Sunday Shorts

The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye
published 1980
112 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Along with Wit, Charm, Health, and Courage, Princess Amy of Phantasmorania receives a special fairy christening gift: Ordinariness. Unlike her six beautiful sisters, she has brown hair and freckles, and would rather have adventures than play the harp, embroider tapestries . . . or become a Queen. When her royal parents try to marry her off, Amy runs away and, because she's so ordinary, easily becomes the fourteenth assistant kitchen maid at a neighboring palace. And there . . . much to everyone's surprise . . . she meets a prince just as ordinary (and special) as she is!

My thoughts -

This is a delightful middle-grade novel by the author of one of my favorite books, The Far Pavilions. In the author's forward, she writes, "...it was only after I had read at least twenty of the stories that I noticed something that had never struck me before - I supposed because I had always taken it for granted. All the princesses...were blond, blue-eyed, and beautiful....This struck me as most unfair, and suddenly I began to wonder just how many handsome princes would have asked a king for the hand of his daughter if that daughter had happened to be gawky, snub-nosed, and freckled, with shortish, mouse-colored hair. None, I suspected."  The Ordinary Princess is Kaye's answer to that question, and it's wonderful. Read it with your child, and rejoice in the wonderful-ness of being ordinary.

Finished - 12/13/13
Source - my shelves
MPAA rating - this is about as G as it gets
My rating - 8/10

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a 13-year-old Boy with Autism by Naoki Hugashida (translated by KA Yoshida and David Mitchell)
published in Japan in 2007
135 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

You’ve never read a book like The Reason I Jump. Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. Parents and family members who never thought they could get inside the head of their autistic loved one at last have a way to break through to the curious, subtle, and complex life within.

Using an alphabet grid to painstakingly construct words, sentences, and thoughts that he is unable to speak out loud, Naoki answers even the most delicate questions that people want to know. Questions such as: “Why do people with autism talk so loudly and weirdly?” “Why do you line up your toy cars and blocks?” “Why don’t you make eye contact when you’re talking?” and “What’s the reason you jump?” (Naoki’s answer: “When I’m jumping, it’s as if my feelings are going upward to the sky.”) With disarming honesty and a generous heart, Naoki shares his unique point of view on not only autism but life itself. His insights — into the mystery of words, the wonders of laughter, and the elusiveness of memory — are so startling, so strange, and so powerful that you will never look at the world the same way again.

My thoughts -

Hmmm. The idea of this book is quite interesting - I just question how much "freedom" the translators took in their translation. Some of the wording seemed odd for a young boy from Japan. It is certainly brave of the young author to write these words, and it is a unique perspective on the mind of autism.

Finished - 12/14/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - G
My rating - 6/10

A Kiss At Midnight by Eloisa James
published 2010
372 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince . . . and decides hes anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman; a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions.

Gabriel likes his fiance; which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn't love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.

Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after.

Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble . . .

Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune . . .

Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.

My thoughts - 

I'm honestly not sure how this ended up on my shelf - it is really not my typical genre. I have to say, though, it was pretty darn entertaining. Obviously nothing was a major surprise, but the banter was fun and the story a unique twist on the Cinderella tale. If you are looking for a quick, fun read you could certainly do worse.

Finished - 12/17/13
Source - my shelves
MPAA rating - R, kids. It's a bodice-ripper.
My rating - 7/10

Book Thoughts - Children of God by Mary Doria Russell

Children of God by Mary Doria Russell
published 1999
464 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

The only member of the original mission to the planet Rakhat to return to Earth, Father Emilio Sandoz has barely begun to recover from his ordeal when the Society of Jesus calls upon him for help in preparing for another mission to Alpha Centauri. Despite his objections and fear, he cannot escape his past or the future.

Old friends, new discoveries and difficult questions await Emilio as he struggles for inner peace and understanding in a moral universe whose boundaries now extend beyond the solar system and whose future lies with children born in a faraway place.

My thoughts -

I think it's safe to say that Mary Doria Russell doesn't write "easy" books. There are no easy scenes, no easy characters, no easy answers. Russell writes about struggle - the struggle to find a place; the struggle to find hope from despair; the struggle of faith amidst betrayal. I have not found her novels easy to read, but I have found them to be highly rewarding, and utterly unforgettable.

While Emilio Sandoz would ostensibly be the hero of the novel - it is, after all, his story readers of The Sparrow  want more of - he is not necessarily the MAIN character. Russell gives equal time to the others on Sandoz' mission, to Kitheri and Supaari on Rakhat, and on Sofia, the other survivor of the first mission. All Russell's characters- human and alien alike - come to feel like friends, flaws and all, as the reader follows them on their journey to find the answers they seek.

Russell's background as a biological anthropologist is a backbone of this novel - she is clearly interested in the the impact of one society on another, and the devastating consequences that can occur when societies collide. Her worldbuilding is intricate and complex, and the customs and political machinations within each society are an integral part of the story. This complexity was actually my only minor quibble with the novel - sometimes I felt like I was getting bogged down in detail, when all I really wanted to know was what the characters were going to do next.

I started reading this novel wanting to know what happened next to Emilio Sandoz after the devastating events of The Sparrow. I got those answers, but not necessarily in the way I expected them. Russell's second novel was thought-provoking and surprising, but certainly not disappointing. I think, for the right reader, this will be a reading experience you will never forget.

Finished - 11/28/13
Source - my shelves
MPAA rating - R for violence, adult situations
My rating - 8/10

Book Thoughts - The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite by Kiera Cass
published 4/23/13
323 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

My thoughts -

I am very impressed with this YA series. When I picked up the first book, I expected fun and froth escapism, and it was all there. But underneath the princess-y exterior, I noticed Cass begin to explore deeper issues - race and class, wealth and poverty, love and infatuation.

I was happy to note that she continued her exploration of these issues in the second novel in the series. America has a lot of complicated decisions to make, and Cass invites her readers to really think about the consequences of each choice, both good and bad. Nothing is as easy or as glittering as it seems, and America's struggles felt honest and true.

It is also, however, a lot of good fun. There is just enough suspense, just enough romance - I flew through the novel, and can't wait for the final installment. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite YA series, and I wouldn't be surprised if it found it's way into my permanent collection. Recommended.

Finished - 11/5/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - PG-13 for some violence and adult situations
My rating - 8/10

Book Thoughts - The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
published 8/20/13
480 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

It is the year 2059. Several major world cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London, part of a secret cell known as the Seven Seals. The work she does is unusual: scouting for information by breaking into others minds. Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare kind of clairvoyant, and in this world, the voyants commit treason simply by breathing.

