When Dreams End
1 year ago
Friday, December 31, 2010
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Sunday, June 27, 2010
Murder of a Small-Town Honey
by Denise Swanson
(Yeah, so I've gotten too lazy to actually write reviews, but this book totally sucked.)
(Yeah, so I've gotten too lazy to actually write reviews, but this book totally sucked.)
Monday, June 14, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Waiting for Normal
By Leslie Connor
Finally, a good book! I’d kind of lost my reading mojo with all of these thoroughly mediocre books, but this book was really, really good. It even made me cry. And while those Foundation for a Better Life commercials can make me tear up no matter how many times I’ve seen them, books don’t usually get me all weepy, so that’s saying a lot. Waiting for Normal is about a girl who lives with her bipolar mother, wishing she could live with her former stepfather and half-sisters, waiting for a normal life. It’s a young adult book, but it’s not just for kids. Go read it.
Finally, a good book! I’d kind of lost my reading mojo with all of these thoroughly mediocre books, but this book was really, really good. It even made me cry. And while those Foundation for a Better Life commercials can make me tear up no matter how many times I’ve seen them, books don’t usually get me all weepy, so that’s saying a lot. Waiting for Normal is about a girl who lives with her bipolar mother, wishing she could live with her former stepfather and half-sisters, waiting for a normal life. It’s a young adult book, but it’s not just for kids. Go read it.
Killer Wedding
By Jerrilyn Farmer
This is the third in a mystery series of which I haven’t read the first two books. That never bothers me though. This was a pretty good mystery book. I liked the characters and the plot was decent enough. However, I had the following criticisms. First, the detective character (Madeline Bean) is a caterer, but the book contains no recipes. Now I know mystery books with recipes are a dime a dozen, but I still think if you’re going to describe food in detail, you need to give a girl a recipe. Second, Madeline has no real flaws. Every detective in a mystery book needs some sort of flaw—they should be chubby, or addicted to caffeine, or afraid of commitment. Madeline is darn near perfect, and that’s annoying. I would read more from this series if they came my way (thanks, Mom), but I wouldn’t go out of my way to seek them out.
This is the third in a mystery series of which I haven’t read the first two books. That never bothers me though. This was a pretty good mystery book. I liked the characters and the plot was decent enough. However, I had the following criticisms. First, the detective character (Madeline Bean) is a caterer, but the book contains no recipes. Now I know mystery books with recipes are a dime a dozen, but I still think if you’re going to describe food in detail, you need to give a girl a recipe. Second, Madeline has no real flaws. Every detective in a mystery book needs some sort of flaw—they should be chubby, or addicted to caffeine, or afraid of commitment. Madeline is darn near perfect, and that’s annoying. I would read more from this series if they came my way (thanks, Mom), but I wouldn’t go out of my way to seek them out.
Sweet 15
By Emily Adler and Alex Echevarria
There’s nothing objectionable about this book, told from the perspective of a Puerto-Rican American girl caught between her parents’ desire for her to have a traditional quinceanera (Sweet 15), her sister’s belief that such ceremonies are sexist and degrading, and her friends’ lack of understanding of her cultural traditions. But it’s kind of a boring, predictable book. I had to make myself keep reading it.
There’s nothing objectionable about this book, told from the perspective of a Puerto-Rican American girl caught between her parents’ desire for her to have a traditional quinceanera (Sweet 15), her sister’s belief that such ceremonies are sexist and degrading, and her friends’ lack of understanding of her cultural traditions. But it’s kind of a boring, predictable book. I had to make myself keep reading it.
Witches and Wizards
By James Patterson
Witches and Wizards is proof that not everyone can write young adult fiction. I generally enjoy James Patterson (except when he tries to write from a female perspective…it doesn’t work and has that narrator describing her breasts ick factor), but this book was just flat. It was a Harry Potter/Twilight knock-off that wasn’t anything but a knock-off. I set it down when I was almost done with it and had no desire to finish it. When I finally returned to it weeks later, I discovered that the ending had absolutely no resolution, just a lead-in to another book. Very disappointing.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving-- and Not Lose Your Job, Family, or Sanity
by Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell
I will never run marathons like the authors of Run Like a Mother, but I still really enjoyed the book. (I'm perfectly willing to read books about things I'll never do if they're well written. For example, I enjoy reading about organizing one's home and clipping coupons even though I have no interest in actually doing either.) The writing in Run Like a Mother is funny and compelling. There's lots of practical advice. I wanted to keep reading. One criticism: some of the cultural references in the book (music and clothing advice, for example) will become dated pretty quickly. But this is a book I will probably go back and read at least sections of again, which means I found it pretty darn useful.
I will never run marathons like the authors of Run Like a Mother, but I still really enjoyed the book. (I'm perfectly willing to read books about things I'll never do if they're well written. For example, I enjoy reading about organizing one's home and clipping coupons even though I have no interest in actually doing either.) The writing in Run Like a Mother is funny and compelling. There's lots of practical advice. I wanted to keep reading. One criticism: some of the cultural references in the book (music and clothing advice, for example) will become dated pretty quickly. But this is a book I will probably go back and read at least sections of again, which means I found it pretty darn useful.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Schooled
by Gordon Korman
I have loved, loved, loved Gordon Korman since I was in middle school. He's written so many books I haven't been able to keep up with all of them. I really liked Schooled. It's about a hippie boy who was raised alone by his grandmother on what's left of a commune but is thrown into the real world when she breaks her hip and is hospitalized for six weeks. This book has the humor of most of Korman's books. I really liked it.
