Cardigans, Coffee and Bookmarks

Twice Baked Thursday: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman

2013-10-24T09:23:00.000-05:00

Title: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Author: Neil Gaiman

Pages: 181
Publishing Date: June 18th, 2013

Genre: Fantasy, Horror

Audience: Adult

Source: Library (Randi & Becky)

Rating: 4 I'd serve this book fresh honeycomb & cream (that I collected myself, of course) (Randi)
4 I'd get coffee with this book, or maybe just stop by the farm for some fresh milk (Becky)

Goodreads Summary:

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.

Our Thoughts

Randi in Black
Becky in Red

Oh, this book. First off, let me state that this is the fourth Gaiman book I've attempted to read. (I finished Coraline and The Graveyard Book, both which I liked, but didn't love...and I could not finish Neverwhere.) I did that too! However, this book gave me an idea of what it is that creates so many Gaiman fans. I feel like I've finally joined the club. I'm not joining, but I'll admire from afar. The writing contains a lyrical and almost mystical quality that I enjoyed falling into. The atmosphere was exceptionally strong. It was the strongest part of the story. The book is short at around 170 pages, but it feels complete and whole, something that I can't say for many books . Do you know that I thought I wrote this review, because our thoughts about it are so similar? I loved the Hempstocks and their farm...I would visit in a heartbeat. While I'm kind of so-so on magical realism (sometimes it just seems too outrageous for me and I end up hating it with the biting passion of a thousand scorpion stings) (I LOVE magical realism. The closer it is to reality the better), Gaiman flawlessly fuses the magical world of the Hempstocks and the "real" world in this lovely novel. I'd agree, up into the end when I think he crosses the line into the ridiculous a few times with dramatic monologues and shows of power.

This story is gruesome and beautiful, shudder-inducing and awing in turns (especially the worm in the foot, OH MY GOSH). Despite my other experiences with Gaiman's work, after reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane, I would not hesitate to read more of his work, especially if it's as delightful as this. I'm not sure what else to say about it since my mind's still a bit muddled as to what it has just experienced at the hands of this book...a bit like our protagonist's, in fact. Suffice to say, don't miss out on this one if you're looking for magical realism for adults with a bit of horror. I can't fully commit to this book, but I do think it was well written. If you're a Gaiman fan, you won't be disappointed.

Thrice Baked Thursday: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown (Guest Reviewer: Kelsey)

2013-10-17T18:30:00.002-05:00

Title: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Author: Holly Black

Pages: 419
Publishing Date: September 3rd 2013

Genre: Fantasy (paranormal/vampires)

Audience: Young Adult

Source: Library (Kelsey & Randi & Becky)

Rating:
4 stars-I would take this book with me into an abandoned shack to sweat out an infection for 88 days. (Kelsey)
4 stars- I would chain this book up to keep it from going cold, unless it really wanted to go cold, in which case I'd find it a tasty murderer to eat (Becky)
2.5 stars I'd air-hug this book...I don't want to get too close in case it's Cold (Randi)

Goodreads Summary:Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

Our Thoughts

Kelsey in Black
Becky in Blue
Randi in Red

Well, I guess I’ll start by saying that this was the most fun read I’ve had in a while. I don't even LIKE fun reads and I enjoyed it. Fun reads are the BEST. But I didn't have that much fun. ;) I didn’t know much about this book before reading it, besides that it was by Holly Black and featured some vampires. Nowadays, I’m quite skeptical about any tales featuring vampires, because Twilight kind of ruined that genre for me. That's sad, Kelsey, don't let Twilight win. I'm convinced that's what it wants. LOL. Honestly, I second Kelsey. I try to avoid vampires as much as possible, for that exact reason. And I'm thinking that may be a big part of the reason that I didn't love this. But I shouldn’t have been worried. Vampires in Holly Black’s hands are not sparkly. They are dark, gritty, and slightly insane. Yessssss.

I really enjoyed the setting. Coldtown is a lot like an internment camp for vampires and people who are infected with the Cold virus but haven’t quite turned into a vampire yet.  That was the most unique element for me and it really hooked me.  I loved how it was largely televised, I could definitely see that happening. I hadn't thought of Coldtown as a sort of internment camp, but I can definitely see that now that you mention it! And I could see the televised reality show thing happening in real life. In fact, that makes it seem pretty "realistic" (as realistic as it can be) for our times. Once you enter Coldtown, there’s no leaving unless you have a marker.  Everyone on the outside sees Coldtown as a glamorous setting with lots of swanky parties, but we get to see the underbelly with Tana, our kick-ass heroine. Let’s talk a bit about how much I loved Tana. Me too Me too! She’s sarcastic, stupidly brave, and a typical teenage girl.  Well, I don't know about typical.  Typical is Bella Swan.  I found her admirable and easy to empathize with while still avoiding the Mary Sue trap. Okay, so I'm the odd one out here. I thought Tana was kind of annoying. She faces a lot of tough situations in the novel and basically just kicks a lot of ass.  I also loved how quirky and colorful all the side characters were as well—Aiden, Valentine, and Gavriel are among my favorites. (Gavriel is pretty much the only reason this book didn't get one start from me. LOVED him.) I only wish we would have gotten a little bit more about them.  That was my major complaint as well.  This was not a short book, but it felt like it needed to be longer or many a two book series. It felt SO long to me. But seeing as this is a stand-alone YA novel (which, although I want more, is kind of refreshing in a genre that’s all about the series), it does a good job of at least telling us what is motivating them. One thing I did appreciate is that this novel didn’t seem to take itself too seriously.  It never got melodramatic, though I think my biggest complaint is that the end tends towards sap.   I thought it got melodramatic but was aware of it and gently mocked itself, kind of like a cult classic (Lost Boys anyone?) So you're saying I should avoid that movie? ;) Really, though, I think I'm in the extreme minority on this one. But even though I wasn't a fan, I have to say that I enjoyed Holly Black's writing enough to look forward to reading her Curse Workers series, which Becky has been trying to get me to read.

