L.M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle
I've been talking about this lately so of course had to reread it. Because it's awesome.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
2010 book 82
Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder's Except the Queen
Serviceable but not particularly interesting fantasy about two sisters who are banished from the fairy world and have to learn to live as humans, only they get caught up in the middle of some magical machinations. B/B-.
Serviceable but not particularly interesting fantasy about two sisters who are banished from the fairy world and have to learn to live as humans, only they get caught up in the middle of some magical machinations. B/B-.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
2010 book 81
Seanan McGuire's A Local Habitation
The sequel to Rosemary and Rue isn't as good as its predecessor--there's not much in the way of character development (and no mention of the protagonist's daughter, who I've been wondering about since finishing the first book) and the mystery's resolution wasn't particularly interesting. I do like McGuire's world-building, though, and this is less cheesy than a lot of other urban fantasy books. The third one comes out in September--she's really cranking these out--and I might read it, since I do enjoy the main character, and also b/c a high school friend knows the author. B.
The sequel to Rosemary and Rue isn't as good as its predecessor--there's not much in the way of character development (and no mention of the protagonist's daughter, who I've been wondering about since finishing the first book) and the mystery's resolution wasn't particularly interesting. I do like McGuire's world-building, though, and this is less cheesy than a lot of other urban fantasy books. The third one comes out in September--she's really cranking these out--and I might read it, since I do enjoy the main character, and also b/c a high school friend knows the author. B.
links and the like
Gothamites are stupid.
New Ben and Jerry's flavors for spring! I'm excited to try Boston Cream Pie. (BTW, today is Free Cone Day, if you feel like waiting in a really long line for ice cream.)
There's a new Shel Silverstein book coming out next year. I always hated the Giving Tree--it's depressing as hell--but liked his poems.
If you missed girl scout cookie season like I did, you can make your own!. If you're really ambitious, I mean. I'll stick to snickerdoodles.
New Ben and Jerry's flavors for spring! I'm excited to try Boston Cream Pie. (BTW, today is Free Cone Day, if you feel like waiting in a really long line for ice cream.)
There's a new Shel Silverstein book coming out next year. I always hated the Giving Tree--it's depressing as hell--but liked his poems.
If you missed girl scout cookie season like I did, you can make your own!. If you're really ambitious, I mean. I'll stick to snickerdoodles.
Monday, March 22, 2010
2010 book 80
Aharon Appelfeld's Blooms of Darkness
During the Holocaust, a young Ukrainian Jewish boy is hidden in a brothel. There's not much else to say about this story, which I probably would have liked a lot more if the jacket hadn't given the ending away. Still, solid wartime coming of age stuff. B.
During the Holocaust, a young Ukrainian Jewish boy is hidden in a brothel. There's not much else to say about this story, which I probably would have liked a lot more if the jacket hadn't given the ending away. Still, solid wartime coming of age stuff. B.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
2010 book 79
Carrie Ryan's The Dead-Tossed Waves
The sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth is about the earlier protagonist's daughter, and after a night of rule-breaking, she and some friends have to reverse her mother's journey from the previous book. I wasn't as interested in this character or her love triangle and it felt like a little too much of a rehash of the first one. B/B-.
The sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth is about the earlier protagonist's daughter, and after a night of rule-breaking, she and some friends have to reverse her mother's journey from the previous book. I wasn't as interested in this character or her love triangle and it felt like a little too much of a rehash of the first one. B/B-.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
2010 book 78
Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall
Every year there's some sad but wonderful YA book that makes me cry and cry, and this is 2010's. In this story, a typically shallow teenage girl dies in an accident--and then relives her final day seven times (evvvery review is gonna say something like "Groundhog Day for the teen set" but the book does acknowledge the movie so I'm fine with the concept). So like I said, it's sad but wonderful and it made me cry, and you all should read it. A.
Every year there's some sad but wonderful YA book that makes me cry and cry, and this is 2010's. In this story, a typically shallow teenage girl dies in an accident--and then relives her final day seven times (evvvery review is gonna say something like "Groundhog Day for the teen set" but the book does acknowledge the movie so I'm fine with the concept). So like I said, it's sad but wonderful and it made me cry, and you all should read it. A.
2010 book 77
L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables
This book never stops being awesome! This time around, I was reading the Project Gutenberg edition on my Kindle (it has some crazy typos). I have the whole Anne series on there, plus a few other Montgomery books. I am annoyed that the silly Kilmeny of the Orchard merits an e-book, but The Blue Castle doesn't. Anyway, Anne! Awesome! I chuckled at Marilla the whole way through.
This book never stops being awesome! This time around, I was reading the Project Gutenberg edition on my Kindle (it has some crazy typos). I have the whole Anne series on there, plus a few other Montgomery books. I am annoyed that the silly Kilmeny of the Orchard merits an e-book, but The Blue Castle doesn't. Anyway, Anne! Awesome! I chuckled at Marilla the whole way through.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
2010 book 76
Susan Beth Pfeffer's This World We Live In
I was really looking forward to this book after loving the first two books in this YA trilogy about what happens after an asteroid crashes into the moon--but it was a terrible conclusion to the series! It never matched its predecessors' scariness or intensity, the romantic plot was completely unrealistic and badly written, and the end was unsatisfying on every level. It's a complete disappointment. C.
I was really looking forward to this book after loving the first two books in this YA trilogy about what happens after an asteroid crashes into the moon--but it was a terrible conclusion to the series! It never matched its predecessors' scariness or intensity, the romantic plot was completely unrealistic and badly written, and the end was unsatisfying on every level. It's a complete disappointment. C.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
2010 book 75
Lisa Lutz's The Spellmans Strike Again
The fourth and, sadly, final book about the hilarious family of PIs came out today and I rushed right out and got it b/c this is one of my favorite series of all time. Seriously. The books aren't really about the mysteries, which mainly serve to move the plot forward as we get to know the characters, especially protagonist Isabel, the wayward daughter. In this volume, Izzy is finally trying to be a grown-up, but it's hard when doorknobs keep disappearing from the family home, she's trying to bust a rival PI, and she's gotten an out-of-work actor friend to pose as a butler. And it all ends just the way I hoped it would! LOVE this series. A.
The fourth and, sadly, final book about the hilarious family of PIs came out today and I rushed right out and got it b/c this is one of my favorite series of all time. Seriously. The books aren't really about the mysteries, which mainly serve to move the plot forward as we get to know the characters, especially protagonist Isabel, the wayward daughter. In this volume, Izzy is finally trying to be a grown-up, but it's hard when doorknobs keep disappearing from the family home, she's trying to bust a rival PI, and she's gotten an out-of-work actor friend to pose as a butler. And it all ends just the way I hoped it would! LOVE this series. A.
2010 book 74
Sarah Addison Allen's The Girl who Chased the Moon
I'm constantly amazed by the number of book titles that start with "The girl who". Anyway, this one is about a girl who, after her mother's death, goes to live with her grandfather in small-town North Carolina. Only the small town has a touch of magic--like a room whose wallpaper always changes, and mysterious lights in the woods. The girl learns about her mother's past and befriends the cake baker next door, a woman who was once a troubled classmate of her mother's. The story occasionally veers over the line into heartwarming/cheesy but I didn't mind. Definitely recommended. A-.
I'm constantly amazed by the number of book titles that start with "The girl who". Anyway, this one is about a girl who, after her mother's death, goes to live with her grandfather in small-town North Carolina. Only the small town has a touch of magic--like a room whose wallpaper always changes, and mysterious lights in the woods. The girl learns about her mother's past and befriends the cake baker next door, a woman who was once a troubled classmate of her mother's. The story occasionally veers over the line into heartwarming/cheesy but I didn't mind. Definitely recommended. A-.
Monday, March 15, 2010
2010 book 73
Catherine Fisher's Incarceron
A young man in a prison that's a whole world (the titular Incarceron) is convinced he was born outside and longs for an escape, even though he's not sure outside even exists. Thanks to a special key, he makes contact with a young girl, the warden's daughter, who is betrothed to the Queen's son and feels a pawn in her own life. This was first published in England in 2007 and just came out here in January--it's kind of Hunger Games-y so I can see there being a market for it. The end is only moderately satisfying, but that's b/c there's a sequel coming out in December (surprisingly, this series doesn't seem to be a trilogy). Anyway, it's an entertaining enough story but I have a cold and am not up to thinking about it in any kind of real way right now. B.
A young man in a prison that's a whole world (the titular Incarceron) is convinced he was born outside and longs for an escape, even though he's not sure outside even exists. Thanks to a special key, he makes contact with a young girl, the warden's daughter, who is betrothed to the Queen's son and feels a pawn in her own life. This was first published in England in 2007 and just came out here in January--it's kind of Hunger Games-y so I can see there being a market for it. The end is only moderately satisfying, but that's b/c there's a sequel coming out in December (surprisingly, this series doesn't seem to be a trilogy). Anyway, it's an entertaining enough story but I have a cold and am not up to thinking about it in any kind of real way right now. B.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
jewy movies
As an Oscar party last weekend, Lisa and I were discussing Jewy movies, but had a hard time thinking of more than a few. Luckily Heeb* has stepped in with the 100 greatest Jewish movie moments. It's a pretty awesome list!