I have loved, loved, loved Gordon Korman since I was in middle school. He's written so many books I haven't been able to keep up with all of them. I really liked Schooled. It's about a hippie boy who was raised alone by his grandmother on what's left of a commune but is thrown into the real world when she breaks her hip and is hospitalized for six weeks. This book has the humor of most of Korman's books. I really liked it.
My Life As a Rhombus
by Varian Johnson
Very few men can successfully write from a female perspective, and unfortunately, Varian Johnson is not one of them. As a result, My Life as a Rhombus isn't that great of a book. It's about a high school girl who had an abortion as a freshmen and now, as a senior, is helping a new friend deal with an unplanned pregnancy. I just didn't find the narrator compelling or realistic. The writing was flat and awkward. I could see some high school kids enjoying the book because of its topic, but the writing is weak.
Very few men can successfully write from a female perspective, and unfortunately, Varian Johnson is not one of them. As a result, My Life as a Rhombus isn't that great of a book. It's about a high school girl who had an abortion as a freshmen and now, as a senior, is helping a new friend deal with an unplanned pregnancy. I just didn't find the narrator compelling or realistic. The writing was flat and awkward. I could see some high school kids enjoying the book because of its topic, but the writing is weak.
Swimming
by Nicola Keegan
Swimming, about a Kansas girl who becomes an Olympic swimmer, has gotten lots of good reviews, but I didn't care for it at all. I had to force myself to finish it. Maybe I'm just not literary enough for this book, but I really didn't think it excelled as either a literary novel or a popular one. One thing that annoyed me was that part of it was set in Kansas, but I'm not sure the author has ever stepped foot in the state. I also just didn't like the narrator. At. All. And I know sometimes that can be part of the strength of the novel, but it just didn't work for me.
Swimming, about a Kansas girl who becomes an Olympic swimmer, has gotten lots of good reviews, but I didn't care for it at all. I had to force myself to finish it. Maybe I'm just not literary enough for this book, but I really didn't think it excelled as either a literary novel or a popular one. One thing that annoyed me was that part of it was set in Kansas, but I'm not sure the author has ever stepped foot in the state. I also just didn't like the narrator. At. All. And I know sometimes that can be part of the strength of the novel, but it just didn't work for me.
House Rules
by Jodi Picoult
I didn't care for Handle with Care, but Jodi Picoult redeemed herself with House Rules. It's about a boy with Asperger's Syndrome who's accused of murdering his tutor, and of course, it isn't clear until the end whether or not he did it. A lot of literary types poke fun at authors like Picoult, but I think she generally does a good job exploring the complexities of human emotion. Or maybe I'm just low-brow.
I didn't care for Handle with Care, but Jodi Picoult redeemed herself with House Rules. It's about a boy with Asperger's Syndrome who's accused of murdering his tutor, and of course, it isn't clear until the end whether or not he did it. A lot of literary types poke fun at authors like Picoult, but I think she generally does a good job exploring the complexities of human emotion. Or maybe I'm just low-brow.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Apple Turnover Murder
by Joanne Fluke
I admit it. I love cozy mysteries. Especially food mysteries. With recipes. I have secret fantasies of someday writing cozy mysteries set in Satanta. I know these books have absolutely no literary merit. And I can't even use the excuse that I'm reading them so I can recommend books to my kids at school. But I love them all the same.
I like Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson series (not as much as I like Dianne Mott Davidson, but still....), and Apple Turnover Murder doesn't disappoint. Sure, I started figuring things out pretty early, but that just makes me feel smart. The recipes aren't particularly ground-breaking, but that just makes me feel cosmopolitan. And there are enough unraveled threads at the end to make me want to read the next book.
I admit it. I love cozy mysteries. Especially food mysteries. With recipes. I have secret fantasies of someday writing cozy mysteries set in Satanta. I know these books have absolutely no literary merit. And I can't even use the excuse that I'm reading them so I can recommend books to my kids at school. But I love them all the same.
I like Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson series (not as much as I like Dianne Mott Davidson, but still....), and Apple Turnover Murder doesn't disappoint. Sure, I started figuring things out pretty early, but that just makes me feel smart. The recipes aren't particularly ground-breaking, but that just makes me feel cosmopolitan. And there are enough unraveled threads at the end to make me want to read the next book.
Jump the Cracks
by Stacy DeKeyser
I'm glad Ryan picked up this book for me because I think some of our junior high and high school kids might read it, but it's a YA book that's really only good for kids. It doesn't have a lot of substance to it. It's about a girl who accidentally kidnaps a little boy (with the best of intentions). I read it on the way back from Rolla, so it's a quick read. I think kids will like it, but it won't really stick with me as an adult reader the way some YA books do.
I'm glad Ryan picked up this book for me because I think some of our junior high and high school kids might read it, but it's a YA book that's really only good for kids. It doesn't have a lot of substance to it. It's about a girl who accidentally kidnaps a little boy (with the best of intentions). I read it on the way back from Rolla, so it's a quick read. I think kids will like it, but it won't really stick with me as an adult reader the way some YA books do.
