tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55376024741982055502024-03-13T11:08:58.626-07:00One Librarian's Book Reviewsmelissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.comBlogger1403125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-20407705671463018702016-11-13T22:05:00.001-07:002016-12-27T19:39:24.834-07:00Our Favorite Christmas Picture Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just last year, I decided we'd read a different Christmas picture book every day the entire month of December with our daughter. Ideally I would wrap them all up to open. After about 5 days of trying to wrap them on the fly, I just pulled a new one from the stash and we read it. I've been trying to discover new and fun Christmas picture books to read. Here are a few that we've read and loved. I'd love to have your suggestions!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/698159.Snowmen_at_Christmas" target="_blank"><i>Snowmen at Christmas</i></a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/819667.Snowmen_at_Night" target="_blank"><i>Snowmen at Night</i></a> by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner<br />
I love the secret and silly nature of these books! What do snowmen do when the rest of us are sleeping? Go sledding, play snow games, eat frozen Christmas treats? Find out in these fun books. And there are more snowmen books to celebrate the whole year!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17351023-the-12-days-of-christmas" target="_blank"><i>The 12 Days of Christmas</i></a> by Jane Cabrera<br />
I love Cabrera's books based on folk songs. This one has her signature sweet animal illustrations and a fun variation on this sometimes lovely, sometimes annoying Christmas song.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18701595-here-comes-santa-cat" target="_blank"><i>Here Comes Santa Cat</i></a> by Deborah Underwood and Claudia Rueda<br />
I love this cat! He was on the naughty list and now is desperate to have a chance at a present. The holiday books featuring this cheeky cat are some of my favorites!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/306808.Olivia_Helps_with_Christmas" target="_blank"><i>Olivia Helps with Christmas</i></a> by Ian Falconer<br />
Olivia is always fun to read. I love how parents might enjoy the books more than kids. I certainly got a kick out of her Christmas antics, my daughter is a touch too young to get all the humor. Makes me miss being a kid at Christmas time.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/420282.The_Polar_Express" target="_blank"><i>The Polar Express</i></a> by Chris Van Allsburg<br />
This is one I grew up reading and loving as a kid. I remember watching the slides of pages from the book and listening to the audio (that probably dates me) at school. This story never gets old and the amazing illustrations from Van Allsburg never fail to inspire awe.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99077.Gingerbread_Baby" target="_blank">Gingerbread Baby</a></i> by Jan Brett<br />
I love Jan Brett's fantastic illustrations! She has so many wonderful books that make me want to bundle up and head out into the snow (or, you know, the 80 degree winter here in Arizona). This is one that my mom has a copy of and we always pick it up to read when we are there. That cheeky gingerbread baby makes me hungry for a cookie.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13356652-the-christmas-quiet-book" target="_blank">The Christmas Quiet Book</a></i> by Deborah Underwood and Renata Liwska<br />
Sweet illustrations and a sly humor that is belied by this book's quiet nature - I love this book! The text is very simple, just a phrase on each page, but you can feel the emotion of the animals on every page. I probably love this more than my daughter, but I think she'll enjoy it more as she gets older.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1214901.Room_for_a_Little_One" target="_blank"><i>Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale</i></a> by Martin Waddell<br />
This is a sweet and simple tale that helps to bring the true spirit of Christmas into our home. I love the soft and lovely illustrations and also the idea of the animals being welcoming and peaceful enough to accept another little one into their stable.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/826583.If_You_Take_a_Mouse_to_the_Movies" target="_blank"><i><br /></i></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/826583.If_You_Take_a_Mouse_to_the_Movies" target="_blank"><i>If You Take a Mouse to the Movies</i></a> by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond<br />
There is something so appealing about these books and this is no exception. I always laugh at the irony of a kid racing around meeting the demands of the whimsical mouse. Probably because I'm racing around all day with my three-year-old dictator.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27774466-the-christmas-story" target="_blank"><i>The Christmas Story</i></a> by Robert Sabuda<br />
I just got a copy of this gorgeous book for review and it is amazing! Simple text with six lovely pop-up pages bring the story of Jesus' birth to life. I adore the very simple colors that allow the movement and feeling of each pop-up creation speak more. I can already tell this will be a family favorite with us.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are your family favorites? </b></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-91365457226234596842016-09-25T19:44:00.000-07:002016-09-25T19:44:23.611-07:00Series Review: Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15810860-call-the-midwife" target="_blank"><i>Call the Midwife: a Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times</i></a> by Jennifer Worth<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16103210-call-the-midwife" target="_blank"><i>Call the Midwife: Shadows of the Workhouse</i></a> by Jennifer Worth<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16145435-call-the-midwife" target="_blank"><i>Call the Midwife: Farewell to the East End</i></a> by Jennifer Worth<br />
Publisher: Penguin Books <br />
Publication date: Originally 2002, 2005, 2009<br />
Source: Library<br />
For: Love the <a href="http://www.pbs.org/show/call-midwife/" target="_blank">PBS series</a>!<br />
Series: Midwife Trilogy (three memoirs)<br />
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<b>Summary:</b><br />
These are three volumes of Jennifer Lee Worth, who as a very young girl left her pretty cushy life to become a midwife and work in one of the poorest parts of London during the 1950s and 1960s.<b> </b><br />
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<b>Things I Liked:</b>
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These stories are incredible! I wish I'd read the books before watching the series, but I was still blown away! It is absolutely amazing and awful and beautiful the kinds of conditions these women who were giving birth lived in. The midwives are incredible as well, but I read some of these stories and just felt almost embarrassed at how much I have and how whiny I can be about it. A wonderful look at a specific time and place and the women who played such a vital role. The first book was the most interesting to me, being more of a general collection of stories from Worth's experiences. The second and third were more general and had fewer stories of midwifery and the interesting people she met. Still, all of them were worth every minute reading. Can't recommend it enough and I adore the series as well (though not as much with Nurse Lee gone from the scene).<br />
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<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
It's been quite some time since I read these, and I don't remember anything in particular I disliked. It is pretty frank about sex and childbirth, so not exactly light reading. Also, abuse and other awful circumstances.<br />
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<b>Read-alikes:</b>
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Nothing I can think of!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !@</b></span>
<br />
yep<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: XXX</b></span>
<br />
not gratuitous, also not surprising considering the topic<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: ->-></b></span>
<br />
some of the stories are simply appalling<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: *****</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-28470280913691352142016-09-13T20:57:00.000-07:002016-09-13T21:10:16.968-07:00Mini Reviews 21When in doubt, just chuck them all in at once! Here's some stuff I read a while ago, so nothing is fresh in my mind. Bleh.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17155793-dearest" target="_blank"><i>Dearest</i></a> by Alethea Kontis<br />
This follows Friday as she becomes embroiled in an enchantment where seven brothers are all turned into swans by day. Can she find a way to break the curse with just a needle and her wits?<br />
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I really enjoy this series and I like how seamlessly the many different fairy tales are woven together into a fun story. I liked Friday and the brothers as well. A good, well-written fairy tale retelling. Definitely want more from this author!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23395680-illuminae" target="_blank"><i>Illuminae</i></a> by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff<br />
