Monday, December 30, 2013

I'll Be There

I'll Be There
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance

Synopsis:  Sam Border wishes he could escape.  Raised by an unstable father, he's spent his life moving from place to place.  But he could never abandon his little brother, Riddle.

Riddle Border doesn't talk much.  Instead, he draws pictures of the insides of things and waits for the day when the outsides of things will make sense.  He worships his older brother.  But how can they leave when there's nowhere to go?  Then everything changes.  Because Sam meets Emily.

Emily Bell believes in destiny.  She sings for her church choir, though she doesn't have a particularly good voice.  Nothing, she feels, is mere coincidence.  And she's singing at the moment she first sees Sam.

Everyone whose path you cross in life has the power to change you-sometimes in small ways, and sometimes in ways greater than you could have know.  Beautifully written and emotionally profound, Holly Goldberg Sloan's debut novel explores the idea of human connection.
From the book jecket

Review:   This was an intriguing story of Sam and his brother, Riddle, who are basically homeless and forced to fend for themselves, and Emily who falls for Sam quite quickly.  If you want to break this story down the basics, It's basically a love triangle story with drama and adventure thrown in.  But it is more than that as well.  It's heart wrenching to read about Sam and Riddle and the way their dad treats them and how they live.  But the story gives you hope when Sam and Emily fall for each other and Emily's family meets Sam and his brother.  You want everything to work out but then comes Sam and Riddle's father who is unstable to say the least.  I devoured this book (after getting through the first few pages which did not grab me) and could hardly put the book down.

Rating: 4 stars

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Left

Left
by Tamar Ossowski


Genre: Fiction

Synopsis:  Therese Wolley made a promise.  She works as a secretary, shops for groceries on Saturdays, and takes care of her two girls.  She doesn't dwell on the fact that her girls are fatherless, mostly because her own father abandoned her before she was born, and she has done just fine without him.

Even though her older daughter regularly wakes with nightmares and her younger one whispers letters under her breath, she doesn't shift from her resolve that everything will be fine.  She promises...and they believe.

Until the morning an obituary in the newspaper changes everything.  Therese immediately knows what she has to do.  She cannot delay what she has planned, and she cannot find the words to explain her heartbreaking decisions to her daughters.  She considers her responsibilities, her girls, and a promise she made years ago.  Then she does the only thing that any real mother would do.  She goes on the run with one daughter...and abandons the other.

Left is told from the perspective of Franny, the autistic sister who is left behind; Matilda, the troubled older sister who vows to go back and save her; and Therese, a mother on the run.
From the book jacket

Review:  First of all this synopsis is not accurate. Therese is not on the run.  She's not hiding from anything or anyone.  If she was hiding or running for someone, that is what I consider on the run.  Therese just decides to follow her heart.  Since I didn't know these things before reading the book I kept waiting to find out why she was on the run because it sure didn't seem like she was on the run.  I was left quite confused as a I was reading.  I was also waiting for the answers to all the secrets in the book and you don't find them out until about 15 pages from the end.  The author kept dropping very vague hints and foreshadowing moments but nothing was concrete enough to let me figure out what was going it.  It kind of drove me crazy as I really dislike knowing something is happening but not knowing what it is.  I was really intrigued with this book but after reading it all, I just got to thinking about how selfish Therese was and how she did not have the best interest of her daughters in mind- she just had her own interests in mind and I really didn't understand where Leah was coming from at all. There were just so many parts of this book that left me confused and parts that were quite strange that made me rate this a 3 stars.

Rating: 3 stars

Thursday, December 26, 2013

And the Mountains Echoed

And the Mountains Echoed
by Khaled Hosseini


Genre: Fiction

Synopsis:  Khaled Hosseini, the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations. 

In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most. 

Following its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe—from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinos—the story expands gradually outward, becoming more emotionally complex and powerful with each turning page.
From GoodReads

Review:  There is no doubt that Hosseini is a talented writer.  This book had such minimal plot but yet it was captivating and had beautifully developed characters.  This book is the story of a family with side stories of other people who have interacted with members of the family.  Some of the side stories could have been left out as I felt like they detracted from the main family's story.  I couldn't wait to find out more abut the characters in the story that I wasn't missing a storyline.   There are parts of this story that are sad (my number one complaint with The Kite Runner was that the book was way too depressing) but not too much so that you didn't want to keep reading.  I enjoyed reading this book.