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*I HATE the name of this magazine/website.
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*I HATE the name of this magazine/website.
2010 book 72
Katherine McMahon's The Crimson Rooms
It's London in 1924 and the whole world is still in shock from WWI, including Evelyn Gifford, one of the country's first female lawyers. As she struggles to be accepted by society and by her fellow legal types, she has to help a woman reclaim her children, try and clear a former soldier of murdering his new bride, and deal with a Canadian who's arrived in the middle of the night with a child in tow--Evelyn's dead brother's child? Meanwhile, there's a romantic subplot so poorly written that I felt sure the object of her affections would turn out to be the killer (it goes something like "oh, I've only met him twice, but I can't stop thinking about him, I'm in love!" and never gets more natural or realistic from there), which kind of taints the rest of the story. Only the murder part has a satisfying wrap-up of any kind, anyway. B-.
It's London in 1924 and the whole world is still in shock from WWI, including Evelyn Gifford, one of the country's first female lawyers. As she struggles to be accepted by society and by her fellow legal types, she has to help a woman reclaim her children, try and clear a former soldier of murdering his new bride, and deal with a Canadian who's arrived in the middle of the night with a child in tow--Evelyn's dead brother's child? Meanwhile, there's a romantic subplot so poorly written that I felt sure the object of her affections would turn out to be the killer (it goes something like "oh, I've only met him twice, but I can't stop thinking about him, I'm in love!" and never gets more natural or realistic from there), which kind of taints the rest of the story. Only the murder part has a satisfying wrap-up of any kind, anyway. B-.
Friday, March 12, 2010
2010 book 71
Cathleen Schine's The Three Weissmanns of Westport
When I first heard about this book--a retelling of Sense and Sensibility with middle-aged and elderly Jews--it didn't appeal to me at all. It sounded like the usual generic chick lit, plus that's one of my least favorite Austen books. But then the New York Times gave it a major, major rave and I thought, hey, maybe it's good!
My first instincts were correct.
This is a perfectly adequate book, but was exactly what I was expecting--a generic, popular, book club kind of book. And Schine even has the audacity--after being ridiculously loyal to the original source material--of rewriting the ending in a moderately ridiculous way. B-.
Mom, you should still read it! I think you'll like it.
When I first heard about this book--a retelling of Sense and Sensibility with middle-aged and elderly Jews--it didn't appeal to me at all. It sounded like the usual generic chick lit, plus that's one of my least favorite Austen books. But then the New York Times gave it a major, major rave and I thought, hey, maybe it's good!
My first instincts were correct.
This is a perfectly adequate book, but was exactly what I was expecting--a generic, popular, book club kind of book. And Schine even has the audacity--after being ridiculously loyal to the original source material--of rewriting the ending in a moderately ridiculous way. B-.
Mom, you should still read it! I think you'll like it.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
2010 book 70
Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess
I always forget how different this is than the Shirley Temple movie version, and how its happy ending involves a monkey! I've always liked this book--Sara Crewe could easily be one of those holier-than-thou heroines, but somehow she has just enough temper, imagination, and spunk to be likable.
I always forget how different this is than the Shirley Temple movie version, and how its happy ending involves a monkey! I've always liked this book--Sara Crewe could easily be one of those holier-than-thou heroines, but somehow she has just enough temper, imagination, and spunk to be likable.
this is so true
"Never did she find anything so difficult as to keep herself from losing her temper when she was suddenly disturbed while absorbed in a book. People who are fond of books know the feeling of irritation which sweeps over them at such a moment."
--A Little Princess
--A Little Princess
2010 book 69
A few weeks ago I stumbled across a new magazine/website called the Jewish Review of Books, which seems like it should be right up my alley, nu? But there was this article about Jews not writing fantasy which just seemed weird to me, since so much of my favorite Jewish fiction involves magic and mysticism (authors like Isaac Bashevis Singer, Cynthia Ozick, everything involving golems ever, etc etc etc), which I think certainly qualified as fantastical. Anyway, Michael Chabon responded* to this silliness (bringing up the many, many comic books written and created by Jews, and if that shit isn't fantasy I don't know what is) and mentioned an author I'd never heard of. So:
Lisa Goldstein's The Red Magician
It's Hungary in 1944 and a mysterious redheaded stranger comes to a small Jewish town to warn them that death is coming--but of course no one believes him. He wins the loyalty of a young girl and the enmity of the local rabbi, and various magical battles ensue. This was written in 1982, but doesn't feel dated--I do wish it was lengthier though, since parts of it feel a bit rushed (though I can forgive Goldstein for glossing over the Holocaust a bit).
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*Also check that io9 post and its comments for a bunch more Jewish fantasy writers. I had no idea Peter Beagle was Jewish! *hearts The Last Unicorn*
Lisa Goldstein's The Red Magician
It's Hungary in 1944 and a mysterious redheaded stranger comes to a small Jewish town to warn them that death is coming--but of course no one believes him. He wins the loyalty of a young girl and the enmity of the local rabbi, and various magical battles ensue. This was written in 1982, but doesn't feel dated--I do wish it was lengthier though, since parts of it feel a bit rushed (though I can forgive Goldstein for glossing over the Holocaust a bit).
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*Also check that io9 post and its comments for a bunch more Jewish fantasy writers. I had no idea Peter Beagle was Jewish! *hearts The Last Unicorn*
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
2010 book 68
Alan Bradley's The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag
The sequel to the awesome Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie brings us back to Flavis de Luce, child prodigy and poisoner, as she gets involved in a mystery dealing with a dead child, marijuana, and puppets. I will say that the mystery isn't really that interesting or even really a major part of the story, but I enjoyed reading it anyway--the de Luce family is completely entertaining. B+.
The sequel to the awesome Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie brings us back to Flavis de Luce, child prodigy and poisoner, as she gets involved in a mystery dealing with a dead child, marijuana, and puppets. I will say that the mystery isn't really that interesting or even really a major part of the story, but I enjoyed reading it anyway--the de Luce family is completely entertaining. B+.
Monday, March 08, 2010
2010 book 67
Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why
Another reread--I loves this book when I read it a couple of years ago, and my heart was broken again this time around.
Another reread--I loves this book when I read it a couple of years ago, and my heart was broken again this time around.
2010 book 66
Eleanor Porter's Pollyanna Grows Up
I'd forgotten how terrible the Pollyanna sequel is--the first half is okay, as Pollyanna goes to Boston to cheer people up/complete their lives there, but then the story skips ahead and it's one romantic foible and miscommunication after another. I hate stories like that.
I'd forgotten how terrible the Pollyanna sequel is--the first half is okay, as Pollyanna goes to Boston to cheer people up/complete their lives there, but then the story skips ahead and it's one romantic foible and miscommunication after another. I hate stories like that.
2010 book 65
Jean Webster's Daddy-Long-Legs
The library has been slow to get books to me recently (well, really, it's just that I'm waiting for a bunch of March books to come out already) so I loaded up my Kindle with classics from Project Gutenberg to entertain me in the interim. I loved this story--about an orphan girl who gets sent to college by an anonymous benefactor, told through her very funny letters to him--and was very happy to reread it, even though the e-book edition doesn't have all the cute little drawings referred to in the letters. It's especially a fun re-read when you know the ending and can look for all the little clues.
The library has been slow to get books to me recently (well, really, it's just that I'm waiting for a bunch of March books to come out already) so I loaded up my Kindle with classics from Project Gutenberg to entertain me in the interim. I loved this story--about an orphan girl who gets sent to college by an anonymous benefactor, told through her very funny letters to him--and was very happy to reread it, even though the e-book edition doesn't have all the cute little drawings referred to in the letters. It's especially a fun re-read when you know the ending and can look for all the little clues.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
2010 book 64
Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth
I've been enjoying my post-apocalyptic YA lit, so figured I'd finally give this one a chance--it's about a girl growing up generations after a zombie outbreak, living in a village fortified against the zombie hordes who chill outside their fences. She dreams of seeing the ocean but isn't sure it actually exists. There's also a fairly stupid love quadrangle involving the girl, her best friend, and a pair of brothers. Anyway, it moves at a fairly good pace, and I was pretty terrified of the menacing zombies. The next book in this series comes out next week and I'll definitely be reading it. B+.
I've been enjoying my post-apocalyptic YA lit, so figured I'd finally give this one a chance--it's about a girl growing up generations after a zombie outbreak, living in a village fortified against the zombie hordes who chill outside their fences. She dreams of seeing the ocean but isn't sure it actually exists. There's also a fairly stupid love quadrangle involving the girl, her best friend, and a pair of brothers. Anyway, it moves at a fairly good pace, and I was pretty terrified of the menacing zombies. The next book in this series comes out next week and I'll definitely be reading it. B+.
Friday, March 05, 2010
2010 book 63
Geoffrey Becker's Hot Springs
This terribly unrealistic novel involves a slightly crazy woman who has convinced her new boyfriend to help her kidnap the child she gave up for adoption five years ago, and now they're on the run. Only there's no tension whatsoever, the adoptive parents are ridiculously flat characters (actually, all the characters are), and the ending feels rushed and incomplete. C.