Blood, gore, grit, love, revenge, humor...it’s all here and all worth reading, if you ask me. 

I'm so glad Kelsey joined us! This was fun. We'll have to do more Thrice-Baked Thursdays. Huzzah! Thanks for having me on your blog Randi and Becky! Happy October! 

Review (Becky): I Hunt Killers, by Barry Lyga

2013-10-11T12:48:00.000-05:00

Title: I Hunt Killers

Author: Barry Lyga

Pages: 361

Genre: Realism (contemporary, horror)

Audience: Teen

Source: Library

Rating: 4-I'd find this book fascinating but also be a little too scared to have coffee with it.

Goodreads Summary:

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say. But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

~My Thoughts~


This was an exceptionally creepy red. I didn't think the concept would make much of an impression on me because it feels so familiar (Dexter), but the crimes are really disturbing and often Jasper's memories and reactions are just as disturbing. This is really not sugar coated at all, and you can see how damaging his early life was to his sense of normalcy and ability to connect to others. I did know who the impressionist was right away, though, within the first meeting of him. I also never bought Jasper being a danger to Connie or Howie. It was to obvious that he cared about them too much to ever hurt them deliberately. While his confusion seems very real, its only at the crime scene where he is trying to revive his teacher where I had any doubt about his motives. The secondary characters didn't have much depth but were still colorfully drawn. Overall it was an engrossing read and I'm definitely checking out the sequel.

This was an exceptionally creepy red. I didn't think the concept would make much of an impression on me because it feels so familiar (Dexter), but the crimes are really disturbing and often Jasper's memories and reactions are just as disturbing. This is really not sugar coated at all, and you can see how damaging his early life was to his sense of normalcy and ability to connect to others. I did know who the impressionist was right away, though, within the first meeting of him. I also never bought Jasper being a danger to Connie or Howie. It was to obvious that he cared about them too much to ever hurt them deliberately. While his confusion seems very real, its only at the crime scene where he is trying to revive his teacher where I had any doubt about his motives. The secondary characters didn't have much depth but were still colorfully drawn. Overall it was an engrossing read and I'm definitely checking out the sequel.

Twice Baked Thursday: The Uninvited, by Liz Jensen

2013-10-10T09:08:00.000-05:00

Title: The Uninvited

Author: Liz Jensen

Pages: 320
Publishing Date: January 8th, 2013

Genre: horror,sci-fi, apocalyptic

Audience: Adult

Source: Library (Randi & Becky)

Rating: 2 I'd give this book an awkward hug, but I don't trust it not to stab me (Becky)
3 I'd friend this book on Facebook, but only so I could monitor its movements and stay far, far away (Randi)

Goodreads Summary:

A seven-year-old girl puts a nail gun to her grandmother's neck and fires. An isolated incident, say the experts. The experts are wrong. Across the world, children are killing their families. Is violence contagious? As chilling murders by children grip the country, anthropologist Hesketh Lock has his own mystery to solve: a bizarre scandal in the Taiwan timber industry.

Hesketh has never been good at relationships: Asperger's Syndrome has seen to that. But he does have a talent for spotting behavioral patterns and an outsider's fascination with group dynamics. Nothing obvious connects Hesketh's Asian case with the atrocities back home. Or with the increasingly odd behavior of his beloved stepson, Freddy. But when Hesketh's Taiwan contact dies shockingly and more acts of sabotage and child violence sweep the globe, he is forced to acknowledge possibilities that defy the rational principles on which he has staked his life, his career, and, most devastatingly of all, his role as a father.

Our Thoughts

Becky in Black
Randi in Red

I found this book unexpectedly boring. The writing was technically good, but nothing about it hooked me. Agree! I kept waiting and waiting to care about somebody, anybody. And it never happened.... The closest I came was Freddy K. He was kind of adorable and I liked his relationship with Hesketh, our narrator. I kind of thought Hesketh was a little crazy when it came to his "protection" of Freddy K. I was constantly thinking things like, "He's gonna kill you! Get outta there!" Hesketh has Aspergers Syndrom, which partially explains why I felt so distant from everyone and everything in the book. He seemed most excited about Freddy, origami, and color shades. Showing the story from his viewpoint sucked the horror and suspense out of even the creepiest of events. That's a good point; I hadn't thought about that, but I do agree. Horrific things were happening, but it was difficult to relate to Hesketh's actions, so I didn't feel very scared or horrified.