Rating: 4 stars

Monday, December 23, 2013

The Whole Golden World

The Whole Golden World
Kristina Riggle

The Whole Golden World

Genre: Fiction

Summary (from Goodreads):  An astonishing novel from the acclaimed author of Keepsake that pushes the boundaries of storytelling. At turns shocking, provocative, and heart-wrenching, and inspired by a true story The Whole Golden World forces us to ask the question "How well do we really know our children?"

To the outside Dinah and Joe have a perfect family-three lovely children, a beautiful home, and a café that's finally taking off. But their world is rocked when it's discovered that their oldest daughter, 17-year-old Morgan is having an affair with her married teacher, TJ Hill.

Their town rocks with the scandal. When the case goes to trial, the family is torn further apart when Morgan sides not with her parents-as a manipulated teenage girl; but with TJ himself-as a woman who loves a 30-year-old man.

Told from the perspectives of Morgan, Dinah, and TJ's wife, Rain, this is an unforgettable story that fully explores the surprising, even shocking, events that change the lives of two families.


Review: What's interesting about this book is that I didn't really like any of the characters, and I found the subject matter disturbing, but I still loved reading it. In fact, I couldn't put the book down - I think I read it in two days!  Riggle made the characters seem so life-like as they struggled with their various problems; she realistically captured the voices of the troubled teenage honor student, her overprotective short-tempered mother, and the doormat-like wife who struggled with infertility.  I sympathized with all these characters at times, but also wished they would learn to see themselves the way they truly were and stop making so many mistakes!  This would be a great book to discuss with a book club!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Saturday, December 21, 2013

The Prayer Box

The Prayer Box
Lisa Wingate

The Prayer Box

Genre: Women's Fiction

Summary (from Goodreads):  When Iola Anne Poole, an old-timer on Hatteras Island, passes away in her bed at ninety-one, the struggling young mother in her rental cottage, Tandi Jo Reese, finds herself charged with the task of cleaning out Iola's rambling Victorian house. Running from a messy, dangerous past, Tandi never expects to find more than a temporary hiding place within Iola's walls, but everything changes with the discovery of eighty-one carefully decorated prayer boxes, one for each year, spanning from Iola's youth to her last days. Hidden in the boxes is the story of a lifetime, written on random bits of paper--the hopes and wishes, fears and thoughts of an unassuming but complex woman passing through the seasons of an extraordinary, unsung life filled with journeys of faith, observations on love, and one final lesson that could change everything for Tandi.

Review: I have always enjoyed Lisa Wingate's tender Christian women's fiction, and this book was no exception.  It's beautifully written and inspiring, with lyric descriptions and haunting prose.  Having said that, the book was not without faults.  It could just be the stage of life I'm in, but I could not get past the fact that Tandi Jo started out as a terrible, irresponsible mother who should have had her kids taken away.  She showed a lot of growth throughout the novel, and ended up becoming closer to her children, but her primary focus still seemed to be meddling in Iola's life history (which was fascinating), her search for a steady job (which was responsible), her desire for a good romantic relationship (which was understandable) and then FINALLY her responsibility for her children.  I understand that good characters need to have realistic and relate-able flaws, but she bordered on criminally neglectful (in my opinion).

Rating: 4 stars

The Bookstore

The Bookstore
Deborah Meyler

The Bookstore

Genre: Women's Fiction

Summary (from Goodreads):  A witty, sharply observed debut novel about a young woman who finds unexpected salvation while working in a quirky used bookstore in Manhattan.  Impressionable and idealistic, Esme Garland is a young British woman who finds herself studying art history in New York. She loves her apartment and is passionate about the city and her boyfriend; her future couldn’t look brighter. Until she finds out that she’s pregnant.

Esme’s boyfriend, Mitchell van Leuven, is old-money rich, handsome, successful, and irretrievably damaged. When he dumps Esme—just before she tries to tell him about the baby—she resolves to manage alone. She will keep the child and her scholarship, while finding a part-time job to make ends meet. But that is easier said than done, especially on a student visa.

The Owl is a shabby, second-hand bookstore on the Upper West Side, an all-day, all-night haven for a colorful crew of characters: handsome and taciturn guitar player Luke; Chester, who hyperventilates at the mention of Lolita; George, the owner, who lives on protein shakes and idealism; and a motley company of the timeless, the tactless, and the homeless. The Owl becomes a nexus of good in a difficult world for Esme—but will it be enough to sustain her? Even when Mitchell, repentant and charming, comes back on the scene?

