Jonathan Tropper's One Last Thing Before I Go
Tropper's This Is Where I Leave You was one of my favorite books of 2009, so I was eagerly anticipating his latest book, which is about a washed-up musician from a one-hit wonder band, leading a mess of a life--divorced, estranged from his daughter, working in wedding bands. But then he finds out if he doesn't have heart surgery he could die at any time--and also, his Princeton-bound daughter is pregnant, and his ex-wife is about to get remarried, and he's determined to be a better man. This may all sound super dramatic, but it's Tropper, so it's actually very funny, and the protagonist is amazingly charming considering what a jerk he can be. Plus his dad is a Rabbi forcing him to attend various life events, which I loved. Another great one from Tropper. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
2012 book 167
Margaret Atwood's The Year of the Flood
I've been meaning to read this for a few years, and don't know why I didn't read it sooner--it's a sequel/companion to Atwood's Oryx and Crake, which I remember liking. Of course, I read it before this blog ever existed, so all I remember is . . . someone sitting on a beach? Luckily, Flood works just as well as a standalone, focusing on two women who've survived the plague in isolation, spending their time remembering their shared past in a vegetarian cult (b/c of course they know each other--this book has way too many coincidences like that). I admit to wishing they'd meet up sooner rather than later, but the story is still fairly compelling until that point, and pretty action-packed after. I do love a dystopian novel and this was a good one. Apparently it's also the middle part of a trilogy, which I find extra-intriguing. A-/B+.
I've been meaning to read this for a few years, and don't know why I didn't read it sooner--it's a sequel/companion to Atwood's Oryx and Crake, which I remember liking. Of course, I read it before this blog ever existed, so all I remember is . . . someone sitting on a beach? Luckily, Flood works just as well as a standalone, focusing on two women who've survived the plague in isolation, spending their time remembering their shared past in a vegetarian cult (b/c of course they know each other--this book has way too many coincidences like that). I admit to wishing they'd meet up sooner rather than later, but the story is still fairly compelling until that point, and pretty action-packed after. I do love a dystopian novel and this was a good one. Apparently it's also the middle part of a trilogy, which I find extra-intriguing. A-/B+.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
2012 book 166
Sarah Dessen's This Lullaby
After that last book, I wanted to read something on the fluffier side, so decided to try this Dessen book that I'd missed (it came out in 2002, before I was reading YA). And it was pretty good--Dessen is a reliable writer, though this one was a tiny bit heavy-handed for me (though still very entertaining). And I can never decide if her dudes are realistic or not. Dexter is way too awesome. B/B+.
After that last book, I wanted to read something on the fluffier side, so decided to try this Dessen book that I'd missed (it came out in 2002, before I was reading YA). And it was pretty good--Dessen is a reliable writer, though this one was a tiny bit heavy-handed for me (though still very entertaining). And I can never decide if her dudes are realistic or not. Dexter is way too awesome. B/B+.
2012 book 165
Shani Boianjiu's The People of Forever Are Not Afraid
I was intrigued when I heard this book was about a group of young women serving in the Israeli army (I studied abroad in Tel Aviv and was friendly with some Israelis, but they didn't talk about the army much--plus it was 2000 and things were relatively peaceful there then)--but this book was so much more INTENSE than I was expecting. The three main characters are all somewhat damaged before they even get to the army, but their experiences there . . . well, it made me extra glad that I live a cushy American-Jewish life. It's a great, great book and should be popular with literary fiction readers (it's already getting a lot of buzz), but parts of it are very hard to read. A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in September.
I was intrigued when I heard this book was about a group of young women serving in the Israeli army (I studied abroad in Tel Aviv and was friendly with some Israelis, but they didn't talk about the army much--plus it was 2000 and things were relatively peaceful there then)--but this book was so much more INTENSE than I was expecting. The three main characters are all somewhat damaged before they even get to the army, but their experiences there . . . well, it made me extra glad that I live a cushy American-Jewish life. It's a great, great book and should be popular with literary fiction readers (it's already getting a lot of buzz), but parts of it are very hard to read. A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in September.
Friday, June 15, 2012
2012 book 164
Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons
I swear, no author makes me straight-up weep like Creech does, which is a little bit crazy since she writes for middle-schoolers! Anyway, this one is about a girl on a road trip with her (hilariously cute) grandparents, telling the story of her friend Phoebe--and telling her own story as well. Creech is just a masterful, masterful storyteller. A.
I swear, no author makes me straight-up weep like Creech does, which is a little bit crazy since she writes for middle-schoolers! Anyway, this one is about a girl on a road trip with her (hilariously cute) grandparents, telling the story of her friend Phoebe--and telling her own story as well. Creech is just a masterful, masterful storyteller. A.
2012 book 163
M.L. Steadman's The Light Between Oceans
It's 1926, and a WWI vet and his young wife live on an isolated Australian island where he serves as lighthouse-keeper. After they suffer a series of miscarriages and a stillbirth, a boat washes up holding a dead man and a small living baby, and the wife convinces the husband not to report it so they can raise the baby as their own. Obviously that's not going to work out that well, but how things happen aren't at all predictable. Great characters and atmosphere--I think this should be a sleeper hit for book groups--lots to dissect here. A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
It's 1926, and a WWI vet and his young wife live on an isolated Australian island where he serves as lighthouse-keeper. After they suffer a series of miscarriages and a stillbirth, a boat washes up holding a dead man and a small living baby, and the wife convinces the husband not to report it so they can raise the baby as their own. Obviously that's not going to work out that well, but how things happen aren't at all predictable. Great characters and atmosphere--I think this should be a sleeper hit for book groups--lots to dissect here. A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
2012 book 162
Ernest Cline's Ready Player One
I was not at all excited when I found out this was the next FYA book club book, b/c I DID NOT want to read a book about a dude in a virtual reality world. But it started off strong and I was actually kind of interested . . . until like halfway through when it got SO BORING. Maybe if I'd been a slightly older nerd in the 80s I'd have liked it more, but even the pop culture references I loved got boring after a while--not to mention the endless, ENDLESS video game playing. And not to mention the weirdly tacked on and completely ridiculous romance angle. It did pick up a bit toward the end but man, this book was not my thing at all. AT ALL. C.
I was not at all excited when I found out this was the next FYA book club book, b/c I DID NOT want to read a book about a dude in a virtual reality world. But it started off strong and I was actually kind of interested . . . until like halfway through when it got SO BORING. Maybe if I'd been a slightly older nerd in the 80s I'd have liked it more, but even the pop culture references I loved got boring after a while--not to mention the endless, ENDLESS video game playing. And not to mention the weirdly tacked on and completely ridiculous romance angle. It did pick up a bit toward the end but man, this book was not my thing at all. AT ALL. C.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
2012 book 161
Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay
I honestly don't think this series could have ended any other way and I find this book very satisfying even on my third read of it. I really don't know how the next two movies will convey Katniss' emotional state--I mean, Jennifer Lawrence is a great actress, but dang. And yes, Gale is totally a terrorist.
I honestly don't think this series could have ended any other way and I find this book very satisfying even on my third read of it. I really don't know how the next two movies will convey Katniss' emotional state--I mean, Jennifer Lawrence is a great actress, but dang. And yes, Gale is totally a terrorist.
2012 book 160
Suzanne Collins' Catching Fire
I'm constantly baffled by the people who are surprised at the stuff that went down in Mockingjay--like, did you not read the first two books in this series? In this one, especially, Collins is saying some Stuff about War and Society. I mean, almost all the characters have super severe PTSD! This is not a glamorous world, despite all the fancy food and dresses in the Capitol. This is a deeply messed up world that has deeply messed up the people in it. Totally riveting read, still.
I'm constantly baffled by the people who are surprised at the stuff that went down in Mockingjay--like, did you not read the first two books in this series? In this one, especially, Collins is saying some Stuff about War and Society. I mean, almost all the characters have super severe PTSD! This is not a glamorous world, despite all the fancy food and dresses in the Capitol. This is a deeply messed up world that has deeply messed up the people in it. Totally riveting read, still.
Monday, June 11, 2012
2012 book 159
Nicole Krauss' The History of Love
This was actually the third time I've read this book, and the second time for a book group, and I'd forgotten how GREAT it is. This book has everything I like it in--Judaism, history, books, everyone loving and talking about books, secrets to be unraveled, etc. Well worth the re-read.
This was actually the third time I've read this book, and the second time for a book group, and I'd forgotten how GREAT it is. This book has everything I like it in--Judaism, history, books, everyone loving and talking about books, secrets to be unraveled, etc. Well worth the re-read.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
2012 book 158
Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games
Seeing the Hunger Games movie for the third time last night made me realize that I didn't remember all the details of the book, since it had been almost two years since I read it last. Obviously that had to be rectified! And though the movie is super awesome, it really doesn't hold a candle to the book. I'm dying to dive right into Catching Fire, but one of my book groups meets on Wednesday and I haven't even started that one yet. Ah, but it's so hard to resist the lure of Katniss.
Seeing the Hunger Games movie for the third time last night made me realize that I didn't remember all the details of the book, since it had been almost two years since I read it last. Obviously that had to be rectified! And though the movie is super awesome, it really doesn't hold a candle to the book. I'm dying to dive right into Catching Fire, but one of my book groups meets on Wednesday and I haven't even started that one yet. Ah, but it's so hard to resist the lure of Katniss.
2012 book 157
Vaddey Ratner's In the Shadow of the Banyan
Based partially upon Ratner's own life and history, this is the story of a young girl from a branch of the royal family, and what happens to her and her relatives during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Despite the subject matter, things aren't too harrowing--it weirdly reads at a bit of a remove and I had no idea it was based on the author's life until I read the afterword. Still, the writing itself is very strong, and Ratner certainly evokes the period well. Fascinating story, for sure. B+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
Based partially upon Ratner's own life and history, this is the story of a young girl from a branch of the royal family, and what happens to her and her relatives during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Despite the subject matter, things aren't too harrowing--it weirdly reads at a bit of a remove and I had no idea it was based on the author's life until I read the afterword. Still, the writing itself is very strong, and Ratner certainly evokes the period well. Fascinating story, for sure. B+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
Thursday, June 07, 2012
2012 book 156
Sheila Turnage's Three Times Lucky
My brain was tired after slogging through March and needed something fun to restore it, and this MG story about a girl with a mysterious past living in an eccentric small town that gets caught up in a murder mystery definitely fit the bill. Super cute and occasionally harrowing and full of twists. A-.
My brain was tired after slogging through March and needed something fun to restore it, and this MG story about a girl with a mysterious past living in an eccentric small town that gets caught up in a murder mystery definitely fit the bill. Super cute and occasionally harrowing and full of twists. A-.
2012 book 155
Geraldine Brooks' March
I have been actively avoiding reading this book for years, despite liking all of Brooks' other books, because I just didn't want to read a book about the dad from Little Women off doing things during the Civil War. And at first, I thought I was going to be kicking myself for not reading it earlier, because it starts off pretty interestingly. But at a certain point, reading it felt like doing homework. Man, Mr. March is ridiculously annoying and unlikable. I'm not sure how intentional that was--certainly Bronson Alcott, on whom he's based, was a real piece of work--but it didn't make for enjoyable reading at all. Not to mention how hard it is to read all of the overt and more subtle/paternalistic racism going on (both Marches are totally racist despite being fervent abolitionists). B-.
I have been actively avoiding reading this book for years, despite liking all of Brooks' other books, because I just didn't want to read a book about the dad from Little Women off doing things during the Civil War. And at first, I thought I was going to be kicking myself for not reading it earlier, because it starts off pretty interestingly. But at a certain point, reading it felt like doing homework. Man, Mr. March is ridiculously annoying and unlikable. I'm not sure how intentional that was--certainly Bronson Alcott, on whom he's based, was a real piece of work--but it didn't make for enjoyable reading at all. Not to mention how hard it is to read all of the overt and more subtle/paternalistic racism going on (both Marches are totally racist despite being fervent abolitionists). B-.