Also Known As Harper
by Ann Haywood Leal
This a YA book about a girl who's named after Harper Lee. I plan to get my own copy in the hopes that some of my freshmen might read the book after they finish To Kill a Mockingbird. (I'm optimistic that way.) The book is really sad and depressing. But it's well written and filled with literary allusions, so I liked it.
This a YA book about a girl who's named after Harper Lee. I plan to get my own copy in the hopes that some of my freshmen might read the book after they finish To Kill a Mockingbird. (I'm optimistic that way.) The book is really sad and depressing. But it's well written and filled with literary allusions, so I liked it.
Galloway's 5K/10K Running
by Jeff Galloway
I picked this book up in KC because I was about to finish the Couch to 5K program and needed to know what to do next. The book is very informative and has many training plans (although not one that suits my needs right now). I learned a lot from the book, and Jeff Galloway seems like a good guy. But there were some problems with sentence construction that irked me, and the organization could have been stronger. I had to flip all over the place to figure out what different terms meant, and I think that could have been avoided. But I'm still glad I have the book.
I picked this book up in KC because I was about to finish the Couch to 5K program and needed to know what to do next. The book is very informative and has many training plans (although not one that suits my needs right now). I learned a lot from the book, and Jeff Galloway seems like a good guy. But there were some problems with sentence construction that irked me, and the organization could have been stronger. I had to flip all over the place to figure out what different terms meant, and I think that could have been avoided. But I'm still glad I have the book.
Her Fearful Symmetry
by Audrey Niffenegger
I loved, loved, loved, loved Niffenegger's first novel The Time Traveler's Wife, but Her Fearful Symmetry just didn't compare. It's a totally different book, so maybe it's unfair to compare them. But The Time Traveler's Wife sucked me in. I wanted to live in that book. I couldn't put it down. Even when I reread it, I can't put it down. But even though this book was well-written, I sometimes had trouble picking it back up when I put it down. I just didn't like the characters. And I know I wasn't supposed to, but it made me not always want to read. And the ending was really sad. It was supposed to be sad. The book wasn't terrible or anything, but I just didn't love it the way I had hoped I would.
I loved, loved, loved, loved Niffenegger's first novel The Time Traveler's Wife, but Her Fearful Symmetry just didn't compare. It's a totally different book, so maybe it's unfair to compare them. But The Time Traveler's Wife sucked me in. I wanted to live in that book. I couldn't put it down. Even when I reread it, I can't put it down. But even though this book was well-written, I sometimes had trouble picking it back up when I put it down. I just didn't like the characters. And I know I wasn't supposed to, but it made me not always want to read. And the ending was really sad. It was supposed to be sad. The book wasn't terrible or anything, but I just didn't love it the way I had hoped I would.
Handle With Care
by Jodi Picoult
Usually I really like Jodi Picoult, but I found this book disappointing. It's about a little girl named Willow who's born with brittle bone disease, which causes her to break bones very frequently. When Willow is six, her mom finds out that she can sue her OB for not diagnosing the condition soon enough for to have terminated the pregnancy (even though she wouldn't have done it). The problem is, her OB is (was) her best friend, but of course, the lawsuit ruins the friendship and her marriage.
The problems: the character of the mom really wasn't that sympathetic; Willow was a little too perfect personality wise to be realistic; this bulimia/cutting sub-plot was thrown in in an utterly predictable way; and the ending was a total cop-out and seemed like it was copied from My Sister's Keeper. I wouldn't recommend this book.
Usually I really like Jodi Picoult, but I found this book disappointing. It's about a little girl named Willow who's born with brittle bone disease, which causes her to break bones very frequently. When Willow is six, her mom finds out that she can sue her OB for not diagnosing the condition soon enough for to have terminated the pregnancy (even though she wouldn't have done it). The problem is, her OB is (was) her best friend, but of course, the lawsuit ruins the friendship and her marriage.
The problems: the character of the mom really wasn't that sympathetic; Willow was a little too perfect personality wise to be realistic; this bulimia/cutting sub-plot was thrown in in an utterly predictable way; and the ending was a total cop-out and seemed like it was copied from My Sister's Keeper. I wouldn't recommend this book.
Secrets of Eden
by Chris Bohjalian
I love Chris Bohjalian, and I liked Secrets of Eden (but not quite as well as some of his other books). It tells about a husband-wife murder suicide from the perspectives of the minister who baptized the wife right before she was murdered, the DA prosecuting the case, an author who writes about angels who finds herself drawn to the case, and the daughter of the couple. Bohjalian does nifty things with unreliable narrators. One minor criticism--the DA character seemed kind of flat and uncreative. It seemed like she was a copy of every tough female cop or lawyer on any legal drama. Other than that, a good book.
I love Chris Bohjalian, and I liked Secrets of Eden (but not quite as well as some of his other books). It tells about a husband-wife murder suicide from the perspectives of the minister who baptized the wife right before she was murdered, the DA prosecuting the case, an author who writes about angels who finds herself drawn to the case, and the daughter of the couple. Bohjalian does nifty things with unreliable narrators. One minor criticism--the DA character seemed kind of flat and uncreative. It seemed like she was a copy of every tough female cop or lawyer on any legal drama. Other than that, a good book.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
So Totally Emily Ebers
by Lisa Yee
So Totally Emily Ebers is part of trilogy of books featuring the same three characters, each told from one character's point of view. The books are fun and engaging, and Yee does a good job writing from three very different characters' points of view. A good YA book.
