Esther Freud's Lucky Break
Before you ask, yes, Freud is the descendent of that other Freud. Anyway, this novel involves a trio of British drama students and their travails in drama school and afterward. I do wish Freud had delved into their inner lives a bit more; I didn't feel like I knew them well or knew what they wanted really (the male character was especially lacking). It felt like it would be a satisfying movie, but there was no depth here. I mean, it's interesting enough, don't get me wrong, but I'm not sure what the point of it was. B.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
2011 book 292
Jay Asher and Carolyn Macker's The Future of Us
I was excited about this book for a couple of reasons--Asher is the author of the EXCELLENT Thirteen Reasons Why, and this has a great premise (it's about a couple of teenagers in the 90s who find their future Facebook pages and start trying to alter their futures. I love this concept and of course it made me wonder--what would teenage you think of your current social media presence?). But it turned out to be even awesomer (for me) than I'd hoped--besides the premise and the very likable characters, it totally resonated with me b/c the girl character is just my age, and it's set in a small town near Pittsburgh. Plus the 90s-era references to Oasis and Dave Matthews (though actually, I don't remember Dave Matthews really getting huge till my freshman year of college, and this takes place two years earlier) and Discmen (is that the plural of Discman?) were pretty funny. The end is pretty obvious, but I really liked the future-changing shenanigans, and like I said, very appealing characters. Completely absorbing and entertaining, if a little silly. A.
I was excited about this book for a couple of reasons--Asher is the author of the EXCELLENT Thirteen Reasons Why, and this has a great premise (it's about a couple of teenagers in the 90s who find their future Facebook pages and start trying to alter their futures. I love this concept and of course it made me wonder--what would teenage you think of your current social media presence?). But it turned out to be even awesomer (for me) than I'd hoped--besides the premise and the very likable characters, it totally resonated with me b/c the girl character is just my age, and it's set in a small town near Pittsburgh. Plus the 90s-era references to Oasis and Dave Matthews (though actually, I don't remember Dave Matthews really getting huge till my freshman year of college, and this takes place two years earlier) and Discmen (is that the plural of Discman?) were pretty funny. The end is pretty obvious, but I really liked the future-changing shenanigans, and like I said, very appealing characters. Completely absorbing and entertaining, if a little silly. A.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
2011 book 291
Vicky Alvear Shecter's Cleopatra's Moon
Very well-done novel about Cleopatra's daughter and her exile in Rome--there aren't a lot of historical facts about Cleopatra Selene, so Schecter has the space to create a winning character and a whole world around her (plus, there are no intrigues like Roman intrigues in terms of sheer entertainment value). Schecter also does a really good job dealing with Egyptian religion (not surprisingly, I especially liked a scene where Cleopatra Selene has a philosophical debate with a rabbi). Even the requisite YA love triangle is interesting due to various political situations (though perhaps some of the romance was a bit farfetched). A/A-.
Very well-done novel about Cleopatra's daughter and her exile in Rome--there aren't a lot of historical facts about Cleopatra Selene, so Schecter has the space to create a winning character and a whole world around her (plus, there are no intrigues like Roman intrigues in terms of sheer entertainment value). Schecter also does a really good job dealing with Egyptian religion (not surprisingly, I especially liked a scene where Cleopatra Selene has a philosophical debate with a rabbi). Even the requisite YA love triangle is interesting due to various political situations (though perhaps some of the romance was a bit farfetched). A/A-.
2011 book 290
Gregory Maguire's Wicked
I hadn't read this since college and was in the mood for a more grown-up fairy tale story. I remembered liking this a lot, but actually it's surprisingly boring at times (lots of long speeches about made-up politics and religions). I had planned on reading the sequels after this, but I don't really want to now. Have any of you read them? Are they worth checking out?
I hadn't read this since college and was in the mood for a more grown-up fairy tale story. I remembered liking this a lot, but actually it's surprisingly boring at times (lots of long speeches about made-up politics and religions). I had planned on reading the sequels after this, but I don't really want to now. Have any of you read them? Are they worth checking out?