The first 150 pages of the story are incredibly slow, and while bad things are happening occasionally, it is mostly just us learning about Hesketh. I found him somewhat unlikable due to his attitude towards sex and uninteresting due to him being extremely uninteresting lol. Awww, poor Hesketh! I usually enjoy reading about characters with Aspergers Syndrome (ever since I read Jodi Picoult's House Rules - which I loved), but...it felt like pulling teeth to get me to pick this book back up every day.

I think what made me the most upset was when I soldiered through all the way to the very end of the story (which involved lots of half-comprehended speed reading through the boring parts) and I still had no idea what was happening. N0 idea, people. Nothing. We're supposed to think that there is some kind of science fiction time warp where the children are simultaneously from the future and the present and are adapting to live in the barren wasteland that will be earth. That's as far as I got. Yeah, I think the explanation (and the fact that we get it from Hesketh's view, so it's couched in very intellectual terms) turned me off the most. I love post-apocalyptic stories because I think they truly get to the core of what it means to be human; however, this one just didn't do it for me. Overall, I'll probably put this on my horror display at the library, but it will go nowhere near my favorites shelf.

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Turn Offs

2013-10-01T07:49:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Here are my top ten book turn offs, or the techniques and character types I typical don't enjoy. There are always exceptions for me when a book does so much right that I can overlook the downsides, but usually these things make me want to throw my book.

1. Love Triangles. These CAN be done well, but they usually aren't. I only like a love triangle when there is legitimate confusion about which person you love (Raven Boys I love you) and none of the wishy washness that is Twilight. I think we all knew you were going to choose Edward, Bella.

2. Hand of God rescue endings (Dues Ex Machina) I'm sorry Dean Koontz, but you are the primary offender. Any time the characters should die at the end of a story or something bad should happen but there is a last minute rescue from a completely unbelievable source.

3. Mary Sue characters. I make a few exceptions, but when a character is kind and pretty and good at EVERYTHING it is boring. They need faults to balance them out. The worst is when characters have faults that are actually strengths. This is not an interview!

4. Lack of quotation mark. A lot of the time when quotations are dropped it just makes the reading more confusing and turns a lot of readers off. (not you "The Road", I love you always).

5. An Object of Power in fantasy. Just let the lord of the rings have this one guys, you know you can't top it and you seem like copycats. Harry Potter kind of overdid this in my opinion, but I still love it. Please don't stone me for saying that.

6. Reworkings of literature that butcher everything beautiful about the originals. Some people will never get to read the original story because you poisoned them. I'm all for allusions to other works, but using it as the basis of your own feels too much like theft to me.

7. The morally and emotionally tortured Vampire. I accept it in Louis from the Vampire Chronicles, otherwise it just feels stale. If you really cared that much you'd step into the sun, you emo.

8. Prophecies. Let me tell you the entire story in a few paragraphs so that the rest of the book has no suspense. Sometimes there are cool twists on the meanings of prophecies that saves them from this fate, but often times they just suck the life out of a story.

9. Series Recaps. I hate it when the second book (or third or fourth...) does a tv style recap of "what you missed in the last episode". Anyone who can't remember should reread the first book or look up a summary. I know I don't pause midlife and say "in case you didn't know me when I was 12, here's what you missed".

10. Characters that are blatantly a glorified version of the author. I'm talking to you Stephen King, Joe Hill and especially Glen Duncan. I can't prove it, but I know you think you're that werewolf.

What's are your Book-turn-offs? Leave us a link & we'll be sure to visit!

Twice-Baked Thursday: The 5th Wave

2013-09-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

Title: The 5th Wave

Author: Rick Yancey

Pages: 457
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publishing Date: May 7th, 2013

Genre: sci-fi, post-apocalyptic

Audience: Young Adult

Source: Library (Randi & Becky)

Rating: 2 I'd give this book and awkward hug before running the other way (Randi) 3 I'd friend this book on Facebook, but I'd unfollow it in my feed (Becky)

Goodreads Summary:

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Our Thoughts

Randi in Black
Becky in Red

Well, I'll begin by saying that 1. I'm not a fan of aliens in my fiction (or non-fiction, I guess!), with the exception of one Daemon Black(I like aliens but not invasions). 2. However, I do love post-apocalyptic novels (Heck yes, The Road is A to the Mazing) ((Yes it is!!)). This means that this book should have started off on a neutral status with me . I'd heard nothing but awesomeness about this book, though, so perhaps I had some expectations (for me it started with extremely high hopes. The Monstrumologist was so outrageously good, it did not occur to me this book might stink up the apartment). Needless to say if you peeked at my two star rating above, any expectations I had were not met. I was a little disappointed that there were multiple viewpoints in this book, though I usually like them. (I wasn't bothered by the multiple POV, although usually I am, lol) After finishing the book, it makes sense based on what the novel was striving for, but I was not impressed.