So Totally Emily Ebers is part of trilogy of books featuring the same three characters, each told from one character's point of view. The books are fun and engaging, and Yee does a good job writing from three very different characters' points of view. A good YA book.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Chasing Redbird
by Sharon Creech
Like I said, I love Sharon Creech, but I didn't like Chasing Redbird as well as some of her other books. It was still good, but not as good as Walk Two Moons (which this book makes some references to). This book had the element of mystery that Walk Two Moons has, but I didn't find the characters quite as compelling. It was good, just not as wonderful as some of her other work.
Like I said, I love Sharon Creech, but I didn't like Chasing Redbird as well as some of her other books. It was still good, but not as good as Walk Two Moons (which this book makes some references to). This book had the element of mystery that Walk Two Moons has, but I didn't find the characters quite as compelling. It was good, just not as wonderful as some of her other work.
Replay
by Sharon Creech
I really like Sharon Creech, and Replay is a cute little YA book. It's about an Italian family, and it made me crave Italian food. I could see weaker readers struggling with this book because it alternates between fantasy and reality, but I think only the weakest readers would have trouble with it. It's a good book.
I really like Sharon Creech, and Replay is a cute little YA book. It's about an Italian family, and it made me crave Italian food. I could see weaker readers struggling with this book because it alternates between fantasy and reality, but I think only the weakest readers would have trouble with it. It's a good book.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
by Wendy Mass
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life is a good little YA book. It's about an almost 13-year-old boy whose father died five years earlier. One month before his birthday, he receives a package...a box his father had prepared for him engraved: "the meaning of life: for Jeremy Finch on his 13th birthday." The box requires four keys to be opened, but they have disappeared. So Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy begin a quest to find the keys and discover the meaning of life. Good characters, good plot--it's a good book.
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life is a good little YA book. It's about an almost 13-year-old boy whose father died five years earlier. One month before his birthday, he receives a package...a box his father had prepared for him engraved: "the meaning of life: for Jeremy Finch on his 13th birthday." The box requires four keys to be opened, but they have disappeared. So Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy begin a quest to find the keys and discover the meaning of life. Good characters, good plot--it's a good book.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead
I love this book! When You Reach Me is the story of Miranda, who starts receiving mysterious notes that confuse and frighten. The story is partly about time travel (and pays homage to one of my favorite books, A Wrinkle in Time, and partly about friendship and growing up. (According ton one of the reviews on amazon, it also takes its cues from two of my other favorite books, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and Mom the Wolfman and Me.) It's engaging and well crafted.
I love this book! When You Reach Me is the story of Miranda, who starts receiving mysterious notes that confuse and frighten. The story is partly about time travel (and pays homage to one of my favorite books, A Wrinkle in Time, and partly about friendship and growing up. (According ton one of the reviews on amazon, it also takes its cues from two of my other favorite books, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and Mom the Wolfman and Me.) It's engaging and well crafted.
Someone Like Summer
by ME Kerr
This book sucks. It's about a white girl who falls in love with an undocumented immigrant. The plot is non-existent, the writing is awkward, and the dialogue is stilted and unrealistic. Don't bother with it.
This book sucks. It's about a white girl who falls in love with an undocumented immigrant. The plot is non-existent, the writing is awkward, and the dialogue is stilted and unrealistic. Don't bother with it.
The Mighty Queens of Freeville
by Amy Dickinson
I pre-ordered The Mighty Queens of Freeville last year when I read an excerpt of it in a magazine, and I read it as soon as it came in the mail. I decided to reread it because I needed something to read, and we might use an excerpt of it at church. I love this book. It's super funny, honest, and totally real. You should definitely read it.
I pre-ordered The Mighty Queens of Freeville last year when I read an excerpt of it in a magazine, and I read it as soon as it came in the mail. I decided to reread it because I needed something to read, and we might use an excerpt of it at church. I love this book. It's super funny, honest, and totally real. You should definitely read it.
Does My Head Look Big in This?
by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Does My Head Look Big in This?, which is the last book I'm rereading for my school project, is about an Australian Muslim girl who decides to wear her hijab (head scarf) full time. Here's what I like about the book (and why I decided to use it at school):
Does My Head Look Big in This?, which is the last book I'm rereading for my school project, is about an Australian Muslim girl who decides to wear her hijab (head scarf) full time. Here's what I like about the book (and why I decided to use it at school):
- I think it can help kids (especially kids from this part of the country) see that Muslims are real people. It's not overly religious, but it does give a glimpse into the life of a Muslim teen.
- It has lots of cultural references (Sex in the City, Friends, Starbucks), which I think will help make it more accessible to kids.
- It's an enjoyable read.
- It's unnecessarily long--over 300 pages. Now I have nothing against long books if they need to be long to cover everything, or if they suck you in so that you don't even realize the book is that long, but this book could have been edited.
- Some of the minor characters are pretty one-dimensional.
