Micro Reviews: Finishing Up 2013, Part 1

This is annoyingly painful and rather insane, but I'm just posting the rest of my 2013 books so I can forget worrying about reviewing them (um, 20+ of them, so this is only part 1). Feel free to skip it or laugh at my attempts to recall what it is I read about...


The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Intense, fast-paced, alien invasion story.  Couldn't put it down, but maybe a bit too gory for me to adore it.


Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Seriously geeked-out virtual reality world, complete with quest (of course).  Could have done without all the cussing, but enjoyed lots of the 80s references.


A Soldier's Secret: The Incredible True Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero by Marissa Moss
A real-life woman-disguised-as-a-man during the Civil War.  Seemed rather like a bunch of episodes cobbled together like vignettes, but was still intriguing enough to keep me reading.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
So much creepier than the retelling I read, The Turning.  And the ending totally leaves it up in the air as to what really happened.


The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White
Love the humor in this book, but found the story a bit dull in places.  Also, Egyptian mythology, like most ancient mythologies, is suuuuuuper weird.


Yesterday by C.K. Kelly Martin
Crazy convoluted and strange plot.  I had a hard time following (and thus buying) what happened.  Also, I seem to recall spotting some big plot holes, but since it's been so long, I don't remember a single one :)


Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill
Interesting futuristic tale, but lacking in details to really flesh out that world.  I had a hard time jumping into the story because of all the crazy lingo too.


Ironskin by Tina Connolly
Definitely one of the oddest Jane Eyre retellings I've read, but with an interesting fairy aspect that made it unique.  Nowhere near as moving as the original, though.


Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
It's absolutely painful, the every-day brutal reality so many people experienced in concentration camps.  Moving and heart-rending.


The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy
A lot of light-hearted Prince Charming humor, as entertaining and funny as the first one.


Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund
A fun and thoughtful retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel.  Not as wonderful as For Darkness Shows the Stars, but still entertaining.


Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier
Complete with Marillier's gorgeous writing and complex world-building, this fairy story kept me entertained, despite a rather too-good-to-be-true heroine. Second in the Shadowfell series.


Fox Forever by Mary Pearson
More of Pearson's thoughtful medical ethics complete with full-scale rebellion.  I love how believable this future seems!  Last of the Jenna Fox Chronicles (I think).

Bravo to you if you read this!  Anything on here you loved/hated?

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

Classic Double Challenge Link-Up for April

Sign up for the Classic Double Challenge.

Link up with any reviews/thought posts you've done or will do in April (or really any time, it doesn't matter)!  I'm happy to report that I've made progress.  I read both Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher!  Now it's a matter of actually getting the reviewing done.  I've got to do a better job of that :)  How are you all doing?

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

Classic Double Challenge Link-Up for March

Sign up for the Classic Double Challenge.

Link up with any reviews/thought posts you've done (or will do) in March!  Sorry I'm slacking on remembering to post about the challenge.  I know Jessica of Books: A True Story is doing great with the challenge so far!  Check out her comparisons of The Scarlet Pimpernell with Across a Star-Swept Sea and Life After Theft.  I finally started Adventures of Tom Sawyer to pair with The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher that the lovely Jessica Lawson was so kind as to send to me!  So there's that :)  How are you all doing?

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

Mini Reviews 11: The Last of the Pre-Baby Books!

So, I'm FINALLY finishing up the reviews for books I read before I had the baby.  That's stuff I read last spring pretty much.  Ugh, I will probably never catch up, but hey, one step at a time. Also, gratuitous photo of my adorable baby.  You're welcome!

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
Publisher: Recorded Books
Publication date: January 2012
Length: 7 hrs, 15 min
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun
Series: Fallen World, Book 1

Kaelyn's world is turned upside down when a new deadly virus hits her island home.  As people all around her fall prey to its effects, the government closes the borders of the island in an attempt to contain the infection.  As supplies dwindle and hope seems to fade with it, Kaelyn must fight for supplies and her life as she desperately tries to find a cure.