This terribly unrealistic novel involves a slightly crazy woman who has convinced her new boyfriend to help her kidnap the child she gave up for adoption five years ago, and now they're on the run. Only there's no tension whatsoever, the adoptive parents are ridiculously flat characters (actually, all the characters are), and the ending feels rushed and incomplete. C.
partially read
John Banville's The Infinities
I've hated every Banville book I've read (or tried to read), but this one had Greek gods in it so I figured I'd give it a chance. No, it was as pretentious, impenetrable, and annoying as all of his other books. Even the jacket-writer didn't read it, labeling one woman the stepmother of the children she birthed (and if the jacket writer had made it even 20 pages in, s/he'd have caught that). I skipped ahead to the end and that was awful too. So glad I didn't waste much time on this.
I've hated every Banville book I've read (or tried to read), but this one had Greek gods in it so I figured I'd give it a chance. No, it was as pretentious, impenetrable, and annoying as all of his other books. Even the jacket-writer didn't read it, labeling one woman the stepmother of the children she birthed (and if the jacket writer had made it even 20 pages in, s/he'd have caught that). I skipped ahead to the end and that was awful too. So glad I didn't waste much time on this.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
2010 book 62
N.K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
The first in a new fantasy trilogy, this story involves nobles, gods, and lots of intrigue. When a young woman is summoned by her grandfather to be one of the possible heirs to their kingdom (or whatever), she finds herself in danger of losing her life, as well as befriended by enslaved gods (one of whom is very Sandman-ish). I didn't always love the narrative voice here (the body of the story is interrupted frequently by the narrator's later inner thoughts, which is more effective at some times than others) but will definitely read the second book when it comes out. B+.
The first in a new fantasy trilogy, this story involves nobles, gods, and lots of intrigue. When a young woman is summoned by her grandfather to be one of the possible heirs to their kingdom (or whatever), she finds herself in danger of losing her life, as well as befriended by enslaved gods (one of whom is very Sandman-ish). I didn't always love the narrative voice here (the body of the story is interrupted frequently by the narrator's later inner thoughts, which is more effective at some times than others) but will definitely read the second book when it comes out. B+.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
2010 book 61
Jenn McKinlay's Sprinkle with Murder
I saw this mentioned earlier this week on the cupcake blog, which loved it, and how could I resist a cozy mystery whose protagonist owns a cupcake shop (my mom apparently felt the same way--we both got it for our Kindles!). Anyway, the story is perfectly serviceable, the characters are likable, and though the writing is at time a little stilted (McKinlay tends toward overexplanations of simple things like Googling), this book gets an A b/c it has a bunch of delicious-looking cupcake recipes at the end! I want to make the Tinkerbells. And you can bet I'm looking forward to the sequel, which is apparently called Buttercream Bump Off. Hee.
I saw this mentioned earlier this week on the cupcake blog, which loved it, and how could I resist a cozy mystery whose protagonist owns a cupcake shop (my mom apparently felt the same way--we both got it for our Kindles!). Anyway, the story is perfectly serviceable, the characters are likable, and though the writing is at time a little stilted (McKinlay tends toward overexplanations of simple things like Googling), this book gets an A b/c it has a bunch of delicious-looking cupcake recipes at the end! I want to make the Tinkerbells. And you can bet I'm looking forward to the sequel, which is apparently called Buttercream Bump Off. Hee.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
2010 book 60
Kenneth Wishnia's The Fifth Servant
It's 1592 in Prague and the new scholar/rabbi in town suddenly finds himself having to solve an accused blood libel case before the Jewish community is demolished, with only the help of the famous rabbi Judah Loew and a Christian butcher's daughter. A subplot involving the protagonist's estranged wife feels completely superfluous, and the end wrapped up fairly messily, but the historical stuff was great. B/B+.
It's 1592 in Prague and the new scholar/rabbi in town suddenly finds himself having to solve an accused blood libel case before the Jewish community is demolished, with only the help of the famous rabbi Judah Loew and a Christian butcher's daughter. A subplot involving the protagonist's estranged wife feels completely superfluous, and the end wrapped up fairly messily, but the historical stuff was great. B/B+.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
2010 book 59
Kate Atkinson's When Will There Be Good News?
I found out recently that Atkinson has a fourth Jackson Brodie book coming out in August (yay!) which made me want to reread the last one--which, on rereading, I would totally argue is the best of the three. It's great how Atkinson sprinkles humor and literary references into what is otherwise a fairly grim story involving a guy murdering a family, a horrible train crash, a swimming pool accident, and seriously crazed domestic abuse. Plus Jackson Brodie, the hardened cop Louise Monroe, and awesome and intrepid mother's helper Reggie. I hope we get to see the latter two characters in the new book too.
I found out recently that Atkinson has a fourth Jackson Brodie book coming out in August (yay!) which made me want to reread the last one--which, on rereading, I would totally argue is the best of the three. It's great how Atkinson sprinkles humor and literary references into what is otherwise a fairly grim story involving a guy murdering a family, a horrible train crash, a swimming pool accident, and seriously crazed domestic abuse. Plus Jackson Brodie, the hardened cop Louise Monroe, and awesome and intrepid mother's helper Reggie. I hope we get to see the latter two characters in the new book too.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
2010 book 58
E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
Sometimes you just want to reread a book you know you'll enjoy. And who can't relate to Frankie feeling like an outsider from her popular boyfriend's secret society, b/c she's a young cute girl? And who doesn't revel in how completely she outsmarts everyone? This was one of my favorites of last year and I still love it.
Sometimes you just want to reread a book you know you'll enjoy. And who can't relate to Frankie feeling like an outsider from her popular boyfriend's secret society, b/c she's a young cute girl? And who doesn't revel in how completely she outsmarts everyone? This was one of my favorites of last year and I still love it.
Friday, February 26, 2010
2010 book 57
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's One Amazing Thing
In the days before I had this blog, I read Divakaruni's novel Mistress of Spices, which was a perfectly enjoyable novel, but pretty much exactly the story you'd expect from a book called Mistress of Spices. So I wasn't in any big hurry to read this new novel by her, until good reviews started turning up in my Google Reader (I do think the NPR story mischaracterizes the story in a slightly Orientalist manner--one of the very first pages has a character reading Chaucer, and clearly the book is more of an homage to the Canterbury Tales as opposed to the Arabian Nights stories). Anyway, it's about nine people who get trapped in an earthquake, and one suggests they all tell a story from their lives to help pass the time and distract themselves while they wait for rescue, and all of the stories are surprisingly moving and interesting. A.
(A review copy was provided by the publisher.)
In the days before I had this blog, I read Divakaruni's novel Mistress of Spices, which was a perfectly enjoyable novel, but pretty much exactly the story you'd expect from a book called Mistress of Spices. So I wasn't in any big hurry to read this new novel by her, until good reviews started turning up in my Google Reader (I do think the NPR story mischaracterizes the story in a slightly Orientalist manner--one of the very first pages has a character reading Chaucer, and clearly the book is more of an homage to the Canterbury Tales as opposed to the Arabian Nights stories). Anyway, it's about nine people who get trapped in an earthquake, and one suggests they all tell a story from their lives to help pass the time and distract themselves while they wait for rescue, and all of the stories are surprisingly moving and interesting. A.
(A review copy was provided by the publisher.)
2010 book 56
Patricia Wrede and Carolina Stevermer's The Mislaid Magician, or Ten Years After
The third Kate and Cecy book, as the title indicates, jumps ten years into the future and returns to the epistolary style of the first book, as the cousins and their children get caught up in another mystery involving a mysterious prowler, ley lines, and a mysterious girl. Lots of mysteriousness (though the latter of those mysteries is way too easy to figure out, the rest is fairly satisfying). B+/B.
The third Kate and Cecy book, as the title indicates, jumps ten years into the future and returns to the epistolary style of the first book, as the cousins and their children get caught up in another mystery involving a mysterious prowler, ley lines, and a mysterious girl. Lots of mysteriousness (though the latter of those mysteries is way too easy to figure out, the rest is fairly satisfying). B+/B.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
2010 book 55
Patricia Wrede and Carolina Stevermer's The Grand Tour
In the second book about cousins Cecilia and Kate, the two are on a grand tour of Europe with their respective husbands, which creates a problem for the storytelling--they can't really write each other letters when they're together. Wrede and Stevermer instead decide to tell the story through one's diary and through a deposition the other is giving, which seems unnecessary really. Still, it's another satisfying historical/magic adventure with very likable characters. B+.
In the second book about cousins Cecilia and Kate, the two are on a grand tour of Europe with their respective husbands, which creates a problem for the storytelling--they can't really write each other letters when they're together. Wrede and Stevermer instead decide to tell the story through one's diary and through a deposition the other is giving, which seems unnecessary really. Still, it's another satisfying historical/magic adventure with very likable characters. B+.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
2010 book 54
Sarah Blake's The Postmistress
Well, this book was a huge disappointment. It's been getting a ton of buzz--helped by a blurb from the chick who wrote The Help, and I had hopes it would be a good read--or at least, a cheesy-yet-satisfying one. But it was really not very good. It's about three women in 1940-1--one an American war reporter in London, one a postmistress in small-town MA, and one the small town's brand new bride. And their stories eventually come together, but none is compelling or satisfying in the least. The war reporter's story had potential--a novel just about her would have been a much better one--but the other two characters are poorly sketched and generally uninteresting. C.