But when Paige is captured and arrested, she encounters a power more sinister even than Scion. The voyant prison is a separate city — Oxford, erased from the map two centuries ago and now controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. These creatures, the Rephaim, value the voyants highly — as soldiers in their army.

Paige is assigned to a Rephaite keeper, Warden, who will be in charge of her care and training. He is her master. Her natural enemy. But if she wants to regain her freedom, Paige will have to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.

My thoughts -

One of my favorite things in the reading life is finding a new series to sink my teeth into. I enjoy stand-alone novels, but immersing myself in the world of a series is like finding a new family to fall in love with. I seem to connect especially well with fantasy series, and I'm very excited about what Samantha Shannon has in store for us.

The Bone Season is the first in a projected seven-part series, and it certainly has enough intrigue and depth to fill seven novels. Shannon's world is complex and layered, with so much detail that at times it's hard to keep everything straight. There were moments where the volume of information seemed a bit overwhelming, and I would hope as Shannon continues to grow as an author that she will find ways to incorporate that more smoothly into the narrative.

In creating her heroine, however, the author makes not a single misstep. Paige is strong and feisty, prickly and aloof, vulnerable and desperate. She is young and makes a young person's mistakes, and watching her grow as the novels progress is going to be a pleasure. She has so much to learn and so much to overcome, and I can't wait to see how she will win her battles.

While not perfect, I found The Bone Season to be a compelling debut novel. I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish, and I am excited to read Shannon's next work. Recommended for fantasy lovers.

Finished - 10/1/13
Source - review copy from publisher via Netgalley - thank you!
MPAA rating - R for violence and language
My rating - 8/10

Sunday Shorts

Deeply Odd by Dean Koontz
published 5/28/13
352 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

How do you make sure a crime that hasn’t happened yet, never does? That’s the critical question facing Odd Thomas, the young man with a unique ability to commune with restless spirits and help them find justice and peace. But this time, it’s the living who desperately need Odd on their side. Three helpless innocents will be brutally executed unless Odd can intervene in time. Who the potential victims are and where they can be found remain a mystery. The only thing Odd knows for sure is who the killer will be: the homicidal stranger who tried to shoot him dead in a small-town parking lot.

With the ghost of Alfred Hitchcock riding shotgun and a network of unlikely allies providing help along the way, Odd embarks on an interstate game of cat and mouse with his sinister quarry. He will soon learn that his adversary possesses abilities that may surpass his own and operates in service to infinitely more formidable foes, with murder a mere prelude to much deeper designs. Traveling across a landscape haunted by portents of impending catastrophe, Odd will do what he must and go where his path leads him, drawing ever closer to the dark heart of his long journey — and, perhaps, to the bright light beyond.

My thoughts -

It's so much fun to see the greater story developing - to start piecing together the place I think the author is ultimately going with this series. Once again, the actual mystery of the book - while certainly nail-biting - was not what I enjoyed most. Koontz creates such a delightful cast of characters, and I love watching them interact and trying to figure out what each player means in the grand scheme. This series is so much better than I expected it to be!

Finished - 9/11/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - R for scary violence
My rating - 8/10

The Selection by Kiera Cass
published 2012
352 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself; and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My thoughts -

Basically just imagine Prince Harry being the next Bachelor. That's pretty much the gist of this book, and while it sounds silly, I enjoyed it a lot. America is a fun and feisty heroine, and I'm enjoying her journey of discovery into worlds she hasn't known. I am definitely continuing with this series.

Finished - 9/18/13
Source - South Side library
MPAA rating - PG-13 for violence and some more sensitive situations
My rating - 8/10

Book Thoughts - Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska by John Green
published 2005
223 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . . After. Nothing is ever the same.

My thoughts -

Okay, now I get it. I understand what all the hype is about. After reading The Fault in Our Stars, I questioned a bit why so many people seemed to be so crazy in love with this guy's books. I'm glad I gave him a second chance, however, because Looking for Alaska was an excellent read.

It's clear that Green's "thing" is writing about smart, funny kids who are outside the accepted norm, for one reason or another. While the dialogue in TFIOS seemed forced at times - like he really needed us to understand just how clever these characters really were - Pudge and Alaska and the Colonel always felt like real kids saying real things. I believed in these characters, and because of that I came to care about them.

 I enjoy Green's style of writing, and understand why it resonates with readers - he tackles tough questions honestly, and doesn't give trite answers. I think the subject matter of this novel in particular - big questions about life and the nature of suffering, the longing to understand more about yourself and the people around you - are what make it so powerful, especially to Green's target audience. I'm sure if I had read this book as a teenager, it would have been one of those life-changers that I spent all my time quoting to my friends and copying word-for-word on my school notebooks.

"The Colonel ran ahead of me, gleeful at his ejection, and I jogged after him, trailing in his wake. I wanted to be one of those people who have streaks to maintain, who scorch the ground with their intensity. But for now, at least I knew such people, and they needed me, just like comets need tails." (p.49)

As an adult, I've tackled these questions and ideas on my own, and so while I didn't personally feel a sense of revelation, I can understand why it could be that type of book for a young person. I know some parents will struggle with letting their kids read this novel, because it does include profanity and frank discussion of sexuality. While it won't be for everyone, I do think it's an excellent read, and will look forward to my next visit to John Green's world.

Finished - 8/25/13
Source- South side library
MPAA rating - R for language, adult situations, and sexuality
My rating - 8/10

Book Thoughts - The Color Master by Aimee Bender

The Color Master by Aimee Bender
published 8/31/13
240 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

In this collection, Bender’s unique talents sparkle brilliantly in stories about people searching for connection through love, sex, and family — while navigating the often painful realities of their lives. A traumatic event unfolds when a girl with flowing hair of golden wheat appears in an apple orchard, where a group of people await her. A woman plays out a prostitution fantasy with her husband and finds she cannot go back to her old sex life. An ugly woman marries an ogre and struggles to decide if she should stay with him after he mistakenly eats their children. Two sisters travel deep into Malaysia, where one learns the art of mending tigers who have been ripped to shreds.

My thoughts -

I remember the first time I read the ACTUAL story of Cinderella - not the Disney version, but the Grimms tale where the stepsisters have to chop off parts of their feet to try on the slipper - and thinking, Wow. This story took a turn I didn't expect.