My Thoughts:
I thought the book shows a fairly balanced view of what an epidemic might look like.  I think we see a lot of this in the real world - people who help out after natural disasters, but also the violence and looting.  I thought it was a bit unrealistic that they ended up with zero communication from outside their island.  Also it seemed like the research of the virus was brushed over lightly.  I would have liked to see more of that.  And the ending left a lot of things ambivalent.  I wanted to have a few more answers.  (I just found out it's a series, of course.)  However, a lot of futuristic books tend to look at only the bleak and horrible.  It was kind of a nicer, lighter look at it.  Also, I thought it was interesting to watch it unfold in such an isolated area.  It would have been a much different book if it took place in an urban setting.  I enjoyed the audiobook, with narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson doing a decent job of the teen girl voice.
-------------------------------------------------------

Will Sparrow's Road by Karen Cushman
Publisher: Listening Library
Publication date: November 2012
Length: 5 hrs, 9 min
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun

When Will runs away, he must survive on his thieving skills to get him by.  But after a series of cons in which he is the loser, he becomes more wary of trusting anyone.  When he falls in with a traveling troupe filled with unusual characters, he must decide if he can trust true friends.

My Thoughts:
I adore Cushman's historical novels.  They are always so well-researched and realistic.  The details!  The Quirky characters!  Didn't hurt that I listened to the audio narrated by my favorite, Katherine Kellgren.  The story was a bit hard to follow as it seemed to meander a lot.  It made it harder for me to care about Will.  But when he hooks up with the oddities and prodigies, it gets much better.  It was so interesting to see what life might have been like for people who were different back then.
-------------------------------------------------------

The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
Publisher: Listening Library
Publication date: 2004 (audio version)
Length: 6 hrs, 10 min
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun
Series: Artemis Fowl, Book 2

   

When Artemis receives an urgent message from his father, who's been kidnapped by the Russian Mafiya, he sets off to rescue him.  But he must enlist the aid of the fairy folk, including Captain Holly Short, if he wants to return alive.

My Thoughts:
These books are so entertaining!  I adore the audio versions too, because the narrator, Nathaniel Parker, is fantastic with voices and characterization.  Although sometimes because it was on audio, I felt like I got lost when they'd use weird terms, especially for their technology.  However, I love the quirky and completely off the wall stuff that happens.  Artemis is sufficiently genius and annoying, as well as endearing.  I just love the fun plots, the great characters, and the fabulous fantasy elements.  It totally reminds me of a tech-oriented Harry Potter, but less dark and more entertaining.
-------------------------------------------------------

The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
Publisher: Listening Library
Publication date: 2004 (audio version)
Length: 6 hrs, 58 min
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun
Series: Artemis Fowl, Book 3

When Artemis creates a supercomputer with the aid of some illegal fairy technology, he finds himself at the mercy of a ruthless business man, determined to gain access to this technology.  In order to save himself and the fairies, Artemis must once again enlist the aid of Holly Short and her friends.

My Thoughts:
I love the quirky characters and the world that Eoin Colfer has created for these characters.  I was entertained by Artemis' schemes and by how he and the fairy people had to work together.  I love the sarcasm and the wit, particularly from Holly.  Butler and his sister are also fun to listen to with fantastic accents (I love the audio, thanks again Nathaniel Parker).  It was a clever plot too, with plenty of twists I never saw coming, though at times it seemed to be trying a bit too hard to be clever or surprising.  There were a few places where I thought some things lacked a good explanation.  Overall, though, lots of fun and it captured my attention, which is a huge bonus while I'm driving.
-------------------------------------------------------

Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication date: June 2013
Pages: 304
Source: ARC from publisher
For: Review

Berry Fields is busy being a PI and accumulating evidence of affairs that seem the norm for all men.  But when Tanner Halston storms her life, at once being uninterested and then seeming to show up all the time, she's a bit thrown.  Until all of them are drawn into a deadly investigation that may leave more questions than answers.