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
2012 book 154
Emily Arsenault's Miss Me When I'm Gone
Arsenault is one of the writers working in one of my favorite genres--literary mysteries. I loved her first book, The Broken Teaglass, and also really liked In Search of the Rose Notes, but this definitely feels like a bit of a step up. It's about pregnant Jamie, who's appointed literary executor for her friend Gretchen after Gretchen dies in an accident after a reading for her very successful first book (an Eat Pray Love-style book about country music). But Jamie's efforts to untangle Gretchen's notes for her second book lead to a much more complicated story than she'd imagined, and to a whole slate of mysteries from the past. Things drag a little bit toward the end--as Jamie's investigation gets super intense, the interruptions of excerpts of the country music book got on my nerves (but of course made me eager to get past them to get back to the good stuff). A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
Arsenault is one of the writers working in one of my favorite genres--literary mysteries. I loved her first book, The Broken Teaglass, and also really liked In Search of the Rose Notes, but this definitely feels like a bit of a step up. It's about pregnant Jamie, who's appointed literary executor for her friend Gretchen after Gretchen dies in an accident after a reading for her very successful first book (an Eat Pray Love-style book about country music). But Jamie's efforts to untangle Gretchen's notes for her second book lead to a much more complicated story than she'd imagined, and to a whole slate of mysteries from the past. Things drag a little bit toward the end--as Jamie's investigation gets super intense, the interruptions of excerpts of the country music book got on my nerves (but of course made me eager to get past them to get back to the good stuff). A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
Monday, June 04, 2012
2012 book 153
Emma Straub's Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures
This was a surprisingly moving story about a girl growing up in Wisconsin, where her family runs a summer theater program. After a family tragedy, she moves to California to try and make it as an actress in the Golden Age of Hollywood. The story follows her ups and downs as an actress--and her family ups and downs as well. Highly recommended for fans of literary fiction, historical fiction, books about movie stars, and fans of Anne Helen Petersen's awesome Hairpin series Scandals of Classic Hollywood. It also reminded me a little of Herman Wouk's Marjorie Morningstar, which I only remember vaguely so that shouldn't be taken too seriously. Straub totally nails the LA atmosphere across the years, and Laura is a GREAT character--I'm hoping this will be a hit because I loved it. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in September.
This was a surprisingly moving story about a girl growing up in Wisconsin, where her family runs a summer theater program. After a family tragedy, she moves to California to try and make it as an actress in the Golden Age of Hollywood. The story follows her ups and downs as an actress--and her family ups and downs as well. Highly recommended for fans of literary fiction, historical fiction, books about movie stars, and fans of Anne Helen Petersen's awesome Hairpin series Scandals of Classic Hollywood. It also reminded me a little of Herman Wouk's Marjorie Morningstar, which I only remember vaguely so that shouldn't be taken too seriously. Straub totally nails the LA atmosphere across the years, and Laura is a GREAT character--I'm hoping this will be a hit because I loved it. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in September.
Sunday, June 03, 2012
2012 book 152
Lydia Netzer's Shine Shine Shine
I honestly wanted to read this book because of its beautiful cover, and didn't know a thing about it. It turned out to be a very unusual--but also very readable--book about the love story between a completely bald woman with an atypical upbringing and a genius guy, who, while she's pregnant with their second child, is on a mission to colonize the moon with robots. Great characters and I liked the writing a lot too. Fans of literary fiction should be into it, and I'd also suggest it for anyone who likes a little bit of genre-bending and is willing to read something a little bit weird (I mean that in a good way). A-/B+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
I honestly wanted to read this book because of its beautiful cover, and didn't know a thing about it. It turned out to be a very unusual--but also very readable--book about the love story between a completely bald woman with an atypical upbringing and a genius guy, who, while she's pregnant with their second child, is on a mission to colonize the moon with robots. Great characters and I liked the writing a lot too. Fans of literary fiction should be into it, and I'd also suggest it for anyone who likes a little bit of genre-bending and is willing to read something a little bit weird (I mean that in a good way). A-/B+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
Friday, June 01, 2012
2012 book 151
L.M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle
I think, now that this is out for the Kindle, my life is complete. No, really. It's always been my favorite Montgomery book and my old paperback is pretty tattered. I'm not sure why I find this so appealing--it is pretty funny, and romantic. But it's not like it would hold up to a strenuous critical view. Who cares, Valancy and Barney 4-eva.
I think, now that this is out for the Kindle, my life is complete. No, really. It's always been my favorite Montgomery book and my old paperback is pretty tattered. I'm not sure why I find this so appealing--it is pretty funny, and romantic. But it's not like it would hold up to a strenuous critical view. Who cares, Valancy and Barney 4-eva.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
2012 book 150
Chris Bohjalian's The Sandcastle Girls
Don't be fooled by the title--this is not a fluffy book where ladies drink cocktails and laugh and have romantic drama. It's about a fortysomething novelist writing the story of her grandparents--a Bostonian who accompanies her father on an aid trip to Aleppo in 1915, during the Armenian genocide, and the Armenian man she falls in love with. This back and forth between the past and the present makes it easier for Bohjalian to explain the historical context of a horrible event that most people don't know much about, and makes it not at all like a history lesson. The story of the protagonist-author's research, the story of the grandparents, and the stories of the other characters who come into play are all moving (and in some cases, tear-jerking). This is a great summer read for those who like meatier books--though it is about the genocide, it's much more about a few of the people involved, and frankly the scenes dealing with WWI are much more graphic, so don't be put off by the topic. I really hope this will be a hit--I loved it. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
Don't be fooled by the title--this is not a fluffy book where ladies drink cocktails and laugh and have romantic drama. It's about a fortysomething novelist writing the story of her grandparents--a Bostonian who accompanies her father on an aid trip to Aleppo in 1915, during the Armenian genocide, and the Armenian man she falls in love with. This back and forth between the past and the present makes it easier for Bohjalian to explain the historical context of a horrible event that most people don't know much about, and makes it not at all like a history lesson. The story of the protagonist-author's research, the story of the grandparents, and the stories of the other characters who come into play are all moving (and in some cases, tear-jerking). This is a great summer read for those who like meatier books--though it is about the genocide, it's much more about a few of the people involved, and frankly the scenes dealing with WWI are much more graphic, so don't be put off by the topic. I really hope this will be a hit--I loved it. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
2012 book 149
N.K. Jemisin's The Killing Moon
I really liked Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy and was eager to read the start of her new series (which is just this and a sequel that comes out in like a week), apparently inspired by Egyptian mythology. And the world-building here is just as strong, though the characters are perhaps not as well-developed (I still liked the main characters, I was just not deeply attached to them). Anyway, lots of crazy magic and worship and politics are afoot and it's all pretty interesting stuff. B/B+.
I really liked Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy and was eager to read the start of her new series (which is just this and a sequel that comes out in like a week), apparently inspired by Egyptian mythology. And the world-building here is just as strong, though the characters are perhaps not as well-developed (I still liked the main characters, I was just not deeply attached to them). Anyway, lots of crazy magic and worship and politics are afoot and it's all pretty interesting stuff. B/B+.
Monday, May 28, 2012
2012 book 148
C.J. Redwine's Defiance
It's yet another YA romance-cum-dystopian-adventure, in a future where some sort of monster is menacing around and thus now there's a crazy dictator in charge (the world-building here is a little weak). Of course it's a misogynistic society where women have no power and can't even be alone in public, but our heroine's father trained her to fight with swords and stuff. Also there is an attractive dude who invents things. The completely ridiculous dictator inspires a mission and also inspires revenge. I don't know, this is great for teens who loved Hunger Games and the Chaos Walking series, but I thought the writing here was . . . not great. I mean, the writing itself is fine, but there's way too much telling instead of showing, and I didn't really feel for any of these characters. It was all so . . . melodramatic. But like I said, teens should be into it. C.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
It's yet another YA romance-cum-dystopian-adventure, in a future where some sort of monster is menacing around and thus now there's a crazy dictator in charge (the world-building here is a little weak). Of course it's a misogynistic society where women have no power and can't even be alone in public, but our heroine's father trained her to fight with swords and stuff. Also there is an attractive dude who invents things. The completely ridiculous dictator inspires a mission and also inspires revenge. I don't know, this is great for teens who loved Hunger Games and the Chaos Walking series, but I thought the writing here was . . . not great. I mean, the writing itself is fine, but there's way too much telling instead of showing, and I didn't really feel for any of these characters. It was all so . . . melodramatic. But like I said, teens should be into it. C.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
2012 book 148
Meg Cabot's Size 12 and Ready to Rock
I seriously HATE the titles of this series, especially compared to how much I enjoy reading them. (SERIOUSLY, why is the protagonist's weight her defining trait when she has so many more interesting things going on?) Former pop star turned residence hall assistant director Heather Wells is back in a really engaging story that almost hardly counts as a mystery (in that there's nothing really to be solved, but there is still tension and crime) but is still a ton of fun to read. Perfect summer reading. A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
I seriously HATE the titles of this series, especially compared to how much I enjoy reading them. (SERIOUSLY, why is the protagonist's weight her defining trait when she has so many more interesting things going on?) Former pop star turned residence hall assistant director Heather Wells is back in a really engaging story that almost hardly counts as a mystery (in that there's nothing really to be solved, but there is still tension and crime) but is still a ton of fun to read. Perfect summer reading. A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
2012 book 147
Juliet Marillier's Seer of Sevenwaters
Another satisfying entry in the series. I had mixed feelings about the druid-in-training tempted to give up her life for a dude, but was ok with the resolution. Good story here, loved the fairy tale elements. B+.
Another satisfying entry in the series. I had mixed feelings about the druid-in-training tempted to give up her life for a dude, but was ok with the resolution. Good story here, loved the fairy tale elements. B+.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
2012 book 146
Juliet Marillier's Heir to Sevenwaters
After that last one, I almost gave up on this series, and I'm really glad I didn't! The heroine of this one is a refreshingly normal girl who gets caught up in a fairy-tale like story involving a trickster king and a changeling baby. Plus the usual romantic elements (though this guy is mayyybe my favorite of the four so far, he's definitely the most interesting). Anyway, this one was much more up my alley--I love stories that are kind of about stories. A/A-.
After that last one, I almost gave up on this series, and I'm really glad I didn't! The heroine of this one is a refreshingly normal girl who gets caught up in a fairy-tale like story involving a trickster king and a changeling baby. Plus the usual romantic elements (though this guy is mayyybe my favorite of the four so far, he's definitely the most interesting). Anyway, this one was much more up my alley--I love stories that are kind of about stories. A/A-.
2012 book 145
Juliet Marillier's Child of the Prophecy
The third Sevenwaters book took me a little while to read, mainly b/c the protagonist was SO ANNOYING, especially compared to the girls from the first two books! She was much weaker and whinier, had no agency, and was overly stupid about everything. And every time she'd start to get interesting and cool, she'd immediately go back to being annoying again. ARGHHHHH. Seriously. Good resolution to all of the warring and politicking from the previous books, but man, this was tough to get through. B-.
The third Sevenwaters book took me a little while to read, mainly b/c the protagonist was SO ANNOYING, especially compared to the girls from the first two books! She was much weaker and whinier, had no agency, and was overly stupid about everything. And every time she'd start to get interesting and cool, she'd immediately go back to being annoying again. ARGHHHHH. Seriously. Good resolution to all of the warring and politicking from the previous books, but man, this was tough to get through. B-.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
2012 book 144
Juliet Marillier's Son of the Shadows
The second book in the Sevenwaters series focuses on the daughter of the first one's protagonist and involves more war, politics, and other drama. I was mildly annoyed that obvious secrets weren't revealed in a more timely manner (b/c I HATE when books do that) but otherwise liked this a lot. Team Painted Man! A-.
The second book in the Sevenwaters series focuses on the daughter of the first one's protagonist and involves more war, politics, and other drama. I was mildly annoyed that obvious secrets weren't revealed in a more timely manner (b/c I HATE when books do that) but otherwise liked this a lot. Team Painted Man! A-.
Monday, May 21, 2012
2012 book 143
Juliet Marillier's Daughter of the Forest
I liked Marillier's upcoming YA fantasy book a lot (scroll down a bit for details) and wanted to check out some of her other work--this is the first in an adult fantasy series (apparently it was originally meant to be a trilogy but has stretched to 5 books, with a 6th coming), based on that fairy tale where a girl's brothers get turned into swans and she can't talk and has to hand-make them shirts to turn them back. This doesn't keep all the details of the story, b/c Marillier weaves a whole epic around it set in ancient Ireland, giving the reader time to get to know the girl and her brothers before the inevitable tragedy strikes (and then more and more tragedies . . . ). I swear I read this whole book with my heart in my throat, and was both happy with the end and vaguely relieved that it was done. Of course I'm starting the sequel right now. A-.
I liked Marillier's upcoming YA fantasy book a lot (scroll down a bit for details) and wanted to check out some of her other work--this is the first in an adult fantasy series (apparently it was originally meant to be a trilogy but has stretched to 5 books, with a 6th coming), based on that fairy tale where a girl's brothers get turned into swans and she can't talk and has to hand-make them shirts to turn them back. This doesn't keep all the details of the story, b/c Marillier weaves a whole epic around it set in ancient Ireland, giving the reader time to get to know the girl and her brothers before the inevitable tragedy strikes (and then more and more tragedies . . . ). I swear I read this whole book with my heart in my throat, and was both happy with the end and vaguely relieved that it was done. Of course I'm starting the sequel right now. A-.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
2012 book 142
R.J. Palacio's Wonder
I've been putting off reading this for a while (and this is actually the second time I've gotten it from the library on my Kindle) b/c it just seemed like a book about a boy with a genetic facial abnormality going to school for the first time was going to be a downer. And don't get me wrong, I straight up sobbed for large chunks of it. But it was also excellent and I'm glad I finally read it. A.