Well, this book was a huge disappointment. It's been getting a ton of buzz--helped by a blurb from the chick who wrote The Help, and I had hopes it would be a good read--or at least, a cheesy-yet-satisfying one. But it was really not very good. It's about three women in 1940-1--one an American war reporter in London, one a postmistress in small-town MA, and one the small town's brand new bride. And their stories eventually come together, but none is compelling or satisfying in the least. The war reporter's story had potential--a novel just about her would have been a much better one--but the other two characters are poorly sketched and generally uninteresting. C.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
2010 book 53
Anne Ursu's The Shadow Thieves
Sub-par middle-grade fantasy where, yet again, the Greek gods are real, and two cousins have to stop a plot by a bad guy to overthrow the underworld. Honestly, the only reason I finished was that there was a really awesome cat character. Otherwise it lacked in terms of plot and narrative tension, and the human characters were fairly one-dimensional. C.
Sub-par middle-grade fantasy where, yet again, the Greek gods are real, and two cousins have to stop a plot by a bad guy to overthrow the underworld. Honestly, the only reason I finished was that there was a really awesome cat character. Otherwise it lacked in terms of plot and narrative tension, and the human characters were fairly one-dimensional. C.
2010 book 52
Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer's Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot
Really, really fun YA told in letters between two cousins in 1817--one has gone to London for the season and the other left behind in their small town. They get caught up in a crazy plot and have to try and stop some evil wizards from carrying out their evil wizard plans--and of course there's some great romance along the way. Can't wait to read the sequel. A.
Really, really fun YA told in letters between two cousins in 1817--one has gone to London for the season and the other left behind in their small town. They get caught up in a crazy plot and have to try and stop some evil wizards from carrying out their evil wizard plans--and of course there's some great romance along the way. Can't wait to read the sequel. A.
Friday, February 19, 2010
2010 book 51
Susan Beth Pfeffer's The Dead and the Gone
The second book in Pfeffer's disaster trilogy is, in some ways, even grimmer than the first. It starts off slowly, since readers of the first one are familiar with the moon-related chaos, but things pick up soon enough as we watch main character Alex struggle to keep his two younger sisters and himself alive when their parents don't return. Devout Catholics, they're helped along by the Church, but even the Church's resources can't save everyone. I find the portrayal of religion in these books interesting; the only church figure in the first book is a total asshole of an evangelical, but the Catholic authorities in this one are pretty cool and their faith is something that helps sustain the characters. Anyway, like I said, these books are grim; I had to take frequent breaks to watch cartoons or play bejeweled. Which, frankly, speaks to the power of the story. And my own sheltered life. A.
The second book in Pfeffer's disaster trilogy is, in some ways, even grimmer than the first. It starts off slowly, since readers of the first one are familiar with the moon-related chaos, but things pick up soon enough as we watch main character Alex struggle to keep his two younger sisters and himself alive when their parents don't return. Devout Catholics, they're helped along by the Church, but even the Church's resources can't save everyone. I find the portrayal of religion in these books interesting; the only church figure in the first book is a total asshole of an evangelical, but the Catholic authorities in this one are pretty cool and their faith is something that helps sustain the characters. Anyway, like I said, these books are grim; I had to take frequent breaks to watch cartoons or play bejeweled. Which, frankly, speaks to the power of the story. And my own sheltered life. A.
2010 book 50
Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life as we knew it
Pfeffer wrote a bunch of YA books in the 80s (remember The Year Without Michael? Or the various sisters at 16?) but her 2008 novel is a much grimmer affair. It's all told in diary format, starting off with the usual 16-year-old girl worries, but then an asteroid hits the moon, causing scores of natural disasters and throwing life totally off-kilter. I think part of the reason I found this so distressing was that, since my tv died today, I spent the afternoon reading in my bedroom with my little tv on (I like the noise) and so everything felt all out of wack anyway. But I had to keep reassuring myself that there wasn't a moon-related apocalypse and my microwave still worked! Pfeffer does a great job with the atmosphere and with the protagonist and her family relationships--I was almost scared to get toward the end, wondering what would happen. Apparently there's a companion novel out and another on the way, and I'll definitely be reading those too. A.
Pfeffer wrote a bunch of YA books in the 80s (remember The Year Without Michael? Or the various sisters at 16?) but her 2008 novel is a much grimmer affair. It's all told in diary format, starting off with the usual 16-year-old girl worries, but then an asteroid hits the moon, causing scores of natural disasters and throwing life totally off-kilter. I think part of the reason I found this so distressing was that, since my tv died today, I spent the afternoon reading in my bedroom with my little tv on (I like the noise) and so everything felt all out of wack anyway. But I had to keep reassuring myself that there wasn't a moon-related apocalypse and my microwave still worked! Pfeffer does a great job with the atmosphere and with the protagonist and her family relationships--I was almost scared to get toward the end, wondering what would happen. Apparently there's a companion novel out and another on the way, and I'll definitely be reading those too. A.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
2010 book 49
Paul Tremblay's The Little Sleep
Readable but ultimately unsatisfactory mystery about a PI plagued by narcolepsy and hallucinations, told in the usual hard-boiled style. B.
Readable but ultimately unsatisfactory mystery about a PI plagued by narcolepsy and hallucinations, told in the usual hard-boiled style. B.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
2010 book 48
Heidi Durrow's The Girl who Fell from the Sky
A beautiful, sad, but somehow hopeful book about a biracial girl growing up in the 80s who's sent to live with her grandmother after a family tragedy. I can't think of anything else to say about it except that it's an early contender for my best of 2010 list and you all should read it. A.
A beautiful, sad, but somehow hopeful book about a biracial girl growing up in the 80s who's sent to live with her grandmother after a family tragedy. I can't think of anything else to say about it except that it's an early contender for my best of 2010 list and you all should read it. A.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
2010 book 47
Belinda Bauer's Blacklands
A dark and disturbing novel about a boy whose uncle was murdered by a serial killer as a child and left his family totally dysfunctional. When he strikes up a correspondence with the killer in an effort to find his uncle's body, things don't go according to his plan. The library has categorized this as a mystery but it isn't really, though it is really suspenseful. A-.
A dark and disturbing novel about a boy whose uncle was murdered by a serial killer as a child and left his family totally dysfunctional. When he strikes up a correspondence with the killer in an effort to find his uncle's body, things don't go according to his plan. The library has categorized this as a mystery but it isn't really, though it is really suspenseful. A-.
Monday, February 15, 2010
2010 book 46
Alexandra Bullen's Wish
This is one of those YA novels that I probably would have liked when I was 14, but doesn't appeal to me now. It's the usual stuff about a girl whose twin sister died in an accident and now she's moved to a new town, made friends w/ the popular girl, and fallen for a cute guy who happens to be the popular girl's boyfriend, and her guy friend neighbor likes her. Only there are some magical dresses and wishes involved. B.
This is one of those YA novels that I probably would have liked when I was 14, but doesn't appeal to me now. It's the usual stuff about a girl whose twin sister died in an accident and now she's moved to a new town, made friends w/ the popular girl, and fallen for a cute guy who happens to be the popular girl's boyfriend, and her guy friend neighbor likes her. Only there are some magical dresses and wishes involved. B.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
2010 book 45
Shirley Damsgaard's Witch Way to Murder
My mom has recommended this series to me a few times--it's about a librarian and her grandmother, both witches, who get involved in mysteries--and since I like librarians, magic, and mysteries I figured I'd give it a go. Unfortunately this first one is pretty weak--the main character is traumatized by a tragedy in her past which isn't ever explored and makes her really surly, the romantic subplot is completely trite, and the villains are totally cartoonish. Plus some of the librarian stuff is just silly. The characters have potential, though, and I especially liked the perky and observant assistant librarian. B/B-.
My mom has recommended this series to me a few times--it's about a librarian and her grandmother, both witches, who get involved in mysteries--and since I like librarians, magic, and mysteries I figured I'd give it a go. Unfortunately this first one is pretty weak--the main character is traumatized by a tragedy in her past which isn't ever explored and makes her really surly, the romantic subplot is completely trite, and the villains are totally cartoonish. Plus some of the librarian stuff is just silly. The characters have potential, though, and I especially liked the perky and observant assistant librarian. B/B-.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
2010 book 44
Kristin Cashore's Fire
The second Graceling book is actually a sort of prequel that takes place in a neighboring land. It feels a little more cliched/trite, as a half-human woman, mistrusted by most who meet her, ends up helping out an army or whatever. The romantic subplots were especially predictable and not entirely well-done, but it was still a good read, and I hope the third one comes out soon! B/B+.
The second Graceling book is actually a sort of prequel that takes place in a neighboring land. It feels a little more cliched/trite, as a half-human woman, mistrusted by most who meet her, ends up helping out an army or whatever. The romantic subplots were especially predictable and not entirely well-done, but it was still a good read, and I hope the third one comes out soon! B/B+.
Friday, February 12, 2010
2010 book 43
Kristin Cashore's Graceling
So the second book in this YA fantasy series came out recently, and was getting good reviews, and I was all, oh I should read those, but then it seemed like they were about a girl assassin or something and I was like eh, but then Emma was like, no seriously it's good and you should read it, so I did and it was awesome!