I felt very similarly about most of the stories in this collection. I would be reading along, thinking the story was heading in one direction, and then all of a sudden, "Wow. How did we wind up here?"

And honestly? I kinda liked it. It was entertaining to read a collection where I had (literally) no idea what was coming next. And I realize that at some point, I probably should have stopped being surprised - I mean, that is clearly her thing - but somehow I never was. Which is clearly the mark of a really good writer.

Highlights from the collection for me were Tiger Mending, about two sisters investigating a very unusual seamstress position; The Fake Nazi, about a woman investigating the life of a man claiming to be a war criminal; The Color Master, about a woman who must learn how to put anger into her work; and The Devourings, about a human and an ogre, and how that marriage works.

I do not think this collection will be for everyone - I think if you are not already a fan of the short story as a genre, this would be a tough sell. But if you are willing to take a chance and be a bit astonished, you just might find yourself enjoying Bender's slightly bent world.

Finished - 9/2/13
Source - review copy from publisher via Netgalley - thank you!
MPAA rating - R for adult situations & some violence
My rating - 8/10

Sunday Shorts

Odd Interlude by Dean Koontz
published 2013
297 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Nestled on a lonely stretch along the Pacific coast, quaint roadside outpost Harmony Corner offers everything a weary traveler needs—a cozy diner, a handy service station, a cluster of cottages . . . and the Harmony family homestead presiding over it all. But when Odd Thomas and company stop to spend the night, they discover that there’s more to this secluded haven than meets the eye—and that between life and death, there is something more frightening than either.

My thoughts -

I think this series gets better and better with each novel. This story was a much shorter installment - it was apparently originally a web series - and for me it packed an emotional punch. This was also the first time in an Odd Thomas story that Koontz gives us something from another character's point of view, and it was extremely powerful. I devoured this book nearly in one sitting.

Finished - 8/4/13
Source - south side library
MPAA rating - R
My rating - 8/10

Odd Apocalypse by Dean Koontz
published 6/2012
368 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

The woman astride the ghostly mount reaches out desperately, the latest spirit to enlist the aid of Odd Thomas, the unassuming young fry cook whose gift—or curse—it is to see the shades of the restless dead, and to help them when he can. This mission of mercy will lead Odd through realms of darkness he has never before encountered, as he probes the long-held secrets of a sinister estate and those who inhabit it.


My thoughts -

I think this is the first installment in the series that has genuinely creeped me out - Koontz uses some actual science to craft this particular story, and it had enough of a ring of truth that it actually affected me. Honestly, though, I read these books for the relationships Koontz develops between Odd Thomas and the other characters that populate his world, and this book was full of them. I think Odd is one of the most original characters in current literary fiction, and I can't wait to read the next book.

Finished - 8/4/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - R
My rating - 8/10

The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle by LJ Smith
published in print 1991
audiobook - narrated by Rebecca Mozo

Synopsis from publisher -

Torn between two vampire brothers
Damon: determined to make Elena his, he'd kill his own brother to possess her.

Stefan: desperate for the power to destroy Damon, and protect Elena, he gives in to his thirst for human blood.

Elena: the girl who can have anyone finds herself in the middle of a love triangle . . . one that might turn deadly.

My thoughts -

I thought this book was a bit slower than the first in the series - it seemed like we spent a LOT of time not doing much of anything. It did, however, have a great climactic scene, and I will read the next in the series to see if I'm right about what the author has done.

Finished - 8/24/13
Source - audiobook from South side library
MPAA rating - PG-13 for romancy and violent moments
My rating - 6/10

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares
published 2003
373 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

With a bit of last summer's sand in the pockets, the Traveling Pants and the Sisterhood that wears them embark on their 16th summer.

Bridget: Impulsively sets off for Alabama, wanting to both confront her demons about her family and avoid them all at once.

Lena: Spends a blissful week with Kostos, making the unexplainable silence that follows his visit even more painful.

Carmen: Is concerned that her mother is making a fool of herself over a man. When she discovers that her mother borrowed the Pants to wear on a date, she's certain of it.

Tibby: Not about to spend another summer working at Wallman's, she takes a film course only to find it's what happens off-camera that teaches her the most.

My thoughts -

First - I don't feel like this book has a complete title. I think it had a real title, and then this was the subtitle - like, "(whatever, whatever, whatever): The Second Summer of the Sisterhood", and then somehow that first part got left out.

I am just charmed by this series. I feel for each of the girls in their struggles to grow up, and enjoy each one's stories equally. Delightful young adult fiction.

Finished - 9/2/13
Source - South side library
MPAA Rating - PG-13
My rating - 7/10

Book Thoughts - The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March

The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March
published 6/2012
352 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Three estranged female relatives - two sisters and the cousin they grew up with after a tragedy - are summoned home to their aunt’s inn on the coast of Maine. Thirty-one-year-old Isabel Nash McNeal is reeling from her husband’s affair, but a secret pact she made years ago may keep her from the one thing she wants most. Twenty-eight-year-old single mother June Nash promised her young son she’ll finally track down his father, and her search will lead her where she least expects it. Their cousin, twenty-five-year old Kat Weller, rocked by her mother’s shocking announcement and the arrival of her cousins, accepts her boyfriend’s marriage proposal; then has her “yes” tested in ways she never imagined.

     Every Friday night, Isabel, June, and Kat reluctantly get together to watch the films of their family matriarch’s favorite actress, Meryl Streep, and find themselves sharing secrets, talking long into the night, and questioning everything they thought they knew about one another, life, and love. Through surprising and heartfelt discussions of movies such as Out of Africa, The Bridges of Madison County, and Mamma Mia, the three women unexpectedly discover who they really are and what they truly want.

My thoughts -

I just enjoy these novels by Mia March so much. They are definitely in the "women's fiction" genre, but have none of the things that often irritate me about novels in this class - irritating heroines, "too perfect" love interests, and convenient situations that could never happen in real life.

The main characters of this novel - four women, all related - have all been touched by tragedy, which has informed their lives in a number of different ways. Each has made a choice that could be regretted, and each choice is impacting their life in the here and now. As with the previous novel, I haven't experienced any of the situations, but March was able to make each one of them relatable  - I could understand why each woman made the choice she did, and why she was struggling in the way that she was.

I find the relationships March creates between her main characters to be quite authentic, and never forced - I really believe the difficult roads these women have taken to get where they are today. Their discussions after watching each of the movies was fascinating, and quite honestly made me want to go out and watch each and every one of them.