When Kady and Ezra's planet is invaded and they must escape or die, they had to put aside the petty problem of just having broken up. But far from being safe on the escape ships, they are surrounded by lies, half-truths, and a whole different set of problems. Will they come out alive?<br />
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This story gripped me from the very start. I love the format, the fun files and emails and schematics that fit like pieces of a puzzle together into a strange and unexpected whole. This is definitely a story that will get your heart pounding and have you questioning everyone's motives throughout. The ending threw me for a big loop. Definitely need to get my hands on the next book.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15704486-calamity" target="_blank"><i>Calamity</i></a> by Brandon Sanderson<br />
Things are looking bleak for David and his broken team, after Prof gave in to his epic powers. It would seem that nothing can stop him in his desires for power. But David refuses to give up and will go wherever and do whatever is necessary to save his friend.<br />
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I have really loved this series. It's fast-paced and exciting and funny. It has surprises around every corner and I definitely didn't expect the ending. I think I felt a little let down after all the build up, but perhaps I expected it to be, well, epic. Anyway, enjoyed the series, I would definitely read more about this world.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25614492-salt-to-the-sea" target="_blank"><i>Salt to the Sea</i></a> by Ruta Sepetys<br />
In 1945, there was an epic tragedy involving the <span id="freeTextContainer16478882708594198567"><i>Wilhelm Gustloff - </i>a ship full of people hoping to escape the advancing Soviet army. This book tells the story of this disaster from the viewpoints of four very different young people.</span><br />
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<span id="freeTextContainer16478882708594198567">This was a very painful story to read. It's hard to read about stories that you know are about disaster or tragedy, especially of this scale. I had absolutely no idea about this piece of history, as I think most people don't. It's surprising and sad how lost their stories are. I am glad to have learned more about it, would like to read historical accounts of these people. I did find that the one Nazi was kind of a caricature of badness. Just an all-around rotten person. Mind you, he didn't seem to notice he was evil, but I found him hard to believe. Anyway, I recommend it, just to get a taste of what happened in this very much ignored historical event.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-15233255646724754032016-08-26T13:27:00.000-07:002016-08-26T13:27:09.258-07:00Some Blog Love - I Dream in PrintHey friends, it's your friendly sporadic blogger here. I just wanted to pop in and tell you about a <a href="https://idreaminprint.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">newer blog</a> that I've been following. It's published by a good friend of mine, who happens to have fabulous taste in books, both for the young and the not-so-young. Stop by <a href="https://idreaminprint.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">I Dream in Print</a> (also, fantastic name)- you won't be sorry! <div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-4476486646641555572016-07-31T21:26:00.000-07:002016-07-31T21:26:26.339-07:00Book Review: The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103159.The_Forsyte_Saga" target="_blank"><i>The Forsyte Saga</i></a> by John Galsworthy<br />
Publisher: Several (I read Kindle edition)<br />
Publication date: first published 1921<br />
Source: Free on Kindle<br />
For: Fun<br />
Series: The Forsyte Chronicles #1-3<br />
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<b>Summary (if that's even possible) (from goodreads):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText7092892433460791014">The three novels which
make up The Forsyte Saga chronicle the ebbing social power of the
commercial upper-middle class Forsyte family between 1886 and 1920.
Galsworthy's masterly narrative examines not only their fortunes but
also the wider developments within society, particularly the changing
position of women.</span></blockquote>
<b>My Thoughts:</b>
<br />
Crazy, epic story. Impossible to summarize and just so broad that I don't even know where to start. I love the real characters, you get into everyone's head and you see what makes them tick. I love to love the "good" characters and love to hate the "bad" ones, even though you can see that there are neither kind, really. Just everyone mixed up with good and bad. I especially loved the family gossip sessions, that sounded so real and just what a lot of family gatherings tend to be like. I thought it was interesting and I did like watching generations of the same family struggle to understand each other and change. I also found that I was terribly bored during vast amounts of the book. Sometimes, characters went off on enormous tangents and I lost interest. It took me months and months (possibly a year?) to finish this epic. Now what I really need is to watch the mini-series (or whatever it is), so I can see it all at once, succinctly. <br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Uh, I have no idea<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !@</b></span>
<br />
a handful here and there<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: X</b></span>
<br />
implied stuff, of course<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: -></b></span>
<br />
a little bit<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ***</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-87991250224238868932016-07-25T21:03:00.000-07:002016-07-25T21:03:02.615-07:00Book Review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18692431-everything-everything" target="_blank"><i>Everything, Everything</i></a> by Nicola Yoon<br />
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers<br />
Publication date: September 2015<br />
Source: e-book from the library<br />
For: Recommended by ?<br />
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<b>Summary (from goodreads):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText2475838368789208336">My disease is as rare as
it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my
house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever
see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.<br />But then one day, a moving
truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall,
lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers,
and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me
looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.<br />Maybe
we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For
example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost
certainly going to be a disaster.</span> </blockquote>
<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
Thank you for a great recommendation, whoever it was that recommended this (oh, my poor memory)! I really enjoyed this book. Not only do we have a unique character with very unique circumstances, but she's interesting too! I loved all the things she says, does, and experiences from her Rapunzel-like tower. I kind of figured this would be predictable. But I was quite surprised by the twists and turns that it took. Definitely one that kept my attention and intrigued me from beginning to end. <br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
I really can't think of anything!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !@</b></span>
<br />
I don't remember, but I imagine there was a bit of cussing<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: X </b></span>
<br />
there was a bit of implied stuff<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: none </b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ***** </b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-23356735185153155062016-07-23T20:35:00.000-07:002016-07-23T20:36:16.939-07:00Double Feature Review: The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech AND The Cabinet of Earths by Anne NesbitAnyone out there still read my poor, sad, neglected blog? :)<br />
These books don't really have much to do with each other, both just middle grade and I didn't have tons to say about them.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13623948-the-great-unexpected" target="_blank"><i>The Great Unexpected</i></a> by Sharon Creech<br />
Publisher: HarperCollins<br />
Publication date: September 2012<br />
Source: Review copy from publisher<br />
For: Review<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b></b><br />
<b>Summary (from goodreads):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText5288888336677344289">Young Naomi Deane is
brimming with curiosity and her best friend, Lizzie Scatterding, could
talk the ears off a cornfield. Naomi has a knack for being around when
trouble happens. She knows all the peculiar people in town—like Crazy
Cora and Witch Wiggins. But then, one day, a boy drops out of a tree.