I've been putting off reading this for a while (and this is actually the second time I've gotten it from the library on my Kindle) b/c it just seemed like a book about a boy with a genetic facial abnormality going to school for the first time was going to be a downer. And don't get me wrong, I straight up sobbed for large chunks of it. But it was also excellent and I'm glad I finally read it. A.
2012 book 141
Lyndsay Faye's The Gods of Gotham
Stellar mystery about a member of New York City's brand-new police force in the 1840s, and the case he gets embroiled in when he encounters a little girl covered in blood. There were several completely unexpected twists, and the resolution was pretty satisfying. Plus, Faye totally nails the atmosphere of 19th century NYC--especially the very weird politics and the anti-Irish sentiment. Fascinating read, perfect for summer. A/A-.
Stellar mystery about a member of New York City's brand-new police force in the 1840s, and the case he gets embroiled in when he encounters a little girl covered in blood. There were several completely unexpected twists, and the resolution was pretty satisfying. Plus, Faye totally nails the atmosphere of 19th century NYC--especially the very weird politics and the anti-Irish sentiment. Fascinating read, perfect for summer. A/A-.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
2012 book 140
Anne Berry's The Water Children
This book was a little bit too weird and messed up for my personal tastes, though it was very well-written. It's about four disparate people with ties to water (traumatic or otherwise) whose lives eventually intersect, which is all well and good. But things go completely off the rails in a very silly and overly dramatic way that I just found kind of annoying. B-.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher.
This book was a little bit too weird and messed up for my personal tastes, though it was very well-written. It's about four disparate people with ties to water (traumatic or otherwise) whose lives eventually intersect, which is all well and good. But things go completely off the rails in a very silly and overly dramatic way that I just found kind of annoying. B-.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher.
Friday, May 18, 2012
2012 book 139
Roddy Doyle's A Greyhound of a Girl
I didn't even realize this was a YA book (actually an MG book, I think) until a review appeared on the FYA blog--b/c it's kind of mysterious and profound, and not at all typical of most MG books. It's about a 12-year-old girl whose grandmother is in the hospital, and how she befriends a mysterious old-fashioned young woman--who turns out to be the ghost of her great-grandmother. The four generations of women in this story are all absolutely wonderful, and even more wonderful and hilarious when they're together. It's a nice quick read--though I did cry at the end. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
I didn't even realize this was a YA book (actually an MG book, I think) until a review appeared on the FYA blog--b/c it's kind of mysterious and profound, and not at all typical of most MG books. It's about a 12-year-old girl whose grandmother is in the hospital, and how she befriends a mysterious old-fashioned young woman--who turns out to be the ghost of her great-grandmother. The four generations of women in this story are all absolutely wonderful, and even more wonderful and hilarious when they're together. It's a nice quick read--though I did cry at the end. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
2012 book 138
Juliet Marillier's Shadowfell
I've never read any of Marillier's work before, but this start to a new YA fantasy trilogy makes me want to! It's not too far from the YA fantasy norm--a girl with special gifts in a land with a tyrant king who will want to either kill her or use her horribly, a mysterious and helpful man, lovable magic folk, etc. But Marillier weaves it all into something really riveting. I loved the protagonist and her journey and her friends and can't wait for the sequel. A/A-.
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A e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in September.
I've never read any of Marillier's work before, but this start to a new YA fantasy trilogy makes me want to! It's not too far from the YA fantasy norm--a girl with special gifts in a land with a tyrant king who will want to either kill her or use her horribly, a mysterious and helpful man, lovable magic folk, etc. But Marillier weaves it all into something really riveting. I loved the protagonist and her journey and her friends and can't wait for the sequel. A/A-.
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A e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in September.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Drama!
I don't usually review graphic novels in a formal way (b/c I don't count them toward my yearly book totals) but got an advance copy of Raina Telgemeier's Drama and wanted to talk about it b/c it's awesome! Telgemeier is, of course, the author of Smile, the MG graphic novel that has won more awards and acclaim than any other that I've ever heard of (deservedly--it's cute and very compelling too), as well as adapting the Babysitter's Club GNs. Telgemeier manages to avoid sophomore slump with Drama, a work of fiction about the stage crew of a middle school play. There's lots of boy drama and drama-drama, but heroine Callie is completely adorable and relatable, and I loved this. Telegeimeier totally nails middle school in a really fun way.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. Drama will be released in the fall.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. Drama will be released in the fall.
2012 book 137
Jennifer Miller's The Year of the Gadfly
I do love books about shenanigans at elite schools, so this one, about a 15 year old wannabe journalist (who has conversations with an imaginary Edward R. Murrow) with a sad past uncovering secrets at her new school that involve her charismatic and eccentric biology teacher and a mysterious secret society, was pretty much right up my alley. The conclusion was a little bit messy but I was pretty satisfied anyway. B+.
I do love books about shenanigans at elite schools, so this one, about a 15 year old wannabe journalist (who has conversations with an imaginary Edward R. Murrow) with a sad past uncovering secrets at her new school that involve her charismatic and eccentric biology teacher and a mysterious secret society, was pretty much right up my alley. The conclusion was a little bit messy but I was pretty satisfied anyway. B+.
Monday, May 14, 2012
2012 book 136
Anouk Markovits' I Am Forbidden
I'd never heard of this book until reading about it in Entertainment Weekly (mentioned twice in the latest issue) which my mom also read, prompting her to buy this and rave about it to me. And if your mom recommends a book to you on Mother's Day, I think you're morally obligated to read it. Luckily this book is excellent, despite the mixed reviews on Amazon--I think the fact that it takes place in such a Hasidic environment throws some readers off, but my mom and I are pretty comfortable reading about such things. :) Anyway, it's the story of a Transylvanian Jewish Hasidic family from WWII to the present--and especially of two little girls who grow into very different adults. (Interestingly, the one who is more like Markovits is much less present in the second half of the book.) Very sensitive portrayal of Hasidism (well, mostly) and though some parts are just like WHAT I liked this a lot. A-.
I'd never heard of this book until reading about it in Entertainment Weekly (mentioned twice in the latest issue) which my mom also read, prompting her to buy this and rave about it to me. And if your mom recommends a book to you on Mother's Day, I think you're morally obligated to read it. Luckily this book is excellent, despite the mixed reviews on Amazon--I think the fact that it takes place in such a Hasidic environment throws some readers off, but my mom and I are pretty comfortable reading about such things. :) Anyway, it's the story of a Transylvanian Jewish Hasidic family from WWII to the present--and especially of two little girls who grow into very different adults. (Interestingly, the one who is more like Markovits is much less present in the second half of the book.) Very sensitive portrayal of Hasidism (well, mostly) and though some parts are just like WHAT I liked this a lot. A-.
2012 book 135
Mark Helprin's Winter's Tale
This was my FAVORITE book when I was in high school and college, and I used to reread it at least once a year . . . though it's been about ten years since I last read it, partially b/c my old paperback copy (actually my dad's old paperback copy) completely fell apart, and partially b/c when I tried to read the fancy new paperback edition that came out in like 2005, it was a) too heavy, and b) I bogged down about halfway through and didn't have the heart to keep reading it in case I didn't love it anymore.
Which is perhaps too much backstory for this blog, but whatever. A Kindle version finally came out, which made me much more eager to try reading it again (though, be warned, it has a million stupid typos of the sort that happen when a book is converted to a digital file for the first time). And it holds up pretty well. The first third--set in the very early 20th Century, focusing on mechanic/burglar Peter Lake and his love-at-first-sight with one Beverly Penn (side note, somehow they are making a movie of this book starring Colin Farrell and Lady Sybil from Downton Abbey in these roles, with Russell Crowe as a crime boss and Will Smith as some part I haven't figured out yet) is still the strongest--this book is like 800 pages long, and the middle is kind of slow, and everyone falls in love at first sight with someone, and there's a pretty uninteresting interlude where a guy runs for mayor for no reason, and I STILL haven't figured out what political/philosophical thought I am supposed to take away from this book, besides "Yay New York I guess"--mainly b/c Peter Lake is the BEST. And frankly this book is a little weird, all flying horses and Baymen and a rainbow bridge to the future (it came out in 1983, but the last chunk takes place in 1999). I like the flying horse a lot, but trying to explain this story is nigh impossible. Anyway, turns out I do still love it despite its flaws.
This was my FAVORITE book when I was in high school and college, and I used to reread it at least once a year . . . though it's been about ten years since I last read it, partially b/c my old paperback copy (actually my dad's old paperback copy) completely fell apart, and partially b/c when I tried to read the fancy new paperback edition that came out in like 2005, it was a) too heavy, and b) I bogged down about halfway through and didn't have the heart to keep reading it in case I didn't love it anymore.
Which is perhaps too much backstory for this blog, but whatever. A Kindle version finally came out, which made me much more eager to try reading it again (though, be warned, it has a million stupid typos of the sort that happen when a book is converted to a digital file for the first time). And it holds up pretty well. The first third--set in the very early 20th Century, focusing on mechanic/burglar Peter Lake and his love-at-first-sight with one Beverly Penn (side note, somehow they are making a movie of this book starring Colin Farrell and Lady Sybil from Downton Abbey in these roles, with Russell Crowe as a crime boss and Will Smith as some part I haven't figured out yet) is still the strongest--this book is like 800 pages long, and the middle is kind of slow, and everyone falls in love at first sight with someone, and there's a pretty uninteresting interlude where a guy runs for mayor for no reason, and I STILL haven't figured out what political/philosophical thought I am supposed to take away from this book, besides "Yay New York I guess"--mainly b/c Peter Lake is the BEST. And frankly this book is a little weird, all flying horses and Baymen and a rainbow bridge to the future (it came out in 1983, but the last chunk takes place in 1999). I like the flying horse a lot, but trying to explain this story is nigh impossible. Anyway, turns out I do still love it despite its flaws.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
2012 book 134
Gwenda Bond's Blackwood
This book has a GREAT premise--on Roanoke Island, the town outcast girl pairs up with the police chief's son (who hears the voices of spirits) to investigate the Lost Colony when 114 residents of the town suddenly vanish. And even the explanation for all that is interesting. And things start off strong, but . . . My problem was with the main characters--there's just way too much telling instead of showing for their investigation, and for their very annoying romance. They weren't fully fleshed-out at all. And the ending is supremely goofy. Now, this book does get props for NC music shoutouts (the Rosebuds) but in general was not at all satisfying. C+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in September.
This book has a GREAT premise--on Roanoke Island, the town outcast girl pairs up with the police chief's son (who hears the voices of spirits) to investigate the Lost Colony when 114 residents of the town suddenly vanish. And even the explanation for all that is interesting. And things start off strong, but . . . My problem was with the main characters--there's just way too much telling instead of showing for their investigation, and for their very annoying romance. They weren't fully fleshed-out at all. And the ending is supremely goofy. Now, this book does get props for NC music shoutouts (the Rosebuds) but in general was not at all satisfying. C+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in September.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
2012 book 133
Louise Erdrich's The Round House
Louise Erdrich is a writer who, for me, can almost do no wrong. I think I love all of her books, and her latest is no exception (honestly, I think she's getting better and better, which is amazing since she apparently was undergoing treatment for breast cancer while writing this). I'm not sure if it's because the central character is a 13-year-old boy who likes Star Trek: TNG or the narrative voice, but this reminded me at times of Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (high praise). Anyway, this book is about what happens when a boy's mother is brutally attacked, and how their family tries to recover from the traumatic event. And it's about friendships, cultural traditions, religion, and love. It's set on the same reservation as a lot of Erdrich's other books (Nanapush is briefly featured) but I think these characters are new. None of that is really relevant, but I thought I'd lay it out for fellow Erdrich fans. For the rest of you, her books are great, and this one especially is a stellar work worth reading. A.
ETA: This book is actually kind of a continuation of the story in A Plague of Doves, according to some internet research (I honestly almost went to the library to check out a book that's a dictionary of Erdrich's characters, b/c I recognized some of the names but couldn't remember which books they were from).
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in October.
Louise Erdrich is a writer who, for me, can almost do no wrong. I think I love all of her books, and her latest is no exception (honestly, I think she's getting better and better, which is amazing since she apparently was undergoing treatment for breast cancer while writing this). I'm not sure if it's because the central character is a 13-year-old boy who likes Star Trek: TNG or the narrative voice, but this reminded me at times of Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (high praise). Anyway, this book is about what happens when a boy's mother is brutally attacked, and how their family tries to recover from the traumatic event. And it's about friendships, cultural traditions, religion, and love. It's set on the same reservation as a lot of Erdrich's other books (Nanapush is briefly featured) but I think these characters are new. None of that is really relevant, but I thought I'd lay it out for fellow Erdrich fans. For the rest of you, her books are great, and this one especially is a stellar work worth reading. A.
ETA: This book is actually kind of a continuation of the story in A Plague of Doves, according to some internet research (I honestly almost went to the library to check out a book that's a dictionary of Erdrich's characters, b/c I recognized some of the names but couldn't remember which books they were from).