Mia March might be my favorite author "discovery" of the year - I eagerly await her next novel, and I definitely recommend her work.

Finished - 8/22/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - PG-13 for adult situations
My rating - 8/10

Book Thoughts - The Dinner by Herman Koch

The Dinner by Herman Koch
originally published 2009, published in US 2/12/13
304 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

It's a summer's evening in Amsterdam, and two couples meet at a fashionable restaurant for dinner. Between mouthfuls of food and over the polite scrapings of cutlery, the conversation remains a gentle hum of polite discourse — the banality of work, the triviality of the holidays. But behind the empty words, terrible things need to be said, and with every forced smile and every new course, the knives are being sharpened.

Each couple has a fifteen-year-old son. The two boys are united by their accountability for a single horrific act; an act that has triggered a police investigation and shattered the comfortable, insulated worlds of their families. As the dinner reaches its culinary climax, the conversation finally touches on their children. As civility and friendship disintegrate, each couple show just how far they are prepared to go to protect those they love.

My thoughts -

Holy cow.

I almost don't know how to review this novel, because part of its power is in its insidious surprises. I definitely think this is a novel that is better to go into not knowing TOO much, because as each knot is untied, each secret revealed, the twists and turns are so much more shocking when you don't see them coming.

I've seen several comparisons between this novel and Gone Girl, and even though I didn't care for that one, I can understand the connection between the two. I think the reason The Dinner DID work for me was because it was so much more subtle - nothing is obvious, and a large part of the tension in the novel is left up to the reader. Koch's characters do not give up their secrets easily, but I found that necessary work to be part of what compelled me to keep reading.

This was not an easy read - the subject matter is dark, and the issues complex and difficult. I was particularly interested in the questions raised about what lengths a parent should go to in order to protect their child. I would imagine a book club having much to discuss after reading The Dinner.

"Without knowing glances - without winks - there was in fact no secret - that was my reasoning. It might be hard for us to put the events in the cubicle out of our minds, but in the course of time, they would start to exist outside us - just as they did for other people. But what we did have to forget was the secret. And the best thing was to start forgetting as soon as possible." (p. 150)

I don't know that this will be one of my FAVORITE reads of 2013, but I do know it will be one of the most memorable. It's treatment of parental responsibility, violence, and mental illness left me thinking long after I'd turned the last page. Recommended for readers willing to take a disturbing journey into a dark place.

Finished - 7/31/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - R - please don't give this to your child
My rating - 8/10

Book Thoughts - We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
published 5/31/13
296 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Darling is only 10 years old, and yet she must navigate a fragile and violent world. In Zimbabwe, Darling and her friends steal guavas, try to get the baby out of young Chipo's belly, and grasp at memories of Before. Before their homes were destroyed by paramilitary policemen, before the school closed, before the fathers left for dangerous jobs abroad.

But Darling has a chance to escape: she has an aunt in America. She travels to this new land in search of America's famous abundance only to find that her options as an immigrant are perilously few

My thoughts -

Last month the longlist for the Man Booker Prize was announced, and because I am just swimming in free time right now, I thought it would be fun to try and read some of the titles before the prize was announced. (Why not, right??) This is the first time I've intentionally read books listed for a specific prize, and I know the Man Booker prize selections can sometimes be challenging, so I'm interested to see what I think of these titles.

We Need New Names is the first novel in my Man Booker experiment, and I think it was a great one to start off the reading. In the past, the titles on the list have seemed intimidating, but this novel was accessible and gripping from the start. Bulawayo gives readers a world-wise and yet still innocent narrator in Darling, and viewing both Zimbabwe and America through her eyes is an enlightening experience.

Darling and her friends live life in Zimbabwe in conditions that seem difficult but not dire - while they are hungry at times and skirt the edges of danger and the law, their days are still centered around their games, or going to church, or making fun of the white NGO workers coming to pass out food and small gifts. It would be interesting to read a comparable novel from an adult's perspective, because while Darling is a fascinating voice, I was never quite convinced of her reliability in conveying the actuality of her situation in Zimbabwe.

"Heavenway is mounds and mounds of read earth everywhere, like people are being harvested, like death is maybe waiting behind a rock with a big bag of free food and people are rushing, tripping over each other to get to the front before the handouts run out. That is how it is, the way the dead keep coming and coming." (p. 134)

I found the second half of the novel, when Darling arrives in America, to be even more perilous than the first - no one tells Darling what she will have to give up for her big "chance" to come to America. Watching her lose contact with the friends and family, and the sense of alone-ness and invisibility she felt was heartbreaking. America is not the paradise Darling expects, and while she manages to leave Zimbabwe with some of her innocence left, that is quickly crushed when she arrives in Michigan. Bulawayo captures the disappointment of the immigrant experience in a way that her readers will not soon forget.

"Because we were not in our country, we could not use our own languages, and so when we spoke our voices came out bruised. When we talked, our tongues thrashed madly in our mouths, staggered like drunken men. Because we were not using our languages we said things we did not mean; what we really wanted to say remained folded inside, trapped. In America we did not always have the words. It was only when we were by ourselves that we spoke in our real voices. When we were alone we summoned the horses of our languages and mounted their backs and galloped past skyscrapers. Always, we were reluctant to come back down." (p. 242)

I found Bulawayo's writing to be exceptional - emotional at times, sharp and funny at others, always perfectly descriptive of the place and people she wrote about. I almost felt like this was more a collection of linked short stories than a true novel - each chapter's events were fully contained, and there was not necessarily an overarching plotline that carried throughout.

I found this novel to be fascinating and disturbing and emotional and challenging. I would absolutely recommend it - I will definitely be anticipating the next work by this author. What a great start to my Man Booker experiment!

Finished - 8/5/13
Source- South side library
MPAA rating - R for violence, language, adult situations
My rating - 8/10

Book Thoughts - The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
published 2006
288 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town — and the family — Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

My thoughts -

I spent most of the reading of this book alternating between horrified and fascinated, and feeling a little bit like a voyeur watching something that I should probably stop. It took my several weeks to read - very unusual for a book weighing in at less that 300 pages - but I kept having to put it down over and over again. After nearly every chapter I just felt emotionally drained, needed a break, while I was incredibly interested in the story, almost dreaded picking it back up again.