Cassie was kind of a kick-butt narrator (for the chapters she had), but I really wasn't convinced by much else. (She was sometimes, but sometimes she was a catty, shallow, boy-obsessed teen. Blah.) A big reason I love post-apoc. fiction is because I adore that discussion of what makes us human, what happens to the people who are left after some cataclysmic event? While those themes were evident earlier in the book, they fell to the wayside in favor of a cheesy and somewhat predictable romance (Somewhat?). ((I was trying to be nice!!)) As the reader, I was apparently supposed to like both Ben and Evan. Oops, I didn't find either of them particularly desirable or interesting (They were both kind of bros). ((Hahaha!)) Ben's backstory with his little sister was not utilized enough to make me feel anything for him and, to me at least, he was a flat character whose motivations were not convincing.

Anyway, that pretty much sums up my disappointment with this book. Though I am apparently in the extreme minority since the average Goodreads rating is 4.08 stars. Cheers!

You can do better Rick Yancey, you have done better. Leave the sappy love triangles to Ally Condie, please, for the love of Pete. Let's focus on your real strengths, Bromance and Gore. This could have been an epic story, but I will forget it in a few months (unless you make a movie, I'll come back for that).

Super Six Sunday: Books Set in Schools

2013-09-22T07:56:00.000-05:00

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. Ok so this isn't a typical "school", but battle school actually seemed pretty sweet, not that I'd want to go myself.

The Magicians, by Lev Grossman. I want to go to Brakebills. Sorry Hogwarts, but if I can't have Dumbledore I don't want anything to do with you.

Looking for Alaska, by John Green. I don't actually want to go to this school, but this was an unexpectedly touching and well written book that made me interested in contemporary teen reads again.

Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta. I love the intricate battle rules in this story between the boarding school, the military school, and the townies. We don't actually see much schooling going on, but I'm sure it happened.

Never Let me Go, by Kazu Ishiguro. Ok, so this is actually a pretty horrifying place, but one of my all-time favorite books.

Harry Potter Series, by J.K. Rowling. Ok, so I lied before. I think we all want to go here.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on our Fall TBR List!

2013-09-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week our list (brought to you by Randi!) is Top Ten Books on Our Fall TBR List! This was a toughie. I actually have a "fall TBR" that's 80+ books long. And that doesn't even count the majority of the fall releases I'm clamoring for!

Click photos for a link to the book's Goodreads page.

Randi's Top 10 Fall TBR Books - not in order because I'm too lazy for that

1. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. This middle grade novel featuring an "extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl" as the protagonist sounds delightful. I can't wait to do a joint review of this book with Becky! - Release date: August 29th 2. Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis. I've heard nothing but awesomeness about this post-apocalyptic YA novel. (And I already pre-ordered it.) - Release date: September 24th 3. Just One Year by Gayle Forman. This book has been on my TBR since January...right after I finished Just One Day. I need this book in my life. (Also already pre-ordered!) Release date: October 10th 4. Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield. Honestly, it doesn't really matter what this book is about (adult gothic fiction) because I adored Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale, which earned her a spot on my list of auto-buy authors. Release date: November 5th 5. Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller. Another auto-buy author and another book I've already pre-ordered. I'll read anything Trish Doller writes! Can't wait for this one. Release date: September 24th

6. Magic Marks the Spot (Book 1 in The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series) by Caroline Carlson. Pirates + middle grade + female protagonist = sounds like a promising debut! Release date: September 10th
7. Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry. And yet another auto-buy author (are you seeing a trend here?). Isaiah is awesome (hello, tattoos!) and I can't wait to get his story. Release date: November 26th
8. A Feast for Crows (A Song of Fire and Ice #4) by George R.R. Martin. I binge-read the first three books in August and could not put them down. However, after that, my brain needed a break because these books give me ALL THE FEELS and they are immense. I have a lot going on with student teaching, so I took a little break. But I'm looking forward to buying the to-be-released paperback version of book 5 this fall & I will probably read 4 & 5 back to back once that happens. Also, it's pretty awesome that my cooperating teacher for student teaching is an avid Song of Fire and Ice fan as well! :) Release date: a long time ago!
9. Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford. What an amazing writer! I fell head over heels for Ford's writing style with Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet earlier this year. Count me a huge fan! Another auto-buy author & a pre-order. Release date: September 10th
10. Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein. My #1 looking-forward-to-read of fall 2013. It's pre-ordered and I will probably be jumping around my living room with happiness when this book arrives. Code Name Verity was just...I don't even have words. Release date: September 10th

What's on YOUR fall TBR list? Leave us a link & we'll be sure to visit!

Super 6 Book to Movie Adaptations

2013-09-15T19:53:00.000-05:00

It, by Stephen King. Ok, so the ending is lame, but this movie terrified me my entire childhood and for that I shall always treasure it.

Never Let Me Go, by Kazu Ishiguro. I saw this movie before I read the book, and despite knowing there are some iffy plot assumptions, It is one of my top ten favorite books and movies. The melancholy beauty is just striking.

The Road by Cormac Mcarthy. Finally a realistic take on what would happen in an apocalyptic situation. There is no sugar coating in this story for the book or the movie, yet it still manages to be incredibly touching. Vigo was definitely the right choice.