A rousing celebration of books, of the shops where they are sold, and of the people who work, read, and live in them, The Bookstore is also a story about emotional discovery, the complex choices we all face, and the accidental inspirations that make a life worth the reading.


Review: I really wanted to like this book about a woman working in a bookstore (I mean, add in a bake shop, and it would by my perfect book!) but it did not live up to my expectations.  Esme was dull as dishwater and had no gumption, and what she ever saw in that selfish #$&* Mitchell was inexplicable.  She seemed like a smart enough girl, and there was no explanation for why she kept going back to him after he kept breaking up with her in terrible manipulative ways.  Plus, working in a bookstore could have been fodder for interesting stories about quirky customers, but instead, Esme seemed to meet only sad, troubled homeless men.  And to top it off, the ending was non-existent, with no resolution to Esme's story.  It was well-written, sure, and kept me interested in the story, but all-in-all, I was very disappointed.

Rating: 2 stars

Friday, December 20, 2013

The Time Between

The Time Between
Karen White

The Time Between

Genre: Women's Fiction

Summary (from Goodreads):  A stunning new novel of betrayal and forgiveness from the New York Times bestselling author.

Thirty-four-year-old Eleanor Murray is consumed with guilt for causing the accident that paralyzed her sister—and for falling in love with her sister’s husband. But when her boss offers her a part-time job caring for his elderly aunt, Helena, Eleanor accepts, hoping this good deed will help atone for her mistakes.

On the barrier island of Edisto, Eleanor bonds with Helena over their mutual love of music. Drawing the older woman out of her depression, Eleanor learns of her life in Hungary, with her sister, before and during World War II. She hears tales of passion and heartache, defiance and dangerous deception. And when the truth of Helena and her sister’s actions comes to light, Eleanor may finally allow herself to move past guilt and to embrace the song that lies deep in her heart…


Review: I enjoyed the interactions between Eleanor and Helena; they were so smart and sassy.  Gigi was a fun character, too, with a big personality for such a little girl.  And I enjoyed the setting, on a South Carolina beach-y island.  However, I was disturbed by the relationship between Eleanor and her family, specifically how her mother, sister and brother-in-law took advantage of her and treated her like she was their servant.  The resolution between the two sisters at the end of the book didn't feel realistic, after many years of nastiness between them.  I felt like this took away from the more interesting stories of Helena, Eleanor's relationship with her boss, and Gigi.  Actually, having written that, there were an awful lot of storylines in this book and I may have enjoyed it more if it focused on fewer stories.  But overall, it was beautifully written and easy to read, and would make a nice beach read.

Rating: 3 stars

Summer Girls

Summer Girls
Mary Alice Monroe

The Summer Girls

Genre: Women's Fiction

Summary (from Goodreads):  Three sisters reunite on Sullivan’s Island off the coast of South Carolina after years of separation in this heartwarming first novel in a new trilogy from a beloved author.Eighty-year-old Marietta Muir is a dowager of Charleston society who has retired to her historic summer home on Sullivan’s Island. At the onset of summer, Marietta, “Mamaw,” seeks to gather her three granddaughters—Carson, Eudora, and Harper—with the intent to reunite them after years apart. Monroe explores the depths and complexities of sisterhood, friendship and the power of forgiveness. The Summer Girls is a perfect beach read and anyone who “enjoys such fine southern voices as Pat Conroy will add the talented Monroe to their list of favorites” (Booklist).

Review: First of all, you should know that this is the first book in a planned trilogy.  While it does stand alone, telling the story of the granddaughter Carson, the ending leaves a lot to be desired with regard to the other sisters.  I imagine that the next two books in the trilogy will tell the stories of the other two sisters in more detail, and wrap up Carson's and Marietta's stories as well.

I have enjoyed Mary Alice Monroe's stories in the past, and this one was no exception.   My biggest complaint is that the author got a little preachy when it came to how to treat wild dolphins.  Her books often have a strong environmental or animal protection message, but this one came across  too strong, in my opinion.  Also, the three main characters weren't very likable - they were awfully spoiled and selfish - and so I didn't connect with them as much as I usually do in women's fiction about sisters.  It would make for a light and moderately entertaining beach read, but isn't my favorite in that genre.