Just like that. A strangely charming Finn boy. And then the Dingle
Dangle man appears, asking all kinds of questions. Curious surprises are
revealed—three locked trunks, a pair of rooks, a crooked bridge, and
that boy—and soon Naomi and Lizzie find their lives changed forever.</span> </blockquote>
<br />
<b>My Thoughts:</b>I was enjoying this as I read along, liking the characters and a little bit the story, but by the time I got to the end, I was wondering what this book was really about. I am still not sure. It seemed a little bit meandering and pointless. I guess I just didn't get it. Kind of a fun story with quirky characters, but didn't see much point to the plot.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Can't think of any<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none </b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ** </b></span>
<br />
________________________________<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11594286-the-cabinet-of-earths" target="_blank"><i>The Cabinet of Earths</i></a> by Anne Nesbit<br />
Publisher: HarperCollins<br />
Publication date: January 2012<br />
<br />
Source: Review copy from publisher<br />
For: Review<br />
Series: Maya and Valko, Book 1<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1315461381l/11594286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1315461381l/11594286.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<b>Summary (from goodreads):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText13852218229848717553">Twelve-year-old Maya is
miserable when she has to move from California to Paris. Not speaking
French at a school full of snobby French girls is bad enough, but Maya
believes there is something sinister going on in her new city. A
purple-eyed man follows Maya and her younger brother, James. Statues
seem to have Maya’s face. And an eerie cabinet filled with mysterious
colored bottles calls to her.</span><br />
<span id="freeText13852218229848717553">When James becomes the target of
dark forces, Maya decides she must answer the call of the Cabinet of
Earths, despite the danger.</span> </blockquote>
<b>My Thoughts:</b>
I thought this one had a fun and kind of unique, quirky plot. It was a bit aggravating to begin with - I kind of despise the whole discover strange things a tiny, confusing piece at a time plot. Anyway, it felt different than many of the middle grade fantasies I've read. That being said, I was not very intrigued and found it hard to keep reading. No particular reason I can pinpoint, just wasn't that thrilled. Guess there's no reason for me to pick up the sequels.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Maybe a bit like the <a href="https://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/secret%20series" target="_blank">Secret series</a> by Pseudonymous Bosch<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: *** </b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-30555358332903229682016-06-17T13:41:00.002-07:002016-06-17T13:41:54.511-07:00Book Review: Bone Gap by Laura RubyHello again, blogging world! Sorry for the radio silence - life gets in a way a lot lately. Plus, I pretty much single handedly planned girls camp (a youth camp for <a href="https://www.mormon.org/" target="_blank">my church</a> for girls aged 12-18). It was crazy times. And blogging is really falling by the wayside. But here! Have a random book review!<br />
<i> </i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18806240-bone-gap" target="_blank"><i>Bone Gap</i></a> by Laura Ruby<br />
Publisher: Balzer + Bray<br />
Publication date: March 2015<br />
Pages: 368<br />
Source: e-book from library<br />
For: I heard good things and those shiny award stickers didn't hurt<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1402928507l/18806240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1402928507l/18806240.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22535489-bone-gap" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText11270163000138682682">Everyone knows Bone Gap
is full of gaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can
disappear forever. So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the
people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. After all, it wasn’t the first
time that someone had slipped away and left Finn and Sean O’Sullivan on
their own. Just a few years before, their mother had high-tailed it to
Oregon for a brand new guy, a brand new life. That’s just how things go,
the people said. Who are you going to blame?<br /><br />Finn knows that’s
not what happened with Roza. He knows she was kidnapped, ripped from the
cornfields by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember. But the
searches turned up nothing, and no one believes him anymore. Not even
Sean, who has more reason to find Roza than anyone, and every reason to
blame Finn for letting her go.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<b>My thoughts:</b><br />
I got really sucked into this story - right from the start. It's amazingly written, with gorgeous lyrical writing and there's some serious suspense going on. It also has a lot of surprising elements, though I did go in knowing there was an element of magical realism/fantasy. I liked figuring things out one little bit at a time and wondering if I'd been imagining it wrong all along. And I liked it. Worth the read, I think, despite some rather disturbing and adult-ish things.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Uh, drawing a blank here<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !@#</b></span>
<br />
there is some in there (no f-bombs, that I recall)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: X</b></span>
<br />
some stuff<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: ->-></b></span>
<br />
it's been a while, but I think some intense stuff happens :)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ****</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-91001933343716363512016-04-26T20:28:00.001-07:002016-04-26T20:28:47.623-07:00Book Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13138635-these-broken-stars" target="_blank"><i>These Broken Stars</i></a> by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner<br />
Publisher: Disney Hyperion<br />
Publication date: December 2013<br />
Pages: 374<br />
Source: e-book from the library<br />
For: At <a href="http://www.sueysbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Suey</a>'s suggestion<br />
Series: Starbound, Book 1<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383578978l/13138635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383578978l/13138635.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13138635-these-broken-stars" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText10747854226864766737">Luxury spaceliner
Icarus suddenly plummets from hyperspace into the nearest planet. Lilac
LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive – alone. Lilac is the daughter of
the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a cynical
war hero. Both journey across the eerie deserted terrain for help.