Lord of The Rings, by J.R.R Tolkien. I like The Fellowship of the Rings the best. I think Jackson really captured the story in a breathtaking way while still remaining true to the text. I can't say the same about his adaptation of the Hobbit.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. The book was incredible, with clear parallels to Catcher in the Rye. I think the movie adaptation was exceptionally well cast.

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte. I really only like the adaptation pictured above. I should probably own it. I have not yet read the book (gasp!) I'm saving it because I loved this movie version so much I can't bear to have one replace the other. I also think I will love the book and so I want to read it at the perfect time.

Cinderella goes a little cray cray

2013-09-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

If I had to describe this book in a sentence I would call it, "Cinderella meets memoirs of a Geisha with homicide, transgender characters and a beautiful cross-cultural romance".

I loved this book completely. It had a little bit of everything: adventure, fantasy, tragedy, romance, and revenge. I also loved how it reworked the Cinderella fairy-tale in such an original and subtle way. The asian culture and geisha-like characters made the story unexpectedly beautiful in spite of the truly horrible things that happen and the revenge-centered plot. Otieno was one of my favorite love-interests in teen literature. Ok, so maybe he's a bit overly perfect but I'm willing to let it slide haha. Suzume was relatable and felt real, though she was far from perfect with her occasionally homicidal actions and her struggle with self-harm. I also liked that this book had a transgender woman with a story at least as interesting as Suzume's, if not more interesting. Prequel?!

I'd recommend this book for fans of dark, melancholy re-workings of fairy-tales. It's a great read-alike for Daughter of the Forest, by Juliet Marillier. Five stars, I'd propose marriage to this book if I hadn't already eloped with the male love interest.

FTC Disclaimer

Twice Baked Thursday: The Humans by Matt Haig (Guest Baker:Susanna)

2013-09-12T20:40:00.004-05:00

Title: The Humans

Author: Matt Haig

Pages: 304
Publisher: Simon & Shuster
Publishing Date: July 2nd, 2013
Genre: Science Fiction

Audience: Adults

Source: Library (Susanan & Becky)

Rating: 5 stars-I'd marry this book (Susanna)
6 stars I'd fight anyone who thought they loved this more than me (Becky)

Summary: The narrator of this story is an alien, and this is clear from the very beginning. His people are mathematical geniuses and have advanced far beyond what humans could ever hope to achieve, that is, before one of them figures it all out. Andrew Martin cracks the Reimann Hypothesis and someone has to clean up his mess so that humanity can't bring its chaos any further into the universe. To do this, however, the alien must remain undercover and pretend to be from the culture his people fear so much.

Our Thoughts:

Susanna in black
Becky in red

The Humans was definitely one of my favorite recent reads. I really liked Matt Haig’s previous work, The Radleys (oh my gosh me too), so I had high expectations for this one. I was not disappointed. There was enough of a plot to keep the pace moving, but it wasn’t really the central focus of the book . For me, this was a positive. (Bah, plot, who needs it. If the characters and conflict are strong enough I can swim in the world of a book for hundreds of pages) I enjoyed reading the narrator’s interpretations of human behavior and social structure (Maybe I'm an alien, but I totally agree with so many of his outside assessments. Or maybe we all do because we all feel alienated to some extent. Ahhh the refreshing depth of concepts in this book, I needed them after so many shallow reads) His interactions with Andrew Martin’s best friend were particularly enjoyable to me. I loved his relationship with his dog, too (Dogs are really what's holding humanity together). I would have liked perhaps slightly more information about the world from which he came, but then it would have been a different book (I agree on both counts. I do think part of what made his choices easy to empathize with was that we really didn't know much about his culture/planet/people). My favorite thing about The Humans was how well Haig can build a cozy, homey feeling. He paints everyday life so well, and Andrew Martin’s wife and son display realistic human feelings and reactions (even if the narrator doesn’t quite understand them). I got invested in the characters and what would happen to them, and the last section of the book got me rather emotional.( I know! I was freaking out as I read this about how much I loved it. I zoomed through it in roughly 2 days.) Overall, this was a strong five star read for me. (This was probably a six star read for me, out of five. Thats' right Susanna, I just one upped you. Please write more soon, I have an author-crush on you Matt Haig).

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I would like to see as movies with casting suggestions!

2013-09-10T22:04:00.000-05:00

September 10: Top Ten Books I Would Love To See As A Movie/TV Show (set in a perfect world...in which movies don't butcher the books we love.) -- originally done April 2011

Ummm, can I do a full ideal cast list for each of these movies? Just kidding, but seriously, that should be a top ten tuesday option.

1 The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. I'd really like Carey Mulligan to play Celia and Jospeh Gordon Levitt to play Marco.

2.The Magicians, by Lev Grossman. Jesse Eisenberg would be a superb Quentin, nerdy yet a little bit mean. and Rooney mara as Alice.

3. The Snow Child, by Eowen Ivy with Mia Wasikowska as the Snow Child. Best Russian folktale ever.

4.The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield. Can Carey Mulligan just play all the female leads over 25?

5.The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw. I could see this as a bbc mini series complete in a season. I trust the BBC to make the casting calls.

