the royal life that she needs to worry about. Great, great stuff here, and unlike most YA fantasies, romance is a factor but not the main event (so refreshing!). It is the first in a trilogy, but don't worry, it wraps up very satisfactorily. If you like books with magic, and where girls learn to accept themselves and their gifts and to become total badasses, this is the book for you (fans of Kristin Cashore, take note). Totally an A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
So you know how sometimes you're reading a book and get so absorbed that you look up and some large amount of time has passed? This is one of those books. It's about a young princess and a lot is going on in her life when we meet her--it's her sixteenth birthday and also her sudden wedding day to the king of a nearby land, and oh yeah, she's the one person in a century gifted with a Godstone, a blue stone on her stomach that indicates ties to God and to a future unknown Service (the theology here is really very complex and interesting). But she's a fearful little thing, inexperienced in the courtly life, much more interested in books (especially holy texts and military history)--and pretty soon it's not just the politics of the royal life that she needs to worry about. Great, great stuff here, and unlike most YA fantasies, romance is a factor but not the main event (so refreshing!). It is the first in a trilogy, but don't worry, it wraps up very satisfactorily. If you like books with magic, and where girls learn to accept themselves and their gifts and to become total badasses, this is the book for you (fans of Kristin Cashore, take note). Totally an A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
2011 book 169
Chris Moriarty's The Inquisitor's Apprentice
Wait, wait, wait. A book exists that combines alternate histories, Judaism, and magic? And there's interesting subtext involving class struggles? And it's all wrapped up in an entertaining middle-grade package? YES. Yes, it exists, and this is that book! I scoff in the face of that article from a couple years ago claiming there were no really Jewish fantasy novels.
Anyway. This is the story of Sacha, the child of Russian-Jewish immigrants to an alternate New York back in the times of pogroms and factories and horses. But he's not just any Jewish boy--he can see magic. So of course he ends up apprenticed to an Inquisitor, the branch of the police that monitors magic usage. And also of course, his fellow apprentice is the daughter of one of the most prominent and wealthiest New York families. And soon they're embroiled in a case involving a dybbuk, Thomas Edison, and Harry Houdini. And all of it is awesome. I do wish there was a little less lying/secret-keeping (which seems to be a staple of this genre for some reason--seriously, confide in a grownup already), and the illustrations aren't really necessary, but this is a fascinating look at immigrant life in the craziness of old-time New York. With magic. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
Wait, wait, wait. A book exists that combines alternate histories, Judaism, and magic? And there's interesting subtext involving class struggles? And it's all wrapped up in an entertaining middle-grade package? YES. Yes, it exists, and this is that book! I scoff in the face of that article from a couple years ago claiming there were no really Jewish fantasy novels.
Anyway. This is the story of Sacha, the child of Russian-Jewish immigrants to an alternate New York back in the times of pogroms and factories and horses. But he's not just any Jewish boy--he can see magic. So of course he ends up apprenticed to an Inquisitor, the branch of the police that monitors magic usage. And also of course, his fellow apprentice is the daughter of one of the most prominent and wealthiest New York families. And soon they're embroiled in a case involving a dybbuk, Thomas Edison, and Harry Houdini. And all of it is awesome. I do wish there was a little less lying/secret-keeping (which seems to be a staple of this genre for some reason--seriously, confide in a grownup already), and the illustrations aren't really necessary, but this is a fascinating look at immigrant life in the craziness of old-time New York. With magic. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
2011 book 168
Alice Laplante's Turn of Mind
A surgeon with Alzheimer's is a suspect in the murder of her best friend--but this isn't really a mystery, it's more a portrait of the deteriorating mind. Very well done. A/A-.
A surgeon with Alzheimer's is a suspect in the murder of her best friend--but this isn't really a mystery, it's more a portrait of the deteriorating mind. Very well done. A/A-.
Monday, July 04, 2011
2011 book 167
Bonnie Jo Campbell's Once Upon a River
OK, well, this book is definitely worthy of the critical acclaim it's been getting, but the first 2/3rds are not at all an easy read. It's grim stuff--very Winter's Bone, but with more rape. And I don't entirely get the Huck Finn comparisons (I feel like descriptions of the book are like "a girl runs away from some crazy badness and travels down the river to find the mother who left her a year ago" and while that is in some sense accurate, it's not really what this book is about. And frankly for the first chunk of the book my brain was screaming at the protagonist to stop being such an idiot and just falling into these insane situations, none of which have much to do with the river). Of course, I've never actually read Huck Finn, so maybe that is sort of a survivalist book with lots of animals being skinned.
That last paragraph reads really negatively and actually I loved this book, but it is really really hard to read at times. A/A-.
OK, well, this book is definitely worthy of the critical acclaim it's been getting, but the first 2/3rds are not at all an easy read. It's grim stuff--very Winter's Bone, but with more rape. And I don't entirely get the Huck Finn comparisons (I feel like descriptions of the book are like "a girl runs away from some crazy badness and travels down the river to find the mother who left her a year ago" and while that is in some sense accurate, it's not really what this book is about. And frankly for the first chunk of the book my brain was screaming at the protagonist to stop being such an idiot and just falling into these insane situations, none of which have much to do with the river). Of course, I've never actually read Huck Finn, so maybe that is sort of a survivalist book with lots of animals being skinned.
That last paragraph reads really negatively and actually I loved this book, but it is really really hard to read at times. A/A-.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
2011 book 166
Lev Grossman's The Magician King
I'll admit that, unlike most people, I didn't love Grossman's The Magicians--of course I was excited to read something billed as "Harry Potter for grownups," but none of the characters were likable. They were mostly all pretentious jerkwads acting too cool for school--and I ask you, who is really too cool for magic school? And protagonist Quentin was just kind of annoying. And why didn't Grossman just make the magical land Narnia when it was so clearly Narnia? (Maybe worried about a lawsuit?) It was all just so . . . disappointing.
I didn't remember most of the details of the first one when I started the sequel, but right away I was enjoying it much more--much of it focuses on Julia, Quentin's high school friend who failed the exam to get into his magic school, and how she managed to become a magician anyway, which is a frankly scary journey at parts. And there's plenty of Quentin adventuring going on, but I liked it much more this time, maybe because he was actually a grownup, or because he wasn't surrounded by his douchey friends. It all manages to be fairly thrilling. I really enjoyed Grossman's characterizations this time around, and the way he weaves fairy tales into the narrative. Plus all the pop culture references. This was much, much better than the first one. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
I'll admit that, unlike most people, I didn't love Grossman's The Magicians--of course I was excited to read something billed as "Harry Potter for grownups," but none of the characters were likable. They were mostly all pretentious jerkwads acting too cool for school--and I ask you, who is really too cool for magic school? And protagonist Quentin was just kind of annoying. And why didn't Grossman just make the magical land Narnia when it was so clearly Narnia? (Maybe worried about a lawsuit?) It was all just so . . . disappointing.
I didn't remember most of the details of the first one when I started the sequel, but right away I was enjoying it much more--much of it focuses on Julia, Quentin's high school friend who failed the exam to get into his magic school, and how she managed to become a magician anyway, which is a frankly scary journey at parts. And there's plenty of Quentin adventuring going on, but I liked it much more this time, maybe because he was actually a grownup, or because he wasn't surrounded by his douchey friends. It all manages to be fairly thrilling. I really enjoyed Grossman's characterizations this time around, and the way he weaves fairy tales into the narrative. Plus all the pop culture references. This was much, much better than the first one. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
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