My Thoughts:
While I was not completely enamoured of this book, I have to admit I kind of got sucked into it.  I wanted to know what happened to Berry's mom and what role each of the boys played in it. Honestly, I thought there wasn't much point to adding in the Pride and Prejudice story line.  It didn't fit quite right, though I did enjoy some nods to the original.  I thought it would have been stronger if it was just more of a spy/espionage/mystery than trying to be a retelling too.  I'm not that clever at figuring things out, but I did actually guess a part of what happened to her mom. Despite some boring parts and a few ridiculous mistakes on Berry's part, not to mention the implausibility of the entire story, it was quick and entertaining.

Any thoughts on any of these books?

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

Book Review: Going Vintage by Lindsay Leavitt

Going Vintage by Lindsay Leavitt
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication date: March 2013
Pages: 320
Source: Library
For: Fun

Summary from goodreads:

When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:
1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous
But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

Things I Liked:
This was just the right book for me at the time.  I really loved getting a change from serious, dramatic, and rather depressing dystopias and fantasies.  It was a fun, laughable, but also serious at times story.  I adored our main character, probably because she reminded me of high school me.  I love that she wanted to be a certain kind of person, but sometimes she would slip up and make mistakes and be a shallow/needy kind of person.  That felt real.  I hate those perfect main characters that are always so tough and so exactly the way they should be as teenagers.  Sometimes she just wanted to go back to the guy, even if he was a jerk.  That was realistic to me.  I also really loved the idea that she wanted to get to know more about her family, her grandmother.  Her relationships with her family were the most interesting thing for me.  Good fun and lots of laughs.  I was especially happy with the way things ended.

Things I Didn't Like:
I don't think I had any problems with it while I was reading.  Looking back, sometimes it seemed a little over dramatic, but that's exactly how many teenagers are, so it was authentic.  Also, it does kind of seem impossible to give up technology.  Just sayin'.

Read-alikes:
Can't think of anything...

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
one or two
mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: *****

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

Book Review: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication date: April 2013
Pages: 400
Source: Library
For: Fun (and for assassin nuns)
Series: His Fair Assassin, Book 2

Summary from goodreads:

When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St. Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons. 

But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for...

Things I Liked:
I wholeheartedly love the setting and the plot of this book.  I love seeing a time and a place that doesn't often make it into historical fiction (or historical fantasy).  It was fun to watch the intrigues and the politics play out.  I was fascinated (and sickened a few times) by the things people did for power then (and I'm sure still do now).  Plus, I love seeing women who had power and could wield it well during a time when most women were simply easy targets or repressed.  Fun, if not light, stuff.

Things I Didn't Like:
This book was definitely quite dark.  Sybella is rather depressing character.  In fact, I found her belief that she is inherently evil, completely unlovable, and totally flawed to be a bit much at times.  It seemed like she often wouldn't even give herself any kind of break.  And yes, this is likely a very real result of the horrors she grew up in.  Still, at the end she does seem to give herself a break.  There were a lot of dark deeds and disturbing details that made the book less enjoyable, though more interesting I suppose.  I'll be interested to read about Annith and kind of hope she might be a bit more cheerful than Sybella was.

Read-alikes:
Start with Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Poison by Sara Poole

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
a few here and there

mrg-factor: XX
mostly obliquely referenced, but some disturbing details

v-factor: ->->->
there is quite a bit of assassinating and killing and what not

Overall rating: ****

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

Book Review: Dodger by Terry Pratchett

Dodger by Terry Pratchett
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: September 2012
Pages: 368
Source: Library
For: Fun (plus, it's kind of a retelling)

Summary from goodreads:

A storm. Rain-lashed city streets. A flash of lightning. A scruffy lad sees a girl leap desperately from a horse-drawn carriage in a vain attempt to escape her captors. Can the lad stand by and let her be caught again? Of course not, because he's...Dodger.