6. The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater. This is such an awesome story I don't see how it could avoid being destroyed. I'd really like Josh Hutcherson to play Sean and Lily Collins as the female lead.

7. Shadows on the Moon, by Zoe Marrio. I just finished this one and OH MY GOSH. I'd really like Curtis from Misfits to play the male romantic lead. The scarification/tatoos would look really sweet.

8. Sharp objects, by Gillian Flynn. This would make a creeptastic and gothic movie. Make it happen Hollywood. I'd like Chloe Mortez to be the creepy younger sister and Jennifer Lawrence to be our main character

9.Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card.
My dream came TRUE! Well, maybe, I guess we'll see soon enough. I have a feeling the movie adaptation will be warped into a children's story.

10. The Brides of Rollrock Island, by Margo Lanagan. It may be the only Lanagan book I've liked, but I love it with the passion of a thousand suns. I think the atmosphere would make for an awesome drama/horror combo.

What do you think of my casting choices? Share your own list with us below!

Back-street's Back, Alright!

2013-09-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, so actually it's our blog that's back and not the Backstreet Boys, tragically. They did release a new album last month but that's besides the point. I saw them perform on America's Got Talent a couple weeks back...It took me back to 1998... ;) I have no doubt that you missed us, who on earth else can you get snarky, dissatisfied book reviews from on the internet? So here are our excuses for our wicked long an unannounced absences.

I got a job. Is it the best job ever? Yes, it probably is so feel free to be jealous. I get to work in the teen room of a fabulous library with hilarious and innovative coworkers doing crafts, creating displays, finding people books and answering reference questions. I actually just attended an 80s murder mystery dinner at which I was supposed to play a diva vampire, but ended up switching to a male alligator dundee. My outfit was very gender confused but I had so much fun. I especially liked that my character was a complete jerk, it was a good fit haha! But anyway, it has taken me a while to adjust to moving to a new city and working so many hours a day while still walking my dog, microwaving my dinners and fitting in reading. I really do not know how adults have managed this my whole life.

-Becky

Well, I'll have to disagree with Becky on having the best job ever (pretty sure *I* do!), though technically my "job" isn't really a job. Why? Because I'm student teaching! Mediocre list of reasons why I've been so absent on the blogosphere - things happened back in the spring & I had to deal with some personal stuff. But that's all good now! Then summer came and I went back to work as a seasonal employee at the factory where I met my husband six years ago. Which meant waking up at 3 AM every day and being exhausted by 7 PM every evening; I do NOT miss those hours! That's really my list of reasons. But I've missed Becky & blogging & talking books! This is going to be a busy semester, but I may as well get used to juggling multiple things while teaching, so let's call this a practice run to prepare me for real life as a teacher. Anyway, I spend my weekdays with 8th graders and a wonderful cooperating teacher; I couldn't be happier. I am right where I need to be! So here's to reading and sharing a love of books. (I've already begun collecting book recommendations from my students & hope to start reading them and likely reviewing them here soon!) I guess that's all for now, folks. Glad to be back and we hope you stop by to chat books with us soon!

-Randi

Boarding school for criminal minds

2013-09-06T21:06:00.002-05:00

A summary in one sentence: Teenage criminals go to school to rule the world and one boy tries to overthrow his mastermind father but gets more than he bargained for.

This book was a great read alike for high-tension supspense books like Lockdown or The Maze Runner with a hint of Pirate Cinema. It has the same limited setting, sense of being trapped, and fight-to-the-death scenario.

I had mixed feelings about the actual quality of the writing, but it was a very engrossing story and I had a hard time putting it down. The characters could have been more complex, especially Joi, and the believability struggled in part because of the overly-simplified thought process and strange censoring of the grittiness that the setting and characters demanded. I would probably read a sequel, however, because of the likable main character and the psychological twist of Peter Pan.

I'd friend this book on Facebook because it is just so outrageous I can't say no. 3 stars

Bloglovin' Claim

2013-09-03T18:29:00.001-05:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Ignore post. We're claiming our blog on Bloglovin'. :)

Twice-Baked Thursday (Review): Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's

2013-04-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Look Me in the Eye

Author: John Elder Robison

Pages: 304
Publisher: Crown
Publishing Date: Sept. 25th, 2007 (Randi's library version)

Genre: Memoir/Nonfiction

Audience: Adult

Source: Library (Randi & Becky)

Rating: 3 - I'd friend this book on Facebook (Randi) 3- I'd reluctantly friend this book on Facebook, knowing I'd need to hide their feed info.

Goodreads Summary:

Ever since he was small, John Robison had longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits—an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes (and stick his younger brother in them)—had earned him the label “social deviant.” No guidance came from his mother, who conversed with light fixtures, or his father, who spent evenings pickling himself in sherry. It was no wonder he gravitated to machines, which could, at least, be counted on.

After fleeing his parents and dropping out of high school, his savant-like ability to visualize electronic circuits landed him a gig with KISS, for whom he created their legendary fire-breathing guitars. Later, he drifted into a “real” job, as an engineer for a major toy company. But the higher Robison rose in the company, the more he had to pretend to be “normal” and do what he simply couldn’t: communicate. It wasn’t worth the paycheck.