Anyway, it's a fantasy land where some people are graced (with a capital G) with various gifts like cooking, only our protagonist is graced with killing and her uncle the king uses her as an intimidation device, siccing her on various people he wants punished. Of course she has her own secrets, and meets a prince from a neighboring kingdom with his own graces, and they go on a mission together and it's all surprisingly moving and sinister and great. And I'm getting the second one for my Kindle right now! A.
So the second book in this YA fantasy series came out recently, and was getting good reviews, and I was all, oh I should read those, but then it seemed like they were about a girl assassin or something and I was like eh, but then Emma was like, no seriously it's good and you should read it, so I did and it was awesome!
Anyway, it's a fantasy land where some people are graced (with a capital G) with various gifts like cooking, only our protagonist is graced with killing and her uncle the king uses her as an intimidation device, siccing her on various people he wants punished. Of course she has her own secrets, and meets a prince from a neighboring kingdom with his own graces, and they go on a mission together and it's all surprisingly moving and sinister and great. And I'm getting the second one for my Kindle right now! A.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
2010 book 42
Louise Erdrich's Shadow Tag
When I heard this book was coming out, I thought, yay, a new Louise Erdrich book, they're always good, and so I added it to my library hold list immediately. And then the reviews started coming out and they all mentioned that this novel, primarily about a troubled marriage, clearly referred to Erdrich's own marriage to Michael Dorris (cf. the NY Times review, p. 2). They of course were famous collaborators--I read their joint novel The Crown of Columbus, when I was in middle school and it was one of my favorite books for years, probably b/c it was the first I'd read that was an academic/literary mystery type of book--who famously divorced amidst accusations of child abuse, and then Dorris killed himself.
So this book broke my heart, both from its excellent writing and from the thought that their marriage could ever have been that exquisitely awful.
It's a definite departure from Erdrich's other novels, and definitely refers, if not specifically to her marriage, then to the difficulty of being married to an artist and serving as his muse, while trying to raise a family and not go crazy when you realize he's been reading your diary. So yeah, it's pretty dark. And like I said, heartbreaking. A.
When I heard this book was coming out, I thought, yay, a new Louise Erdrich book, they're always good, and so I added it to my library hold list immediately. And then the reviews started coming out and they all mentioned that this novel, primarily about a troubled marriage, clearly referred to Erdrich's own marriage to Michael Dorris (cf. the NY Times review, p. 2). They of course were famous collaborators--I read their joint novel The Crown of Columbus, when I was in middle school and it was one of my favorite books for years, probably b/c it was the first I'd read that was an academic/literary mystery type of book--who famously divorced amidst accusations of child abuse, and then Dorris killed himself.
So this book broke my heart, both from its excellent writing and from the thought that their marriage could ever have been that exquisitely awful.
It's a definite departure from Erdrich's other novels, and definitely refers, if not specifically to her marriage, then to the difficulty of being married to an artist and serving as his muse, while trying to raise a family and not go crazy when you realize he's been reading your diary. So yeah, it's pretty dark. And like I said, heartbreaking. A.
2010 book 41
Tash Aw's Map of the Invisible World
What starts off as a story about two orphaned brothers, adopted by different families in 1960s Indonesia, quickly becomes a story of those turbulent political times, as the younger brother's Dutch-born father is hauled away by the police and he tries desperately to track him down, with the help of an American woman from his father's past. This wasn't quite as good as Aw's first novel, The Harmony Silk Factory, but did a good job of vividly portraying Indonesia and its revolutionaries. B+/B.
What starts off as a story about two orphaned brothers, adopted by different families in 1960s Indonesia, quickly becomes a story of those turbulent political times, as the younger brother's Dutch-born father is hauled away by the police and he tries desperately to track him down, with the help of an American woman from his father's past. This wasn't quite as good as Aw's first novel, The Harmony Silk Factory, but did a good job of vividly portraying Indonesia and its revolutionaries. B+/B.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
links and whatnot
Links to stuff I've shared on Google Reader (and now, Google Buzz):
Part 1 of an interview w/ Jim Rugg, who had an awesome signing Saturday at Chapel Hill Comics (and is from Pittsburgh!). He rules.
Sweet Valley High: The sequel??
I am eagerly awaiting the Powers tv show.
Part 1 of an interview w/ Jim Rugg, who had an awesome signing Saturday at Chapel Hill Comics (and is from Pittsburgh!). He rules.
Sweet Valley High: The sequel??
I am eagerly awaiting the Powers tv show.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
2010 book 40
Tanya Huff's The Enchantment Emporium
Urban fantasy about a young woman who comes from a large family of people with powers of some sort, who inherits a shop from her grandmother and moves to Calgary and finds romance and danger and has to save the city (with some family help). This more-or-less held my attention, but I didn't love the jumpy narrative style. B.
Urban fantasy about a young woman who comes from a large family of people with powers of some sort, who inherits a shop from her grandmother and moves to Calgary and finds romance and danger and has to save the city (with some family help). This more-or-less held my attention, but I didn't love the jumpy narrative style. B.
Monday, February 08, 2010
2010 book 39
Gabrielle Zevin's Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
I loved Zevin's novel Margarettown (it was one of my favorites of whatever year it came out) but hadn't kept up with her to know she was still writing books. A recent review of her latest novel (which I'm still waiting for the library to order) made me check out her other stuff--this was a YA novel about a girl who hits her head in a fall and forgets the past four years of her life and all the accompanying teenage drama. Things go pretty much as you'd expect in terms of family and romance, but Zevin's characters are (for the most part) solid (the exception being the troubled boy who rescues the main character), and she manages to inject some humor into the proceedings. A-/B+.
I loved Zevin's novel Margarettown (it was one of my favorites of whatever year it came out) but hadn't kept up with her to know she was still writing books. A recent review of her latest novel (which I'm still waiting for the library to order) made me check out her other stuff--this was a YA novel about a girl who hits her head in a fall and forgets the past four years of her life and all the accompanying teenage drama. Things go pretty much as you'd expect in terms of family and romance, but Zevin's characters are (for the most part) solid (the exception being the troubled boy who rescues the main character), and she manages to inject some humor into the proceedings. A-/B+.
percy jackson
The Guardian has a great piece on the Percy Jackson books, the author and his son, and the inevitable Harry Potter comparisons (I love this series even more now than I know the author is a HP fan). Can't wait for the movie!
Sunday, February 07, 2010
2010 book 38
Charles Todd's The Red Door
Todd is actually a mother and son writing team, and this is their 11th mystery about a Scotland Yard Inspector--I haven't read the first 10, which wasn't a huge detriment to enjoying this one, but I did wonder what exactly happened to this guy in WWI that causes him to be haunted by a Scottish soldier. Anyway, a missing persons case involving a wealthy family gets tied into a small-town murder of a woman who never stopped hoping her husband would come home from the war. It was readable enough but I doubt I'll read the others. B.
Todd is actually a mother and son writing team, and this is their 11th mystery about a Scotland Yard Inspector--I haven't read the first 10, which wasn't a huge detriment to enjoying this one, but I did wonder what exactly happened to this guy in WWI that causes him to be haunted by a Scottish soldier. Anyway, a missing persons case involving a wealthy family gets tied into a small-town murder of a woman who never stopped hoping her husband would come home from the war. It was readable enough but I doubt I'll read the others. B.
2010 book 37
Sarah Beth Durst's Into the Wild
Fairy tale characters have escaped their stories and Rapunzel and her daughter are in charge of guarding the last remnants of the wild. Unfortunately the daughter is an angsty teenager and somewhat annoying. Anyway, when someone makes a wish in the magic well, the wild escapes and Rapunzel's daughter has to try and make things right. The concepts here were entertaining, but it was thoroughly predictable (especially the very end). B. If you want to read about fairy tale characters chilling in the modern world, hit your local comic book store and start reading Fables.
Fairy tale characters have escaped their stories and Rapunzel and her daughter are in charge of guarding the last remnants of the wild. Unfortunately the daughter is an angsty teenager and somewhat annoying. Anyway, when someone makes a wish in the magic well, the wild escapes and Rapunzel's daughter has to try and make things right. The concepts here were entertaining, but it was thoroughly predictable (especially the very end). B. If you want to read about fairy tale characters chilling in the modern world, hit your local comic book store and start reading Fables.
Friday, February 05, 2010
2010 book 36
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Man, the Harry Potter books never stop being awesome.
Man, the Harry Potter books never stop being awesome.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
2010 book 35
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
It's easy to choose a book you know will be a good read over an unknown quantity sitting in your library pile.
It's easy to choose a book you know will be a good read over an unknown quantity sitting in your library pile.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
2010 book 34
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I know I've always said this is my least favorite of the HP books, but it's really grown on me the past few re-reads. Once you reconcile yourself to Harry's all-caps temper tantrums and Dumbledore's trickling tear, it's really a good story that expands the whole HP universe.
Well, I think day 4 of the snowpocalypse will be my last one--now to decide if I want to read the last two HP books or take a break and try something from my library pile. I still haven't decided if I want to read the new Joshua Ferris book--have any of you read it, and is it worth a go?
And yay, Lost comes back tonight!!