- Some of the dialogue is awkward.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Bee Season
by Myla Goldberg
Bee Season is another book I've read before, but it's been a long time. I love this book. It's funky yet intimate. And what other book deals with spelling bees, Jewish mysticism, Hari Krishna, family dysfunction, kleptomania, and mental illness?
Bee Season is another book I've read before, but it's been a long time. I love this book. It's funky yet intimate. And what other book deals with spelling bees, Jewish mysticism, Hari Krishna, family dysfunction, kleptomania, and mental illness?
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Water Witches
by Chris Bohjalian
I've read Water Witches several times before, but I never get tired of it. One of the things I love about Chris Bohjalian is that his books are worthy of more than one read. I also love the moral ambiguity of his books; he sets up these opposing groups, but neither group is entirely right or wrong. In this book, the narrator, Scottie, is a lawyer who married into a family of dowsers. His occupation (and identity) as a lobbyist is threatened when he and his daughter see catamounts (mountain lions) on a mountain slated for a new ski path. And of course, neither the ski industry nor the environmentalists have the market cornered on the truth.
I've read Water Witches several times before, but I never get tired of it. One of the things I love about Chris Bohjalian is that his books are worthy of more than one read. I also love the moral ambiguity of his books; he sets up these opposing groups, but neither group is entirely right or wrong. In this book, the narrator, Scottie, is a lawyer who married into a family of dowsers. His occupation (and identity) as a lobbyist is threatened when he and his daughter see catamounts (mountain lions) on a mountain slated for a new ski path. And of course, neither the ski industry nor the environmentalists have the market cornered on the truth.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Walking on Air
by Kelly Easton
Set during the Great Depression, Walking on Air tells the story of June, who performs as a tight-rope walker in her preacher father's traveling revival shows. I enjoyed the book. The characters were well developed, but the ending was a little too happy for my tastes.
Set during the Great Depression, Walking on Air tells the story of June, who performs as a tight-rope walker in her preacher father's traveling revival shows. I enjoyed the book. The characters were well developed, but the ending was a little too happy for my tastes.
Mountain Solo
by Jeanette Ingold
Mountain Solo is told from the perspective of Tess, a violin prodigy who messes up at an important concert and retreats to her father's home in Montana to examine her priorities. Intertwined is the story of a homesteading family whom Tess's archeologist stepmother is studying. This is a good read. I had trouble putting it down. This is one of those books that gives you an idea of what it would be like to be truly talented.
Mountain Solo is told from the perspective of Tess, a violin prodigy who messes up at an important concert and retreats to her father's home in Montana to examine her priorities. Intertwined is the story of a homesteading family whom Tess's archeologist stepmother is studying. This is a good read. I had trouble putting it down. This is one of those books that gives you an idea of what it would be like to be truly talented.
Weedflower
by Cynthia Kadohata
Weedflower is another book I'm rereading for school. It's about a Japanese-American girl placed in an internment camp during WWII. I like this book because it's a good historical book that has doesn't hit the reader over the head with the theme.
Weedflower is another book I'm rereading for school. It's about a Japanese-American girl placed in an internment camp during WWII. I like this book because it's a good historical book that has doesn't hit the reader over the head with the theme.
The Society
by Michael Palmer
I'm not even posting a link to this book on amazon because it is so bad no one should read it, let alone consider buying it. The plot is stupid and completely implausible, the characters are poorly developed, and the theme (managed care is evil) is so unsubtle it's insulting. Stay away.
I'm not even posting a link to this book on amazon because it is so bad no one should read it, let alone consider buying it. The plot is stupid and completely implausible, the characters are poorly developed, and the theme (managed care is evil) is so unsubtle it's insulting. Stay away.
Friday, February 5, 2010
I Feel Bad About My Neck
by Nora Ephron
I read about I Feel Bad About My Neck when it first came out, and I thought it looked interesting, but I never seriously pursued reading it. I really just grabbed it off the shelf at the library on a whim. It's funny, but not as funny as other books I've read this year. I enjoyed reading it, but it's not one of my favorite books or anything. I had a hard time relating to Ephron's New York lifestyle of weekly pedicures, biweekly hair appointments, doormen, etc.
I read about I Feel Bad About My Neck when it first came out, and I thought it looked interesting, but I never seriously pursued reading it. I really just grabbed it off the shelf at the library on a whim. It's funny, but not as funny as other books I've read this year. I enjoyed reading it, but it's not one of my favorite books or anything. I had a hard time relating to Ephron's New York lifestyle of weekly pedicures, biweekly hair appointments, doormen, etc.
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress
by Rhoda Janzen
In Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, Rhoda Janzen tells a story of going home. Janzen was raised Mennonite but pursues a decidedly non-Mennonite career in academia. After her bipolar husband leaves her for a man he meets on Gay.com and a drunk driver hits her car, causing significant injuries, she returns home to regroup and recuperate. The book is seriously funny. Janzen pokes fun at herself and her family but always in a friendly way. I learned a lot about Mennonites, and I laughed out loud.
In Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, Rhoda Janzen tells a story of going home. Janzen was raised Mennonite but pursues a decidedly non-Mennonite career in academia. After her bipolar husband leaves her for a man he meets on Gay.com and a drunk driver hits her car, causing significant injuries, she returns home to regroup and recuperate. The book is seriously funny. Janzen pokes fun at herself and her family but always in a friendly way. I learned a lot about Mennonites, and I laughed out loud.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Marley & Me
by John Grogan
After reading The Longest Trip Home, I decided to pick up Marley & Me. This is a great book. It's a fun and funny read, sad at the end, but not overwhelmingly so. Now I want to see the movie.
After reading The Longest Trip Home, I decided to pick up Marley & Me. This is a great book. It's a fun and funny read, sad at the end, but not overwhelmingly so. Now I want to see the movie.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Bloodstream
by Tess Gerritsen
I like Tess Gerritsen and enjoyed Bloodstream. The book is about a doctor who moves to a small town in Maine that experiences an outbreak of violence. She learns that something similar happened 52 years earlier and sets out to find the cause. The ending was a little abrupt. It seemed to wrap up a little too quickly. But the characters were well developed and the plot moved a lot quite nicely. A good suspense book.
I like Tess Gerritsen and enjoyed Bloodstream. The book is about a doctor who moves to a small town in Maine that experiences an outbreak of violence. She learns that something similar happened 52 years earlier and sets out to find the cause. The ending was a little abrupt. It seemed to wrap up a little too quickly. But the characters were well developed and the plot moved a lot quite nicely. A good suspense book.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is another book I'm rereading for school. I read it at the beginning of the school year and fell in love with it. In fact, this book is the reason I decided to expand my literature circles project. As soon as I read it, I knew I had to teach it somehow. But I also knew it wouldn't appeal to everyone, so literature circles are the answer. The book is told by Arnold (Junior) Spirit who decides (after he is given the same math book his mother used) to go to school at a white school 20 miles away instead of on the reservation. Here's what I love about the book.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is another book I'm rereading for school. I read it at the beginning of the school year and fell in love with it. In fact, this book is the reason I decided to expand my literature circles project. As soon as I read it, I knew I had to teach it somehow. But I also knew it wouldn't appeal to everyone, so literature circles are the answer. The book is told by Arnold (Junior) Spirit who decides (after he is given the same math book his mother used) to go to school at a white school 20 miles away instead of on the reservation. Here's what I love about the book.
- It is absolutely hilarious. Laugh out loud while you're reading silently in class so that all your kids stare at you hilarious.
- It's illustrated.
- It is completely irreverent. (And occasionally inappropriate.) Arnold makes fun of himself, his friends, his family, Indians, white folk, everyone.
- It provides great commentary on race relations.
- It's heart-warming (in an irreverent way).
- It doesn't take itself too seriously.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Longest Trip Home
by John Grogan
The Longest Trip Home is a memoir written by John Grogan, the author of Marley & Me. I haven't read or seen Marley & Me, but after reading Grogan's memoir, I want to. I actually heard bits and pieces of The Longest Trip Home when it was on Radio Reader; I enjoyed reading the book much more than I did listening to it. No surprise there, though. I'm not a huge fan of Radio Reader or audio books.
The Longest Trip Home tells about Grogan's childhood growing up in a fervently Catholic family in the 1960s, his drifting away from the church, the distance he felt from his parents when he married a non-Catholic, and (as the title suggests), their eventual reconciliation. The book is laugh-out-loud funny but poignant (I got teary-eyed at the end.) It's a good read.
The Longest Trip Home is a memoir written by John Grogan, the author of Marley & Me. I haven't read or seen Marley & Me, but after reading Grogan's memoir, I want to. I actually heard bits and pieces of The Longest Trip Home when it was on Radio Reader; I enjoyed reading the book much more than I did listening to it. No surprise there, though. I'm not a huge fan of Radio Reader or audio books.
The Longest Trip Home tells about Grogan's childhood growing up in a fervently Catholic family in the 1960s, his drifting away from the church, the distance he felt from his parents when he married a non-Catholic, and (as the title suggests), their eventual reconciliation. The book is laugh-out-loud funny but poignant (I got teary-eyed at the end.) It's a good read.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Stotan!
by Chris Crutcher
This is not the first time I've read Stotan! I'm using it for the first time this year in my classroom, so I reread it so I can write a test, create projects, blah, blah, blah. When I decided to use Stotan! with some of my juniors, I was just thinking that it's a good boy book, Chris Crutcher is an awesome writer, I've always wanted to use a Chris Crutcher book with my kids, and this seemed like a good enough time. (I got to meet Crutcher once at the FHSU Fall English Workshop, and he's not only an incredible writer, he's also a really cool guy.) After rereading Stotan!, I'm glad I picked it. It contains more social commentary than I remembered it did, which is really good for the projects the kids will do. Here's what I like about it:
Anyway, I liked Stotan! the first time I read it, and I still like it today. I hope my kiddos like it, too.
This is not the first time I've read Stotan! I'm using it for the first time this year in my classroom, so I reread it so I can write a test, create projects, blah, blah, blah. When I decided to use Stotan! with some of my juniors, I was just thinking that it's a good boy book, Chris Crutcher is an awesome writer, I've always wanted to use a Chris Crutcher book with my kids, and this seemed like a good enough time. (I got to meet Crutcher once at the FHSU Fall English Workshop, and he's not only an incredible writer, he's also a really cool guy.) After rereading Stotan!, I'm glad I picked it. It contains more social commentary than I remembered it did, which is really good for the projects the kids will do. Here's what I like about it:
- It's a sports book that's not dumb. It makes me wish I were athletic. It makes me wish I were disciplined.