It's hard for me to "review" a book that is the author's memories of her own growing up - how can I critique the narrative arc when it's just the author's actual life? I found her tone to be surprisingly unsentimental, which I assume comes from being enough years away from the events in the book that she can look at them through a somewhat more professional lens. I think the tone is what made the book work, in a way - if she had been overly emotional, her story could have seemed more sensationalized than real. But the way Walls tells this tale, there is no doubt that every word is true.

I found this to be a hard book to read. I'm not sorry I did, and I think it is an excellent piece of writing, but I don't think it will be one I will chose to revisit. If you are interested in a good memoir, this is certainly one to consider, but make sure you are ready.

Finished - 8/11/13
Source - loan from my mom
MPAA rating - R for violence and abuse
My rating - 8/10


I read this book for the Estella Project - find out more here!

Book Thoughts - Finding Colin Firth by Mia March

Finding Colin Firth by Mia March
published 7/9/31
336 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

After losing her job and leaving the husband she dearly loves, twenty-nine-year-old journalist Gemma Hendricks is desperate to save her career by scoring an interview with Colin Firth. But a much more local story steals her heart - and just may save her rocky marriage too. Thirty-eight-year-old waitress Veronica Russo, shocked by the unannounced arrival of the daughter she gave up for adoption two decades ago, becomes an extra on the movie set, wondering if happy endings - and a real life Mr. Darcy - are even possible. Twenty-two-year-old student Bea Crane, alone and adrift, longs to connect with Veronica, her birth mother, but she’ll discover more than she ever imagined in this coastal Maine town. And just when they least expect it in a summer full of surprises, all three women may find what they’re looking for most of all…

My thoughts -

This was an absolutely perfect summer read. If you have a vacation in your future that involves long hours sitting next to water, you should probably take this novel with you. It was sweet and funny and smart, and I enjoyed every minute.

Each of the three main characters faces a turning point in their lives - a serious, life-changing decision that will alter the course of their future. I haven't been in any of the situations described in the novel, but I still felt like I could empathize with each dilemma. I understood completely why each character felt the way she did, and could relate to their struggle to make the right decision. Yet even with all these serious moments, the novel never felt heavy - it was full of humor and fun, and I looked forward to picking it up each time I had the chance to read.

I think March's strength is in her characters- Bea, Veronica, and Gemma were each interesting and complex women, with strengths and flaws that made them feel completely real. I didn't find myself irritated with any of them at any point (a problem I have often when reading women's fiction). I also enjoyed the secondary characters, and found myself wanting to know more about some of their backstories. (Imagine my delight to discover that March has already written one book about this lovely town, featuring three of the characters I found most enjoyable. Guess what book I'll be looking for next?!)

The storyline itself was not particularly new or surprising - more than once, I could sense what would be coming ahead for a character. But I was having so much fun with the story that I really didn't care - it felt familiar and comforting rather than predictable, and I was happy to be correct in predicting happy endings.

I really found this novel to be a delight. It made me happy- what more could I ask for? Recommended.

Finished - 7/26/13

Source - review copy from publisher via Netgalley - thank you!
MPAA rating - PG-13 for some adult situations and language

My rating - 8/10

Book Thoughts - The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian
published 7/13
320 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

1943: Tucked away in the idyllic hills south of Florence, the Rosatis, an Italian family of noble lineage, believe that the walls of their ancient villa will keep them safe from the war raging across Europe. Eighteen-year-old Cristina spends her days swimming in the pool, playing with her young niece and nephew, and wandering aimlessly amid the estate’s gardens and olive groves. But when two soldiers, a German and an Italian, arrive at the villa asking to see an ancient Etruscan burial site, the Rosatis’ bucolic tranquility is shattered. A young German lieutenant begins to court Cristina, the Nazis descend upon the estate demanding hospitality, and what was once was their sanctuary becomes their prison.

1955: Serafina Bettini, an investigator with the Florence police department, has her own demons. A beautiful woman, Serafina carefully hides her scars along with her haunting memories of the war. But when she is assigned to a gruesome new case — a serial killer targeting the Rosatis, murdering the remnants of the family one-by-one in cold blood — Serafina finds herself digging into a past that involves both the victims and her own tragic history.

My thoughts -

I have mentioned before that I'm not always sure why I keep picking up Chris Bohjalian's work - I always feel like I REALLY SHOULD like his novels, and then they tend to fall short for me. I think, in general, he and I differ on the way a story should end, and his work has left me feeling unsatisfied in the past. So, inevitably, when I found myself picking up his latest novel from the library shelves, I did question my own choice just a bit. Happily, however, I think I've finally found the Bohjalian novel that I enjoyed as much as the rest of the world seems to.

I never have any complaints about the writing, and this novel was no exception. Bohjalian captures the tension of the end of WWII in Italy; the idyllic life in Florence that is threatened by both the Germans and the Italian partisans; and the fear of the violence that is about to overtake them all. This is not a setting that I've read about before, so it was quite interesting and I thought Bohjalian did an excellent job of giving readers a sense of the historical place of his novel.

I think the heart of the novel is the question of how far each person is willing to go - each character is, at some point, faced with a dilemma, and their response to that situation has far-reaching consequences, for themselves and their families. Bohjalian allows the reader to asses for themselves which characters made the right decisions, and whether or not they truly had any choice in the matter.

The Light in the Ruins is compelling reading, and I found it to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. I did guess the killer about halfway through, but it was still fascinating to wait and see how that person would be revealed. If you are looking for a good literary mystery, don't pass this one up. Recommended.

Finished - 7/27/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - R for violence and adult situations
My rating - 8/10

Book Thoughts - The Human Division by John Scalzi

The Human Division by John Scalzi
published online January-April, 2013
published in print 5/14/13
432 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Following the events of The Last Colony, John Scalzi tells the story of the fight to maintain the unity of the human race.

The people of Earth now know that the human Colonial Union has kept them ignorant of the dangerous universe around them. For generations the CU had defended humanity against hostile aliens, deliberately keeping Earth an ignorant backwater and a source of military recruits. Now the CU's secrets are known to all. Other alien races have come on the scene and formed a new alliance — an alliance against the Colonial Union. And they've invited the people of Earth to join them. For a shaken and betrayed Earth, the choice isn't obvious or easy.

Against such possibilities, managing the survival of the Colonial Union won't be easy, either. It will take diplomatic finesse, political cunning… and a brilliant “B Team,” centered on the resourceful Lieutenant Harry Wilson, that can be deployed to deal with the unpredictable and unexpected things the universe throws at you when you're struggling to preserve the unity of the human race.

