Aric Davis' Nickel Plated
So Nickel isn't a normal kid--in fact, he's pretty much as far from normal as you can get, living on his own, earning money in a variety of illegal ways. When a girl hires him to find her missing sister, we find out just how unusual Nickel is. Now, let me just say that I loved the writing here--there's just a hint of noir in Nickel's personality--but this is kind of a deeply f-ed up book. Not in a bad way. But f-ed up. A-.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
2011 book 135
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
I may have run out of things to say about this book, but that doesn't mean I enjoy rereading it over and over any less.
I may have run out of things to say about this book, but that doesn't mean I enjoy rereading it over and over any less.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
2011 book 134
Maud Hart Lovelace's Carney's House Party and Winona's Pony Cart
Did you know that Lovelace wrote other books set in the world of Betsy-Tacy? Neither did I, till the last ALA I went to, where I scored copies of both (actually, three, but this is two stories in one volume and one is short, so I'm just counting it as one book). These stories revisit friends of Betsy's (though she appears in both)--in the first, we find Carney on a summer visit home from college, and in the second, we go back to the characters at 8 as irrepressible Winona asks for a pony for her birthday. Both excellent additions to the series, and the Carney one picks up a plot point that the main series hints at quite a bit, which I've always wondered about.
Did you know that Lovelace wrote other books set in the world of Betsy-Tacy? Neither did I, till the last ALA I went to, where I scored copies of both (actually, three, but this is two stories in one volume and one is short, so I'm just counting it as one book). These stories revisit friends of Betsy's (though she appears in both)--in the first, we find Carney on a summer visit home from college, and in the second, we go back to the characters at 8 as irrepressible Winona asks for a pony for her birthday. Both excellent additions to the series, and the Carney one picks up a plot point that the main series hints at quite a bit, which I've always wondered about.
Glory days!
So tongiht was the Audubon Park CD release show--loved hearing the new songs and some old favorites (Blasted Heath and Register especially!) but of course the highlight of the night was Aimee Argote (Des Ark) joining the AP boys (and Bob Wall) (and some other special guests) on stage to perform Springsteen's Born in the USA in its entirety. Sheer genius.
Lots more crappy photos at Flickr.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
2011 book 133
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
I have like 20 sample chapters on my Kindle, but none were appealing, so of course I read a Harry Potter book instead. And you know what I wonder? Did Harry lose his ability to speak Parseltongue after the events of the last book? It seems like he would have.
I have like 20 sample chapters on my Kindle, but none were appealing, so of course I read a Harry Potter book instead. And you know what I wonder? Did Harry lose his ability to speak Parseltongue after the events of the last book? It seems like he would have.
Friday, May 27, 2011
2011 book 132
Jennifer Bradley's Wrapped
It's the 1800s, and a young woman--who knows a bunch of languages and loves Jane Austen--gets caught up in a mystery involving mummies and Napoleon. Plus there's a little romance. Fun story, though really overwritten at times (a lone tear trailing down a cheek, way too much talking-not-showing re: romantic feelings). Still, entertaining, and I liked the end a lot. B/B+.
It's the 1800s, and a young woman--who knows a bunch of languages and loves Jane Austen--gets caught up in a mystery involving mummies and Napoleon. Plus there's a little romance. Fun story, though really overwritten at times (a lone tear trailing down a cheek, way too much talking-not-showing re: romantic feelings). Still, entertaining, and I liked the end a lot. B/B+.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
2011 book 130
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Whenever ABC Family does a Harry Potter Weekend, it makes me want to reread the books (b/c they are so superior to the movies! And b/c they are awesome!). So I've been reading this one in little chunks for the past few days (and I still love it, every time I read it, and still get teary when Neville gets his points at the end). During this read, a small part of me wished for a happier story, where Snape saw that Harry was a lonely little boy and told him stories about his mother. Of course, that completely negates the actual narrative arcs as written, but I wished it anyway.
Whenever ABC Family does a Harry Potter Weekend, it makes me want to reread the books (b/c they are so superior to the movies! And b/c they are awesome!). So I've been reading this one in little chunks for the past few days (and I still love it, every time I read it, and still get teary when Neville gets his points at the end). During this read, a small part of me wished for a happier story, where Snape saw that Harry was a lonely little boy and told him stories about his mother. Of course, that completely negates the actual narrative arcs as written, but I wished it anyway.