Everything changes when they uncover the truth. </span></blockquote>
I enjoyed this a LOT more than I expected to. Generally, I've found a lot of YA space books to be kind of lacking in good solid science. Not that this is super good with science (there's a lot of stuff that you kind of have to roll with), but I found that those things didn't bother me. I was intrigued enough by the plot and the characters that I kind of forgot to be bothered. I found the ending to be surprising and I'm wanting to read the next books. Glad I listened to <a href="http://www.sueysbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Suey</a> and got my hands on this. I needed a good YA space book that entertained me enough to ignore the bad science :)<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Reminded me a bit of Patrick Ness' <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/chaos%20walking" target="_blank">Chaos Walking</a> series<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !</b></span>
<br />
maybe one or two<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: X</b></span>
<br />
some implied stuff<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: ->-></b></span>
<br />
a bit of fighting gore<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ****</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-57212570502402025672016-04-17T21:42:00.002-07:002016-04-25T21:44:16.603-07:00Mini Reviews 20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414932049l/21569527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414932049l/21569527.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21569527-the-heart-of-betrayal" target="_blank"><i>The Heart of Betrayal</i></a> by Mary E. Pearson<br />
<b>Summary:</b> <i>*spoilers for <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-review-kiss-of-deception-by-mary-e.html" target="_blank">The Kiss of Deception</a>*</i><br />
Lia and Rafe are being held captive in the kingdom of Venda with no chance of escape. While trying to navigate the horrors of being prisoners, they are also trying to learn all they can about their captors and are surprised to find much to praise in them. But their situation becomes more dire as the Komizar is determined to use Lia and her gift for unknown purposes. <br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
Honestly, I can't remember what happens. I read it a few months ago now and I did like it. It was interesting how nothing they did was easy and no way out seemed plausible. Although I thought a few things seemed mighty convenient. Pearson managed to get all the characters into some seriously dire straits and I just didn't know what was going to happen to Lia. Now I need to read up on what actually went on.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386924879l/41423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386924879l/41423.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41423.The_Outlaws_of_Sherwood" target="_blank"><i>The Outlaws of Sherwood</i></a> by Robin McKinley<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
This is not the Robin Hood you remember from those sweet, sly foxes in the Disney film. Robin an his band of grim and tired outlaws are nearly forced into hiding and inundated with those who also loathe sheriff of Nottingham and all he does to his people. But will things work out for them in the end or is there no happy ending in sight? <br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
I love how it was messy and not what you expect. I loved Robin and I loved how very realistically it was portrayed that, yeah, they lived in the forest: no roofs, rain, dirt, etc. They didn't have an easy or terribly envious lifestyle. Things were not idealized, and I loved how Marian rocked the bow. Rather sad to read at times, but so glad I finally did it (thank you, <a href="http://www.angie-ville.com/" target="_blank">Angie</a>).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422925649l/23719270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422925649l/23719270.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23719270-vengeance-road" target="_blank"><i>Vengeance Road</i></a> by Erin Bowman<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
When her father is brutally murdered, Kate is drawn into a world full of revenge, secrets, and hidden gold. She follows the trail of those who killed him, determined to take them on single-handed, but ends up in an alliance with some unlikely characters, soon to be friends. <br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
This one was kind of good and bad for me. I think I was most interested in it for the local factor - a lot of it takes place right here in Arizona and even some of it near to where I am. That made it more interesting to me. Otherwise, I was kind of meh about the story and the characters. Her whole motivation for chasing folks down and being insane and doing stuff she shouldn't, at times was a bit unbelievable. I did, however, enjoy the story. For a wild west flavor, check it out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447171461l/13206900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447171461l/13206900.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13206900-winter" target="_blank"><i>Winter</i></a> by Marissa Meyer<br />
<b>Summary:</b> <i>*Spoilers for the <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-review-cinder-by-marissa-meyer.html" target="_blank">first</a> <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-scarlet-by-marissa-meyer.html" target="_blank">three</a> <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-cress-by-marissa-meyer.html" target="_blank">books</a>*</i><br />
Winter has been stuck under the thumb of her stepmother for years, but despite her delicate appearance and wandering mind, she's got more power than anyone knows. Cinder is ready to take on Queen Levana and determined to incite the Lunars to rise with her. With the help of her friends and some new allies, they are ready for an uprising, until everything seems to go wrong.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts:</b> <br />
A nice finish for a series I adore. I loved how things worked out in the end, I loved seeing how hard it was for Cinder and all the characters. Winter was a really unique kind of person and I often had a hard time figuring out what to think of her and what she was thinking. All together, I think this is a fabulous and unique fairy tale retelling series that I just plain enjoy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424451210l/17564519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424451210l/17564519.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17564519-walk-on-earth-a-stranger" target="_blank"><i>Walk on Earth a Stranger</i></a> by Rae Carson<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
Lee has a gift, an unusual power that her family has tried to hide for years: she can sense gold. Her life seems ordinary enough, until all she has and loves is suddenly taken from her unexpectedly. Now Lee must make her way across the country, hoping to escape her past and make a future, but how can she when everyone around her would do anything for gold? <br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
Interesting, unique, a bit strange. Reminded me a bit of <i><a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/12/book-review-dust-girl-sarah-zettel.html" target="_blank">Dust Girl</a></i> by Sarah Zettel. I loved Lee and the things she was determined to do. She had a difficult life and I thought her reactions to things was realistic. I didn't like how everything seemed to be put off for a later book, but I guess they had plenty of troubles along the way. A different kind of story, you don't often read about people going west and the difficulties that must have been.Though, two westerns in one mini review post! <div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-68282530621237246462016-03-31T21:26:00.000-07:002016-03-31T21:26:03.608-07:00Book Review: All Fall Down by Ally Carter<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22571275-all-fall-down" target="_blank"><i>All Fall Down</i></a> by Ally Carter<br />
Publisher: Scholastic Press<br />
Publication date: January 2015<br />
Pages: 310<br />
Source: Library<br />
For: Ally Carter<br />
Series: Embassy Row, Book 1<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411070285l/22571275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411070285l/22571275.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22571275-all-fall-down" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText2041468953990943089">Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three things:<br />1. She is not crazy.<br />2. Her mother was murdered.<br />3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay.<br /><br />As
certain as Grace is about these facts, nobody else believes her -- so
there's no one she can completely trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful
ambassador. Not her new friends, who all live on Embassy Row. Not
Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for
reasons she neither likes nor understands.<br /><br />Everybody wants Grace
to put on a pretty dress and a pretty smile, blocking out all her
unpretty thoughts. But they can't control Grace -- no more than Grace
can control what she knows or what she needs to do. Her past has come
back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only
one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the
world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall
down.</span> </blockquote>
<br />
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
This book was unusual and at times a bit annoying. I liked how convoluted the plot became and I really didn't have any idea of where it was going. It's different from what I expected of an Ally Carter book, but that doesn't make it bad. I'm intrigued and want to know more. I loved the action and the mystery of the book. I'll take anything you have to offer, Ms. Carter!<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
I think I was a bit annoyed at times with how angry Grace tended to get. And how she didn't seem to be able to see what kinds of stupid mistakes she was making. But, I think that she was pretty realistically portrayed for what happened to her. <br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
<a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/10/book-review-conspiracy-of-us-by-maggie.html" target="_blank"><i>The Conspiracy of Us</i></a> by Maggie Hall and <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/gallagher%20girls" target="_blank">Gallagher Girls</a> books by Ally Carter<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !</b></span>
<br />
perhaps a few<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: ->-></b></span>
<br />
some frightening stuff happens<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ***</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-18920720970258528412016-03-29T21:18:00.002-07:002016-03-29T21:18:54.512-07:00Book Review: The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20443207-the-winner-s-crime" target="_blank"><i>The Winner's Crime</i></a> by Marie Rutkoski<br />
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux<br />
Publication date: March 2015<br />
Pages: 402<br />
Source: e-book from the library<br />
For: Love the series!<br />
Series: <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/winner%27s%20trilogy" target="_blank">Winner's Trilogy</a>, Book 2<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411679515l/21469060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411679515l/21469060.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20443207-the-winner-s-crime" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b> <i>*Spoilers are inevitable for <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-winners-curse-by-marie.html" target="_blank">The Winner's Curse</a>*</i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText10878154942282382600">The engagement of Lady
Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another.