I know I've always said this is my least favorite of the HP books, but it's really grown on me the past few re-reads. Once you reconcile yourself to Harry's all-caps temper tantrums and Dumbledore's trickling tear, it's really a good story that expands the whole HP universe.
Well, I think day 4 of the snowpocalypse will be my last one--now to decide if I want to read the last two HP books or take a break and try something from my library pile. I still haven't decided if I want to read the new Joshua Ferris book--have any of you read it, and is it worth a go?
And yay, Lost comes back tonight!!
Monday, February 01, 2010
2010 book 33
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
I'll say this for Rowling--she knows how to write an entertaining story. I hate sports, and yet reading her recountings of her imaginary sport is somehow riveting. This book is also crucial for setting up future plotlines and introducing the awesome Bill Weasley. OK, now I'm off to try and dislodge my car from the snow.
I'll say this for Rowling--she knows how to write an entertaining story. I hate sports, and yet reading her recountings of her imaginary sport is somehow riveting. This book is also crucial for setting up future plotlines and introducing the awesome Bill Weasley. OK, now I'm off to try and dislodge my car from the snow.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
2010 book 32
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
I still think this is one of the best HP books.
I still think this is one of the best HP books.
P1310001
Correction to my previous snow post: the snow is actually level with my SECOND step! (I forgot there were three.)
I decided to pull on my rain boots and check things out--turns out rain boots are not a good substitute for snow boots! It was fun tromping around anyway--sometimes the icy-encrusted snow supported me, and sometimes I'd sink right through. Exciting!
I decided to pull on my rain boots and check things out--turns out rain boots are not a good substitute for snow boots! It was fun tromping around anyway--sometimes the icy-encrusted snow supported me, and sometimes I'd sink right through. Exciting!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
2010 book 31
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Even when you've read a book a million times, there are still new things to notice and think about. For instance, I really liked that in this one, at the end, Harry and Ron actually try to get adult help--first they try McGonagall and then end up settling for Lockhart, not realizing exactly how hopeless he is. (It always kind of annoys me in these kinds of books when kids won't confide even in trusted adults when things are totally dire.) Anyway, that's not something I'd ever thought much about before, so like I said, there's always a reason to reread!
Even when you've read a book a million times, there are still new things to notice and think about. For instance, I really liked that in this one, at the end, Harry and Ron actually try to get adult help--first they try McGonagall and then end up settling for Lockhart, not realizing exactly how hopeless he is. (It always kind of annoys me in these kinds of books when kids won't confide even in trusted adults when things are totally dire.) Anyway, that's not something I'd ever thought much about before, so like I said, there's always a reason to reread!
2010 book 30
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
I have snow days today and tomorrow, which for some reason made me want to reread Harry Potter!
Speaking of which, I cannot wait to go to the theme park! Maybe for my birthday!
I have snow days today and tomorrow, which for some reason made me want to reread Harry Potter!
Speaking of which, I cannot wait to go to the theme park! Maybe for my birthday!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
2010 book 29
Gail Godwin's Unfinished Desires
This GREAT book (with a somewhat terrible title) focuses on an elderly nun who served as headmistress of a girls' school in NC for many years and is now working on her memoirs, but is stuck on a terrible event that happened in the 50s. Godwin does a really good job of keeping the tension/interest up by flashing back and forth in time between the 50s and the early 2000s, and by shifting perspectives from the headmistress (who also recounts her own days as a student at the school) to the girls of the 50s and their young nun teacher. I think this would be a good book club book--lots of meaty plot and character and family stuff to discuss--and recommend it to my regular readers highly. Apparently Godwin has written many books but I've never heard of her before, which I'm glad has been rectified. A.
This GREAT book (with a somewhat terrible title) focuses on an elderly nun who served as headmistress of a girls' school in NC for many years and is now working on her memoirs, but is stuck on a terrible event that happened in the 50s. Godwin does a really good job of keeping the tension/interest up by flashing back and forth in time between the 50s and the early 2000s, and by shifting perspectives from the headmistress (who also recounts her own days as a student at the school) to the girls of the 50s and their young nun teacher. I think this would be a good book club book--lots of meaty plot and character and family stuff to discuss--and recommend it to my regular readers highly. Apparently Godwin has written many books but I've never heard of her before, which I'm glad has been rectified. A.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
2010 book 28
Terry Pratchett's Wintersmith
I promise to get back to reading the hot new fiction soon, but sometimes you just have to enjoy a good YA series about a witch in training, the band of drunken warrior fairies who follow her around, and what happens when she accidentally dances with the god of winter. I'm super excited b/c I jsut found out that Pratchett is working on a fourth book in this series--the witch books are my favorites of the Discworld stories and these have been especially entertaining. A.
I promise to get back to reading the hot new fiction soon, but sometimes you just have to enjoy a good YA series about a witch in training, the band of drunken warrior fairies who follow her around, and what happens when she accidentally dances with the god of winter. I'm super excited b/c I jsut found out that Pratchett is working on a fourth book in this series--the witch books are my favorites of the Discworld stories and these have been especially entertaining. A.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
2010 book 27
Terry Pratchett's A Hat Full of Sky
The second book in the Discworld YA miniseries was way awesomer than the first, as a demon-thing possesses the young witch in training and she and her friends have to get rid of it. It was equally funny--I had to hold in a guffaw when I was waiting for my car to finish being inspected, as guffawing in public over a book is sometimes considered odd. A.
The second book in the Discworld YA miniseries was way awesomer than the first, as a demon-thing possesses the young witch in training and she and her friends have to get rid of it. It was equally funny--I had to hold in a guffaw when I was waiting for my car to finish being inspected, as guffawing in public over a book is sometimes considered odd. A.
Monday, January 25, 2010
2010 book 26
Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men
I've been enjoying the YA fantasy series kick I've been on, so was pleased to find out that a few of Pratchett's Discworld books were aimed at a YA audience and shared a protagonist (in this case, a young girl whose brother is kidnapped by a fairy queen). This first one was entertaining enough--I liked the characters a lot, and Pratchett is reliably funny, though parts of the story dragged a bit. I'll still read the next one. B.
I've been enjoying the YA fantasy series kick I've been on, so was pleased to find out that a few of Pratchett's Discworld books were aimed at a YA audience and shared a protagonist (in this case, a young girl whose brother is kidnapped by a fairy queen). This first one was entertaining enough--I liked the characters a lot, and Pratchett is reliably funny, though parts of the story dragged a bit. I'll still read the next one. B.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
partially read
Elizabeth Kostova's The Swan Thieves
Kostova's second novel has been getting mostly negative or middling reviews, but I haven't read The Historian in years and don't remember anything about it, so I didn't have super-high expectations or anything like that. And still, I just can't get into it. I gave it a fair shot--made it to page 100--but I find the main narrator (a psychiatrist treating an artist who attacked a painting in a museum but the artist won't speak and the doctor is trying to investigate his life or whatever, only it's on page 100 and hardly anything has even happened yet) fairly insufferable, the writing awkward and/or overly verbose, and the slow drawn-out plot to be somewhat annoying. If this was a 200 or 300 page book, I'd have plugged ahead to see if my guesses as to the ending were right, but it's over 560 pages, so screw it.
Kostova's second novel has been getting mostly negative or middling reviews, but I haven't read The Historian in years and don't remember anything about it, so I didn't have super-high expectations or anything like that. And still, I just can't get into it. I gave it a fair shot--made it to page 100--but I find the main narrator (a psychiatrist treating an artist who attacked a painting in a museum but the artist won't speak and the doctor is trying to investigate his life or whatever, only it's on page 100 and hardly anything has even happened yet) fairly insufferable, the writing awkward and/or overly verbose, and the slow drawn-out plot to be somewhat annoying. If this was a 200 or 300 page book, I'd have plugged ahead to see if my guesses as to the ending were right, but it's over 560 pages, so screw it.
on collective reading
Interesting NYT article on collective vs individual reading/possessiveness of certain books. I'm not entirely sure I buy it--I'm certainly bookish, and clearly I also enjoy the social aspects of reading/recommending books (or else why would I even have this blog?).
Friday, January 22, 2010
2010 book 25
Amy Greene's Bloodroot
i've read some awful reviews of this and some great ones (EW looooooved it), and I find it interesting how polarizing it is. I mean, I'm gonna give it a B+--it's a good read, but nothing exceptional, and certainly not exceptionally bad. Anyway, it mostly focuses on a girl growing up in the mountains. The first section is told through the POVs of her grandmother and of the boy next door, and the second is narrated by her children, and I enjoyed all of that quite a bit. The next part is her telling her own story, which is slightly boring after hearing it from everyone else (though does fill in some holes) and which is much grimmer than the earlier sections (which certainly aren't all sunshine and kittens). The last section is a fitting end and made me like things again. I predict this will be a sleeper hit and will be popular with book clubs (and also think my mom would probably like it).
i've read some awful reviews of this and some great ones (EW looooooved it), and I find it interesting how polarizing it is. I mean, I'm gonna give it a B+--it's a good read, but nothing exceptional, and certainly not exceptionally bad. Anyway, it mostly focuses on a girl growing up in the mountains. The first section is told through the POVs of her grandmother and of the boy next door, and the second is narrated by her children, and I enjoyed all of that quite a bit. The next part is her telling her own story, which is slightly boring after hearing it from everyone else (though does fill in some holes) and which is much grimmer than the earlier sections (which certainly aren't all sunshine and kittens). The last section is a fitting end and made me like things again. I predict this will be a sleeper hit and will be popular with book clubs (and also think my mom would probably like it).