It was not until he was forty that an insightful therapist told him he had the form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. That understanding transformed the way Robison saw himself—and the world.

Our Thoughts

Randi in black. Becky in Grey

Hi there! Long time, no Twice-Baked Thursday! I'm glad the chaos that has been life these past few months has slowed enough to get back to the blog for a change. Agreed! Anyway, I have wanted to read John Elder Robison's memoir for awhile now. I'm not really into Non-fiction, but I gave it a few tries this month. I'm particularly interested in reading the point-of-view of a character with an autism-spectrum disorder such as Asperger's. My interest comes partially from the fact that I read Jodi Picoult's House Rules,(loved it) which features a male teen protagonist with AS (Asperger's Syndrome) and loved it, and also since I am also a teacher-in-training and clearly it is to my advantage (as well as my future students') to know as much as possible about autism-related disorders. In that respect, this memoir definitely provided me insight into some of the feelings and thought processes of an adolescent with AS (the book covers early childhood through adulthood, but I found the childhood & teen years the most interesting). I work at a public library where we do have patrons who have AS. We're actually doing an educational program about it soon. Awesome!! Apparently we moved the furniture once and our AS patron was very upset, yelled at several staff members and refused to come back for some time. That's unfortunate :( but I can understand how that might upset someone with AS or another autism-spectrum disorder. I thought it might be useful to understand someone with AS' thought process a little more for the future...although we will still shift furniture.

Overall, I appreciated this book. I think most of my issues with it were related to the writing style, which was primarily due to John Elder's different thought process. I just found it hard to relate to and often offensive, which isn't especially surprising. (Agreed on the difficult-to-relate-to-ness!) However, I found some parts mind-numbingly dull. Those parts tended to be the ones where John Elder talked a lot about machinery (YES) or technology matters because his knowledge is so advanced in those areas while mine is so not, that I just sort of spaced out and tried to get through them quickly. I just skimmed. I found myself thinking "I do not care I do not care" a lot when he wrote about his pyrotechnics and other electronic shenanigans." Right! I thought "Oh, that's interesting...but I don't need details." There were places where I wanted to (and did, at some points) want to put this book down and forget about it because of those dull areas. But I'm glad I finished it. The epilogue in particular was one of my favorite parts. The book made me think about how we as a society judge others and expect everyone to conform to a specific version of "normal." I don't like that. I dislike how so many of John Elder's tribulations throughout his life are because other people are unwilling to be flexible. That really bothers me. But I also was reminded (quite unexpectedly, actually) of how important it is to forgive others, even when they might not always particularly deserve that forgiveness. I'm not sure I agree, honestly. Even John Elder often stated how much his life improved when he began to train himself to act more like "the norm". I think society has evolved in certain ways for ease of communication and socialization. Obviously I don't believe in Stepford communities where there is a scripted dialog and way to live. However, if someone walks up to me and tells me I look fatter, I'm not going to like them regardless of any other factors. (LOL. You make a valid point! I just mean in a broader sense of having one set idea of what constitutes "normal" and sometimes shunning anyone that doesn't fit. I agree that society has evolved for important reasons, but I don't like the judgmental mentality in general.)

I'd recommend this with the caution that some parts will likely drag for most readers; however, if you can get through those parts (or skip them!), it's a worthwhile read. I came into this story interested mostly in John Elder's childhood, but most of this is about his adult years. Fair warning. I don't regret reading it, but I'm not sure it changed my views much. I found Elder's abusive home-life most disturbing, and I honestly feel it had a much greater impact on his struggle than his AS. I've already recommended this book to two people :).

Review: The Snow Child

2013-04-12T06:23:00.000-05:00

Title: The Snow Child

Author: Eowyn Ivey

Pages: 388

Genre: Fantasy (Magical realism/ modern fairytale adaptation)

Audience: Adult

Source: Library (Becky)

Rating: 5-I'd move to Alaska for this book

Goodreads Summary:

Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees. This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.

Our Thoughts

Becky in black.Mabel and Faina were my favorites because we see most into Mabel's thoughts and feelings, and Faina is such a mystery but the easiest to picture. Her backstory is so chilling and unresolved. I also loved Jack. He seemed like such a "man's man" but in an honest and unpretentious way. Garrett...meh lol. The supporting characters were rarely seen but were well drawn despite it.

The overall effect of this was that it kind of made me want to move somewhere far away from civilization, and then I remembered I have no survival skills lol. Most of all I loved the hint of magic that laces the creeping, melancholy atmosphere. The language was simple yet artful, and I only noticed in the last fifty pages that there were no quotation marks.

A final aspect I loved was the survival story in harsh elements and the way the characters become self sustaining. As a child I was obsessed with stories like Hatchet and Little House in the Big Woods. This story has a lot of trapping and hard farming that holds its own kind of magic for a city kid like me. Overall it was a really great read, especially for winter. I need to own it, lol.