But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the
wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her
engagement... if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust
herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner
of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to
uncovering a shocking secret.<br /><br />As Arin enlists dangerous allies in
the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the
suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might
not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when
that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will
cost them.</span> </blockquote>
<br />
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
Yes! Love this second book in the series. More complicated and painful twists and turns and strategy and you don't know what Kestrel can do to get out of her difficulties. It feels very constricting, just as it was for Kestrel. I loved this one, felt like it didn't lack or lag in the second book department. World is still fascinating, writing still very strong, characters still very real. <br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
And love story still leaving me a bit meh. Still, I'm really invested in the other aspects of Kestrel's story.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Reminded me a little of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/596307.Crown_Duel" target="_blank"><i>Crown Duel</i></a> by Sherwood Smith<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !</b></span>
<br />
one or two<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: X</b></span>
<br />
some implied stuff<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: ->-></b></span>
<br />
a few scenes<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: *****</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-22327803220382602202016-03-16T15:03:00.000-07:002016-03-16T15:03:32.500-07:00Book Review: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68429.The_Well_of_Ascension" target="_blank"><i>The Well of Ascension</i></a> by Brandon Sanderson<br />
Publisher: Tor Books<br />
Publication date: August 2007<br />
Pages: 796<br />
Source: Purchased<br />
For: Fun<br />
Series: <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/mistborn" target="_blank">Mistborn</a>, Book 2<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388372651l/2115046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388372651l/2115046.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68429.The_Well_of_Ascension" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b> <i>*Spoilers for <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/04/mini-reviews-15.html" target="_blank">Mistborn</a> are inevitable*</i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText11422229381802715354">The impossible has been
accomplished. The Lord Ruler – the man who claimed to be god incarnate
and brutally ruled the world for a thousand years – has been vanquished.
But Kelsier, the hero who masterminded that triumph, is dead too, and
now the awesome task of building a new world has been left to his young
protégé, Vin, the former street urchin who is now the most powerful
Mistborn in the land, and to the idealistic young nobleman she loves.<br /><br />As
Kelsier’s protégé and slayer of the Lord Ruler she is now venerated by a
budding new religion, a distinction that makes her intensely
uncomfortable. Even more worrying, the mists have begun behaving
strangely since the Lord Ruler died, and seem to harbor a strange
vaporous entity that haunts her.<br /><br />Stopping assassins may keep
Vin’s Mistborn skills sharp, but it’s the least of her problems.
Luthadel, the largest city of the former empire, doesn’t run itself, and
Vin and the other members of Kelsier’s crew, who lead the revolution,
must learn a whole new set of practical and political skills to help. It
certainly won’t get easier with three armies – one of them composed of
ferocious giants – now vying to conquer the city, and no sign of the
Lord Ruler’s hidden cache of atium, the rarest and most powerful
allomantic metal.<br /><br />As the siege of Luthadel tightens, an ancient
legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists,
no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power
it bestows.</span> </blockquote>
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
Brandon Sanderson - he has a gift for creating these intriguing worlds and people in them. I really like his stuff and I always feel very engrossed when I'm reading his books. The worlds come to life for me and there is so much depth and history. I also really don't have a clue where the plot is going, even when I think I do. Give me more of this story (I mean, it's already out there, but I just need to pick up the book). I kept being surprised by what happened and what motivated people.<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
They are very, very long. I keep thinking there has to be stuff to cut, and I'm sure there is, but all of it kind of seems relevant. Still: long.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Start with <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/04/mini-reviews-15.html" target="_blank"><i>Mistborn</i></a> by Brandon Sanderson<br />
Reminds me a bit of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21060.Crown_Duel" target="_blank"><i>Crown Duel</i></a> by Sherwood Smith<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !</b></span>
<br />
a few<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
that I recall<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: ->-></b></span>
<br />
there's always some fighting<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ****</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-28585299936674466612016-03-10T14:45:00.001-07:002016-03-10T14:45:17.678-07:00Book Review: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20560137-an-ember-in-the-ashes" target="_blank"><i>An Ember in the Ashes</i></a> by Sabaa Tahir<br />
Publisher: Razorbill<br />
Publication date: April 2015<br />
Pages: 446<br />
Source: Library<br />
For: Heard good things<br />
Series: An Ember in the Ashes, Book 1<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417957944l/20560137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417957944l/20560137.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20560137-an-ember-in-the-ashes" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText7103099793245567090">Under the Martial
Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and
bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the
destruction of all they hold dear.<br /><br />It is in this brutal world,
inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and
older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s
impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen
what happens to those who do.<br /><br />But when Laia’s brother is
arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for
help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her
life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.<br /><br />There,
Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most
unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained
to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are
intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire
itself.</span> </blockquote>
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
I read this one after <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-winners-curse-by-marie.html" target="_blank"><i>Winner's Curse</i></a> and I think it suffered a bit in comparison. The Roman inspiration for both was evident. This one was a LOT more gritty and violent and depressing. It felt like a very real story with no easy answers and just a lot of bad stuff happening. <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-winners-curse-by-marie.html" target="_blank"><i>The Winner's Curse</i></a> is a lot more about strategy than about violence. I do have to admit, it was impossible to put down. I had to know what would happen next - compulsively readable. I'll be interested in more, though I'm not sure how I feel about love quadrangles and such.<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
The violence was too much for me on a number of occasions. Very gritty.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Reminded me of <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-winners-curse-by-marie.html" target="_blank"><i>The Winner's Curse</i></a> by Marie Rutkoski<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !@</b></span>
<br />
some<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: XX </b></span>
<br />
yup<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: ->->->-></b></span>
<br />
a lot, as I mentioned<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ***</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-35142096006874675182016-03-06T21:19:00.001-07:002016-03-06T21:19:19.024-07:00Book Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069030-the-winner-s-curse" target="_blank"><i>The Winner's Curse</i></a> by Marie Rutkoski<br />
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux<br />
Publication date: March 2014<br />
Pages: 355<br />
Source: e-book from Library<br />
For: Fun <br />
Series: Winner's Trilogy, Book 1<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377023523l/16069030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377023523l/16069030.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069030-the-winner-s-curse" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText9494189294228626551">As a general’s daughter
in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers,
seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or
get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. <br /><br />One day, she is
startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.
Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her
instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long
before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. <br /><br />But he, too,
has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a
fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. </span></blockquote>
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
Ooh, I enjoyed this one. It was both what I was expecting and completely not - more! I loved the characters and especially the world - I seriously want to play bite and sting, but know I have very poor strategizing skills. I just love how she thinks and how she knows what to say and not say, but also makes mistakes. I don't know what exactly it was that drew me in, but I fell hard for this story. I'm not even that big a fan of the romance, but I love how very impossible it feels and then how it isn't easy and nothing happens conveniently. Very realistic world and very well drawn.<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
Can't remember anything.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
A bit like <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20560137-an-ember-in-the-ashes" target="_blank"><i>An Ember in the Ashes</i></a> by Sabaa Tahir<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !</b></span>
<br />
a very few<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: X</b></span>
<br />
mostly talk<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: -></b></span>
<br />
a little<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: *****</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-29139675418593300972016-02-26T14:32:00.000-07:002016-02-26T14:32:04.846-07:00Book Review: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24817626-go-set-a-watchman" target="_blank"><i>Go Set a Watchman</i></a> by Harper Lee<br />
Publisher: HarperCollins<br />
Publication date: July 2015<br />
Pages: 278<br />
Source: Library<br />
For: Harper Lee, duh!<br />
Series: Sequel to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2657.To_Kill_a_Mockingbird" target="_blank"><i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1451442088l/24817626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1451442088l/24817626.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24817626-go-set-a-watchman" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText4425266061313240935">Maycomb, Alabama.
Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch--"Scout"--returns home from New
York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop
of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were
transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when
she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and
the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and
her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the
iconic characters from <em>To Kill a Mockingbird</em>, <em>Go Set a Watchman</em>
perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in a painful yet
necessary transition out of the illusions of the past--a journey that
can be guided only by one's conscience. </span></blockquote>
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
I enjoyed a number of parts of this book. I really liked seeing Scout and just wh<i>o</i> she had grown up into and the funny things she said and thought. I loved that part of her. I really struggled with what the story was actually about, her seeing the truth of her hometown and father and not idolizing them anymore. It was hard to read, hard for me to understand, and just not what I wanted to read, I guess. It was a smart book, and definitely changes your perspective and thoughts in relation to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2657.To_Kill_a_Mockingbird" target="_blank"><i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i></a>. Still, I found as it went on that I wasn't much enjoying my read. I did like it, but I didn't like it too. Makes perfect sense, right? I read the book probably six months ago, but I'm only posting it now, just in time to hear of Harper Lee's death. Wish we had more from her!<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
Think I covered both in the previous paragraph.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Well I'd start with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2657.To_Kill_a_Mockingbird" target="_blank"><i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i></a>...and maybe end there too :)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !</b></span>
<br />
a few<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: -></b></span>
<br />
maybe a little off-page<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ***</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-41233781647820578792016-02-24T14:24:00.001-07:002016-02-24T14:24:58.887-07:00Book Review: Pioneer Girl by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Pamela Smith Hill<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22212838-pioneer-girl" target="_blank"><i>Pioneer Girl</i></a> by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Pamela Smith Hill (editor)<br />
Publisher: South Dakota State Historical Society<br />
Publication date: November 2014<br />
Pages: 400<br />
Source: Library<br />
For: Fun<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1416178689l/22212838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1416178689l/22212838.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22212838-pioneer-girl" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText14951549667175857855"><em>Pioneer Girl</em>
follows the Ingalls family's journey through Kansas, Missouri,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, back to Minnesota, and on to Dakota
Territory sixteen years of travels, unforgettable experiences, and the
everyday people who became immortal through Wilder's fiction. Using
additional manuscripts, letters, photographs, newspapers, and other
sources, award-winning Wilder biographer Pamela Smith Hill adds valuable
context and leads readers through Wilder's growth as a writer. Do you
think you know Laura? <em>Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography</em> will re-introduce you to the woman who defined the pioneer experience for millions.</span> </blockquote>
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
This took me AGES to read. Mostly because I could only check it out two weeks at a time and everyone kept putting it on hold, so I couldn't renew it. It is also a very big book and a bit daunting at times. Still, I am so glad I persisted. I don't even remember if I've read the Little House books all the way through, or just listened while my mom read them to my siblings. It didn't really matter, because this story is the true one. I loved how very detailed and full of notes it was. I can't read something with that many footnotes often, but when I do, I usually love it. It was fun to see the author differentiate between what was real and what they changed for the kids novels. If you are a huge fan of the Little House books, pick this one up. It will more than satisfy every question about her life you may have.<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
It was a bit dry at times. I guess life can be that way :). You have to be a real fan to take this one on, I think.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
The <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/114345.The_Little_House_Collection" target="_blank">Little House books</a> by Laura Ingalls Wilder :)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none </b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ****</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-3476906436381151052016-02-16T21:44:00.000-07:002016-02-16T21:44:08.803-07:00Book Review: Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22929540-silver-in-the-blood" target="_blank"><i>Silver in the Blood</i></a> by Jessica Day George<br />
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens<br />
Publication date: July 2015<br />
Pages: 368<br />
Source: Library<br />
For: Fun<br />
Series: Probably?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1419025306l/22929540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1419025306l/22929540.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22929540-silver-in-the-blood" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText14154622248879451710">Society girls from New
York City circa 1890, Dacia and Lou never desired to know more about
their lineage, instead preferring to gossip about the mysterious
Romanian family that they barely knew. But upon turning seventeen, the
girls must return to their homeland to meet their relatives, find proper
husbands, and—most terrifyingly—learn the deep family secrets of The
Claw, The Wing, and The Smoke. The Florescus, after all, are
shape-shifters, and it is time for Dacia and Lou to fulfill the prophecy
that demands their acceptance of this fate... or fight against this
cruel inheritance with all their might.</span></blockquote>
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
This was a fun fantasy tale. I liked the Dacia and Lou, though I got annoyed on a number of occasions with one or both of them. I really liked the unique Romanian setting - I had a chance to visit the Czech Republic a few years ago and it felt a lot like what I remember of that trip. Also, my sister spent some time in Romania, so I feel like I have a little connection to it (but not really). Either way, it was different and that in and of itself kind of recommends the book to me. It did kind of disappoint in a few ways, but overall, I enjoyed it. It felt rather empowering for the young ladies too.<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
I felt like something was lacking, not sure I even know or understand what. I do know, that a month or two later, I don't remember quite how it ends. It did seem rather vague and quickly resolved near the end. Still, I do know I enjoyed it.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Hm, I am drawing a blank...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: -></b></span>
<br />
a little bit of action<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ***</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-80071438181058676892016-02-11T15:00:00.000-07:002016-02-11T15:00:06.409-07:00Book Review: The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20708771-the-princess-in-black" target="_blank"><i>The Princess in Black</i></a> by Shannon Hale<br />
Publisher: Candlewick Pres<br />
Publication date: October 2014<br />
Pages: 90<br />
Source: Library<br />
For: Fun<br />
Series: The Princess in Black, Book 1<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400886035l/20708771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400886035l/20708771.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20708771-the-princess-in-black" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText5363226360354053274">Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when . . . <em>Brring! Brring! </em>The