Rating: 3 stars

A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches
Deborah Harkness

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy, #1)

Genre: Fantasy

Summary (from Goodreads):  A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.


Review: You should know that this is the first book in a trilogy, and that the third book hasn't been released yet.  Somehow, I missed that information, and as I neared the end of the book, I couldn't figure out how it was going to be resolved in so few pages.  Then I got to the end, and I thought, "WHAT?  This cannot be the end!"  And, of course, it wasn't.

As many other reviews state, this book can best be described as a combination of Twilight and Harry Potter, but written for adults.  It got very slow in parts, the alchemical details were completely unscientific, the sheer number of characters got confusing, and I couldn't understand how Diana and Matthew could have fallen in love so quickly (or, for that matter, how anyone could fall in love with a vampire).  Plus, there were an awful lot of plots and sub-plots and twists on plots that could have been simplified.  And how on earth do you pronounce the name Ysabeau?  But aside from those complaints, it was fun to read and entertaining, and I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't a young adult book.

Rating: 4 stars

Never Go Back

Never Go Back
Lee Child

Never Go Back (Jack Reacher, #18)

Genre: Thriller

Summary (from Goodreads):  After an epic and interrupted journey all the way from the snows of South Dakota, former military cop Jack Reacher has finally made it to Virginia. His destination: a sturdy stone building a short bus ride from Washington D.C., the headquarters of his old unit, the 110th MP. It was the closest thing to a home he ever had.

Why? He wants to meet the new commanding officer, Major Susan Turner. He liked her voice on the phone. But the officer sitting behind his old desk isn’t a woman. Is Susan Turner dead? In Afghanistan? Or in a car wreck?

What Reacher doesn't expect to hear is that Turner has just been fired from her command. Nor that he himself is in big trouble, accused of a sixteen-year-old homicide. And he certainly doesn't expect to hear these words: ‘You’re back in the army, Major. And your ass is mine.’

Will he be sorry he went back? Or – will someone else?


Review: This is book #18 in the Jack Reacher series, and it is one of my least favorites.  Child introduced some potentially life-changing twists in the story, but then didn't deliver on them, leaving me feeling disappointed.  The mystery was lackadaisical, with most of the discovery going on inside Reacher's head, instead of following actual clues.  And the bad guys went to an inordinate amount of trouble to get rid of Reacher for what seemed like a relatively minor transgression.  It felt like Child had run out of interesting and (at least somewhat) believable plots.

Rating: 2 stars

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Legend

Legend
by Marie Lu


Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian Fiction

Synopsis:  What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. 

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. 

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills. 
From GoodReads

Review:  Here's yet another young adult dystopian fiction trilogy.  This one would be 3rd on my list of the ones I've read so far-third to Divergent and Hunger Games.  This book starts a little slow but does pick up after a while.  It's not full of action like other dystopian fiction books but it has major character development.  We really get to know both of the characters, June and Day, very well.  I think you know the characters so well because the book is written from dual points of view-June's and Day's. The chapters alternated between the two narrators and many times would end with a cliff hanger.  You couldn't help to read the next chapter so you could get back to the other narrator.  The action does pick up towards the end.  The author wrote this book very well and kept the reader engaged!

Rating: 4 stars

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend
by Matthew Dicks


Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: I am not imaginary...  Budo is lucky as imaginary friends go.  He's been alive for more than five years, which is positively ancient in the world of imaginary friends.  But Budo feels his age and things constantly of the day when eight-year-old Max Delaney will stop believing in him.  When that happens, Budo will disappear.

Max is different from other children.  Some people say he has Asperger's, but most just say he's "on the spectrum."  None of this matters to Budo, who loves Max unconditionally and is charged with protecting him: from the class bully, from awkward situations in the cafeteria, and even in bathroom stalls.  But he can't protect Max from Mrs. Patterson, a teacher in the Learning Center who believes that she alone is qualified to care for this young boy.

When Mrs. Patterson does the unthinkable, it is up to Budo and a tea of imaginary friends to save Max-and Budo must ultimately decide which is more important: Max's happiness or his own existence.