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in October.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
2012 book 132
E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
I was delighted to reread this for my young lady nerd book group--I love what a deliciously evil genius Frankie is. And I love her quest to reclaim all the neglected positive words. Lockhart is a super fun writer and this is easily her best book.
I was delighted to reread this for my young lady nerd book group--I love what a deliciously evil genius Frankie is. And I love her quest to reclaim all the neglected positive words. Lockhart is a super fun writer and this is easily her best book.
2012 book 131
Jackson Pearce's Purity
An excerpt of this was featured on Jezebel last month, but when it popped up in my RSS reader, I didn't realize it was a novel and was like, whoa, this story is crazy. Unfortunately, the book doesn't live up to the premise and is completely and thoroughly predictable. Frankly, it almost reads like a Disney Channel movie (though slightly more sex-positive than anything on that channel could ever be). It was all very . . . blech-y. Pearce has written a couple of pretty-good takes on fairy tales that are worth checking out, but this is one to avoid. C.
An excerpt of this was featured on Jezebel last month, but when it popped up in my RSS reader, I didn't realize it was a novel and was like, whoa, this story is crazy. Unfortunately, the book doesn't live up to the premise and is completely and thoroughly predictable. Frankly, it almost reads like a Disney Channel movie (though slightly more sex-positive than anything on that channel could ever be). It was all very . . . blech-y. Pearce has written a couple of pretty-good takes on fairy tales that are worth checking out, but this is one to avoid. C.
Monday, May 07, 2012
2012 book 130
Michael Chabon's Telegraph Avenue
Sorry for the lack of posting--I had a super-busy weekend (loved the Avengers movie!) and this book was kind of long and I wanted to take a little extra time with it, b/c OMG NEW MICHAEL CHABON. (!!!!!)
I will say that it'd take a lot for a Chabon book to receive below some form of an A grade, just b/c I enjoy his writing so much, and so while this wasn't my favorite of his books (I mean, unless it was another book about Jews and comics, it was never going to be) it was definitely solid and I think should get pretty positive reviews. It's set in roughly 2003/2004 (based on contextual clues, like an appearance from a pre-Senator Obama) and focuses on a group of people who live and work in the Berkeley/Oakland area (semi-affectionately called Brokeland). Two of the major characters own a record store, so there's some great music stuff here, and also a lot of interesting stuff on family/relationships (primarily father/son) and on race/class (and blaxpoitation movies!). I do think it's worth noting--and I expect that some reviews will have Stuff to say about it--that there are really only two female major characters (as opposed to four main male characters and another 4 or 5 strong secondary male characters), and both are midwives. They are pretty great characters, though this is still pretty much a dude book. But I love Chabon's writing (there are some particularly nicely phrased sentences here) and liked his sense of humor in this one. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in September.
Sorry for the lack of posting--I had a super-busy weekend (loved the Avengers movie!) and this book was kind of long and I wanted to take a little extra time with it, b/c OMG NEW MICHAEL CHABON. (!!!!!)
I will say that it'd take a lot for a Chabon book to receive below some form of an A grade, just b/c I enjoy his writing so much, and so while this wasn't my favorite of his books (I mean, unless it was another book about Jews and comics, it was never going to be) it was definitely solid and I think should get pretty positive reviews. It's set in roughly 2003/2004 (based on contextual clues, like an appearance from a pre-Senator Obama) and focuses on a group of people who live and work in the Berkeley/Oakland area (semi-affectionately called Brokeland). Two of the major characters own a record store, so there's some great music stuff here, and also a lot of interesting stuff on family/relationships (primarily father/son) and on race/class (and blaxpoitation movies!). I do think it's worth noting--and I expect that some reviews will have Stuff to say about it--that there are really only two female major characters (as opposed to four main male characters and another 4 or 5 strong secondary male characters), and both are midwives. They are pretty great characters, though this is still pretty much a dude book. But I love Chabon's writing (there are some particularly nicely phrased sentences here) and liked his sense of humor in this one. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in September.
Friday, May 04, 2012
2012 book 129
J. Anderson Coats' The Wicked and the Just
It's the year 1293, and an English young girl and her father move to Wales (b/c the government is encouraging English people to move to Wales to help settle and/or oppress the area). The story is told mostly from her POV, with occasional tidbits from her young Welsh servant. Things are primarily interesting for the historical perspective--this isn't really a well-known piece of history, at least not in America. The characters and story are fine, though, and the end is pretty well-done. B/B+.
It's the year 1293, and an English young girl and her father move to Wales (b/c the government is encouraging English people to move to Wales to help settle and/or oppress the area). The story is told mostly from her POV, with occasional tidbits from her young Welsh servant. Things are primarily interesting for the historical perspective--this isn't really a well-known piece of history, at least not in America. The characters and story are fine, though, and the end is pretty well-done. B/B+.
Thursday, May 03, 2012
2012 book 128
Anna Jarzab's The Opposite of Hallelujah
When I read the description of this book, which is something like "A teenage girl's much older sister returns home after a long absence, and long-held secrets come out" I assumed the older sister was actually the teenager's mom and was relieved to quickly discover this wasn't that kind of book at all. In fact, it's pretty much as far from that as you can get, because the older sister is actually returning home after spending the last eight years in a convent, training to be a nun. So that's kind of weird for the protagonist, who's also dealing with general high school angst. Things did get a bit too melodramatic for my tastes toward the end, but I really enjoyed the protagonist's relationship with her friends, and thought her love interest was very likable and nicely quirky. I also was pleased at how much discussion there was of religion, and science, and religion & science. It was a bit more philosophical than the usual YA book. B.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in October.
When I read the description of this book, which is something like "A teenage girl's much older sister returns home after a long absence, and long-held secrets come out" I assumed the older sister was actually the teenager's mom and was relieved to quickly discover this wasn't that kind of book at all. In fact, it's pretty much as far from that as you can get, because the older sister is actually returning home after spending the last eight years in a convent, training to be a nun. So that's kind of weird for the protagonist, who's also dealing with general high school angst. Things did get a bit too melodramatic for my tastes toward the end, but I really enjoyed the protagonist's relationship with her friends, and thought her love interest was very likable and nicely quirky. I also was pleased at how much discussion there was of religion, and science, and religion & science. It was a bit more philosophical than the usual YA book. B.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in October.
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
2012 book 127
Kristin Cashore's Bitterblue
YAY the third book in the Graceling series is finally here, and it does not disappoint! It is, of course, the story of Bitterblue, about nine years after the events of the first book, as she struggles to make her kingdom work, and with being a queen in general, and with her horrible childhood memories. Of course things get shaken up a bit when she starts sneaking out at night, meets a couple of thieves, and starts to learn what's really going on in her kingdom. This was stellar stuff--I really liked Bitterblue as a character (though for someone so smart, it took her a little too long to figure out a couple of important plot points, which was a little frustrating--but this was tempered by her decoding skills, something I always enjoy in fiction for some reason), and it was nice to see Katsa and Po and other beloved Cashore characters again, and to read a YA book where romance isn't at all the main thing. AND there is a pretty great librarian character. I don't know if Cashore is planning on writing any more books set in this world, but I'd definitely read them if she did. A/A-.
YAY the third book in the Graceling series is finally here, and it does not disappoint! It is, of course, the story of Bitterblue, about nine years after the events of the first book, as she struggles to make her kingdom work, and with being a queen in general, and with her horrible childhood memories. Of course things get shaken up a bit when she starts sneaking out at night, meets a couple of thieves, and starts to learn what's really going on in her kingdom. This was stellar stuff--I really liked Bitterblue as a character (though for someone so smart, it took her a little too long to figure out a couple of important plot points, which was a little frustrating--but this was tempered by her decoding skills, something I always enjoy in fiction for some reason), and it was nice to see Katsa and Po and other beloved Cashore characters again, and to read a YA book where romance isn't at all the main thing. AND there is a pretty great librarian character. I don't know if Cashore is planning on writing any more books set in this world, but I'd definitely read them if she did. A/A-.
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
2012 book 126
Rebecca Stead's Liar & Spy
Stead's last novel, the amazing When You Reach Me, won the Newbery Award and also is one of my favorite books ever. I was eager to read her new one, but worried it could never compare. And while it's not really on the same emotional level--I mean, I straight up SOB whenever I read When You Reach Me--it's still an excellent book, about a middle-school boy whose family suddenly moves from a house to an apartment when his dad loses his job . . where he meets a new friend, a boy who's obsessed with spying on a mysterious neighbor. Meanwhile, he has to deal with increasingly annoying bullying from classmates and the upcoming class Taste Test, which prophecies either true love or a terrible demise. But is everything quite what it seems? The characterization here is great--Stead is really gifted at writing believable and unusual children--and I loved the resolution. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
Stead's last novel, the amazing When You Reach Me, won the Newbery Award and also is one of my favorite books ever. I was eager to read her new one, but worried it could never compare. And while it's not really on the same emotional level--I mean, I straight up SOB whenever I read When You Reach Me--it's still an excellent book, about a middle-school boy whose family suddenly moves from a house to an apartment when his dad loses his job . . where he meets a new friend, a boy who's obsessed with spying on a mysterious neighbor. Meanwhile, he has to deal with increasingly annoying bullying from classmates and the upcoming class Taste Test, which prophecies either true love or a terrible demise. But is everything quite what it seems? The characterization here is great--Stead is really gifted at writing believable and unusual children--and I loved the resolution. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
Monday, April 30, 2012
2012 book 125
Joshua Henkin's World Without You
A year after their journalist son/brother/husband was killed in Iraq, a family reunites for his memorial and for the unveiling of his headstone. I love stories about mildly dysfunctional families reuniting for some reason or another, and this one didn't disappoint--there are all sorts of conflicts and secrets and disappointments to hash out. I had mildly mixed feelings about the portrayal of daughter Noelle, who randomly moved to Israel and fell into Orthodox Judaism (the family in theory is Jewish, but are exceptionally clueless even for Reform Jews--and I'm one, so I know) but her feelings of being adrift and apart from her sisters are pretty well drawn. There isn't a satisfying conclusion, but that's realistic too. B/B+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
A year after their journalist son/brother/husband was killed in Iraq, a family reunites for his memorial and for the unveiling of his headstone. I love stories about mildly dysfunctional families reuniting for some reason or another, and this one didn't disappoint--there are all sorts of conflicts and secrets and disappointments to hash out. I had mildly mixed feelings about the portrayal of daughter Noelle, who randomly moved to Israel and fell into Orthodox Judaism (the family in theory is Jewish, but are exceptionally clueless even for Reform Jews--and I'm one, so I know) but her feelings of being adrift and apart from her sisters are pretty well drawn. There isn't a satisfying conclusion, but that's realistic too. B/B+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
2012 book 124
Patrick Ness' Monsters of Men
I had seriously mixed feelings about this as a conclusion to the Chaos Walking series. For one thing, after reading all three books in a row, I was SUPER SICK of Todd and Viola yelling each other's names all the time. And also, Todd is a complete moron. I swear, every third chapter (ie, every Todd chapter), I said out loud at least once, "Todd, STOP BEING STUPID!!" And I didn't love the end . . . by which I mean the last third of the book. The villain was completely ridiculous and I just got tired of the endless warring after a while. This wasn't bad, I just found it really annoying for some reason. B/B-.
I had seriously mixed feelings about this as a conclusion to the Chaos Walking series. For one thing, after reading all three books in a row, I was SUPER SICK of Todd and Viola yelling each other's names all the time. And also, Todd is a complete moron. I swear, every third chapter (ie, every Todd chapter), I said out loud at least once, "Todd, STOP BEING STUPID!!" And I didn't love the end . . . by which I mean the last third of the book. The villain was completely ridiculous and I just got tired of the endless warring after a while. This wasn't bad, I just found it really annoying for some reason. B/B-.
2012 book 123
Patrick Ness' The Ask and the Answer
Jezz, the second book in this trilogy is even more relentlessly grim than the first one! I mean, it's GOOD, just so hard to read. There's no hope at all and everything just gets worse and worse all the time. Of course I have to read the third one right now and see what happens. Now I'm kind of glad I waited to read these--I can't imagine having to wait months and months with all this in my head and no resolution. B+.
Jezz, the second book in this trilogy is even more relentlessly grim than the first one! I mean, it's GOOD, just so hard to read. There's no hope at all and everything just gets worse and worse all the time. Of course I have to read the third one right now and see what happens. Now I'm kind of glad I waited to read these--I can't imagine having to wait months and months with all this in my head and no resolution. B+.