Friday, November 18, 2011
2011 book 289
Delia Sherman's The Freedom Maze
It's the summer of 1960, and young Sophie is sent to live with her (casually racist) grandmother and aunt in Louisiana after her parents divorce. But when she encounters a mysterious creature in a hedge maze, she gets whisked back to 1860 (just like her favorite book by one of my favorite authors, Edward Eager's The Time Garden), where she's mistaken for a light-skinned slave and sent to work in the Big House on the plantation. Sherman makes Sophie's experiences feel real without being heavy-handed--I think it would be really easy to cross that line, but she toes it gracefully. Clearly a lot of research went into this, and it's especially satisfying to read it as a book and history nerd. I love books where contemporary characters go back in time and learn valuable historical lessons. A.
It's the summer of 1960, and young Sophie is sent to live with her (casually racist) grandmother and aunt in Louisiana after her parents divorce. But when she encounters a mysterious creature in a hedge maze, she gets whisked back to 1860 (just like her favorite book by one of my favorite authors, Edward Eager's The Time Garden), where she's mistaken for a light-skinned slave and sent to work in the Big House on the plantation. Sherman makes Sophie's experiences feel real without being heavy-handed--I think it would be really easy to cross that line, but she toes it gracefully. Clearly a lot of research went into this, and it's especially satisfying to read it as a book and history nerd. I love books where contemporary characters go back in time and learn valuable historical lessons. A.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
2011 book 288
Y.S. Lee's The Agency: The Traitor and the Tunnel
I can't figure out why the Agency series isn't more popular--or am I the only person who likes books about an agency of girl detectives in Victorian-era England featuring a protagonist with a mysterious past? And speaking of Victorian England, the third book in the series finds Mary working undercover as a maid in Queen Victoria's palace (Victoria is one of my favorite historical royals and she is pretty awesome here, I have to say) to uncover a thief. But of course things are never that easy, and soon Mary finds herself involved in a murder case that hits close to home. Lee brings a light touch, humor, and romance to a story that could easily be over-the-top, and while things may resolve a bit too easily, I was pleased with the resolution nonetheless (and anyway, this is a YA book, things are allowed to wrap up neatly). A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
I can't figure out why the Agency series isn't more popular--or am I the only person who likes books about an agency of girl detectives in Victorian-era England featuring a protagonist with a mysterious past? And speaking of Victorian England, the third book in the series finds Mary working undercover as a maid in Queen Victoria's palace (Victoria is one of my favorite historical royals and she is pretty awesome here, I have to say) to uncover a thief. But of course things are never that easy, and soon Mary finds herself involved in a murder case that hits close to home. Lee brings a light touch, humor, and romance to a story that could easily be over-the-top, and while things may resolve a bit too easily, I was pleased with the resolution nonetheless (and anyway, this is a YA book, things are allowed to wrap up neatly). A/A-.
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An e-galley was provided by the publisher.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
2011 book 287
Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
My sister and I decided to both read this and have our own little book club meeting over Thanksgiving, and I'm glad we did; it's a book I've been meaning to read for a long time (but you all know I avoid non-fiction as much as possible) and there's a reason it was on so many best-of lists last year. Skloot does a really good job of weaving together the story of Henrietta and her family--and the story of her cells and the scientists who made them a crazy force in scientific research. And it's all very readable--normally non-fiction takes me a lot longer to read than a novel would, but I plowed through this with no trouble at all (at least until the afterword, which delves into Important Ethical Issues and loses the train of the story somewhat). Plus there are several points where Pittsburgh plays a part! I look forward to talking about it while in that awesome city. :) A.
My sister and I decided to both read this and have our own little book club meeting over Thanksgiving, and I'm glad we did; it's a book I've been meaning to read for a long time (but you all know I avoid non-fiction as much as possible) and there's a reason it was on so many best-of lists last year. Skloot does a really good job of weaving together the story of Henrietta and her family--and the story of her cells and the scientists who made them a crazy force in scientific research. And it's all very readable--normally non-fiction takes me a lot longer to read than a novel would, but I plowed through this with no trouble at all (at least until the afterword, which delves into Important Ethical Issues and loses the train of the story somewhat). Plus there are several points where Pittsburgh plays a part! I look forward to talking about it while in that awesome city. :) A.