monster alarm! A big blue monster is threatening the goats! Stopping
monsters is no job for dainty Princess Magnolia. But luckily Princess
Magnolia has a secret —she’s also the Princess in Black, and stopping
monsters is the perfect job for <em>her</em>! Can the princess sneak
away, transform into her alter ego, and defeat the monster before the
nosy duchess discovers her secret? From award-winning writing team of
Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham, here is the first in a
humorous and action-packed chapter book series for young readers who
like their princesses not only prim and perfect, but also dressed in
black.</span> </blockquote>
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
Yes! I love this book. Short, silly, fun, quirky, and best of all it can easily help little girls feel like they can have the best of both worlds - pretty dress ups and fighting bad guys. I feel like I love this book even more because of <a href="http://oinks.squeetus.com/" target="_blank">Shannon's extensive blogging</a> about girls and boys and writing and stereotypes. But really, just get this book for every young girl you know. <br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
Want. More.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Nothing comes to mind...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: none </b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: *****</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-18511084946987653652016-02-10T14:55:00.000-07:002016-02-10T14:55:02.485-07:00Book Review: Code Talker by Chester Nez<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11437988-code-talker" target="_blank"><i>Code Talker</i></a> by Chester Nez<br />
Publisher: Berkley<br />
Publication date: September 2011<br />
Pages: 320<br />
Source: Library<br />
For: Interesting!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311703377l/11437988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311703377l/11437988.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11437988-code-talker" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText7553319510639423726"><strong></strong>Although
more than 400 Navajos served in the military during World War II as
top-secret code talkers, even those fighting shoulder to shoulder with
them were not told of their covert function. And, after the war, the
Navajos were forbidden to speak of their service until 1968, when the
code was finally declassified. Of the original twenty- nine Navajo code
talkers, only two are still alive. Chester Nez is one of them.<br /><br />In
this memoir, the eighty-nine-year-old Nez chronicles both his war years
and his life growing up on the Checkerboard Area of the Navajo
Reservation-the hard life that gave him the strength, both physical and
mental, to become a Marine. His story puts a living face on the
legendary men who developed what is still the only unbroken code in
modern warfare.</span> </blockquote>
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
This book really intrigued me. I loved reading about those Native Americans who played such a unique and vital role in WWII. His particular experiences made me realize just how little I know about the treatment of Native Americans in our history. I mean, I know it's always been bad, but this wasn't even always deliberately bad, just neglect and ignoring the kinds of things they experienced. It was eye-opening and just plain sad. I liked hearing it from his perspective and he never sounded bitter or angry about it. His experiences during the war seemed so different from what the "usual" soldiers might have felt, but was still very painful and hard. An inspiring and interesting read.<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
I did like how it was really his words written down, but that also made for some grammar issues that I would notice and be annoyed about before remembering it was his direct narrative.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Can't think of any<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !@</b></span>
<br />
some<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none </b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: ->->-></b></span>
<br />
he went to war!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: **** </b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-62094461058199619762016-02-03T20:43:00.000-07:002016-02-03T20:43:04.215-07:00Book Review: The Bungalow by Sarah Jio<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11720964-the-bungalow" target="_blank"><i>The Bungalow</i></a> by Sarah Jio<br />
Publisher: Plume<br />
Publication date: 2011<br />
Pages: 320<br />
Source: Library<br />
For: Recommended by a friend<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311141458l/11720964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311141458l/11720964.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11720964-the-bungalow" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText17816420936226541535">In the summer of 1942,
twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in
the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More
exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her
predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry,
and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus
flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned
beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a
gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes
into the winds of war.</span> </blockquote>
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
I picked this one up after a friend of mine raved about it - her favorite book! This was kind of a sweet story with some dark elements to make it feel more realistic. I have to admit at times it was a little unbelievable, but I sure don't know enough about that time and place to really know. I thought it was interesting and engaging, but kind of lacked a little substance. There are a few things that you pick up on long before the main character, which can be annoying. Still, the ending was surprising and a little bittersweet.<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
I wanted something more from it. Not sure what, but I just felt like it never quite achieved what it could have.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
I can't think of any right now...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !</b></span>
<br />
maybe a few<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: X</b></span>
<br />
some vague scenes<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: -></b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ***</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-77115703761197346902016-01-31T20:38:00.001-07:002016-02-16T21:49:43.941-07:00Book Review: As You Wish by Cary Elwes<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22892030-as-you-wish" target="_blank"><i>As You Wish</i></a> by Cary Elwes<br />
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio<br />
Publication date: October 2014<br />
Length: 7 hrs, 1 min<br />
Source: Audiobook from library<br />
For: Fun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418103917l/21412202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418103917l/21412202.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="freeText1830863616352351627"><b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21412202-as-you-wish" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><i> </i></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText1830863616352351627"><i>The Princess Bride</i>
has been a family favorite for close to three decades. Ranked by the
American Film Institute as one of the top 100 Greatest Love Stories and
by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 100 screenplays of all
time, <i>The Princess Bride</i> will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.<br /><br />Cary
Elwes was inspired to share his memories and give fans an unprecedented
look into the creation of the film while participating in the
twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion. In <i>As You Wish</i> he has
created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen
photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of
set secrets, backstage stories, and answers to lingering questions about
off-screen romances that have plagued fans for years!</span> </blockquote>
<br />
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
I listened to this on audio, read mostly by Cary Elwes, as suggested by a number of people. I do recall my mind drifting during quite a bit of the beginning where Elwes tells his story about joining the cast and meeting everyone and all that preproduction stuff. When it finally got to the stories from the movie, I really enjoyed it. I loved all the funny, quirky, and hilarious antics they all seemed to get up to. It sounds almost like an extended family reunion. It was a lot of fun to hear it in their own voices (some of them) too.<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
Yeah, the beginning was hard for me. Otherwise, it was super fun to hear about one of my favorite movies. I watched it again not that long ago and took great pleasure in pointing out things about the scenes that I learned from the book to my husband.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Can't think of anything...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !</b></span>
<br />
maybe one or two<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none </b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ****</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-69442001886871392282016-01-27T20:20:00.000-07:002016-01-27T20:20:17.581-07:00Book Review: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13508607-the-secret-keeper" target="_blank"><i>The Secret Keeper</i></a> by Kate Morton<br />
Publisher: Simon & Schuster<br />
Publication date: 2012<br />
Pages: 669<br />
Source: Library<br />
For: More Kate Morton stuff<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345228600l/13508607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345228600l/13508607.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13508607-the-secret-keeper" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText5804509747861281769">During a summer party at
the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel
Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is happily dreaming
of the future. She spies a stranger coming up the long road to the farm
and watches as her mother speaks to him. Before the afternoon is over,
Laurel will witness a shocking crime. A crime that challenges everything
she knows about her family and especially her mother, Dorothy—her
vivacious, loving, nearly perfect mother.<br /><br />Now, fifty years later,
Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress living in London. The
family is gathering at Greenacres farm for Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday.