- The characters are interesting. If they were real, I probably wouldn't want to hang with all of them, but this book lets me see where they're coming from. I like that in a book.
- There's closure at the ending but still room for the characters to grow.
- It's a good read. Chris Crutcher books are always hard to put down.
Anyway, I liked Stotan! the first time I read it, and I still like it today. I hope my kiddos like it, too.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Noah's Compass
by Anne Tyler
I am a huge Anne Tyler fan. She is one of my absolute favorite authors. I love how she writes about the mundane things of life. She develops such real, such flawed, such utterly un-spectacular (is that a word?) characters. Reading her books is like stepping into someone else's life for a few hours.
Noah's Compass, her latest book, doesn't disappoint. It's about a 60 year old 5th grade teacher who gets downsized out of the job he stumbled into after never finishing his dissertation in philosophy. He moves into a new apartment to save money. He goes to bed the first night in his new apartment and wakes up in the hospital, having been attacked. He remembers nothing about the attack, which he finds troubling, despite everyone's assurances that it's for the best.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but it wasn't one of my favorite Anne Tyler books. Digging to America, Saint Maybe, and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant spoke to me a little more.
I am a huge Anne Tyler fan. She is one of my absolute favorite authors. I love how she writes about the mundane things of life. She develops such real, such flawed, such utterly un-spectacular (is that a word?) characters. Reading her books is like stepping into someone else's life for a few hours.
Noah's Compass, her latest book, doesn't disappoint. It's about a 60 year old 5th grade teacher who gets downsized out of the job he stumbled into after never finishing his dissertation in philosophy. He moves into a new apartment to save money. He goes to bed the first night in his new apartment and wakes up in the hospital, having been attacked. He remembers nothing about the attack, which he finds troubling, despite everyone's assurances that it's for the best.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but it wasn't one of my favorite Anne Tyler books. Digging to America, Saint Maybe, and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant spoke to me a little more.
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney
by Suzanne Harper
I picked up The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney from our school library, and I think it is my favorite book of 2010 so far. I guess I like young adult lit better than stuff written for grown-ups. Anyway, the book is told from the perspective of Sparrow Delaney, the 7th daughter of a 7th daughter in a family of psychics. She is expected to have tremendous psychic powers...which she does, but she keeps a secret, even from her family (hence the title), because she wants a "normal" life that does not involve seeing dead people. Of course, this all changes when she meets a new boy and a new ghost.
The characters are engaging, well developed, and compelling. The plot is suspenseful and well constructed. It's quirky yet poignant. And best of all, it takes the reader (or at least it took me) into an another world for at least a few hours. Go read it.
I picked up The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney from our school library, and I think it is my favorite book of 2010 so far. I guess I like young adult lit better than stuff written for grown-ups. Anyway, the book is told from the perspective of Sparrow Delaney, the 7th daughter of a 7th daughter in a family of psychics. She is expected to have tremendous psychic powers...which she does, but she keeps a secret, even from her family (hence the title), because she wants a "normal" life that does not involve seeing dead people. Of course, this all changes when she meets a new boy and a new ghost.
The characters are engaging, well developed, and compelling. The plot is suspenseful and well constructed. It's quirky yet poignant. And best of all, it takes the reader (or at least it took me) into an another world for at least a few hours. Go read it.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
All Things at Once
by Mika Brzezinski
I'm a big fan of Mika Brzezinski on MSNBC's Morning Joe, so I ordered her biography All Things at Once as soon as it was released. It was a quick read, and I learned quite a bit about the politics of network news.
I'd have to give this book a mixed review. Some sections were pretty strong while others didn't hold my interest as well. I felt like the kind of snarky voice Mika sometimes has on Morning Joe was missing from the book. Maybe I've been corrupted by the spunkiness of the young adult lit and blogs I read, but the writing felt kind of flat and impersonal. She was incredibly honest and up front about her career (even the painful and embarrassing moments), but the writing about her personal life seemed a little distant.
I am a stickler for organization, and this book was a little disappointing on that end. A few anecdotes seemed out of place; she skipped around in the chronology of events in a way that I felt was unnecessary and awkward. It seemed as if the book was maybe thrown together a little too quickly. It was a good read, and it was interesting, but I expected something with more pizazz.
I'm a big fan of Mika Brzezinski on MSNBC's Morning Joe, so I ordered her biography All Things at Once as soon as it was released. It was a quick read, and I learned quite a bit about the politics of network news.
I'd have to give this book a mixed review. Some sections were pretty strong while others didn't hold my interest as well. I felt like the kind of snarky voice Mika sometimes has on Morning Joe was missing from the book. Maybe I've been corrupted by the spunkiness of the young adult lit and blogs I read, but the writing felt kind of flat and impersonal. She was incredibly honest and up front about her career (even the painful and embarrassing moments), but the writing about her personal life seemed a little distant.