Friday, April 27, 2012
2012 book 122
Patrick Ness' The Knife of Never Letting Go
I've been meaning to read this series since the first one came out to rave reviews, but it just seemed so GRIM that I kept putting it off. But when all three books went on supersale for the Kindle a few weeks ago, I bought them, and when it was announced this week that Charlie Kauffman is on board to direct a movie version, it finally seemed like a good time to get started. But dang, it is GRIM. I mean, it's about young boy growing up in a world without women, where you can hear all the men's thoughts (and the thoughts of everything, actually, including crocodiles) and it's super super unpleasant. Second of all, there's a lovable talking dog you just know something terrible is going to happen to, and every scene you're just like "please let the dog be ok." Things start happening when the boy hears a spot of silence in a swamp and suddenly is on the run, without really knowing the reason why. It's a really really good book, and a quick read, but not at all an easy one. A-.
I've been meaning to read this series since the first one came out to rave reviews, but it just seemed so GRIM that I kept putting it off. But when all three books went on supersale for the Kindle a few weeks ago, I bought them, and when it was announced this week that Charlie Kauffman is on board to direct a movie version, it finally seemed like a good time to get started. But dang, it is GRIM. I mean, it's about young boy growing up in a world without women, where you can hear all the men's thoughts (and the thoughts of everything, actually, including crocodiles) and it's super super unpleasant. Second of all, there's a lovable talking dog you just know something terrible is going to happen to, and every scene you're just like "please let the dog be ok." Things start happening when the boy hears a spot of silence in a swamp and suddenly is on the run, without really knowing the reason why. It's a really really good book, and a quick read, but not at all an easy one. A-.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
2012 book 121
Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting
This is one of my all-time favorite books--I cry every time I read it--and I'm still really mad about that terrible movie they made starring Rory Gilmore. As an adult reading this book, I can't help but notice how evocative Babbitt's writing is--really impressive stuff for a children's book.
This is one of my all-time favorite books--I cry every time I read it--and I'm still really mad about that terrible movie they made starring Rory Gilmore. As an adult reading this book, I can't help but notice how evocative Babbitt's writing is--really impressive stuff for a children's book.
2012 book 120
Megan McCafferty's Thumped
The sequel to Bumped was less disappointing than its predecessor, or maybe my expectations were just lowered enough to find it less annoying. The writing is better this time, but it's still too short for any real character development--I'm just not really interested in either twin or their predicaments. And everything is super predictable. It's a quick read and more or less entertaining, but I really hope McCafferty goes back to writing contemporary stuff soon, b/c dystopias clearly aren't her strong point. B.
The sequel to Bumped was less disappointing than its predecessor, or maybe my expectations were just lowered enough to find it less annoying. The writing is better this time, but it's still too short for any real character development--I'm just not really interested in either twin or their predicaments. And everything is super predictable. It's a quick read and more or less entertaining, but I really hope McCafferty goes back to writing contemporary stuff soon, b/c dystopias clearly aren't her strong point. B.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
2012 book 119
Elizabeth Wein's Code Name Verity
Guys, this book was SO GOOD. It's about a young Scottish woman in WWII who's been captured by the Gestapo as a spy, and is being forced to write her confession. But what she writes is primarily the story of two best friends, herself and an amazing lady pilot, and how they met in the war, and the events leading to her capture. And then Wein turns everything on its head (more so than I even expected, and I suspected stuff was up). I will say that I spent the last third of the book basically crying, but that is because it was SO GOOD. This is being marketed as YA for some reason but is a great read for all ages. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on May 15.
Guys, this book was SO GOOD. It's about a young Scottish woman in WWII who's been captured by the Gestapo as a spy, and is being forced to write her confession. But what she writes is primarily the story of two best friends, herself and an amazing lady pilot, and how they met in the war, and the events leading to her capture. And then Wein turns everything on its head (more so than I even expected, and I suspected stuff was up). I will say that I spent the last third of the book basically crying, but that is because it was SO GOOD. This is being marketed as YA for some reason but is a great read for all ages. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on May 15.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
2012 book 118
Nell Freudenberger's The Newlyweds
Freudenberger's latest was apparently inspired by a Bangladeshi woman she met on a plane, on her way to marry an American. So yes, this is about a Bangladeshi woman who comes to America to marry a man she meets on some sort of mail-order-bride/internet-dating website. The usual culture shock is compounded by various family secrets--I love stories involving both of those things, so this totally worked for me. A few times the tension was so thick I was almost too nervous to keep reading and had to put the book down for a breather. I really enjoyed this, and think it'd be great for more literary-minded book groups (or literary-minded readers in general). A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released May 1.
Freudenberger's latest was apparently inspired by a Bangladeshi woman she met on a plane, on her way to marry an American. So yes, this is about a Bangladeshi woman who comes to America to marry a man she meets on some sort of mail-order-bride/internet-dating website. The usual culture shock is compounded by various family secrets--I love stories involving both of those things, so this totally worked for me. A few times the tension was so thick I was almost too nervous to keep reading and had to put the book down for a breather. I really enjoyed this, and think it'd be great for more literary-minded book groups (or literary-minded readers in general). A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released May 1.
Monday, April 23, 2012
2012 book 117
Louisa May Alcott's Rose in Bloom
I wouldn't have though it possible, but this was even more boring than its predecessor, and with even more annoying morals! Plus some extra-weird gender stuff--20-year-old Rose isn't allowed to read French novels; her somewhat naughty cousin's behavior is blamed entirely on his mother. As for Rose, she's so GOOD and PURE that she's completely boring. She doesn't have any kind of personality at all. And I found it kind of awful that everyone assumed she'd marry one of her first cousins and she doesn't have any other suitors. This book was SUPER ANNOYING. No wonder I never reread it as a kid! Rose is no Jo. She's not even an Amy or Meg!
I wouldn't have though it possible, but this was even more boring than its predecessor, and with even more annoying morals! Plus some extra-weird gender stuff--20-year-old Rose isn't allowed to read French novels; her somewhat naughty cousin's behavior is blamed entirely on his mother. As for Rose, she's so GOOD and PURE that she's completely boring. She doesn't have any kind of personality at all. And I found it kind of awful that everyone assumed she'd marry one of her first cousins and she doesn't have any other suitors. This book was SUPER ANNOYING. No wonder I never reread it as a kid! Rose is no Jo. She's not even an Amy or Meg!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
2012 book 116
Louisa May Alcott's Eight Cousins
I know I owned this (and the sequel) when I was a kid, but it wasn't one of the books I read over and over, and I didn't remember a thing about it. And now I know why! Alcott completely sacrifices plot for moral lessons on her pet topics--health, education, gender, whatever. Half the chapters are instructional and not entertaining at all. Even the hilarious ear-piercing chapter turns into a moral lesson little way down the line. I mean, there's still some great little stories and good characterization, but dang, take it down a notch, Alcott.
I know I owned this (and the sequel) when I was a kid, but it wasn't one of the books I read over and over, and I didn't remember a thing about it. And now I know why! Alcott completely sacrifices plot for moral lessons on her pet topics--health, education, gender, whatever. Half the chapters are instructional and not entertaining at all. Even the hilarious ear-piercing chapter turns into a moral lesson little way down the line. I mean, there's still some great little stories and good characterization, but dang, take it down a notch, Alcott.
2012 book 115
Jennifer Nielsen's The False Prince
A very satisfying story about an orphan who unwillingly becomes part of a plot to impersonate a missing prince and take over a kingdom. I have to assume this is the start of a series, because it's ripe for a sequel, and I'd definitely read one. A/A-.
A very satisfying story about an orphan who unwillingly becomes part of a plot to impersonate a missing prince and take over a kingdom. I have to assume this is the start of a series, because it's ripe for a sequel, and I'd definitely read one. A/A-.
2012 book 114
Francesca Segal's The Innocents
It's pretty ballsy to rework a literary classic, let alone set your reworking of Age of Innocence in the insular London Jewish community. So I figured this had to be pretty great, or extremely terrible. I should say at this point that regarding the original novel, I'm in the minority in not seeing it as a tragic love story, but as a book about two complete jerkwads. Seriously. Archer and Countess Ellen Olenska suck. Team May! (Age of Innocence is still a great book.) Clearly I went into this prepared to be horrified, or at least annoyed. But Segal's writing is strong--occasionally heavy-handed, but she does a great job of evoking the nature of a Jewish community (and its many food-filled parties)--and her Ellie is slightly more sympathetic than the original. Her Adam is even more of a wishy-washy jerk than Archer was, though, and her Rachel is even more of a non-entity than May. I didn't think the GREAT LOVE between Adam and Ellie felt at all realistic or natural, which is a bigger problem (it happens more organically with Wharton). None of that is to say the book is bad--it's completely impossible to judge on its own merits, after all. But I'm never going to feel for a guy who's engaged to a woman who makes him happy, and then decides to cheat on her with her cousin, no matter how great the writing is. And it's just pretty solid here. B/B+.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
It's pretty ballsy to rework a literary classic, let alone set your reworking of Age of Innocence in the insular London Jewish community. So I figured this had to be pretty great, or extremely terrible. I should say at this point that regarding the original novel, I'm in the minority in not seeing it as a tragic love story, but as a book about two complete jerkwads. Seriously. Archer and Countess Ellen Olenska suck. Team May! (Age of Innocence is still a great book.) Clearly I went into this prepared to be horrified, or at least annoyed. But Segal's writing is strong--occasionally heavy-handed, but she does a great job of evoking the nature of a Jewish community (and its many food-filled parties)--and her Ellie is slightly more sympathetic than the original. Her Adam is even more of a wishy-washy jerk than Archer was, though, and her Rachel is even more of a non-entity than May. I didn't think the GREAT LOVE between Adam and Ellie felt at all realistic or natural, which is a bigger problem (it happens more organically with Wharton). None of that is to say the book is bad--it's completely impossible to judge on its own merits, after all. But I'm never going to feel for a guy who's engaged to a woman who makes him happy, and then decides to cheat on her with her cousin, no matter how great the writing is. And it's just pretty solid here. B/B+.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
2012 book 113
Rosamund Lupton's Afterwards
Lupton--author of Sister--manages to largely avoid a sophomore slump with her second novel, about a woman and her daughter badly injured in a school fire. As their bodies lie in the hospital, their disembodied selves (I don't know, just go with it) invisibly follow their family members and attempt to figure out who set the fire (a sister-in-law who's a police officer helps with this quite a bit). The premise completely strains incredulity, but I liked the characters and the mystery/plot twists enough to get pretty into it. I was WAY less into the ending, which veers into almost Jodi Picoult territory (that's a very bad thing in my book, but should help this one be popular). B.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book comes out on Tuesday.
Lupton--author of Sister--manages to largely avoid a sophomore slump with her second novel, about a woman and her daughter badly injured in a school fire. As their bodies lie in the hospital, their disembodied selves (I don't know, just go with it) invisibly follow their family members and attempt to figure out who set the fire (a sister-in-law who's a police officer helps with this quite a bit). The premise completely strains incredulity, but I liked the characters and the mystery/plot twists enough to get pretty into it. I was WAY less into the ending, which veers into almost Jodi Picoult territory (that's a very bad thing in my book, but should help this one be popular). B.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book comes out on Tuesday.
Friday, April 20, 2012
2012 book 112
Nalo Hopkinson's The Chaos
So things start out almost completely normal--our protagonist is a teenage girl dealing with strict parents, a dance competition, and boy and friend drama. There are a few hints that things are weird but nothing too insane--and then the Chaos comes. And everything is SO WEIRD and makes no sense and there is no resolution to anything! None of my questions were answered at all! I felt like I was missed a chapter that contained key information. Yeah, I was not too into this. Props for featuring Baba Yaga and having a bunch of minority characters--too bad none of the characters were very well developed. B/B-.
So things start out almost completely normal--our protagonist is a teenage girl dealing with strict parents, a dance competition, and boy and friend drama. There are a few hints that things are weird but nothing too insane--and then the Chaos comes. And everything is SO WEIRD and makes no sense and there is no resolution to anything! None of my questions were answered at all! I felt like I was missed a chapter that contained key information. Yeah, I was not too into this. Props for featuring Baba Yaga and having a bunch of minority characters--too bad none of the characters were very well developed. B/B-.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
2012 book 111
Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl
Flynn is one of my favorite writers--if you like dark dark dark stories and haven't read Sharp Objects or Dark Places yet, get on that--and I've been looking forward to this book for ages. Luckily it doesn't disappoint, because it's Flynn! Anyway, this is about one Nick, whose wife has gone missing after an apparent struggle. And the husband is always the primary suspect, right? I had about three theories about what had happened, and was pleasantly surprised to get some answers halfway through--but since it's Flynn, things just get more twisted from there. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, on the verge of freaking out for a great portion of it. I did call some of it, but Flynn laid the ground so nicely that I didn't even mind. Deliciously dark. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on June 5th.
