Book Review: Liar by Justine Larbelestier

Liarhas a plot that is pretty much impossible to blurb (especially without spoilers). However, Micah is a professed liar. Everyone knows that she lies all the time. But, when her boyfriend goes missing, all her lying starts to catch up and she finds herself trying to remember what is truth and what she made up.

Things I Liked:
This book had a really unique premise - an unreliable narrator and main character. I found the story, at least for the first half, interesting. I kept wondering what would happen next and just not being able to figure it out (with one exception). It was a different experience reading the story and not knowing for sure what's true and what's not (though that didn't bother me as much as I thought it would). Here are some intriguing thoughts about Micah's lying:

"But there are moments. Tiny ones when I'm not entirely clear whether it happened or I made it up. Those moments scare me much more than getting caught. I've been caught. I know what that's like. I've never gone crazy. I don't want to know what that's like" p218

"Not one of them has ever suggested that maybe I lie because the world is better the way I tell it." p264

There are a lot of thought-provoking things in this book, and a lot of the unexpected.

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, despite its uniqueness and surprises, I didn't really enjoy it. I was disappointed in where it led, which seemed like nowhere in the end. There were some really strange parts that distracted me from the actual story and left me wondering what exactly was the purpose. I find that I really can't explain why I didn't like it.

Read-alikes:
A bit like Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$
plenty throughout

mrg-factor: XX
some scenes and references

v-factor: ->->
some fairly gory parts

Overall rating: **

Have you read this? What did you think?

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Book Review: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Knife of Never Letting Gois the intense story of Todd, the last boy in his village, who one day discovers something new - silence - in the form of a girl. Todd lives in a world where thoughts - everyone's thoughts - can be heard. He is always surrounded by Noise, his own and every other man in his village. But, when he discovers this silence, he doesn't realize he is uncovering terrible secrets about his village. When he must flee his home in the company of this girl, he sets out on a dangerous escape that just might lead to freedom or death.

Things I Liked:
This story kept me turning pages as fast as I could! Ness sure knows how to write a story that will knock your socks off and keep your eyes open (all night, if necessary). I had a hard time putting it down, because I just had to know what happened next. The story was heartwrenching, unique, and not exactly what I expected. And the ending? I almost threw the book I was so upset! The cliffhanger made me really happy the sequel was already out. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get a copy yet. The writing was excellent, and I really enjoyed how the Noise was written in the book. Here is a quote that will only give you a small glimpse of its awesomeness:

'Cuz I see Viola looking back at me as we run and there's brightness on her face and she keeps urging me on with tilts of her head and smiles and I think how hope may be the thing that pulls you forward, may be the thing that keeps you going, but that it's dangerous, too, that it's painful and risky, that it's making a dare to the world and when has the world ever let us win a dare? p423

Things I Didn't Like:
It felt really fatalistic, which isn't necessarily bad since that was probably the point, but it didn't make for happy feelings after I finished. Especially the ending! Of course, with any dystopian story, I wanted more information!

Read-alikes:
The Giverand Messengerby Lois Lowry
Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#$
plenty of swearing

mrg-factor: X
some references

v-factor: ->->->->
there was a lot of violence, some of it pretty graphic

Overall rating: ****

How do you feel about cliffhanger endings? Love them, hate them, can't live without them?

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Library Lack of Loot

So, I've really cut back now. I even didn't pick up one book that was on hold for me at a library - on purpose!

I only checked out THREE books in the last two weeks! I think that must be a record. I'm down to about 11 books checked out right now. Here are the three:

Heart's Bloodby Juliet Marillier
Prophecy of the Sistersby Michelle Zink
Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deceptionby Maggie Stiefvater

But, suddenly, as if they knew my library books were dwindling, all of these books came in the mail for me. I suppose I should post this more as an In My Mailbox (hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren):

I won a set of Hachette books during Dewey's Read-a-Thon:
What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventuresby Malcolm Gladwell
A Change in Altitude: A Novelby Anita Shreve
How to Roast a Lamb: New Greek Classic Cookingby Michael Psilakis
Norman Rockwell: Behind the Cameraby Ron Schick
Nine Dragonsby Michael Connelly

I also won:
Rampantby Diana Peterfreund from The Book Studio
Fire by Kristin Cashore from Alyce of At Home With Books

And for review:
Lockdownby Walter Dean Myers
The Ghost, the Eggheads, and Babe Ruth's Piano: A Novelby Larry Sweitzer

I guess that means I haven't really slowed down. I have plenty to read :)

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I Actually NEED It!