Being published online from January to April 2013 as a three-month digital serial, The Human Division will appear as a full-length novel of the Old Man's War universe, plus — for the first time in print — the first tale of Lieutenant Harry Wilson, and a coda that wasn't part of the digital serialization.

My thoughts -

I should preface this review by saying that I am a fan of John Scalzi. I enjoy and respect his writing across the board, both fiction and nonfiction, in both formal published work and informally on his blog. If this post becomes a bit gush-y, just keep that in mind.

I've been eagerly anticipating Scalzi's return to his Old Man's War Universe, and was especially intrigued when I learned of the unique method he'd chosen for publishing this story. I decided to wait and read The Human Division as a complete work, and so the anticipation was (if possible) even greater. Then my awesome sis got me an AUTOGRAPHED copy, and my excitement was complete.

I'm happy to report the story lived up to my high expectations. Science fiction often doesn't click with my reading sensibilities for some reason, but Scalzi always manages to find a way to draw me in. It's partly his sense of humor - he thinks up such bizarrely hilarious situations, and then somehow makes them seem plausible (like having a carnivorous plant "eat" a dog, who then had to have its heart stopped and re-started).  But mostly it's his fantastic characters. Harry Wilson is sarcastic and bizarrely brilliant; Hart Schmidt is earnest and idealistic; Ambassador Abumwe is prickly and tough, but by the end of the novel you have to admit she's one of your favorites. Scalzi develops relationships so perfectly, and it's his relationships that make his novels so rich and rewarding.

The Human Division ends with many of its questions unanswered - presumably to be picked up in season 2, which has been confirmed. (Yay!) It might seem odd referring to a book as a "season", but in many ways that is very much what the experience of this novel was. Each "episode" felt completely contained in itself, and occasionally it seemed unclear how a certain chapter would fit into the greater whole. But by the end, the loose threads draw together, and the "season" feels complete. I mentioned that I chose to wait and read the book as a whole - while I certainly enjoyed the experience, I think for the next season I will read each episode as it is released. It's unique and exciting to have an author willing to experiment like this, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story takes us next.

I think Scalzi's Old Man's War series is a great way to dip into sci-fi if you aren't sure of the genre - his work is engaging and highly entertaining, and I think almost everyone will find something to enjoy. I highly recommend this fantastic series.

Finished - 7/7/13
Source - my shelves via my sister - thank you!
MPAA rating - R for violence and adult situations
My rating - 8/10

Sunday Shorts

I was a judge for the INSPY's! I got to read some very good Christian fiction - here are my thoughts on what I read....

Promise Me This by Cathy Gohlke
published 2012


Synopsis from publisher -

Michael Dunnagan was never supposed to sail on the Titanic, nor would he have survived if not for the courage of Owen Allen. Determined to carry out his promise to care for Owen's relatives in America and his younger sister, Annie, in England, Michael works hard to strengthen the family's New Jersey garden and landscaping business.Annie Allen doesn't care what Michael promised Owen. She only knows that her brother is gone--like their mother and father--and the grief is enough to swallow her whole. As Annie struggles to navigate life without Owen, Michael reaches out to her through letters. In time, as Annie begins to lay aside her anger that Michael lived when Owen did not, a tentative friendship takes root and blossoms into something neither expected. Just as Michael saves enough money to bring Annie to America, WWI erupts in Europe. When Annie's letters mysteriously stop, Michael risks everything to fulfill his promise--and find the woman he's grown to love--before she's lost forever.

My thoughts -

This novel had lovely writing and it's foray into WWI was quite interesting. I found the character of Annie to be a bit annoying at times, and the plot was slow at first, but picked up as the relationship between Michael and Annie developed. The romance was fairly predictable - nothing new or earthshattering there - but the Christian elements of forgiveness and acceptance of undeserved love would be applicable to those of any faith. A somewhat standard but still entertaining read.

Finished - 5/19/13

Source - South side library

MPAA rating - PG for mild war violence

My rating - 7/10

The Messenger by Siri Mitchell
published 2012
374 pages

Synopsis from publisher -


Hannah Sunderland felt content in her embrace of the Quaker faith...until her twin brother ran off and joined the army and ended up captured and in jail. Suddenly Hannah's world turns on end. She longs to bring her brother some measure of comfort in the squalid, frigid prison where he remains. But the Quakers believe they are not to take sides, not to take up arms. Can she sit by and do nothing while he suffers?

Jeremiah Jones has an enormous task before him. Responsibility for a spy ring is now his, and he desperately needs access to the men in prison, whom they are seeking to free. A possible solution is to garner a pass for Hannah. But while she is fine to the eye, she holds only disdain for him--and agreeing would mean disobeying those she loves and abandoning a bedrock of her faith.

My thoughts -

This novel was fine, but it had so many of the elements of what I think of as a traditional Christian romance that I didn't find it to be particularly inspiring. I wasn't drawn to either of the main characters, and they plot twists were easily predictable. It was well written, for what it was, but I think Christian fiction needs to do better than this if it wants to garner a wider audience.

Finished - 5/29/13
Source - review copy from publisher - thank you!
MPAA rating - G - this is a highly sanitized war!
My rating - 6/10

Stardust by Carla Stewart
published 5/31/12
300 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Shortly after burying her unfaithful husband, Georgia Peyton unexpectedly inherits the derelict Stardust motel from a distant relative. Despite doubts from the community and the aunt who raised her, she is determined to breathe new life into it. But the guests who arrive aren't what Georgia expects: Her gin-loving mother-in-law; her dead husband's mistress; an attractive but down-on-his-luck drifter who's tired of the endless road; and an aging Vaudeville entertainer with a disturbing link to Georgia's past.
Can Georgia find the courage to forgive those who've betrayed her, the grace to shelter those who need her, and the moxy to face the future? And will her dream of a new life under the flickering neon of the STARDUST ever come true?

My thoughts -

This is very much a work of Southern fiction - it drips from every page like honey. I don't think I could make novels like this my main source of literature, but as a change it was nice. Setting the story during a polio outbreak made for interesting reading, and Stewart does a fine job with characters and plot. Recommended for light summer reading.

Finished - 5/31/13
Source - review copy from publisher - thank you!
MPAA rating - PG
My rating - 7/10

Into the Free by Julie Cantrell
published 2/31/12
368 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

In Depression-era Mississippi, Millie Reynolds longs to escape the madness that marks her world. With an abusive father and a "nothing mama," she struggles to find a place where she really belongs.