Seventeen-year-old Dodger may be a street urchin, but he gleans a living from London's sewers, and he knows a jewel when he sees one. He's not about to let anything happen to the unknown girl--not even if her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England.

From Dodger's encounter with the mad barber Sweeney Todd to his meetings with the great writer Charles Dickens and the calculating politician Benjamin Disraeli, history and fantasy intertwine in a breathtaking account of adventure and mystery.

Things I Liked:
Once I got into the groove of Pratchett's writing, I was sucked into it.  I love the quirky and compelling stories and characters he's created (or reimagined in some cases).  Pratchett really does have a wit that pops up endlessly on every page.  Every phrase seems perfectly crafted and you can't help but love the characters who get to say those things.  Dodger was so loveable and so completely dense at times that it made him more endearing.  The supporting cast, including Dickens and Solomon, were fantastic as well.  I never fail to come away from a Pratchett novel (not that I've read very many) feeling smarter and entirely entertained.

Things I Didn't Like:
It was a bit hard for me to jump into.  For some reason, it seemed a little more dense than I have been reading lately (which is probably more of a statement about what I've been reading than anything else).  Also, the story does get a bit far-fetched.  But that is part of what makes it so fun to read.

Read-alikes:
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Plus, Pratchett has a bajillion published works

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few here and there

mrg-factor: none
though a few oblique references

v-factor: ->->
a few rather gory or disturbing bits, not described in detail

Overall rating: ****

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

Book Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Requiem by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: March 2013
Pages: 432
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: Delirium, Book 3

Summary from goodreads: *Spoilers are inevitable for the first two books*

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.
Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road.
And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

Things I Liked:
I liked how the ending wasn't exactly neat, tidy, and all wrapped up perfectly.  I liked how things were still ambiguous and how people were still trying to figure out what was right or wrong.  There were some very interesting thoughts about choice and emotions and freedom.  It was nice to see a little more about how when we do have freedom, we tend to still make awful choices, but that freedom is still more important than not having it.  And the story was pretty interesting too - watching Lena interact with old and new friends and what happened to her.  I think Hana, however, was more interesting to me.  I found myself following her story more than Lena's.

Things I Didn't Like:
I am not entirely sure what kept me from really enjoying the book, but I just didn't.  I think at times it felt kind of bland.  Sometimes it seemed to be a little too focused on Lena and which boy she wants.  I wanted to know about the world and the cure and people's opinions on invalids.  Lena's story was just not that interesting to me.  As I mentioned, I was more invested in Hana.  I guess I just have no real reason for not liking it, but I didn't much enjoy the read.

Read-alikes:
Start with Delirium and Pandemonium
Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
some, a handful of f-bombs

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
there is fighting and some domestic violence as well

Overall rating: ***

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

Classic Double Challenge Link-Up for January & February

Sign up for the Classic Double Challenge.

Link up with any reviews/thought posts you've done in January or February!  Hope you are all doing better than I am - I haven't even chosen my book pairs yet :(  Any good suggestions?

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

Book Review: Sabotaged by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Sabotaged by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Publisher: Recorded Books
Publication date: August 2010
Length: 9 hrs
Source: Audiobook from Library
Series: The Missing, Book 3

Summary from goodreads: *spoilers are inevitable for the first two books*

After helping Chip and Alex survive 15th century London, Jonah and Katherine are summoned to help another missing child, Andrea, face her fate. Andrea is really Virginia Dare, from the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Jonah and Katherine are confident in their ability to help Andrea fix history, but when their journey goes dangerously awry, they realize that they may be in over their head. They've landed in the wrong time period. Andrea doesn't seem that interested in leaving the past. And even worse, it appears that someone has deliberately sabotaged their mission...