Flynn is one of my favorite writers--if you like dark dark dark stories and haven't read Sharp Objects or Dark Places yet, get on that--and I've been looking forward to this book for ages. Luckily it doesn't disappoint, because it's Flynn! Anyway, this is about one Nick, whose wife has gone missing after an apparent struggle. And the husband is always the primary suspect, right? I had about three theories about what had happened, and was pleasantly surprised to get some answers halfway through--but since it's Flynn, things just get more twisted from there. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, on the verge of freaking out for a great portion of it. I did call some of it, but Flynn laid the ground so nicely that I didn't even mind. Deliciously dark. A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on June 5th.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
2012 book 110
Elizabeth Bear's Range of Ghosts
This fantasy book, set in a land that seems based on historical Mongolia, has gotten some great reviews. It focuses on a young man who's barely survived a great battle between the armies of his brother and his uncle over the throne, and a princess-turned-wizard going through some super boring rites of wizardry. The boy's story is pretty riveting; I was less into the woman's until they met up and things got more interesting. And then the end came, and I was not super into it, and of course it was all leading up to an inevitable sequel because no one writes stand-alone books anymore. I probably won't read the sequel b/c I honestly don't really care what happens to these characters and it seems like it'll all be war and annoying relationship stuff anyway. Though I did love the awesome horse. B-.
This fantasy book, set in a land that seems based on historical Mongolia, has gotten some great reviews. It focuses on a young man who's barely survived a great battle between the armies of his brother and his uncle over the throne, and a princess-turned-wizard going through some super boring rites of wizardry. The boy's story is pretty riveting; I was less into the woman's until they met up and things got more interesting. And then the end came, and I was not super into it, and of course it was all leading up to an inevitable sequel because no one writes stand-alone books anymore. I probably won't read the sequel b/c I honestly don't really care what happens to these characters and it seems like it'll all be war and annoying relationship stuff anyway. Though I did love the awesome horse. B-.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
2012 book 109
Carol Rifka Brunt's Tell The Wolves I'm Home
It's 1987, and a fourteen-year-old girl's beloved uncle has just died of AIDS--which was still a super weird and scary thing back then. Feeling bereft, she finds herself secretly befriending his heretofore unknown boyfriend, the only person who understands her loss. Interesting family dynamics at play here--I really liked the stuff with the girl, her older sister, and a portrait their uncle painted of them. The plotting and writing is occasionally a tiny touch overwrought (especially at the end) but I loved this and totally cried. I think this'll be a big one for summer reading and book groups--not to make it sound less literary, but I think there's a lot to discuss. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
It's 1987, and a fourteen-year-old girl's beloved uncle has just died of AIDS--which was still a super weird and scary thing back then. Feeling bereft, she finds herself secretly befriending his heretofore unknown boyfriend, the only person who understands her loss. Interesting family dynamics at play here--I really liked the stuff with the girl, her older sister, and a portrait their uncle painted of them. The plotting and writing is occasionally a tiny touch overwrought (especially at the end) but I loved this and totally cried. I think this'll be a big one for summer reading and book groups--not to make it sound less literary, but I think there's a lot to discuss. A.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
Monday, April 16, 2012
2012 book 108
Stephanie Burgis' Renegade Magic
I do love all these fantasy-historical combos--Victorian vampires, regency magic, etc. This sequel to Kat, Incorrigible is more of the same--very fluffy and entertaining, like YA magic story meets Jane Austen. The villains are way too villainous and there are a few too many stupid miscommunications, but I like the characters and the world-building pretty well. B/B+.
I do love all these fantasy-historical combos--Victorian vampires, regency magic, etc. This sequel to Kat, Incorrigible is more of the same--very fluffy and entertaining, like YA magic story meets Jane Austen. The villains are way too villainous and there are a few too many stupid miscommunications, but I like the characters and the world-building pretty well. B/B+.
2012 book 107
Matthew Gallaway's The Metropolis Case
This book tells the story of four individuals who are all connected by their love of opera (and by other things that are REALLY EASY to figure out, and also GROSS at one point): two women singers in more-or-less present times, and two gay men, one in 1800s Europe and one in NYC right around 9/11. I was much more interested in the women's stories at first, and the men's were only occasionally compelling (I did get teary at one part involving a cat), but it all led up to an absolutely stupid and predictable ending. It's like Gallaway wanted to write his own version of something like Mark Helprin's Winter's Tale, but I don't think he succeeded at all. This book was super annoying. C.
This book tells the story of four individuals who are all connected by their love of opera (and by other things that are REALLY EASY to figure out, and also GROSS at one point): two women singers in more-or-less present times, and two gay men, one in 1800s Europe and one in NYC right around 9/11. I was much more interested in the women's stories at first, and the men's were only occasionally compelling (I did get teary at one part involving a cat), but it all led up to an absolutely stupid and predictable ending. It's like Gallaway wanted to write his own version of something like Mark Helprin's Winter's Tale, but I don't think he succeeded at all. This book was super annoying. C.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
2012 book 106
Diana Wynne Jones' A Tale of Time City
Any book could have seemed not-great when compared to Dogsbody, but this one held up tolerably well, being another Diana Wynne Jones book. Here, a young girl on a train of children being evacuated from London in WWII is whisked away by a boy from a mysterious city in the far-future. But she's the wrong girl entirely! Now they have to try and save the city and get her home--without getting into trouble with their parents (or the authorities). I didn't love the final resolution of this one, but everything leading up to that was pretty exciting. B.
Any book could have seemed not-great when compared to Dogsbody, but this one held up tolerably well, being another Diana Wynne Jones book. Here, a young girl on a train of children being evacuated from London in WWII is whisked away by a boy from a mysterious city in the far-future. But she's the wrong girl entirely! Now they have to try and save the city and get her home--without getting into trouble with their parents (or the authorities). I didn't love the final resolution of this one, but everything leading up to that was pretty exciting. B.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
2012 book 105
Diana Wynne Jones' Dogsbody
Neil Gaiman is absolutely correct in his introduction when he says that this is one of Jones' best books--which means it's an absolutely stellar book in every way (that pun was unintentional). It's the story of Sirius, the Dog Star, sentenced (for a crime he didn't commit) to live on Earth and find some mysterious object. And then he's born into a puppy and it's the story of one awesome dog--in the literal sense of the word awesome--and the girl who loves him. It made me cry twice. A.
Neil Gaiman is absolutely correct in his introduction when he says that this is one of Jones' best books--which means it's an absolutely stellar book in every way (that pun was unintentional). It's the story of Sirius, the Dog Star, sentenced (for a crime he didn't commit) to live on Earth and find some mysterious object. And then he's born into a puppy and it's the story of one awesome dog--in the literal sense of the word awesome--and the girl who loves him. It made me cry twice. A.
2012 book 104
Ron Rash's The Cove
Rash's latest, after Serena (now filming, starring Jennifer Lawrence and . . . Bradley Cooper?), is also set in Western North Carolina, but a generation earlier. It's the midst of World War I, and a woman shunned by her superstitious town encounters a man on the run and convinced her war-wounded brother to let him stay and help on their farm. As more information emerges, it's obvious things are going to be complicated by the world outside. I had mixed feelings about the end--not what happened, but with the narrative style. It felt a bit abrupt. But it worked, I think. B/B+.
Rash's latest, after Serena (now filming, starring Jennifer Lawrence and . . . Bradley Cooper?), is also set in Western North Carolina, but a generation earlier. It's the midst of World War I, and a woman shunned by her superstitious town encounters a man on the run and convinced her war-wounded brother to let him stay and help on their farm. As more information emerges, it's obvious things are going to be complicated by the world outside. I had mixed feelings about the end--not what happened, but with the narrative style. It felt a bit abrupt. But it worked, I think. B/B+.
Friday, April 13, 2012
2012 book 103
Diana Wynne Jones' Fire and Hemlock
A bunch of Jones' books that have been out of print in America for ages have been reissues (with prefaces by people like Neil Gaiman), and I, for one, was super excited to have new books by her to read. This is kind of a weird one, but in a good way, referencing fairy tales I don't know, so it all seemed unfamiliar and exciting. 19-year-old Polly comes to realize that she has a second set of memories, and sets about trying to remember her childhood to find out what the heck happened, and how she came to forget a man who greatly influenced her, and how her whole world changed because of it. Plus she reads and talks about lots of excellent books. It's less convoluted if you read it yourself. A-/B+.
A bunch of Jones' books that have been out of print in America for ages have been reissues (with prefaces by people like Neil Gaiman), and I, for one, was super excited to have new books by her to read. This is kind of a weird one, but in a good way, referencing fairy tales I don't know, so it all seemed unfamiliar and exciting. 19-year-old Polly comes to realize that she has a second set of memories, and sets about trying to remember her childhood to find out what the heck happened, and how she came to forget a man who greatly influenced her, and how her whole world changed because of it. Plus she reads and talks about lots of excellent books. It's less convoluted if you read it yourself. A-/B+.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
2012 book 102
A.M. Dellamonica's Blue Magic
The sequel to Indigo Springs is even crazier than its predecessor, as our intrepid gang starts trying to remake the world (or something). There's like ten thousand things going on in this book, and so we don't get too deeply into anyone's characterization (a secondary character, Juanita, felt the most fleshed-out to me--the two protagonists' inner thoughts just aren't enough somehow--and their romance was really unbelievable to me). So I wasn't exceptionally invested in what was happening, but I was still /interested/ in what was happening. I will say that Dellamonica really doesn't fall into using any of the usual tropes, which maybe is why this is so hard to describe in a concrete way. B/B+.
The sequel to Indigo Springs is even crazier than its predecessor, as our intrepid gang starts trying to remake the world (or something). There's like ten thousand things going on in this book, and so we don't get too deeply into anyone's characterization (a secondary character, Juanita, felt the most fleshed-out to me--the two protagonists' inner thoughts just aren't enough somehow--and their romance was really unbelievable to me). So I wasn't exceptionally invested in what was happening, but I was still /interested/ in what was happening. I will say that Dellamonica really doesn't fall into using any of the usual tropes, which maybe is why this is so hard to describe in a concrete way. B/B+.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
2012 book 101
Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go
My book group isn't discussing this till next week (and I can't wait to see what all the doctors have to say about it!) but I really wanted to read something excellent and knew this would fit the bill. This was my third time reading it (and 2nd time for a book discussion), but it's been several years and I only remembered the basic premise and that Ruth is a huge bitch (such a great takeaway!). I'd entirely forgotten that the writing was so great--though I'd expect no less from Ishiguro. And this came out seven years ago, it seems like he should have a new novel announced any time now. Crossing my fingers it's soon. A.
My book group isn't discussing this till next week (and I can't wait to see what all the doctors have to say about it!) but I really wanted to read something excellent and knew this would fit the bill. This was my third time reading it (and 2nd time for a book discussion), but it's been several years and I only remembered the basic premise and that Ruth is a huge bitch (such a great takeaway!). I'd entirely forgotten that the writing was so great--though I'd expect no less from Ishiguro. And this came out seven years ago, it seems like he should have a new novel announced any time now. Crossing my fingers it's soon. A.
Monday, April 09, 2012
2012 book 100
Jacqueline Winspear's An Elegy for Eddie
The latest from Winspear is really a sub-par entry in the Maisie Dobbs series--Maisie spends way too much time being wishy-washy about her lovelife, which I couldn't care less about, and the mystery is overly convoluted as well as being boring. C-.
The latest from Winspear is really a sub-par entry in the Maisie Dobbs series--Maisie spends way too much time being wishy-washy about her lovelife, which I couldn't care less about, and the mystery is overly convoluted as well as being boring. C-.
Sunday, April 08, 2012
2012 book 99
Robin LaFevers' Grave Mercy: His Fair Assassin, Book 1
Set in Brittany in the late 1400s, this book involves a young woman who is marked as the daughter of Death (a local god/saint) and whisked away to his convent to learn the arts of the assassin. But then she's assigned to pose as the mistress of a local noble and gets embroiled in the very crazy politics of the day (which seem to be historically accurate). And of course gets embroiled in FEELINGS for the noble. Really fascinating setting and premise here, but I was less enamored of the romance angle (then again, this is a YA book) and the occasionally over-the-top writing. It's the first of a trilogy, but it looks like each book will focus on a different girl (this protagonist has two assassin friends) and their inevitable reluctant romances. I probably will read them anyway, though, b/c the whole girl assassin thing is pretty cool. B+.
Set in Brittany in the late 1400s, this book involves a young woman who is marked as the daughter of Death (a local god/saint) and whisked away to his convent to learn the arts of the assassin. But then she's assigned to pose as the mistress of a local noble and gets embroiled in the very crazy politics of the day (which seem to be historically accurate). And of course gets embroiled in FEELINGS for the noble. Really fascinating setting and premise here, but I was less enamored of the romance angle (then again, this is a YA book) and the occasionally over-the-top writing. It's the first of a trilogy, but it looks like each book will focus on a different girl (this protagonist has two assassin friends) and their inevitable reluctant romances. I probably will read them anyway, though, b/c the whole girl assassin thing is pretty cool. B+.