Thursday, January 21, 2010
2010 book 24
Angie Sage's Physick
Wow, was the third Septimus Heap book bad. I mean, it was TERRIBLE. On every level. Completely boring, entirely predictable, and sloppy continuity (in one scene, a character learns about a letter; two chapters later, she's never heard of it). I don't even know why I bothered to finish it. Even a cute duckling and a magic cat-panther couldn't make this good, and y'all know I love magic and/or cute animals. I definitely won't be reading the rest of this series, even though I did enjoy the first two, b/c this just sucked.
Wow, was the third Septimus Heap book bad. I mean, it was TERRIBLE. On every level. Completely boring, entirely predictable, and sloppy continuity (in one scene, a character learns about a letter; two chapters later, she's never heard of it). I don't even know why I bothered to finish it. Even a cute duckling and a magic cat-panther couldn't make this good, and y'all know I love magic and/or cute animals. I definitely won't be reading the rest of this series, even though I did enjoy the first two, b/c this just sucked.
2010 book 23
Rebecca Newberger Goldstein's 36 Arguments for the Existence of God
An academic writes a book on the psychology of religion and becomes famous as the "atheist with a soul"--this book flashes back and forth in time to give his life story, more or less--there's some great romance with his former poet wife, his current game theorist girlfriend, and his former anthropologist girlfriend, as well as some academic satire, especially regarding his eccentric graduate advisor, and some touching scenes in a Hasidic enclave, but mostly there's just him, a really great character. This book wasn't perfect--a minor quibble, did people say "douchebag" twenty years ago? And I will admit to skimming the lengthy debate on the existence of God and the appendix on same--I was reading for fun, not intellectual edification. Anyway, really a great story, and deserving of the media attention it's been getting. A.
An academic writes a book on the psychology of religion and becomes famous as the "atheist with a soul"--this book flashes back and forth in time to give his life story, more or less--there's some great romance with his former poet wife, his current game theorist girlfriend, and his former anthropologist girlfriend, as well as some academic satire, especially regarding his eccentric graduate advisor, and some touching scenes in a Hasidic enclave, but mostly there's just him, a really great character. This book wasn't perfect--a minor quibble, did people say "douchebag" twenty years ago? And I will admit to skimming the lengthy debate on the existence of God and the appendix on same--I was reading for fun, not intellectual edification. Anyway, really a great story, and deserving of the media attention it's been getting. A.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
2010 book 22
Angie Sage and Mark Zug's Flyte
Despite the cringeworthy title, I enjoyed the second Septimus Heap book. I find the wrap-up of the minor characters' lives at the end of the story especially silly and fun.
Despite the cringeworthy title, I enjoyed the second Septimus Heap book. I find the wrap-up of the minor characters' lives at the end of the story especially silly and fun.
Monday, January 18, 2010
2010 book 21
Angie Sage and Mark Zug's Magyk (Septimus Heap Book 1)
I love finding out about these great YA/middle grade fantasy series--thanks, Amazon recommendations! This one involves evil wizards and good wizards and assassins and a lost princess and some other good stuff. It's mildly annoying that magic-related terms and spells are bolded every time, and, given the series name, one big twist is extra-obvious (though still satisfying), and I will say much of the story was full of unexpected fun. I'll definitely read the next one. A-.
I love finding out about these great YA/middle grade fantasy series--thanks, Amazon recommendations! This one involves evil wizards and good wizards and assassins and a lost princess and some other good stuff. It's mildly annoying that magic-related terms and spells are bolded every time, and, given the series name, one big twist is extra-obvious (though still satisfying), and I will say much of the story was full of unexpected fun. I'll definitely read the next one. A-.
2010 book 20
Robert Goolrick's A Reliable Wife
I decided to reread this in celebration of it being a runaway bestseller in paperback (and since Algonquin was nice enough to send me a free copy!)--it's a mark of a great story that, even though I knew all the twists and turns, I was totally riveted. Goolrick's characters are great--likable despite their (many) flaws--and I very much enjoyed reading it again.
I decided to reread this in celebration of it being a runaway bestseller in paperback (and since Algonquin was nice enough to send me a free copy!)--it's a mark of a great story that, even though I knew all the twists and turns, I was totally riveted. Goolrick's characters are great--likable despite their (many) flaws--and I very much enjoyed reading it again.
reading is cool!
Sometimes Disney Channel shows have a healthy sense of humor about themselves:
In other news, I saw Inglourious Basterds today and loved it! Best Jewish wish fulfillment ever. I would have seen it earlier had I known about the Shoshanna subplot, which especially kicked ass.
In other news, I saw Inglourious Basterds today and loved it! Best Jewish wish fulfillment ever. I would have seen it earlier had I known about the Shoshanna subplot, which especially kicked ass.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
2010 book 19
Margaret Mascarenhas' The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos
Elizabeth recommended this book to me like months and months ago, and the library finally got it in, so yay. Despite the title, this isn't really a mystery (though the titular Irene's disappearance is somewhat mysterious to the reader)--it's more about a young woman on the verge of giving birth whose family and friends are telling their life stories while she's on bedrest. There's some great stuff about a Venezuelan goddess/saint called Maria Lionza, and most of the stories are actually pretty thrilling. Eventually things started dragging a bit, though, and I'm still pondering the end--this would make an excellent book discussion book. B.
Elizabeth recommended this book to me like months and months ago, and the library finally got it in, so yay. Despite the title, this isn't really a mystery (though the titular Irene's disappearance is somewhat mysterious to the reader)--it's more about a young woman on the verge of giving birth whose family and friends are telling their life stories while she's on bedrest. There's some great stuff about a Venezuelan goddess/saint called Maria Lionza, and most of the stories are actually pretty thrilling. Eventually things started dragging a bit, though, and I'm still pondering the end--this would make an excellent book discussion book. B.
Friday, January 15, 2010
2010 book 18
Frances Hardinge's The Lost Conspiracy
Fairly good YA fantasy about a girl whose sister is one of the few mystical people in their world, and the only person bringing prosperity to their hated and feared tribe. When investigators come to examine her sister, they get caught up in a bunch of intrigue and whatnot. Some bits are pretty predictable, but I really enjoyed the main character, the lovable band of outlaws, and the volcano imagery. B/B+.
Fairly good YA fantasy about a girl whose sister is one of the few mystical people in their world, and the only person bringing prosperity to their hated and feared tribe. When investigators come to examine her sister, they get caught up in a bunch of intrigue and whatnot. Some bits are pretty predictable, but I really enjoyed the main character, the lovable band of outlaws, and the volcano imagery. B/B+.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
partially read
Melanie Benjamin's Alice I Have Been
I was waaaaaay too creeped out by this novelization of the life of the girl who inspired Alice in Wonderland to get past page 75.
I was waaaaaay too creeped out by this novelization of the life of the girl who inspired Alice in Wonderland to get past page 75.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
2010 book 17
Elizabeth Noble's The Girl Next Door
A novel about the lives of a bunch of residents of an NYC apartment building, this veered a little too close to cheesy/heartwarming for my own particular tastes, but was enjoyable enough. I mean, sometimes it's nice to read a book I can recommend to my mom. B.
A novel about the lives of a bunch of residents of an NYC apartment building, this veered a little too close to cheesy/heartwarming for my own particular tastes, but was enjoyable enough. I mean, sometimes it's nice to read a book I can recommend to my mom. B.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
2010 book 16
Diana Wynne Jones' The Pinhoe Egg
In this Chrestomanci book, the main Chrestomanci family gets involved w/ two families of rural magic-doers who are sort of feuding. As always, the magical children are likable, and Jones has some really awesome and lovable animals in this one that made it even better. A.
In this Chrestomanci book, the main Chrestomanci family gets involved w/ two families of rural magic-doers who are sort of feuding. As always, the magical children are likable, and Jones has some really awesome and lovable animals in this one that made it even better. A.
Monday, January 11, 2010
2010 book 15
Pete Nelson's I Thought You Were Dead
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that this is one of the great man and his dog novels of our time. Of course, it's about more than that--it's about a man writing a book called "Nature for Morons" in 1998, struggling with his divorce, his girlfriend (who has another boyfriend), and his father's stroke. But mostly it's about him and his wonderful, wonderful dog Stella, and their wonderful, wonderful relationship. Really well-done. A.
(An advance copy was provided by the publisher.)
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that this is one of the great man and his dog novels of our time. Of course, it's about more than that--it's about a man writing a book called "Nature for Morons" in 1998, struggling with his divorce, his girlfriend (who has another boyfriend), and his father's stroke. But mostly it's about him and his wonderful, wonderful dog Stella, and their wonderful, wonderful relationship. Really well-done. A.
(An advance copy was provided by the publisher.)
Sunday, January 10, 2010
2010 book 14
Diana Wynne Jones' Mixed Magics
A series of short stories set in the Chrestomanci universe--highly entertaining.
A series of short stories set in the Chrestomanci universe--highly entertaining.