Things I Liked:
I'm always up for fun time travel adventures that help me learn more about history.  This series is pretty entertaining with a unique premise that keeps you invested in the characters.  I definitely knew next to nothing about the Roanoke colony, so this was really interesting to learn more about.  In fact, I think reading anything about such a strange historical mystery would be interesting.  The ending will definitely leave you dying to know what happens next.  The narrator, Chris Sorensen, was good, but not outstanding.

Things I Didn't Like:
I think that this is one book that reminded me why I am not the target audience for MG reads.  The plot twists were ridiculously obvious and I really, really wanted to smack Jonah for being so slow!  He always took ridiculously long catching on to social cues and what was happening.  Admittedly, this happens often enough that the other characters make mention of it, so it is probably intentional.  But it really annoyed me continually and I couldn't enjoy it much when I was so constantly bothered.  I'll probably keep reading the series, though, just to see what happens next (and what annoying person from history Jonah is).

Read-alikes:
Not much I can think of (sorry, feeling brain dead :)
Start with the first two books, Found and Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
that I recall

mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: -> 
a little bit of fighting

Overall rating: *** 

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

Book Review: The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer

The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date: September 2013
Pages: 432
Source: e-book from Edelweiss
For: Review
Series: Sequel to House of the Scorpion

Summary from goodreads:

The new book continues the story of Matt, the boy who was cloned from evil drug lord El Patrón in The House of the Scorpion. Now 14 years old, Matt rules his own country, the Land of Opium, the only thriving place in a world ravaged by ecological disaster. Though he knows that the cure for ending the suffering is hidden in Opium, Matt faces obstacles and enemies at every turn when he tries to use his power to help.

Things I Liked:
I have to admit I had really high expectations on this one, as I adored House of the Scorpion.  While it still had a lot of the same stuff that was so good about the first: the medical ethics of clones and eejits (implanted with brain chips), the corrupt and difficult world of drug trafficking, etc.  I found it to be a LOT slower and a lot less exciting than the first.  It wasn't that I didn't find it interesting, because it was.  I loved Matt discovering what else was going on in his world and what other things El Patron had hidden away.  There was a lot for him to find out.  I enjoyed seeing a more complete picture of Opium as well.  The end did pick up quite a bit and things began to be more exciting, but then I found some of the resolution to be a bit disappointing.

Things I Didn't Like:
As I mentioned, it moved along at a very slow pace, story wise.  It seemed like nothing ever really happened, except Matt would tour his new lands and see lots of new things he didn't know about.  There was some careful plotting involved in seeing all those things, but not enough to make this a quick read.  It took me a long time to finish.  The ending, as I said, picked up quite a bit and things began to get more intense.  But, the ultimate resolution to one of the biggest things Matt faced was so quick, easy, and complete that I couldn't believe it just happened.  It felt like a big cop-out.  Things ended really neatly as well and seemed a little bit too happy for the place/time Farmer had created.  I don't know, I felt a bit cheated.  Still, overall, I enjoyed seeing what happened after the events in House of the Scorpion, but I think I expected a bit too much.

Read-alikes:
Definitely start with House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
a few

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
definitely some fighting and other difficult/abusive things discussed

Overall rating:***.5

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

Book Review: The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
Publisher: Listening Library
Publication date: January 2012
Length: 7 hrs, 56 min
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun

Summary from goodreads:

“We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful” is the motto of Deza Malone’s family.

Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But the Great Depression hit Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother Jimmie go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. Jimmie’s beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, while Deza and Mother find a new home, and cling to the hope that they will find Father.

The twists and turns of their story reveal the devastation of the Depression and prove that Deza truly is the Mighty Miss Malone.

Things I Liked:
Oh I love it when a book like this steals into your heart.  I read Bud, Not Buddy a looong time ago and loved it, but didn't even remember Deza Malone from that.  Still, I fell for her, hard.  This book tore me apart, feeling happy, sad, and everything in between.  Deza is a girl with fire in her heart and an irrepressable spirit!  I absolutely adored her "second brain" because I think a lot of us feel that way.  So much made this book just so great, not the least of which were the many historical details that painted her life in color.  It was sobering but hopeful.  Just loved it.  The narrator, Bahni Turpin, did such a fabulous job too; I felt like she was spot on for Deza's voice.