Realizing that this may be her last chance, Laurel searches for answers
to the questions that still haunt her from that long-ago day, answers
that can only be found in Dorothy’s past.<br /><br />Dorothy’s story takes
the reader from pre–WWII England through the blitz, to the ’60s and
beyond. It is the secret history of three strangers from vastly
different worlds—Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy—who meet by chance in
wartime London and whose lives are forever entwined. The Secret Keeper
explores longings and dreams and the unexpected consequences they
sometimes bring. It is an unforgettable story of lovers and friends,
deception and passion that is told—in Morton’s signature style—against a
backdrop of events that changed the world.</span> </blockquote>
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
This book has a complicated plot filled with all kinds of secrets and mysteries and written in the perfect way to keep you guessing all the way to the ending. This was signature Kate Morton (though, I'm pretty sure I've only read two of her other books). It was also quite long. It was engaging and I couldn't stop reading to find out just what in the world happened all those years ago. I was completely thrown for a loop when some of the stuff was revealed, though I did have an inkling about other things.<br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
Yeah, it is dark and creepy and at times kinda depressing. Also, long. But, I am really impressed at Morton's skills at weaving a complex web of uncertainties all the way to the end. And I really have no idea how Laurel could even pretend to feel normal after what she saw.<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Other Morton books will satisfy your "like this book" craving<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !#$</b></span>
<br />
a fair few<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: X </b></span>
<br />
some<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: ->-></b></span>
<br />
rather more than I enjoy<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ****</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-58131038428780659922016-01-25T20:01:00.001-07:002016-01-25T20:01:53.584-07:00Book Review: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17020.13_Little_Blue_Envelopes" target="_blank"><i>13 Little Blue Envelopes</i></a> by Maureen Johnson<br />
Publisher: HarperTeen<br />
Publication date: 2002<br />
Pages: 322<br />
Source: purchased e-book<br />
For: Fun<br />
Series: Little Blue Envelope, Book 1<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375030179l/17020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375030179l/17020.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17020.13_Little_Blue_Envelopes" target="_blank">goodreads</a>):</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText17318412160429483695">Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket.<br /><br />In envelope 2 are directions to a specific London flat.<br /><br />The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist.<br /><br />Because
of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/ bloke–about–town called
Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous–though utterly
romantic–results. But will she ever see him again?<br /><br />Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it's all because of the 13 little blue envelopes.</span> </blockquote>
<br />
<b>Things I Liked:</b>
<br />
I do rather like the premise of this book - Aunt dies abroad and leaves letters for her niece to follow. I often wondered how that premise actually could work out, though. It is kind of a stretch at times and the reasons behind it are a bit vague even by the end. I did like seeing Ginny sort of wade through a new culture and become acclimated by jumping right in. <br />
<br />
<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
<br />
Yeah, I guess I missed the point of the book, cause I can't seem to recall there being one. It could be, however, that I read this one months ago and I just forgot. Either way, that's not exactly an endorsement, right?<br />
<br />
<b>Read-alikes:</b>
<br />
Um, can't think of anything...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: none</b></span>
<br />
that I recall :)<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: none </b></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ***</b></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2008-2015 by <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com">One Librarian's Book Reviews</a>. If you are not reading this material in your RSS feed reader, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.</div>melissa @ 1lbrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292714636311546457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537602474198205550.post-33302659330322152502016-01-23T20:54:00.000-07:002016-01-23T20:57:16.971-07:00Book Review: As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21874813-as-chimney-sweepers-come-to-dust" target="_blank"><i>As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust</i></a> by Alan Bradley<br />
Publisher: Delacorte Press<br />
Publication date: January 2015<br />
Pages: 392<br />
Source: e-book from library<br />
For: Flavia!<br />
Series: <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/flavia%20de%20luce" target="_blank">Flavia de Luce</a>, Book 7<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406214651l/21874813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406214651l/21874813.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>Summary (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21874813-as-chimney-sweepers-come-to-dust" target="_blank">goodreads</a>): *Spoilers are inevitable for the first 7 books*</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText13556686335083373053">Hard on the heels of
the return of her mother’s body from the frozen reaches of the
Himalayas, Flavia, for her indiscretions, is banished from her home at
Buckshaw and shipped across the ocean to Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy
in Toronto, her mother’s alma mater, there to be inducted into a
mysterious organization known as the Nide.<br /><br />No sooner does she
arrive, however, than a body comes crashing down out of the chimney and
into her room, setting off a series of investigations into mysterious
disappearances of girls from the school.</span> </blockquote>
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<b>Things I Liked:</b>
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More Flavia! It was different, what with being in a completely different setting. It was kind of fun to see her try to figure things out in her school. I got rather confused a number of times, since I could never tell which student or teacher to rely on. At least at home she could depend on certain people to be good, but here everyone was a suspect. It was a boarding school romp for Flavia and such fun for me to read.<br />
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<b>Things I Didn't Like:</b>
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The ending left me a bit confused - why did she go there in the first place? I'm trying not to spoil it, though I doubt it would ruin the story, but it seemed like everything was negated by the ending. I'm hoping for more, just so I can read more Flavia.<br />
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<b>Read-alikes:</b>
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Start with <a href="http://librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-review-sweetness-at-bottom-of-pie.html" target="_blank"><i>The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie</i></a> by Alan Bradley<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>s-factor: !</b></span>
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maybe one or two<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>mrg-factor: none </b></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>v-factor: -></b></span>
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there's a bit of the macabre<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overall rating: ****</b></span>
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