For answers, Millie turns to the Gypsies who caravan through town each spring. The travelers lead Millie to a key that unlocks generations of shocking family secrets. When tragedy strikes, the mysterious contents of the box give Millie the tools she needs to break her family's longstanding cycle of madness and abuse.

Through it all, Millie experiences the thrill of first love while fighting to trust the God she believes has abandoned her. With the power of forgiveness, can Millie finally make her way into the free?

My thoughts -

This was quite good. Millie was an immediately captivating heroine, and Cantrell really nailed her struggles to break free from her past even while searching to discover it. The "christian" portion of the novel was subtle and blended seamlessly into the story - I think readers who don't normally enjoy a "religious" novel might not even realize they are reading one. There were a few places that felt rushed, or possible under-developed, but overall this was a highly entertaining read that certainly tugged at my heartstrings. I will definitely look for more by this talented author. Recommended.

Finished - 6/4/13
Source - review copy from publisher
MPAA Rating - PG-13 for violence and adult situations
My rating - 8/10

Book Thoughts - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
audiobook read by Davina Porter
published 1991


Synopsis from publisher -

The year is 1945. Claire Randall is traveling with her husband when she touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is hurled back in time to a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord 1743. Catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, she soon realizes that an alliance with James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, might be the only way to survive. Thus begins a work of unrivaled storytelling that has become a modern classic.

My thoughts -

It's so hard to even review something like this - it seems less a novel and more a life event, particularly after you've spent SOOO much of your life with these characters. (This book is long, folks!) And I would be lying if I said I loved every minute of it - there was a time around hour 15 that I was pretty seriously wondering why I'd decided to tackle this monstrosity. But something kept me listening, and then suddenly I was completely sucked in.

There were definitely parts of the novel that didn't sit quite right with me. There seemed to be A LOT of introductory stuff in the beginning - I realize it's a bit of a complex plot, but holy moly, just get to the good stuff already. And I realize that Claire is a "contemporary" women thrust back into a foreign time, but she says and does really stupid things REALLY often. Honey, learn the lesson - it's not 1945 anymore, and people will kill you.

Overall, though, I have to admit I enjoyed it. Once Gabaldon finally got the ball rolling, Claire and Jamie's relationship was a lot of fun to watch blossom. I love her cast of characters - particulary Jenny and Ian, and hope to revisit them in future novels. Claire gets herself into a whole litany of crazy escapades, and Jamie seems to manage to save her from them all - what more could you want in a novel?

I very much enjoyed the narration by Davina Porter - what a fantastic voice for this novel! She expresses so much with just a slight differentiation of tone - the perfect choice for this book. Again, the quality of the audio was a bit sketchy - I could clearly hear coughs and traffic noises in the background as Porter was reading.

Will this be the best novel I read all year? Probably not, but it was certainly entertaining while it lasted, and I will most likely be picking up the next in the series before the year is out.

Finished - 5/12/13
Source - Audible.com
MPAA rating - R for a lot of violence and adult situations
My rating - 8/10

Sunday Shorts

When We Wake by Karen Healey
304 pages
published 3/5/13

Synopsis from publisher -


Sixteen-year-old Tegan is just like every other girl living in 2027--she's happiest when playing the guitar, she's falling in love for the first time, and she's joining her friends to protest the wrongs of the world: environmental collapse, social discrimination, and political injustice.

But on what should have been the best day of Tegan's life, she dies--and wakes up a hundred years in the future, locked in a government facility with no idea what happened.

Tegan is the first government guinea pig to be cryonically frozen and successfully revived, which makes her an instant celebrity--even though all she wants to do is try to rebuild some semblance of a normal life. But the future isn't all she hoped it would be, and when appalling secrets come to light, Tegan must make a choice: Does she keep her head down and survive, or fight for a better future?

My thoughts -

I have to admit I'm enjoying this dystopian future YA trend SO much more than the vampire/mermaid/werewolf YA trend. There seems to be a lot of good offerings lately, and it's been fun to read them. When We Wake is definitely darker in tone, with very definite religious and political opinions. There were times when the story took just a bit of a turn to the soapbox, but in general I found it to be entertaining, and I would love to read another in a series.

Finished - 4/5/13
Source - South side library
MPAA Rating - PG-13 for violence and adult situations
My rating - 8/10

The Drowning House by Elizabeth Black
published 1/31/2013
268 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Photographer Clare Porterfield's once-happy marriage is coming apart, unraveling under the strain of a family tragedy. When she receives an invitation to direct an exhibition in her hometown of Galveston, Texas, she jumps at the chance to escape her grief and reconnect with the island she hasn't seen for ten years. There Clare will have the time and space to search for answers about her troubled past and her family's complicated relationship with the wealthy and influential Carraday family.

Soon she finds herself drawn into a century-old mystery involving Stella Carraday. Local legend has it that Stella drowned in her family's house during the Hurricane of 1900, hung by her long hair from the drawing room chandelier. Could Stella have been saved? What is the true nature of Clare's family's involvement? The questions grow like the wildflower vines that climb up the walls and fences of the island. And the closer Clare gets to the answers, the darker and more disturbing the truth becomes.

My thoughts -

I don't think it's a great sign that I finished this novel less than 12 hours ago and I already can't think up much to say about it. I think the author has a lot of potential - the writing here is quite good - but her story meandered and I just didn't find myself motivated to read. I would certainly read more by this author, even though this particular book couldn't really catch my attention.

Finished - 4/13/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - R for adult situations
My rating - 5/10

The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau
published January, 2013
409 pages

Synopsis from publisher -


Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin’s side. Arrested for interfering with the king’s justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.

While Joanna is in the Tower, the ruthless Bishop of Winchester forces her to spy for him: to save her father’s life she must find an ancient relic; a crown so powerful, it may possess the ability to end the Reformation.

With Cromwell’s troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must decide who she can trust so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England’s past.

My thoughts -

Oh, this is just the best kind of historical fiction. A fascinating mystery, a plucky and intriguing heroine, the Tudors with being THE TUDORS - I just loved every minute of this. I can't wait to start the next novel about the delightful Sister Joanna. Highly recommended.