Monday, November 14, 2011
2011 book 286
Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle
After reading a string of disappointing books--and starting another that didn't seem promising--I decided it was time to reread one of my favorites as a palate cleanser. The Kindle edition of this is one of those ones full of weird typos, but that doesn't stop the story from being great. I still wish the Miyazaki movie had hewed closer to the book.
After reading a string of disappointing books--and starting another that didn't seem promising--I decided it was time to reread one of my favorites as a palate cleanser. The Kindle edition of this is one of those ones full of weird typos, but that doesn't stop the story from being great. I still wish the Miyazaki movie had hewed closer to the book.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
2011 book 285
Ha Jin's Nanjing Requiem
After reading a bunch of light--and not very good--books in a row, I wanted something meatier and more satisfying, and the story of an American woman running a college/refugee camp in China in the late 1930s (after Japan has invaded) seemed to fit the bill. Only it's based on a true story and reads like a recitation of facts--you never get to know the characters, even the narrator. And horrifying things happen, but it's told so dryly that I hardly even felt it. I can't figure out why Jin would structure his narrative this way (if it was even deliberate). Most boring book about war crimes ever. B-.
After reading a bunch of light--and not very good--books in a row, I wanted something meatier and more satisfying, and the story of an American woman running a college/refugee camp in China in the late 1930s (after Japan has invaded) seemed to fit the bill. Only it's based on a true story and reads like a recitation of facts--you never get to know the characters, even the narrator. And horrifying things happen, but it's told so dryly that I hardly even felt it. I can't figure out why Jin would structure his narrative this way (if it was even deliberate). Most boring book about war crimes ever. B-.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
2011 book 284
Lauren Baratz-Logsted's Little Women and Me
With all of the books/miniseries about modern day ladies being super into Pride and Prejudice, I'm surprised there hasn't been a Little Women one until now (or have I just missed them?). Anyway, this is a YA book about a 14-year-old who gets sucked into Little Women, which is a great premise, right? Too bad it is the silliest book I have ever read. For one thing, the narrative voice needs to be toned down like three notches--it's all "OMG" and "Facebook" and "I'm a teenager squee!" Not to mention the protagonist is a total brat. Like, if she'd just been interfering trying to help Beth, I'd have been totally into it. But her macking on Laurie was just ridiculous. And don't even get me started on how WRONG the end is. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong. C.
With all of the books/miniseries about modern day ladies being super into Pride and Prejudice, I'm surprised there hasn't been a Little Women one until now (or have I just missed them?). Anyway, this is a YA book about a 14-year-old who gets sucked into Little Women, which is a great premise, right? Too bad it is the silliest book I have ever read. For one thing, the narrative voice needs to be toned down like three notches--it's all "OMG" and "Facebook" and "I'm a teenager squee!" Not to mention the protagonist is a total brat. Like, if she'd just been interfering trying to help Beth, I'd have been totally into it. But her macking on Laurie was just ridiculous. And don't even get me started on how WRONG the end is. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong. C.
Friday, November 11, 2011
2011 book 283
Nancy Jensen's The Sisters
This novel chronicles two sisters and their descendents from the late 1920s--when the sisters are separated by an annoying miscommunication--through the late 2000s. Pretty solid characters, though not all are fleshed out as much as they could be (particularly social climbing daughter Alma). And I think the last part was supposed to be a surprise but it was something I assumed from very early on, which didn't make for a compelling resolution. This book was kind of a downer for something that seems like women's lit. Maybe for the Jodi Picoult fans? B.
This novel chronicles two sisters and their descendents from the late 1920s--when the sisters are separated by an annoying miscommunication--through the late 2000s. Pretty solid characters, though not all are fleshed out as much as they could be (particularly social climbing daughter Alma). And I think the last part was supposed to be a surprise but it was something I assumed from very early on, which didn't make for a compelling resolution. This book was kind of a downer for something that seems like women's lit. Maybe for the Jodi Picoult fans? B.