Things I Didn't Like:
I don't even know if I can think of something I didn't like about it.  I'm sure there are flaws, but I didn't see them.

Read-alikes:
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
A bit like Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: *****

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

Book Review: Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Publisher: Flash Point
Publication date: September 2012
Pages: 272
Source: Library
For: Fun (and Newbery reading)

Summary from goodreads:

In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific race that spanned 3 continents. In Great Britain and the United States, Soviet spies worked their way into the scientific community; in Norway, a commando force slipped behind enemy lines to attack German heavy-water manufacturing; and deep in the desert, one brilliant group of scientists was hidden away at a remote site at Los Alamos. This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb.

Things I Liked:
It's no secret that I don't read a lot of non-fiction.  It's not even that I don't like it, it's more that I have a hard time deciding what will interest me and what won't.  Well, this book had no trouble at all interesting me.  I was fascinated from beginning to end.  It was energetic and it never seemed to drag or get too detailed or boring.  I loved seeing the story from so many different perspectives and it really was interesting to hear about people who wanted to build it, steal it, and find out where their enemies were at in this same process.  Great, great nonfiction.

Things I Didn't Like:
The only thing I wished was that there were more photos/news clippings or something throughout the text.  It definitely could have done with some breaking up of the chapters more with visuals.  There were some at the beginning of each chapter and some at the very end, but seeing them while you're reading about it is my favorite.

Read-alikes:
Not sure if I can think of any...

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few here and there

mrg-factor:none

v-factor:->->
well, the bombs were dropped and it talks about first-hand experiences - not in too much detail though

Overall rating: *****

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

Book Review: Fragments by Dan Wells

Fragments by Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer+Bray
Publication date: February 2013
Pages: 576
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: Partials, Book 2

Summary from goodreads: *Spoilers are inevitable for the first book, Partials*

Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence—it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what's left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira's journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and Kira and Marcus both will discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn't even know existed.

Things I Liked:
This dystopian sci-fi book is exciting and fairly unique and has plenty of unexpected twists and turns.  I felt like there was a lot going on and I should never get bored.  I loved watching, especially near the end, how much Kira had to reevaluate the things she thought were true.  It was interesting to look at the moral and ethical dilemmas that she and many others in this world have faced.  Choices play a huge role and I thought this was the most fascinating part, despite the acid rain and the talking dogs.  Just a really good story.

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, I got a little tired of the sort-of sameness that went on for much of the book.  It seemed like it dragged on and on while they traveled and traveled and traveled some more.  Maybe my attention span has waned recently, because I just wanted it to be shorter.  Still, I found it fascinating and entertaining and exciting with a lot of things going on all at once.  I'm definitely invested enough to get that next book.

Read-alikes:
Start with Partials by Dan Wells
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
The Passage by Justin Cronin

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
not too many, no f-bombs

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
plenty of fighting, action, and killing - there is a war

Overall rating: ****

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

Classic Double Challenge, 2014: Sign Up!

I'm so excited to bring back the Classic Double Challenge for another year!  Despite my spotty at best blogging of late, I wanted to do this challenge again for any of you looking for motivation to read a retelling or classic.  I love the idea of new retellings bringing love to our old favorites.

By "classics" I'm being very loose in my definition, as this challenge lets you read fairy tales, mythologies, classics, any kind of original story to compare with a retelling. Also "retelling" is pretty loose too - the original and the newer book have to relate in some way that you can define; it doesn't have to be a straight-forward retelling.  Hopefully these definitions allow you the wiggle room needed to find something to fit your fancy.

Here are a few examples:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.  
The first is kind of a "classic" and in the second, the main character loves A Wrinkle in Time and it plays a part in the plot, but this is not a retelling. 
 