I am a stickler for organization, and this book was a little disappointing on that end. A few anecdotes seemed out of place; she skipped around in the chronology of events in a way that I felt was unnecessary and awkward. It seemed as if the book was maybe thrown together a little too quickly. It was a good read, and it was interesting, but I expected something with more pizazz.
Looks
by Madeline George
Looks (the story of a fat girl and anorexic girl, both school outcasts, who team up to bring down the "perfect girl") had a lot of potential, but was ultimately disappointing. The characters were interesting but not fully developed and the ending left a lot of questions unanswered. There was really no sense of resolution. It seemed like the author lost control of the narrative, realized she'd written about 200 pages, and just stopped writing when the story was just beginning.
Looks (the story of a fat girl and anorexic girl, both school outcasts, who team up to bring down the "perfect girl") had a lot of potential, but was ultimately disappointing. The characters were interesting but not fully developed and the ending left a lot of questions unanswered. There was really no sense of resolution. It seemed like the author lost control of the narrative, realized she'd written about 200 pages, and just stopped writing when the story was just beginning.
In the Woods
by Robin Stevenson
In the Woods, the story of a boy who finds a newborn abandoned in the woods, is really more of a novella than a novel. It's a quick read (it took me about 25 minutes), and it's interesting, but there's very little character development. The characters are essentially just stereotypes. I think kids might enjoy it because it's so short and because the topic is engaging, but it's not particularly memorable.
In the Woods, the story of a boy who finds a newborn abandoned in the woods, is really more of a novella than a novel. It's a quick read (it took me about 25 minutes), and it's interesting, but there's very little character development. The characters are essentially just stereotypes. I think kids might enjoy it because it's so short and because the topic is engaging, but it's not particularly memorable.
A Little Friendly Advice
by Siobhan Vivian
I read Siobhan Vivian's novel Same Difference last semester and absolutely loved it, so when our school got A Little Friendly Advice, I checked it out immediately. A Little Friendly Advice is about a girl whose long-absent father shows up unexpectedly on her birthday. Her friends and new love interest all offer different advice on dealing with the situation, and she winds up uncovering the secret behind her parent's divorce.
This book had appealing characters, but it seemed a little immature in terms of the writing. Some of the dialogue was artificial, and I didn't think the characters' motives were developed as well as they could have been. It was an okay book, but not as good as Same Difference.
I read Siobhan Vivian's novel Same Difference last semester and absolutely loved it, so when our school got A Little Friendly Advice, I checked it out immediately. A Little Friendly Advice is about a girl whose long-absent father shows up unexpectedly on her birthday. Her friends and new love interest all offer different advice on dealing with the situation, and she winds up uncovering the secret behind her parent's divorce.
This book had appealing characters, but it seemed a little immature in terms of the writing. Some of the dialogue was artificial, and I didn't think the characters' motives were developed as well as they could have been. It was an okay book, but not as good as Same Difference.
I Love You, Beth Cooper
by Larry Doyle
I bought I Love You, Beth Cooper in a bookstore in Berkeley when we were on vacation in 2008, but I never could get into it. I realized this fall that it had been made into a movie and kept meaning to pick it back up, but I never got around to it until this Christmas break.
This book is absolutely hilarious and was totally meant to be made into a movie. It's about a nerdy boy who professes his love of a beautiful cheerleader in his high school valedictory address, and then winds up spending a wild evening with her, trying to escape from her jealous, homicidal boyfriend. There's no deep meaning here, but it's a fun romp.
I bought I Love You, Beth Cooper in a bookstore in Berkeley when we were on vacation in 2008, but I never could get into it. I realized this fall that it had been made into a movie and kept meaning to pick it back up, but I never got around to it until this Christmas break.
This book is absolutely hilarious and was totally meant to be made into a movie. It's about a nerdy boy who professes his love of a beautiful cheerleader in his high school valedictory address, and then winds up spending a wild evening with her, trying to escape from her jealous, homicidal boyfriend. There's no deep meaning here, but it's a fun romp.
The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao
by Junot Diaz
I ordered The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao (which won a Pulitzer in 09) last fall after hearing an interview with the author on NPR. When I got the book and realized it contained things like footnotes (a lot of them), I decided it was far too deep for my sleep-deprived mommy to a newborn brain. I set the book aside until I was looking for something to read this past Christmas break.
I love the voice of this book, which is about a fat, nerdy Dominican boy living in New Jersey. There are a lot of Dominican Spanish phrases sprinkled liberally throughout the book, which I think kept me from getting everything out of the book. (I know, I could have looked them up...but that was too much work for me.) Even so, the book is both touching and funny, and I learned quite a bit about the history of the Dominican Republic.
I ordered The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao (which won a Pulitzer in 09) last fall after hearing an interview with the author on NPR. When I got the book and realized it contained things like footnotes (a lot of them), I decided it was far too deep for my sleep-deprived mommy to a newborn brain. I set the book aside until I was looking for something to read this past Christmas break.
I love the voice of this book, which is about a fat, nerdy Dominican boy living in New Jersey. There are a lot of Dominican Spanish phrases sprinkled liberally throughout the book, which I think kept me from getting everything out of the book. (I know, I could have looked them up...but that was too much work for me.) Even so, the book is both touching and funny, and I learned quite a bit about the history of the Dominican Republic.
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