2012 book 98
Charlotte Rogan's The Lifeboat
A young woman is on trial after some yet-to-be-revealed events on a lifeboat after a luxury liner's sinking in 1914. Pretty interesting and compelling stuff--I think this might make for a good choice for book groups. The narrator is complicated and calculating, and that sort of thing is great for discussion. B+.
A young woman is on trial after some yet-to-be-revealed events on a lifeboat after a luxury liner's sinking in 1914. Pretty interesting and compelling stuff--I think this might make for a good choice for book groups. The narrator is complicated and calculating, and that sort of thing is great for discussion. B+.
2012 book 97
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Rereading this one is still a little exciting, since I've read the other ones so many more times. I'm not that keen on the Dumbledore scene but still think this was an excellent end to the series.
Rereading this one is still a little exciting, since I've read the other ones so many more times. I'm not that keen on the Dumbledore scene but still think this was an excellent end to the series.
Saturday, April 07, 2012
2012 book 96
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
I really hate that whole "the creature inside Harry" thing.
I really hate that whole "the creature inside Harry" thing.
Thursday, April 05, 2012
2012 book 95
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I think there are at least four entries on this blog that all say "traditionally this has been my least favorite HP book" (or some variation thereof--and search if you don't believe me!) but I liked it without reservation this time (minus the couple of plot holes)--maybe so many rereads have somehow made it work for me when it didn't the first couple of times? Who cares though, this book is worth any amount of shouty Harry for the introductions of Luna and Tonks!
I think there are at least four entries on this blog that all say "traditionally this has been my least favorite HP book" (or some variation thereof--and search if you don't believe me!) but I liked it without reservation this time (minus the couple of plot holes)--maybe so many rereads have somehow made it work for me when it didn't the first couple of times? Who cares though, this book is worth any amount of shouty Harry for the introductions of Luna and Tonks!
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
2012 book 94
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Rereading this one on my Kindle was interesting, b/c of course in the original book edition, Rowling erred when writing the scene with Voldemort's wand and had Harry's parents emerge in the wrong order--this version has the rewritten scene, which I hadn't read before. It doesn't really change the tenor of the story or anything, but it was fun to read something new in a story I've read so many times before.
I had planned to take a break from my HP reread b/c so many interesting-looking books have come out over the past couple of weeks, but who can stop reading this series halfway through? The rest of the books are all pretty long, though, so don't expect me to keep up with my previous book-a-day schedule. :)
Rereading this one on my Kindle was interesting, b/c of course in the original book edition, Rowling erred when writing the scene with Voldemort's wand and had Harry's parents emerge in the wrong order--this version has the rewritten scene, which I hadn't read before. It doesn't really change the tenor of the story or anything, but it was fun to read something new in a story I've read so many times before.
I had planned to take a break from my HP reread b/c so many interesting-looking books have come out over the past couple of weeks, but who can stop reading this series halfway through? The rest of the books are all pretty long, though, so don't expect me to keep up with my previous book-a-day schedule. :)
Sunday, April 01, 2012
2012 book 93
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Sorry for the radio silence all weekend, I MAY have spent part of the weekend having a Cougartown marathon, and the rest of the weekend hanging out, eating crepes, and seeing Hunger Games again (still cried for most of it). But I did manage to finish another Harry Potter e-book, so yay!
Sorry for the radio silence all weekend, I MAY have spent part of the weekend having a Cougartown marathon, and the rest of the weekend hanging out, eating crepes, and seeing Hunger Games again (still cried for most of it). But I did manage to finish another Harry Potter e-book, so yay!
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Thursday, March 29, 2012
2012 book 92
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Man, do I love having these books on my Kindle! One thing that has always bugged me about this one--would Hermione really tear a page out of a library book? Come on, people.
Man, do I love having these books on my Kindle! One thing that has always bugged me about this one--would Hermione really tear a page out of a library book? Come on, people.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
2012 book 91
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
The Harry Potter e-books came out this week, which means of course I have to reread them all on my Kindle! (That will make a nice change for the last few, which are unbearably heavy in hardback format.) The Kindle versions are great--the illustrations look nice and clear, and it's just so nice to be able to carry the whole series with me wherever I go.
Longtime readers of this blog know I ran out of things to say about this book ages ago, having reread it so many times, but it does hold up to multiple rereadings. I've been thinking more about Snape's portrayal this time around--such a fascinating character to dissect.
The Harry Potter e-books came out this week, which means of course I have to reread them all on my Kindle! (That will make a nice change for the last few, which are unbearably heavy in hardback format.) The Kindle versions are great--the illustrations look nice and clear, and it's just so nice to be able to carry the whole series with me wherever I go.
Longtime readers of this blog know I ran out of things to say about this book ages ago, having reread it so many times, but it does hold up to multiple rereadings. I've been thinking more about Snape's portrayal this time around--such a fascinating character to dissect.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
2012 book 90
Maryrose Wood's The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place Book 3: The Unseen Guest
OK, this was another fun entry in the series, but I just wish I knew how many books there were going to be--this one raised a lot more mysteries without giving many more answers, and it's frustrating to wait another year till the next one knowing that one might not have answers either. But like I said, this series is really fun--I love Wood's narrative style in these, and there is some fairly amusing stuff involving an ostrich--so those frustrations are pretty minor. B+.
ETA: A thorough Googling revealed that there will be 6 books in the series . . . but I'm still frustrated about waiting for answers. :)
OK, this was another fun entry in the series, but I just wish I knew how many books there were going to be--this one raised a lot more mysteries without giving many more answers, and it's frustrating to wait another year till the next one knowing that one might not have answers either. But like I said, this series is really fun--I love Wood's narrative style in these, and there is some fairly amusing stuff involving an ostrich--so those frustrations are pretty minor. B+.
ETA: A thorough Googling revealed that there will be 6 books in the series . . . but I'm still frustrated about waiting for answers. :)
2012 book 89
Robin McKinley's Chalice
This is another McKinley that I'd completely missed, but found while looking for my beloved McKinley books on the Kindle store (seriously, where are they? Can't we at least have Beauty?). The premise is way too complicated to explain, but suffice it to say that a young woman is thrust into a position of spiritual/political power and must try and save her land. It's pretty affecting stuff in the end, but I would have liked to have seen more of the world-building/background to the action. B/B+.
This is another McKinley that I'd completely missed, but found while looking for my beloved McKinley books on the Kindle store (seriously, where are they? Can't we at least have Beauty?). The premise is way too complicated to explain, but suffice it to say that a young woman is thrust into a position of spiritual/political power and must try and save her land. It's pretty affecting stuff in the end, but I would have liked to have seen more of the world-building/background to the action. B/B+.
Monday, March 26, 2012
2012 book 88
Jacqueline Winspear's A Lesson in Secrets
In this Maisie Dobbs book, our heroine is sent undercover to be a lecturer at a university and look for anti-British sentiment. I've said it before and I'm sure will say it again--authors can be really heavy-handed talking about politics when they're writing historical stuff set in the 1930s. Can Maisie really be that prescient, even if she is a super-intuitive genius detective? Not that any of that is really relevant to the story--that stuff is just hard to do subtly. This was another readable one. B/B+.
In this Maisie Dobbs book, our heroine is sent undercover to be a lecturer at a university and look for anti-British sentiment. I've said it before and I'm sure will say it again--authors can be really heavy-handed talking about politics when they're writing historical stuff set in the 1930s. Can Maisie really be that prescient, even if she is a super-intuitive genius detective? Not that any of that is really relevant to the story--that stuff is just hard to do subtly. This was another readable one. B/B+.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
2012 book 87
A.M. Dellamonica's Indigo Springs
When a woman's father leaves her a house, she moves in with two friends only to discover a bunch of magical blue goo in the chimney. And things pretty much go horribly wrong. I've seen this described as "suburban fantasy" as opposed to urban fantasy, since this is set in a small town, but it really doesn't follow the urban fantasy conventions either. I enjoyed this a lot--really fascinating take on magic. A sequel comes out in April and I'll definitely be reading it. A-.
When a woman's father leaves her a house, she moves in with two friends only to discover a bunch of magical blue goo in the chimney. And things pretty much go horribly wrong. I've seen this described as "suburban fantasy" as opposed to urban fantasy, since this is set in a small town, but it really doesn't follow the urban fantasy conventions either. I enjoyed this a lot--really fascinating take on magic. A sequel comes out in April and I'll definitely be reading it. A-.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
2012 book 86
Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day
I hadn't read this since college--I don't think I read it for class, but my old copy has a yellow "used" sticker on the spine that indicates I bought it at a university bookstore--and all I remembered was that it was about an old butler who secretly loved the housekeeper who worked with him for many years. Which is accurate enough, but leaves out a) the literary aspects, e.g. the unreliable narration, and b) Nazis! How could I forget the Nazis! It was a bit slow starting out, plus I couldn't help but imagining that Carson from Downton Abbey was the butler involved (this may have actually enhanced my reading experience, but was a little distracting), but eventually I settled into the story and remembered why I liked it and why it won so much acclaim. A.
I hadn't read this since college--I don't think I read it for class, but my old copy has a yellow "used" sticker on the spine that indicates I bought it at a university bookstore--and all I remembered was that it was about an old butler who secretly loved the housekeeper who worked with him for many years. Which is accurate enough, but leaves out a) the literary aspects, e.g. the unreliable narration, and b) Nazis! How could I forget the Nazis! It was a bit slow starting out, plus I couldn't help but imagining that Carson from Downton Abbey was the butler involved (this may have actually enhanced my reading experience, but was a little distracting), but eventually I settled into the story and remembered why I liked it and why it won so much acclaim. A.
2012 book 85
Deborah Harkness' Shadow of Night
I was pretty excited to read the sequel to Discovery of Witches, which was a very entertaining and only slightly silly book about a historian witch falling in love with a vampire. I'd forgotten how Twilight-y the first one was in the interim (I mostly remembered the parts about libraries, apparently), and this one starts off in that vein as well. (Haha, vein. I didn't do that on purpose, even.) Anyway, the story starts with our mixed supernatural couple time-traveling to Elizabethan England for reasons that made sense in the first book, if I recall correctly (I might not). (That's not a spoiler, it happens on page 1.) The first third is kind of all over the place, but then things settle down nicely and the 1600s are pretty exciting as Diana and Matthew mingle with the famous names of the day (slight spoiler: my favorite historical personage from that era, Rabbi Judah Loew, makes a brief appearance with the golem!). Harkness did manage to surprise me with plot twists a couple of times, and even though I find Matthew mildly annoying, I really enjoy this series (especially Diana and her witchcraft and history nerdiness) and look forward to the third volume. B/B+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book comes out in July.
I was pretty excited to read the sequel to Discovery of Witches, which was a very entertaining and only slightly silly book about a historian witch falling in love with a vampire. I'd forgotten how Twilight-y the first one was in the interim (I mostly remembered the parts about libraries, apparently), and this one starts off in that vein as well. (Haha, vein. I didn't do that on purpose, even.) Anyway, the story starts with our mixed supernatural couple time-traveling to Elizabethan England for reasons that made sense in the first book, if I recall correctly (I might not). (That's not a spoiler, it happens on page 1.) The first third is kind of all over the place, but then things settle down nicely and the 1600s are pretty exciting as Diana and Matthew mingle with the famous names of the day (slight spoiler: my favorite historical personage from that era, Rabbi Judah Loew, makes a brief appearance with the golem!). Harkness did manage to surprise me with plot twists a couple of times, and even though I find Matthew mildly annoying, I really enjoy this series (especially Diana and her witchcraft and history nerdiness) and look forward to the third volume. B/B+.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book comes out in July.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Comic Book Column
Hey folks, I know you must be all, "Alicia, you were reading a book a day, but it's been TWO days, what happened!" And what happened is:
a) The book I'm reading right now is pretty long, and
b) Other stuff is happening! Like Wednesday I had a crazy allergy attack and spent the evening in a benadryl coma instead of reading, and tomorrow I'll be seeing THE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE instead of reading.
Expect book bloggin' to recommence this weekend. In the meantime, I've been writing a column about comic books! It appears every Friday morning--there's a link down on the right-hand sidebar, but I figured now was an opportune time to officially announce it (which I have done repeatedly on Twitter and Facebook, but whatever).
a) The book I'm reading right now is pretty long, and
b) Other stuff is happening! Like Wednesday I had a crazy allergy attack and spent the evening in a benadryl coma instead of reading, and tomorrow I'll be seeing THE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE instead of reading.
Expect book bloggin' to recommence this weekend. In the meantime, I've been writing a column about comic books! It appears every Friday morning--there's a link down on the right-hand sidebar, but I figured now was an opportune time to officially announce it (which I have done repeatedly on Twitter and Facebook, but whatever).