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 
The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein series by Kenneth Oppel.
The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein is a prequel series to Frankenstein. 
 
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane by April Lindner.
Jane is a retelling of Jane Eyre, set in a modern day.

So, you can see there are lots of options for you.  If you need some inspiration for retellings, I've compiled a rather extensive list of retellings.  I have another list for fairy tale retellings.  Also, during the Retell Me a Story celebration next month I will be highlighting some newer retellings that have been released or are coming out soon. 

And, of course, there are levels of participation, so you can choose how much or how little you'd like to commit to:

Small: You read 2 related books.

Medium: You read 4 books (2 sets of related books).

Large: You read 6 books (3 sets of related books).

Super Size: You read 8 books (4 sets of related books).

Once you decide on your level of participation, post your pledge on your blog/tumblr/goodreads/in the comments and maybe give us some possibilities of what you want to read (obviously, these aren't set in stone).  When you complete a pair, feel free to write reviews/reactions/comparisons/whathaveyou about the books and I'll have a monthly link up here to share our progress.

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

One Librarian's Holiday Bookish Gift Guide

I've been sitting on the idea of doing a holiday gift guide for book lovers and it's already seven days into December, so I'm just going to throw it out there now.  Hopefully there will be some ideas for you to get for your bookish friends (or to give some subtle hints for you :)

Holiday Bookish Gift Guide
 

These gorgeous posters created from the text of your favorite books will make a beautiful and unique gift.  Spineless Classics is the slightly pricier option, ranging from $50+.  I'm particularly fond of the Alice in Wonderland or The Hobbit, though I also like the Pride and Prejudice poster (of course).  If you are looking for something a little bit more affordable, you might try out Postertext, which has some more affordable prints (though they may not be the full text of the book), around $30.  I like the Wuthering Heights and The Secret Garden prints, though there are a number of other classics available.

For someone who seems to have every book they want, get them a collector's edition of a favorite!  The gorgeous illustrated copies from The Folio Society will make the perfect addition to any bibliophiles collection.  I adore The Dark is Rising, not to mention Anne of Green Gables and if I had unlimited funds, I'd already own The Lord of the Rings set :)

You can pretty much find bookish t-shirts and other clothing items anywhere you want online!  All you have to do is a google search and you will find them (or you can even make them yourself).  These two are just a sample of what's available at Out of Print Clothing, which also has a vast array of jewelry and other accessories, including book totes, mugs, and other goodies.  This Poe-inspired tote from Out of Print Clothing is hilarious!

And to get you drooling even more, check out more bookish related gear available at Café Press (bookish flip flops!) and at Zazzle (obviously love the librarian tee).   

Since jewelry is its own vast bookish mine, here are some ideas for accessorizing with books:

Love this Les Miserables bracelet and also this Jane Eyre brooch from JezebelCharms.

The BookFiend is another good shop with lots and lots of bookish jewelry, including this Lord of the Rings necklace and Harry Potter leather bracelet.  I really love that you can customize some of their jewelry with your favorite quote.  So many ideas!

Also, there's Bookshelves of Doom's etsy shop of postage stamp pendants, including a Harry Potter one and my favorite, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

      Image courtesy of artur84 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

For the book-lover who wishes she had more time to read, offer a subscription to Audible or to Audiobooks.com.  You can download one audiobook a month and enjoy it while doing housework, commuting, or exercising!  This is an awesome affordable gift for the audiobook lovers in your life or as an introduction to the wonderful world of audiobooks!

Anyway, as you can see, there are a number of options (in addition to the always welcome gift of books or a gift certificate to a book store) for the bookish person on your gift list. 

Any great ideas you'd like to add?

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

Book Review: Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson AND Bluebeard

Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson
Publisher: Listening Library
Publication date: March 2013
Length: 12 hrs, 28 min
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: YA Audiobook Challenge

Summary of Strands from goodreads:

The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . .
When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi. 

Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world. 