2011 book 129
Alison Pick's Far to Go
This is one of those books where the backstory (see an interview with the author here) is almost more interesting than the novel itself. After finding out that her grandparents were actually Jewish (they emigrated to Canada in 1939 and decided to live as Christians b/c they were afraid), Pick was inspired to write a story about some other Czech Jews in the 1930s. Narrated mostly by the family nanny Marta, the story is at times riveting and at times very frustrating (I wanted to give several of the characters a shake on more than one occasion). I also thought the ending was kind of a narrative cop-out after the serious drama that came before, but otherwise the writing was solid--Pick moves back in time between the past and the present very effectively, adding an extra layer to the proceedings. B/B+.
This is one of those books where the backstory (see an interview with the author here) is almost more interesting than the novel itself. After finding out that her grandparents were actually Jewish (they emigrated to Canada in 1939 and decided to live as Christians b/c they were afraid), Pick was inspired to write a story about some other Czech Jews in the 1930s. Narrated mostly by the family nanny Marta, the story is at times riveting and at times very frustrating (I wanted to give several of the characters a shake on more than one occasion). I also thought the ending was kind of a narrative cop-out after the serious drama that came before, but otherwise the writing was solid--Pick moves back in time between the past and the present very effectively, adding an extra layer to the proceedings. B/B+.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
2011 book 128
Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy's Wedding
I love the picture of a new marriage in this book--Betsy trying valiantly to learn to cook, while they both try and get their writing careers going. There's romance and stuff too, but it's a really nice and realistic portrait, I think.
I love the picture of a new marriage in this book--Betsy trying valiantly to learn to cook, while they both try and get their writing careers going. There's romance and stuff too, but it's a really nice and realistic portrait, I think.
2011 book 127
Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy and the Great World
In the second-to-last Betsy book, Lovelace has skipped ahead a few years--Betsy is now in her early 20s, and about to embark on a tour of Europe (to gain material for her writing, of course). And it's funny, if you asked when any of the Betsy books were set I'd just say, you know, the olden days--but this one is emphatically set in 1914. And now, time for the series' grand finale!
In the second-to-last Betsy book, Lovelace has skipped ahead a few years--Betsy is now in her early 20s, and about to embark on a tour of Europe (to gain material for her writing, of course). And it's funny, if you asked when any of the Betsy books were set I'd just say, you know, the olden days--but this one is emphatically set in 1914. And now, time for the series' grand finale!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
2011 book 126
Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy and Joe
I've always found it interesting that in a series of mostly-autobiographically-based novels, the author inserted a character (the titular Joe) based on her husband into her high school years (when she didn't meet him until later in real life). Who cares, I love them together. Betsy and Joe forever!
I've always found it interesting that in a series of mostly-autobiographically-based novels, the author inserted a character (the titular Joe) based on her husband into her high school years (when she didn't meet him until later in real life). Who cares, I love them together. Betsy and Joe forever!
2011 book 125
Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy Was a Junior
This isn't my favorite Betsy book--too much random frivolity--but I still love the relationships b/w Betsy and her family, and b/w Betsy, Tacy, and Tib.
This isn't my favorite Betsy book--too much random frivolity--but I still love the relationships b/w Betsy and her family, and b/w Betsy, Tacy, and Tib.
Monday, May 23, 2011
2011 book 124
Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy in Spite of Herself
One of the reasons I liked the Betsy books so much is that, even when Betsy is involved in dramatic romances, that's not the focus of her life--she's still centered on her writing and her future, being true to herself. Plus, there's more Joe Willard in this one! You have to love Joe. He's so Gilbert Blythe-y.
One of the reasons I liked the Betsy books so much is that, even when Betsy is involved in dramatic romances, that's not the focus of her life--she's still centered on her writing and her future, being true to herself. Plus, there's more Joe Willard in this one! You have to love Joe. He's so Gilbert Blythe-y.
2011 book 123
Maud Hart Lovelace's Heaven to Betsy
The 5th Betsy-Tacy book is an interesting entry in the series--Betsy starts high school and gets interested in boys and expands her social circle, but there's also some interesting stuff on the role religion played in small cities at the time. Plus an introduction by Laura Lippman!
The 5th Betsy-Tacy book is an interesting entry in the series--Betsy starts high school and gets interested in boys and expands her social circle, but there's also some interesting stuff on the role religion played in small cities at the time. Plus an introduction by Laura Lippman!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
2011 book 122
Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy and Tacy go Downtown
When I was little (and until fairly recently, really), I only owned the first three Betsy-Tacy books and read them over and over. I used to get the others from the library (I distinctly remember where they were shelved in the children's room) but hadn't read them in years and years until they came back into print in like 2006, so rereading this one was a real pleasure--I didn't remember most of the plot points until they started to converge in the last couple of chapters (and there are some great plot points in this one). These books are wholly charming and I'm so glad they're available again.