2011 book 282
Elizabeth Bunce's Liar's Moon
I feel like I've been slogging through this book for weeks--for a fantasy adventure murder mystery, it was INSANELY boring. The thief girl from the last book is trying to prove a friend innocent of murder, but the pacing or something is way off, and each new discovery is more boring than the last. (The eventual resolution is also extremely stupid.) I didn't care about any of the characters, and the murder victim remained a cipher. And don't even get me started on the romance, which thankfully didn't take up too much time, but was entirely wooden. I don't even know why I finished this, except I'd already invested so much time and wanted it to count toward my totals. F.
I feel like I've been slogging through this book for weeks--for a fantasy adventure murder mystery, it was INSANELY boring. The thief girl from the last book is trying to prove a friend innocent of murder, but the pacing or something is way off, and each new discovery is more boring than the last. (The eventual resolution is also extremely stupid.) I didn't care about any of the characters, and the murder victim remained a cipher. And don't even get me started on the romance, which thankfully didn't take up too much time, but was entirely wooden. I don't even know why I finished this, except I'd already invested so much time and wanted it to count toward my totals. F.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
2011 book 281
Elizabeth C. Bunce's StarCrossed
This is the second book called Starcrossed I've read this year, and it was also a strong story, about a young thief girl who, while fleeing the local police types, ends up becoming a maid to a sweet royal type and gets caught up in a whole mess of intrigue. What I found refreshing about this fantasy book is that there is very little romance at all--it's all about politics and magic and secrets (the sequel came out this month and looks like it's much more of a traditional romance, alas). I love books with strong heroines and the world-building here is pretty solid, too. A-.
This is the second book called Starcrossed I've read this year, and it was also a strong story, about a young thief girl who, while fleeing the local police types, ends up becoming a maid to a sweet royal type and gets caught up in a whole mess of intrigue. What I found refreshing about this fantasy book is that there is very little romance at all--it's all about politics and magic and secrets (the sequel came out this month and looks like it's much more of a traditional romance, alas). I love books with strong heroines and the world-building here is pretty solid, too. A-.
Monday, November 07, 2011
2011 book 280
Jessica Day George's Tuesdays at the Castle
Very cute MG book about a royal family living in a magic castle, where the youngest daughter is trying to map all the new corridors and rooms that appear, and what happens when the royal parents are ambushed and apparently dead, and the three royal children must protect themselves, their castle, and their kingdom. A-.
Very cute MG book about a royal family living in a magic castle, where the youngest daughter is trying to map all the new corridors and rooms that appear, and what happens when the royal parents are ambushed and apparently dead, and the three royal children must protect themselves, their castle, and their kingdom. A-.
2011 book 279
Shannon Hale's Austenland
I basically hate chick lit (because it's so formulaic and boring) but thought I'd give this book a chance for the following reasons:
--Hale is the author of a bunch of YA books I like a lot.
--They're filming a movie of this, starring Keri Russell and Jennifer Coolidge (who is perfectly cast)!
--It was one of those $1.99 Kindle book deals.
And if you want to read a cute book about a 32-year-old New Yorker who's obsessed w/ Mr. Darcy and whose aunt wills her a trip to England for an Austen-themed role-playing adventure, you really can't go wrong with this. Like all chick lit books, it's totally formulaic and you know exactly what will happen (actually, Hale did surprise me with one plot point), but her narrative, as always, is fun to read. I was a little annoyed that the protagonist was all "Why can't he be more like Mr Darcy?" about the guy who is EXACTLY like Mr Darcy, who is totally a stuffy crankypants in the book. Anyway, I didn't dislike this, which is frankly surprising. B+.
I basically hate chick lit (because it's so formulaic and boring) but thought I'd give this book a chance for the following reasons:
--Hale is the author of a bunch of YA books I like a lot.