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
2012 book 84
Jacqueline Winspear's The Mapping of Love and Death
One of the things I like best about the Maisie Dobbs series--besides the historical setting and the interesting protagonist--is how Winspear makes some part of the mystery easy to figure out, but withholds some information until the big reveal at the end. It's rare for an author to so blatantly keep secrets from the reader, and it does make me more excited to see how things will play out. Anyway. In this one, Maisie is hired to find out about the death of an American cartographer who volunteered for the British--and to find the woman with whom he shared a wartime romance. Plus there's all the other interesting stuff going on in Maisie's life (yet another reason I like this series). A-.
One of the things I like best about the Maisie Dobbs series--besides the historical setting and the interesting protagonist--is how Winspear makes some part of the mystery easy to figure out, but withholds some information until the big reveal at the end. It's rare for an author to so blatantly keep secrets from the reader, and it does make me more excited to see how things will play out. Anyway. In this one, Maisie is hired to find out about the death of an American cartographer who volunteered for the British--and to find the woman with whom he shared a wartime romance. Plus there's all the other interesting stuff going on in Maisie's life (yet another reason I like this series). A-.
Monday, March 19, 2012
202 book 83
Tim Powers' Hide Me Among the Graves
I have to say, this book really would have been good if it was like a third shorter--instead, it's super repetitive and completely drags. It starts off interestingly enough, in a Victorian England plagued by ghosts and vampires (not the romantic kind of vampires, either), where the young poet Christina Rossetti is tangled up in something supernatural (I've always liked reading about her since that one Ellen Raskin book). And where a veterinarian is informed by a woman he knew seven years ago that they had a child, and she's tangled up in something supernatural as well. And these supernatural things are related and they must join forces! And every seven years they try and defeat some vampires and fail! It's a little ridiculous at a certain point, I don't know why the editor didn't pare things down at least a little. And I especially don't know why I bothered to finish this. C-.
I have to say, this book really would have been good if it was like a third shorter--instead, it's super repetitive and completely drags. It starts off interestingly enough, in a Victorian England plagued by ghosts and vampires (not the romantic kind of vampires, either), where the young poet Christina Rossetti is tangled up in something supernatural (I've always liked reading about her since that one Ellen Raskin book). And where a veterinarian is informed by a woman he knew seven years ago that they had a child, and she's tangled up in something supernatural as well. And these supernatural things are related and they must join forces! And every seven years they try and defeat some vampires and fail! It's a little ridiculous at a certain point, I don't know why the editor didn't pare things down at least a little. And I especially don't know why I bothered to finish this. C-.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
2012 book 82
Sara Gran's Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead
I've been meaning to read this pretty much since it came out, but just wasn't sure I was up for a mystery involving Hurrican Katrina and post-Katrina New Orleans, even though my friend Andy kept telling me to read it. Anyway, I'm glad I finally did, because it was excellent. Claire DeWitt is easily the most unconventional detective I've ever read about--she has a weird mystical type of detection going on, which was really interesting to read about, and was definitely not predictable. Gran does a great job evoking post-Katrina New Orleans, which means this book is often dark and depressing, but doesn't make it any less great. A/A-.
I've been meaning to read this pretty much since it came out, but just wasn't sure I was up for a mystery involving Hurrican Katrina and post-Katrina New Orleans, even though my friend Andy kept telling me to read it. Anyway, I'm glad I finally did, because it was excellent. Claire DeWitt is easily the most unconventional detective I've ever read about--she has a weird mystical type of detection going on, which was really interesting to read about, and was definitely not predictable. Gran does a great job evoking post-Katrina New Orleans, which means this book is often dark and depressing, but doesn't make it any less great. A/A-.
2012 book 81
Paula Danziger's Remember me to Harold Square and Thames Doesn't Rhyme with James
I'm counting these as one book b/c they're both only like 130-something pages and, frankly, aren't very taxing to read. Harold Square was one of my FAVORITES when I was a kid--I so wanted to go to all those museums in New York--but it really is striking how different YA books were in the 80s. And somehow I never knew its sequel existed until this FYA article--and man, I think even if I had read it as a kid, I wouldn't have liked it as much as the original, but reading it for the first time as an adult . . . it was unimpressive, I guess. These were good reading for a gross grey day, but now I want to read something substantial.
I'm counting these as one book b/c they're both only like 130-something pages and, frankly, aren't very taxing to read. Harold Square was one of my FAVORITES when I was a kid--I so wanted to go to all those museums in New York--but it really is striking how different YA books were in the 80s. And somehow I never knew its sequel existed until this FYA article--and man, I think even if I had read it as a kid, I wouldn't have liked it as much as the original, but reading it for the first time as an adult . . . it was unimpressive, I guess. These were good reading for a gross grey day, but now I want to read something substantial.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
2012 book 80
Sherwood Smith's Crown Duel
Serviceable (in a good way!) fantasy about a young royal girl embroiled in war, and then in court politics. The protagonist is pretty interesting, and Smith keeps the story full of plenty of twists. The romance angle is utterly predictable, but I didn't mind that too much. The Kindle edition has a bunch of short stories from the love interest's perspective that are completely unnecessary and that I'd generally advise skipping unless you REALLY want to know what he was thinking as events you've already read are rehashed. B/B+.
Serviceable (in a good way!) fantasy about a young royal girl embroiled in war, and then in court politics. The protagonist is pretty interesting, and Smith keeps the story full of plenty of twists. The romance angle is utterly predictable, but I didn't mind that too much. The Kindle edition has a bunch of short stories from the love interest's perspective that are completely unnecessary and that I'd generally advise skipping unless you REALLY want to know what he was thinking as events you've already read are rehashed. B/B+.
2012 book 79
Sarah Rees Brennan's Unspoken
When I started this book, I was enjoying it so much that I had to keep putting in down for fear it would stop being awesome (it mostly didn't). It's about a girl, Kami, an intrepid journalist who's heard a boy's voice in her head for as long as she can remember, and what happens when the mysterious family that basically owns the town comes back--and she finds out that the boy is real, and the family has some secrets that need to be uncovered. Also there are some increasingly grotesque crimes that need to be solved. It's kind of a lot for a girl to handle, but luckily she has some pretty great friends to help (Angela and Holly 4-eva). I really liked the dialogue a lot, especially Kami's, though it does feel a bit artificial--but it was just snarky enough to work. Mysteries were revealed in a more-or-less timely manner, and the end COMPLETELY BROKE MY HEART. You moron teenagers! Stop being morons! ARG. When does the sequel come out? A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be out in September.
When I started this book, I was enjoying it so much that I had to keep putting in down for fear it would stop being awesome (it mostly didn't). It's about a girl, Kami, an intrepid journalist who's heard a boy's voice in her head for as long as she can remember, and what happens when the mysterious family that basically owns the town comes back--and she finds out that the boy is real, and the family has some secrets that need to be uncovered. Also there are some increasingly grotesque crimes that need to be solved. It's kind of a lot for a girl to handle, but luckily she has some pretty great friends to help (Angela and Holly 4-eva). I really liked the dialogue a lot, especially Kami's, though it does feel a bit artificial--but it was just snarky enough to work. Mysteries were revealed in a more-or-less timely manner, and the end COMPLETELY BROKE MY HEART. You moron teenagers! Stop being morons! ARG. When does the sequel come out? A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher. This book will be out in September.
Friday, March 16, 2012
2012 book 78
Cat Hellisen's When the Sea is Rising Red
This story--about a rich young girl in a magical world whose best friend kills herself to avoid an arranged marriage, and so our main character fakes her own suicides to avoid her own arranged marriage, and then must make her way with all the poor unmagical people--starts off really strongly. I was engaged in the characters' actions and didn't even mind the romantic elements (which were more realistic than most YA fantasy books). But the end felt completely underdeveloped, and the ultimate conclusion was predictable. I ended up not liking it that much. B/B-.
This story--about a rich young girl in a magical world whose best friend kills herself to avoid an arranged marriage, and so our main character fakes her own suicides to avoid her own arranged marriage, and then must make her way with all the poor unmagical people--starts off really strongly. I was engaged in the characters' actions and didn't even mind the romantic elements (which were more realistic than most YA fantasy books). But the end felt completely underdeveloped, and the ultimate conclusion was predictable. I ended up not liking it that much. B/B-.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
2012 book 77
Tiffany Baker's The Gilly Salt Sisters
I liked Baker's first book pretty well, but this one--about a pair of sisters who grew up in a salt marsh, and various small-town dramas and bitter feelings between them--wasn't nearly as good. The writing was often overly dramatic, secrets took too long to be officially revealed (and thus were very anticlimactic), and the end felt like an easy out for the writer and was troubling to the reader (well, to me, anyway). It's almost like Baker couldn't decide whether to write a quirky literary book and a heartwarming women's fiction book, and then meshed them together unsuccessfully. B-.
I liked Baker's first book pretty well, but this one--about a pair of sisters who grew up in a salt marsh, and various small-town dramas and bitter feelings between them--wasn't nearly as good. The writing was often overly dramatic, secrets took too long to be officially revealed (and thus were very anticlimactic), and the end felt like an easy out for the writer and was troubling to the reader (well, to me, anyway). It's almost like Baker couldn't decide whether to write a quirky literary book and a heartwarming women's fiction book, and then meshed them together unsuccessfully. B-.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
2012 book 76
Robin McKinley's Spindle's End
I went through a HUGE McKinley phase in middle school after reading Beauty for class, but this was published long after she was totally off my radar. Which is a shame, b/c I could have read this retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story--which bears little resemblance to the original and is full of really interesting women characters, particularly fairy Katriona, and animal characters--years ago! I had mixed feelings about the somewhat anti-climactic (and somewhat too easy) ending, but enjoyed the characters so much that I loved this book anyway. A-.
I went through a HUGE McKinley phase in middle school after reading Beauty for class, but this was published long after she was totally off my radar. Which is a shame, b/c I could have read this retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story--which bears little resemblance to the original and is full of really interesting women characters, particularly fairy Katriona, and animal characters--years ago! I had mixed feelings about the somewhat anti-climactic (and somewhat too easy) ending, but enjoyed the characters so much that I loved this book anyway. A-.
Monday, March 12, 2012
2012 book 75
Jean Webster's Dear Enemy
I had no idea there was a sequel to Daddy-Long-Legs until I read Webster's Wikipedia page (linked a couple entries down)--in this one, Jerusha convinces her best friend from college to run the orphanage where she grew up (mentioned frequently in the first book). The romantic element is predictable, but the look at 1910s childcare and society in general is completely fascinating.
I had no idea there was a sequel to Daddy-Long-Legs until I read Webster's Wikipedia page (linked a couple entries down)--in this one, Jerusha convinces her best friend from college to run the orphanage where she grew up (mentioned frequently in the first book). The romantic element is predictable, but the look at 1910s childcare and society in general is completely fascinating.
2012 book 74
A.S. King's The Dust of 100 Dogs
King's first YA novel (I've read her more recent two) was weirdly high-concept--a lady pirate in the 1600s is cursed to live as 100 dogs, before she's finally reincarnated into a human girl. Now that human girl is determined to reclaim her buried treasure (which is slightly less interesting than the flashbacks to her pirate life). This book was kind of hard to read b/c a rich villainous dude is constantly beating his dog, and cruelty to animals automatically knocks a book down, grade-wise. So, B/B-.
King's first YA novel (I've read her more recent two) was weirdly high-concept--a lady pirate in the 1600s is cursed to live as 100 dogs, before she's finally reincarnated into a human girl. Now that human girl is determined to reclaim her buried treasure (which is slightly less interesting than the flashbacks to her pirate life). This book was kind of hard to read b/c a rich villainous dude is constantly beating his dog, and cruelty to animals automatically knocks a book down, grade-wise. So, B/B-.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
2012 book 73
Jean Webster's Daddy-Long-Legs
I found my old paperback copy of this tonight and had to reread it--it's just such a sweet and funny story (plus, without too much effort you could argue that it's an early feminist work--check out Webster's Wikipedia page).
I found my old paperback copy of this tonight and had to reread it--it's just such a sweet and funny story (plus, without too much effort you could argue that it's an early feminist work--check out Webster's Wikipedia page).
2012 book 72
Meg Wolitzer's The Position
If it wasn't for my book group, I'd never have read this book--I remember reading good reviews when it came out, but a book about a married couple in the 70s writing a how-to sex manual featuring illustrations of themselves, and the effect said book had on their four children just didn't appeal to me. But actually it was a really good book, with Wolitzer visiting each family member in turn, showing how the family changed in the wake of the book and the years after its publication. Eldest daughter Holly was something of a cipher, but the two sons were particularly interesting, and Wolitzer does a great job evoking the 70s. A-.
If it wasn't for my book group, I'd never have read this book--I remember reading good reviews when it came out, but a book about a married couple in the 70s writing a how-to sex manual featuring illustrations of themselves, and the effect said book had on their four children just didn't appeal to me. But actually it was a really good book, with Wolitzer visiting each family member in turn, showing how the family changed in the wake of the book and the years after its publication. Eldest daughter Holly was something of a cipher, but the two sons were particularly interesting, and Wolitzer does a great job evoking the 70s. A-.
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