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend is a triumph of courage and imagination that touches on the truths of life, love, and friendship as it races to a heartwarming...and heartbreaking conclusion.
From the book jacket

Review:  At first I wasn't sure of what to think about this book because the beginning is just about Budo introducing himself and Max and telling us all about the quirkiness of Max.  I was wondering where the book was going to go.  But then once Mrs. Patterson does the unthinkable, the book really picks up.  Budo has the mentality of an eight year old (or maybe a little older) and has to figure out how to save Max.  It's interesting to see what he decides to do and who he gets to help him.  You have to keep remembering while you are reading that you are not reading the perspective of an adult-its a young child.  It is also quite a unique point of view from an imaginary friend because he can't communicate with very many people except Max and other imaginary friends.  It was quite an interesting read!

Rating: 4 stars

Falling for Rapunzel

Falling for Rapunzel
by Leah Wilcox
Illustrated Lydia Monks


Genre: Fractured Fairy Tale, Picture Book

Synopsis: The course of true love never runs smooth...

When the prince spies Rapunzel in her high tower, he's convinced she's the girl of his dreams.  he things he can rescue her in the ordinary way, but this is no ordinary Rapunzel.  She throws down everything from her tower except what the prince keeps asking for-including one delightful surprise to make all his dreams come true.  Lively and fun, this is a hilarious tale of how one bad hair day turns into happily ever after.
From the back of the book

Review:  I love this story as did my kids!  This is such a silly book about Rapunzel being hard of hearing and throwing down the wrong thing to the prince who is trying to rescue her.  My kids just giggled and giggled with all the things Rapunzel threw down.  They would try to guess based on the rhyme scheme.  I would highly recommend reading this book!

Rating: 5 stars

Look Out Jack! The Giant is Back!

Look Out Jack!  The Giant is Back!
by Tom Birdseye
Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand


Genre: Picture Book, Fractured Fairy Tale

Synopsis:  Could you stay out all night in the dark even if... "there were spiders dangling over your head and ... snakes slithering around your feet and ... "A BIG, HAIRY, KID-EATING MONSTER on the prowl? Would you just tell them to go away? Oh yeah? In this rollicking tale about the creatures that might lurk in the night, two boys with very big imaginations prove they are so brave, so cool, they could face even ... Wait, did you hear a noise in the bushes?
From Good Reads

Review: This is a cute story about what happens after Jack takes the items from the giant and chops down the beanstalk.  Jack and his mother had moved to a cabin the North Carolina.  It's a fun story about how Jack tries to outwit the giant but how the giant tries to outwit Jack. I really liked Jack's calm attitude in this book.   My kids really enjoyed this book and have reread it several times.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Three Silly Billies

The Three Silly Billies
by Margie Palatini
Illustrated by Barry Moser


Genre: Fractured Fairy Tale, Picture Book

Synopsis: "Hold your horsepower," said the little man with a stamp, a stomp, and a snort.  "This is a troll bridge.  I'm the Troll.  Now, start passing the buck."

Bill Bob, Billy Bo, and Just Plain Billy don't have enough money to cross the troll bridge  But by pooling their pennies with the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack, the Three Silly Billies are able to pay the toll and cross the deep river in jolly good style.  And there's a whopping surprise in store for the Troll! 

Review: Most of this book went over my kids' heads.  I think this book is more written for an older audience with its play on words and detailed illustrations.  I didn't care for the illustrations for the young crowd-they weren't as playful and whimsical as I like in picture books.  I did get a kick out of the play on words.  This book was written very cleverly.  My kids liked all the different familiar fairy tale characters that were introduced in the book.  I could see this book used as a math lesson in early grades to add up the coins that are gathered to pay the troll the toll to cross the bridge.

Rating: 3 stars

Waking Beauty

Waking Beauty
by Leah Wilcox
Illustrated by Lydia Monks


Genre: Fractured Fairy Tale, Picture Book

Synopsis: Prince Charming is a horrible listener.  Sleeping Beauty's fairies try to tell him how to wake her up, but he keeps interrupting them with his own silly ideas (jumping on her bed, throwing water on her...).

Will he ever understand that she won't have ever-after bliss until he was her with a KISS?!
From the book jacket

Review: This was a funny take on the classic Sleeping Beauty.  The fairies try to get the prince to give Sleeping Beauty a kiss and they keep rhyming their phrases so it should rhyme with kiss but he interrupts and does something else.  Each time my kids would try to fill in kiss but then they would giggle over what the prince did.  This book was quite silly and easy to read with its rhyme scheme.

Rating: 4 stars