--They're filming a movie of this, starring Keri Russell and Jennifer Coolidge (who is perfectly cast)!
--It was one of those $1.99 Kindle book deals.
And if you want to read a cute book about a 32-year-old New Yorker who's obsessed w/ Mr. Darcy and whose aunt wills her a trip to England for an Austen-themed role-playing adventure, you really can't go wrong with this. Like all chick lit books, it's totally formulaic and you know exactly what will happen (actually, Hale did surprise me with one plot point), but her narrative, as always, is fun to read. I was a little annoyed that the protagonist was all "Why can't he be more like Mr Darcy?" about the guy who is EXACTLY like Mr Darcy, who is totally a stuffy crankypants in the book. Anyway, I didn't dislike this, which is frankly surprising. B+.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
2011 book 278
Kate Atkinson's Started Early, Took My Dog
Another strong contender in the Jackson Brodie series--though it is hard to sympathize with one of the main characters here, since she buys a kid. Jackson's part of the story is still great though. And I love the dog!
Another strong contender in the Jackson Brodie series--though it is hard to sympathize with one of the main characters here, since she buys a kid. Jackson's part of the story is still great though. And I love the dog!
Saturday, November 05, 2011
2011 book 277
Kate Atkinson's When Will There Be Good News?
The third Jackson Brodie book just might be my favorite--mainly b/c of teenage Reggie, but the storylines are also really strong, and Atkinson doles out information at the perfect intervals.
The third Jackson Brodie book just might be my favorite--mainly b/c of teenage Reggie, but the storylines are also really strong, and Atkinson doles out information at the perfect intervals.
Friday, November 04, 2011
2011 book 276
Edward Eager's The Well-Wishers
I've started and given up on a couple different books in the past few days (but it's ok! They're library books! On my Kindle!) and just wanted to read something I knew I'd like--and you can't go wrong with a classic Edward Eager book. Except that this is a sequel to another one called Magic Or Not?, which weirdly is NOT available for the Kindle. Get it together, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
I've started and given up on a couple different books in the past few days (but it's ok! They're library books! On my Kindle!) and just wanted to read something I knew I'd like--and you can't go wrong with a classic Edward Eager book. Except that this is a sequel to another one called Magic Or Not?, which weirdly is NOT available for the Kindle. Get it together, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Thursday, November 03, 2011
2011 book 275
Kate Atkinson's One Good Turn
I remembered the second Jackson Brodie mystery as the weakest of the four, and it does start off reallllllly slowly (I almost quit reading it b/c I was bored), but like a quarter of the way through, the pace picks up as the disparate stories (a man in a coma whose wife is befriending his dominatrix; an assault after a car accident; Jackson finding a dead body; some sort of theater festival) start to collide, and eventually things get pretty exciting. B/B+.
I remembered the second Jackson Brodie mystery as the weakest of the four, and it does start off reallllllly slowly (I almost quit reading it b/c I was bored), but like a quarter of the way through, the pace picks up as the disparate stories (a man in a coma whose wife is befriending his dominatrix; an assault after a car accident; Jackson finding a dead body; some sort of theater festival) start to collide, and eventually things get pretty exciting. B/B+.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
2011 book 274
Alan Bradley's I am Half-Sick of Shadows
The fourth Flavia de Luce mystery is a really strong entry in the series, involving Flavia's plots to trap Santa Claus while an A-list film is being shot on their estate. Flavia is always such an interesting mix of intelligence (about chemistry, anyway) and innocence (I doubted that a science-minded 11-year-old would believe in Santa, but it was the 1950s, so who knows). It's not a super-long book so things move swiftly, but I thought it worked. A-/B+.
The fourth Flavia de Luce mystery is a really strong entry in the series, involving Flavia's plots to trap Santa Claus while an A-list film is being shot on their estate. Flavia is always such an interesting mix of intelligence (about chemistry, anyway) and innocence (I doubted that a science-minded 11-year-old would believe in Santa, but it was the 1950s, so who knows). It's not a super-long book so things move swiftly, but I thought it worked. A-/B+.
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