Finished - 4/19/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - PG-13 for adult situations and violence
My rating - 9/10

The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
first published 1904
287 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

First issued in 1904, L. Frank Baum's The Marvelous Land of Ozis the story of the wonderful adventures of the young boy named Tip as he travels throughout the many lands of Oz. Here he meets with our old friends the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, as well as some new friends like Jack Pumpkinhead, the Wooden Sawhorse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug, and the amazing Gump. How they thwart the wicked plans of the evil witch Mombi and overcome the rebellion of General Jinjur and her army of young women is a tale as exciting and endearing today as it was when first published over eighty years ago

My thoughts -

Ugh. I'm really particular about reading a series in order, and because I want to get to Ozma of Oz for the 100 best chapter books readalong, I had to read this one first. I did NOT care for this novel - as much as I enjoyed The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, I did not enjoy this one. I understand that the entire novel was basically just a set up to discover the origins of Ozma, but it was too slap-sticky and ridiculous, and frankly more than a little misogynistic. It just seemed like an excuse for Baum to throw out every odd character he could think of, without much of a plot to tie them together. Here's hoping Ozma will be a more entertaining read.

Finished - 4/20/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - PG? I don't know, this is pretty tame, but the scarecrow does get un-stuffed a bunch of times.
My rating - 4/10

Book Thoughts - The Journals of Susanna Moodie by Margaret Atwood and Charles Pachter

The Journals of Susanna Moodie by Margaret Atwood and Charles Pachter
published 1980
96 pages

Synopsis from publisher -


As fledgling artists in their respective fields, Margaret Atwood and Charles Pachter were enthusiastic collaborators in a unique art form, the livre d'artiste – the marriage of original graphic work with literary text. Beginning in the mid-sixties, while both were still students, they worked together on five limited-edition handmade books, volumes of Atwood’s poetry with Pachter’s interpretive artwork. The culmination of their collaboration, the work that is considered their masterpiece, is The Journals of Susanna Moodie. In her reading of Susanna Moodie’s chronicles of pioneer life in nineteenth-century Canada, Atwood found the haunting and timeless themes that still obsess us.

The poems of The Journals of Susanna Moodie were first published in 1970 in a standard format. This sequence of poems is regarded as a classic, in addition to being connected with her later novel, Alias Grace. In 1980, Pachter was able to add his own vibrant, evocative images and create the version they had dreamt of: a hand-set, hand-printed illustrated limited edition of 120 numbered copies.

My thoughts -

I wanted to do something for National Poetry Month this year, but I'm such a poetry novice that the idea of commenting on a poetry collection seemed daunting. Then I remembered this on my shelf, a loan from my mom, and thought it would be the perfect thing.

This is truly a work of art - Atwood's poems and Pachter's images are simply stunning together, and create such a unique and unforgettable picture of the life of Susanna Moodie. In the first section of the book, Susanna has arrived in the Canadian frontier, and feels lost, scared, and alone. Particularly evocative for me were "The Wereman", in which she describes her feelings of not knowing who her husband is anymore - not knowing what he will be when he walks in the door; and "Looking in a Mirror", in which she describes the changes she sees in herself after seven years of living in an unfamiliar and difficult place.

The second section of the book is during the time that Susanna and her family has moved to the relative "luxury" of a town, and yet somehow Susanna doesn't seem any happier or less lonely. Nearly all of the poems involve death - of an animal, an interracial couple, Susanna's own children. I found this section more difficult just because I didn't really know what was going on in Susanna's life that would prompt these thoughts. The first section was clear - she just moved from her life in England to the desolate frontier. The second section is more ambiguous, and therefore more open to interpretation. I read the poems over several times, and had different impressions of many of them on consecutive reads.

In the third section, Susanna is an old woman, still not resigned to her life in Canada, but feeling like she should love her new land. Atwood ends the collection with Susanna speaking from beyond the grave, reminding her reader that nothing really changes - even in the middle of their technologically marvelous world, they are still really just in the middle of the forest.

I get the feeling that Atwood didn't really like Moodie - this is a fairly unflattering portrait Atwood paints, making Moodie seem unstable and at times almost crazy. Atwood's interpretation makes me want to get my hands on the original material, to see what it was that might have prompted such an unbalanced portrait of a woman.

The Journals of Susanna Moodie is certainly a fascinating read - the poetry and visuals together create an unforgettable image. I think this is a volume to be read as a piece of art, however, and not for narrative or historical value.

Finished - 4/13/13
Source - loan from my mom
MPAA Rating - PG for some disturbing scenes
My rating - 8/10 for artistic merit

Book Thoughts - For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
published 6/31/12
406 pages

Synopsis from publisher -


In the dystopian future of For Darkness Shows the Stars, a genetic experiment has devastated humanity. In the aftermath, a new class system placed anti-technology Luddites in absolute power over vast estates; and any survivors living there.

Elliot North is a dutiful Luddite and a dutiful daughter who runs her father's estate. When the boy she loved, Kai, a servant, asked her to run away with him four years ago, she refused, although it broke her heart.

Now Kai is back. And while Elliot longs for a second chance with her first love, she knows it could mean betraying everything shes been raised to believe is right.

My thoughts -

Persuasion MIGHT be my favorite Jane Austen novel. I say this while admitting that it's been a few years since I've read any of them, but I remember it being as one of the best. So I was quite interested to see what Peterfreund would do with her retelling of this classic.

I'm happy to say it was satisfying on all levels. As an homage to Persuasion, fans of the original will find that the author has lovingly and respectfully repurposed Austen's story to create something familiar and yet delightfully new. Because while this is, clearly, a re-telling - done by someone who obviously loves her source material - this is also a novel that stands alone without difficulty.

Elliot is a complex and intriguing heroine, and the reader immediately both likes and respects her. She is painfully aware of her situation - she knows exactly what she has given up and why, and she isn't looking to weasle her way out of that decision. She is a fantastic character, and I really hope Peterfreund plans to continue her story.

There were a few small things that bugged me - Kai seemed almost unrelentingly cruel, and it seemed hard to reconcile his behavior with the letters he wrote to Elliot. The ending seemed a bit rushed - there were details that felt unresolved, and I would have appreciated a few more pages to flesh out some scenes. Extremely small quibbles in a great accomplishment, I found this novel to be a delight from start to finish.

With the proliferation of YA novels that contain questionable romantic relationships, I would not hesitate to recommend this to any teen girl. Elliot is a young woman to admire, and her handling of the difficult situations in the novel is excellent. But I don't think this is a novel just for young adults - while its main characters are young, it certainly contains enough depth to be of interest to a wide range of readers. I certainly recommend it - a fun, entertaining read with lots to think about and discuss.

Finished - 4/3/13
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - PG-13 for adult situations and some violence
My rating - 8/10