2010 book 13
Chris Roberson's Book of Secrets
This book really has a lot going for it--great noir narration, stories within stories, masked vigilantes, etc etc. It's the story of a reporter working on a piece about a rich old mysterious business tycoon and trying to track down an even more mysterious book that was stolen from the tycoon's mansion. Meanwhile, he's inherited some mysterious boxes from his estranged grandfather, including a collection of stories about masked men fighting for justice (which, by the way, are very well-done). Adventures ensue, and though things go in a totally crazy and unexpected direction toward the end, it's a satisfying read.
Note for comics fans: Roberson was apparently in a writing group w/ Bill Willingham (of the amazing series Fables and other things) and they're friends or whatever.
(A free e-copy was provided by the publisher.)
This book really has a lot going for it--great noir narration, stories within stories, masked vigilantes, etc etc. It's the story of a reporter working on a piece about a rich old mysterious business tycoon and trying to track down an even more mysterious book that was stolen from the tycoon's mansion. Meanwhile, he's inherited some mysterious boxes from his estranged grandfather, including a collection of stories about masked men fighting for justice (which, by the way, are very well-done). Adventures ensue, and though things go in a totally crazy and unexpected direction toward the end, it's a satisfying read.
Note for comics fans: Roberson was apparently in a writing group w/ Bill Willingham (of the amazing series Fables and other things) and they're friends or whatever.
(A free e-copy was provided by the publisher.)
Saturday, January 09, 2010
2010 book 12
Katherine Weber's True Confections
I mostly liked Weber's novel Triangle quite a bit, and when I saw that her new one was about a candy company, I was totally excited to read it. To be more accurate, it's about a woman telling the story of how she came to work at the Jewish-family-owned company after an incident with a fire, marry the son and heir, and how things went kind of haywire after that. She's a classically unreliable narrator, to great effect, and the descriptions of the factory and the candy made me hungry. Great dysfunctional family dynamics, too. A.
I mostly liked Weber's novel Triangle quite a bit, and when I saw that her new one was about a candy company, I was totally excited to read it. To be more accurate, it's about a woman telling the story of how she came to work at the Jewish-family-owned company after an incident with a fire, marry the son and heir, and how things went kind of haywire after that. She's a classically unreliable narrator, to great effect, and the descriptions of the factory and the candy made me hungry. Great dysfunctional family dynamics, too. A.
Friday, January 08, 2010
2010 book 11
Diana Wynne Jones' Conrad's Fate
The fifth Chrestomanci books shares more adventures of the young Chrestomanci from books 1 and 2, and is generally entertaining, though the end is really silly and unsatisfying. B/B-.
The fifth Chrestomanci books shares more adventures of the young Chrestomanci from books 1 and 2, and is generally entertaining, though the end is really silly and unsatisfying. B/B-.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
2010 book 10
Dianna Wynne Jones' The Magicians of Caprona
In the 4th Chrestomanci book, Jones twists the tale of feuding families in Italy by making them families of powerful magicians in a small country on the brink of war. As always, the heroes are several magical children and some awesome cats, though the adventures they have are far from typical. Nice wrap-up on this one, too. A-/B+.
In the 4th Chrestomanci book, Jones twists the tale of feuding families in Italy by making them families of powerful magicians in a small country on the brink of war. As always, the heroes are several magical children and some awesome cats, though the adventures they have are far from typical. Nice wrap-up on this one, too. A-/B+.
2010 book 9
Dianna Wynne Jones' Witch Week
The third Chrestomanci book involves a group of boarding-school students in a world where witchcraft is illegal and witches are persecuted and killed. There were some nice plot twists, though it did feel a little tangential to the storylines from the first two books. B+.
The third Chrestomanci book involves a group of boarding-school students in a world where witchcraft is illegal and witches are persecuted and killed. There were some nice plot twists, though it did feel a little tangential to the storylines from the first two books. B+.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
2010 book 8
Diana Wynne Jones' The Lives of Christopher Chant
The second book in the Chronicles of Chrestomanci tells of the childhood of the guy who's the powerful wizard in the first one, so it's interesting to have the holes of his story filled it. As always, the characters are great (Jones does magical children, especially girls, very well) and the end is actually pretty exciting. A-.
The second book in the Chronicles of Chrestomanci tells of the childhood of the guy who's the powerful wizard in the first one, so it's interesting to have the holes of his story filled it. As always, the characters are great (Jones does magical children, especially girls, very well) and the end is actually pretty exciting. A-.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
2010 book 7
Dianna Wynne Jones' Charmed Life
I'd never read any of Diana Wynne Jones' Chronicles of Chrestomanci series, and having enjoyed the Howl's books so much, it seemed about time. These also deal with magic--in this one, a boy and his sister are taken in by a powerful wizard. The boy is sort of sweet and clueless, and the sister is an ambitious brat, and the paths the story takes did surprise me a little, and on the whole I enjoyed it and will be reading some others in the series. B+.
I'd never read any of Diana Wynne Jones' Chronicles of Chrestomanci series, and having enjoyed the Howl's books so much, it seemed about time. These also deal with magic--in this one, a boy and his sister are taken in by a powerful wizard. The boy is sort of sweet and clueless, and the sister is an ambitious brat, and the paths the story takes did surprise me a little, and on the whole I enjoyed it and will be reading some others in the series. B+.
2010 book 6
Gillian Flynn's Dark Places
Still rereading past favorites while waiting for the library to get new books in. Here are my original comments, and it was still totally dark and creepy and intense and great even though I knew what was going to happen.
Still rereading past favorites while waiting for the library to get new books in. Here are my original comments, and it was still totally dark and creepy and intense and great even though I knew what was going to happen.
Monday, January 04, 2010
2010 book 5
Melina Marchetta's Jellicoe Road
It took me a little while to get into this YA novel, but once I did, I really liked it. It's about a girl with a somewhat mysterious past who goes to a boarding school where the students have annual battles over territory with town kids and with military school kids, and this year she's in charge. The main story is interspersed with excerpts of a novel about five teenagers who survived a terrible accident, and figuring out exactly how the stories come together is definitely satisfying. Yeah, this has all the things that I like in YA novels--past secrets, great characters and friendships, adventure, and a little romance. A/A-.
It took me a little while to get into this YA novel, but once I did, I really liked it. It's about a girl with a somewhat mysterious past who goes to a boarding school where the students have annual battles over territory with town kids and with military school kids, and this year she's in charge. The main story is interspersed with excerpts of a novel about five teenagers who survived a terrible accident, and figuring out exactly how the stories come together is definitely satisfying. Yeah, this has all the things that I like in YA novels--past secrets, great characters and friendships, adventure, and a little romance. A/A-.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
2010 book 4
Muriel Barbery's The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Still on my kick of rereading recent favorites while waiting for new books to come to the library. Here are my original comments, which still hold true. Note to my mom: after rereading, I am not sure if you'll like this or not.
Still on my kick of rereading recent favorites while waiting for new books to come to the library. Here are my original comments, which still hold true. Note to my mom: after rereading, I am not sure if you'll like this or not.
2010 book 3
Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game
This book never disappoints. What a fun mystery and what great characters! The edition I have is a new one w/ an introduction by the editor saying that Raskin made it up as she went along--which is crazy, considering how many puzzle pieces she fits together. Anyway, this counts as one of my Shelf Discovery books (which I'd almost forgotten I was doing, and I need to find a few more books for).
Back to the Degrassi marathon!
This book never disappoints. What a fun mystery and what great characters! The edition I have is a new one w/ an introduction by the editor saying that Raskin made it up as she went along--which is crazy, considering how many puzzle pieces she fits together. Anyway, this counts as one of my Shelf Discovery books (which I'd almost forgotten I was doing, and I need to find a few more books for).
Back to the Degrassi marathon!
Saturday, January 02, 2010
2010 book 2
Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones
I hadn't read this since it first came out--since before this book blog even existed!--but the recent movie trailers made me want to reread it, since all I remembered was not liking the ghost sex scene (which still rang false--I just don't think the mechanics of it were explained enough in the context of Sebold's concept of the afterlife), and clearly there was a lot more to the story that I'd forgotten. And it turned out that I really liked all the parts I'd forgotten! Susie watching her family and friends react to her death, watching her sister experience all the things she never would, watching them all fall apart . . . powerful stuff, but profoundly sad stuff as well.
I hadn't read this since it first came out--since before this book blog even existed!--but the recent movie trailers made me want to reread it, since all I remembered was not liking the ghost sex scene (which still rang false--I just don't think the mechanics of it were explained enough in the context of Sebold's concept of the afterlife), and clearly there was a lot more to the story that I'd forgotten. And it turned out that I really liked all the parts I'd forgotten! Susie watching her family and friends react to her death, watching her sister experience all the things she never would, watching them all fall apart . . . powerful stuff, but profoundly sad stuff as well.
Friday, January 01, 2010
2010 book 1
It's so weird to be back on book 1 . . . and how many times do you think I'll type "2009 book whatever" by mistake?
Lisa Lutz's Revenge of the Spellmans
The mystery and the character relations are both excellent in the 3rd Spellman book--and I can't wait for the fourth to come out!
Lisa Lutz's Revenge of the Spellmans
The mystery and the character relations are both excellent in the 3rd Spellman book--and I can't wait for the fourth to come out!
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