Glowing strands of romance, mystery, and suspense are woven into this breathtaking debut—a thrilling retelling of the “Bluebeard” fairy tale.

Things I Liked (about both):
I really enjoyed falling into the sort of creepy fairy tale feel of Strands.  Watching Sophia try to figure things out was both frustrating and fascinating.  I was especially creeped out by her tendency to forget what bad things her guardian had done just a little bit before.  It wasn't unbelievable, but rather terrifying.  I was intrigued throughout, especially as I hadn't read Bluebeard before.  I got a hold of two different Bluebeard fairy tales after that.  What a creepy fairy tale!  Definitely one of the more depressing and horrifying fairy tales I've read.  One of the versions sort of glossed over the gory details, but there isn't much you can do to cover up a husband who kills off multiple wives.  The other original telling was quite creepy and Strands could have really drawn on that, but I think fell short.  Strange, fascinating, and disturbing are very good descriptors for this tale.

Things I Didn't Like (about both):
I had some issues with Strands.  I wasn't really fond of the narrator, Caitlin Prennace, though she kind of grew on me (her drawn out s's were annoying).  The book didn't really start to be creepy until the very end, which I thought was a waste of all that building up.  Could have been more suspenseful and scary.  One thing I never would have noticed if I hadn't read Bookshelves of Doom's review is the fact that Sophia didn't talk like someone in that time period would, while the slaves and some others did.  It was jarring, but I probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise.  Overall, I thought it was good, but not outstanding.  Also, Bluebeard is not exactly an endearing fairy tale, what with the murdering of wives and all that.  Glad I got a chance to read an unfamiliar fairy tale, but sometimes I just need one that is a bit happier (ok, I know most of the originals were quite depressing and disturbing, but still).

Read-alikes:
Here's a list of some other really good fairy tale retellings

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS (for Strands):
s-factor: !
a few mild ones

mrg-factor: X
mostly innuendo, though some rather sensual moments

v-factor: ->->
mostly just disturbing, but there is some gore near the end

Overall rating: ***

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

Classic Double Challenge: July-December

I know, it's ridiculous to have the last six months in one post, but I really want to have a place for people to link if they are still reading for the Classic Double Challenge :)

Hopefully you have all been reading so much better than I have.  I did manage to finally finish The Turn of the Screw and I also listened to Strands of Bronze and Gold (though that was AGES ago and I'm just now working on the review) and read a few short versions of the Bluebeard fairy tale (so, so disturbing).

Anybody out there want to see this challenge back next year?  I'm thinking I'd like to do it, but if interest has waned, then I might skip it and just read for my own enjoyment.  How are you all faring with the challenge?

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

Book Review: Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia

Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: December 2009
Pages: 563
Source: Gift
For: Dusty Bookshelf Challenge
Series: Beautiful Creatures, Book 1

Summary from goodreads:

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Things I Liked:
It took me long enough to read this!  It's been on my shelf for ages.  I loved the atmosphere!  I loved the Southern feel and the accents.  The small town Southern gossip and prejudices were pitch perfect (if, perhaps, a bit annoying).  I especially liked the Casters and the mythology (or whatever you want to call it) of their magic system.  I loved how intricately things worked together.  Oh, and Marian has to be my favorite of all the characters - the rockin' librarian.  It was pretty unique and interesting.

Things I Didn't Like:
I think my biggest complaint was that it was just too long.  I guess my attention span is getting shorter, because I kept waiting for stuff to happen and waiting and waiting.  It took too long to get there and I got bored a number of times during the story.  Also, I never particularly cared for Ethan.  He didn't feel quite complete to me and thus I never connected to him.  Lena a little more so, but still not enough for me to feel really invested in their future.  I'll likely listen to the next books on audio, but I feel no burning desire to know more.

Read-alikes:
Felt a bit like Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
here and there, not too many

mrg-factor: X
mostly some sensuality

v-factor: ->
a little bit, nothing too gory

Overall rating: ***

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