I have a niece who likes to yell this phrase at the top of her lungs when she wants something:

"I actually NEED it!"

I find it very funny, though I'm sure her mom thinks differently.

The following is a list of books that I've been waiting and waiting for (some longer than others). These are books that my library hasn't acquired (yet) and I can't afford to buy with my current budget. Or they are books that I'm dying to have published already so I can read them. In any case, I find that I feel just like my niece when it comes to these:

Released already, but still waiting!

Girl in the Arenaby Lisa Haines
My library finally managed to get this one in. Now I just have to wait for 20 other people to read it. ARGH.

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
It seems I check the catalog every other day to see if they've acquired this yet. Perhaps I should move it up to every day.

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
Come on, she's even a local author! Can we just get it in already? :)

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Just released, but still. Mostly I'm just sad because I missed the authors' visit!

Not yet released...how can I possibly wait?

The Dark Divineby Bree Despain (12/22/2009)
Another local author - I sure hope they acquire it FAST! (I was sorely disappointed I didn't get the ARC I requested ):

A Conspiracy of Kingsby Megan Whalen Turner (3/23/2010)
Continuing one of the very best series - with unbelievable twists - I've ever read. Seriously, if you haven't started reading The Queen's Thief books, do it before March. I'm DYING to know what happens next!

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer (4/1/2010)
Another one I was sad not to get the ARC for. Reading the books in this series (I especially loved Life As We Knew It) is such an experience. I can't wait to find out the rest of the story!

The Princess and the Snowbird by Mette Ivie Harrison (5/1/2010)
I truly love my local authors! I especially enjoy the complex fairy tales in this series - The Princess and the Hound and The Princess and the Bear.

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (5/25/2010)
Another local author who has yet to disappoint me. This one is a sequel to Princess of the Midnight Ball (which I loved).

The Hunger Games: Book 3by Suzanne Collins (8/24/2010)
Does this need an introduction? Here it is: Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I drool in anticipation of this book.

What are some of the books you actually NEED?

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I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Helpis a book about many things. Skeeter, a middle class white lady, who is finding herself sick of the ideas that permeate her circle of friends. All she wants to do is write. When she comes up with the idea to write about the lives of colored maids, it is a lot more difficult to fight the norms of her southern peers. Aibileen and Minny are two of those maids, walking a fine line between what is acceptable to white society and what is acceptable to themselves.

Things I Liked:
I was absolutely blown away by this book! The story is so compelling that you can't walk away from it. And when you do finish it, the characters will haunt you still. It is beautifully written, with the perfect southern voice and the characters are absolutely perfect! They felt like people you would meet walking down the street (back in the 60s, anyway). After it was over, I kept wishing I could read more about Aibileen, Minny, Skeeter, and Celia. It is no wonder this book has received praise and great reviews - it is worth every page of the read! Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"What Hilly didn't understand was I hadn't planned it at all. When I started typing out her bathroom initiative for the newsletter, typing words like disease and protect yourself and you're welcome!, it was like something cracked open inside of me, not unlike a watermelon, cool and soothing and sweet. I always thought insanity would be a dark, bitter feeling, but it is drenching and delicious if you really roll around in it." p345

"Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought." p418

Things I Didn't Like:
Did anyone else wonder what was the point of the scene with a naked white man? It seemed so random to me. Maybe I missed the point...

Read-alikes:
The voice seemed so unique, but maybe Gone With the Windby Margaret Mitchell and To Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#%
plenty throughout

mrg-factor: X
see above mentioned naked white man

v-factor: ->->
some violence spoken of and one fairly gruesome scene

Overall rating: *****

Have you read this? What did you think? And what is the naked man's purpose?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage,
I will get a very small percentage