When I was little (and until fairly recently, really), I only owned the first three Betsy-Tacy books and read them over and over. I used to get the others from the library (I distinctly remember where they were shelved in the children's room) but hadn't read them in years and years until they came back into print in like 2006, so rereading this one was a real pleasure--I didn't remember most of the plot points until they started to converge in the last couple of chapters (and there are some great plot points in this one). These books are wholly charming and I'm so glad they're available again.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
2011 book 121
Jennifer Haigh's Faith
Haigh's latest--after 2008's The Condition--is going to be on a bunch of best of the year lists, I'm calling it now. It's the story of a family torn apart by a scandal involving a priest and a young boy--but not the story you're thinking, as it's narrated by the priest's sister. And it's beautifully written--not just in terms of language, but in how Haigh lets the story unfold, leaving the reader wanting more and then breaking her (my) heart. Great, great, great. A.
Haigh's latest--after 2008's The Condition--is going to be on a bunch of best of the year lists, I'm calling it now. It's the story of a family torn apart by a scandal involving a priest and a young boy--but not the story you're thinking, as it's narrated by the priest's sister. And it's beautifully written--not just in terms of language, but in how Haigh lets the story unfold, leaving the reader wanting more and then breaking her (my) heart. Great, great, great. A.
Friday, May 20, 2011
2011 books 119 and 120
Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy Go Over the Big Hill
This book heavily features a subplot involving Little Syria, a depiction that, as an adult, I have mixed feelings about (on the whole, pretty much non-racist, though Lovelace does emphasize that the Syrians are Christians and really into becoming Americans).
Nova Ren Suma's Imaginary Girls
The story here involves two sisters and moves from somewhat sinister to downright weird in a heartbeat. I still haven't decided what I think about it. B.
This book heavily features a subplot involving Little Syria, a depiction that, as an adult, I have mixed feelings about (on the whole, pretty much non-racist, though Lovelace does emphasize that the Syrians are Christians and really into becoming Americans).
Nova Ren Suma's Imaginary Girls
The story here involves two sisters and moves from somewhat sinister to downright weird in a heartbeat. I still haven't decided what I think about it. B.
2011 book 118
Eleanor Henderson's Ten Thousand Saints
If a book is described as a "sweeping, multi-generational epic"--well, you have a certain idea of what it's going to be like. And this book isn't like that at all--it's mostly about annoying teenagers doing drugs (I hate books about annoying teenagers doing drugs) and then turning into even more annoying straight-edge kids (it takes place in the 80s). Technically it's multi-generational--one set of parents is featured in a minor way--but I'd hesitate before calling it a multi-generational epic. Not to say it's a bad book--I liked the one character who was a girl, and I wanted to know what would happen to her--but it wasn't really my cup of tea. B/B-.
If a book is described as a "sweeping, multi-generational epic"--well, you have a certain idea of what it's going to be like. And this book isn't like that at all--it's mostly about annoying teenagers doing drugs (I hate books about annoying teenagers doing drugs) and then turning into even more annoying straight-edge kids (it takes place in the 80s). Technically it's multi-generational--one set of parents is featured in a minor way--but I'd hesitate before calling it a multi-generational epic. Not to say it's a bad book--I liked the one character who was a girl, and I wanted to know what would happen to her--but it wasn't really my cup of tea. B/B-.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
2011 books 116 and 117
Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy and Tib
I love these books and I love having them on my Kindle.
Holly Goldberg Sloan's I'll Be There
Keri texted me last night, all "girl, have you read this book???" and I was like, I didn't even know this book existed which clearly should be remedied. And though some parts are a teensy bit over the top, and suspension of disbelief is definitely required, the story--of a pair of boys living on the road with their actually-crazy father, and what happens when the older one meets a girl--was totally riveting and intense (much more intense than that description makes it sound, but I don't want to try and summarize more of the plot b/c it was a much better book than the official plot synopsis made it sound). A/A-.
I love these books and I love having them on my Kindle.
Holly Goldberg Sloan's I'll Be There
Keri texted me last night, all "girl, have you read this book???" and I was like, I didn't even know this book existed which clearly should be remedied. And though some parts are a teensy bit over the top, and suspension of disbelief is definitely required, the story--of a pair of boys living on the road with their actually-crazy father, and what happens when the older one meets a girl--was totally riveting and intense (much more intense than that description makes it sound, but I don't want to try and summarize more of the plot b/c it was a much better book than the official plot synopsis made it sound). A/A-.
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