Review: Nothing

2013-04-11T22:02:00.000-05:00

Title: Nothing

Author: Janne Teller

Pages: 227

Genre: Realism (contemporary/horror)

Audience: Young Adult

Source: library (Becky)

Rating: 5 I'd marry this book if it wasn't so utterly disturbing

Goodreads Summary:

When Pierre-Anthon realizes there is no meaning to life, the seventh-grader leaves his classroom, climbs a tree, and stays there. His classmates cannot make him come down, not even by pelting him with rocks. So to prove to Pierre-Anthon that life has meaning, the children decide to give up things of importance. The pile starts with the superficial—a fishing rod, a new pair of shoes. But as the sacrifices become more extreme, the students grow increasingly desperate to get Pierre-Anthon down, to justify their belief in meaning. Sure to prompt intense thought and discussion, Nothing—already a treasured work overseas—is not to be missed.

My Thoughts

You'd be hard pressed to find a more disturbing book, particularly for teens. It begins innocently enough but things begin to get more and more horrific so that you're hard pressed to pinpoint just when it changed. There were several times that I could not believe what I was reading and my jaw just dropped. Although the characters in this story are in middle school, the content is barely suited for juniors and seniors in high school and will still probably be too horrific for most of them. Far from being disturbing solely for the sensationalism, this book has a core of horrific existentialism and truth that I think will resonate with most people, much as we don't want it to. Does life hold any meaning, and if so where and how. This would be an interesting book club book, although I think it would be difficult to get parents to sign off on it.

Review (Becky): Revolver

2013-04-08T17:30:00.000-05:00

Title: Revolver Author: Marcus Sedgwick Pages: 224 Audience: Young Adult Genre: Historical Fiction (adventure/survival) Rating: 2 I'd give this book and awkward hug

Goodreads Summary

1910. A cabin north of the Arctic Circle. Fifteen-year-old Sig Andersson is alone. Alone, except for the corpse of his father, who died earlier that day after falling through a weak spot on the ice-covered lake. His sister, Anna, and step-mother, Nadya, have gone to the local town for help. Then comes a knock at the door. It's a man, the flash of a revolver's butt at his hip, and a mean glare in his eyes. Sig has never seen him before but Wolff claims to have unfinished business with his father. As Sig gradually learns the awful truth about Wolff's connection to his father, Sig finds his thoughts drawn to a certain box hidden on a shelf in the storeroom, in which lies his father's prized possession - a revolver. When Anna returns alone, and Wolff begins to close in, Sigs choice is pulled into sharp focus. Should he use the gun, or not?

My Thoughts
The only aspect of this book I enjoyed was the Alaskan setting. It was too short to really connect to the characters or flesh them out enough to make them individuals. The heavy religious sections really turned me off, and I dislike guns as well, so there you have it. This book has its audience, it just isn't me. Most of the story is just an awkward standoff between a boy and a man with a gun who (it is implied) has raped and killed the boys mother and intends to do the same to his sister. The main question of the book is whether or not guns are good or bad, yet never really seeks to answer the question, only to raise it. In the last several chapters the narration switches from the main character it has followed the entire time to the villain and also his sister, which stuck me as both messy and as an easy way out. The ending seemed forced and corny.

FTC Disclaimer

Top Ten: Character Crushes

2013-04-01T21:00:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week our list (brought to you by Randi!) is Top Ten Characters I'd Crush on if I Were a Fictional Character! As I'm sure many of us do, I collect book-boyfriends like I collect...umm...books. (I looked around and realized the only thing I really collect is books!) Anyway, I love falling for characters, whether it's because I want to be his/her best friend or because I have a character crush. So, without further ado, enjoy this list of my top ten character crushes!

Click photos for a link to the book's Goodreads page.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: If you haven't read these...you're missing out!

1. Laurie from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - one of my very first literary crushes (which, granted, can be attributed at first to Christian Bale's role as Laurie in the 90s film version!). I've never gotten over Laurie. 2. Valek from Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder - Valek intrigued me from the start and I rode Yelena's emotional rollercoaster of feelings right alongside her. I just finished this and can't wait to continue the series. 3. Ian from The Host by Stephenie Meyer - Oh, Ian. He's one of the sweetest and kindest characters I've ever met. In fact, as I was reading, I accidentally told my husband "You are SO lucky Ian's not real!" Oops! 4. Roger from Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson - Roger is one of those guys you just have to love. He's such a sweetie and a genuinely kind person. And he's crazy about music - always a plus. 5. Matt from Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park - Matt's got the nerdy-and-quirky-yet-sweet-guy vibe going on and I couldn't help but find him absolutely adorable.

6. Jem from The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassie Clare I have been Team Jem since I first started this trilogy. Jem will always have a piece of my heart! Again, a nice guy who would do anything for the people he loves.
7. Jase from My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick - Oh, Jase. I feel like I'm on repeat, but such a genuine and sweet guy. The way he interacts with his family and the love he shows them make me love him all the more because he is so caring!
8. Jace from Rachel Vincent's Shifters series - Another Jace. WerecatJace. I don't know what it is about Jace...he's protective (overly so, to the point that sometime's it's annoying) and funny (often inappropriately so!); I couldn't help but like him.
9. Gabriel Merrick from Brigid Kemmerer's Elemental series (and all the Merrick brothers, really) - Oh those Merrick boys...I loved them all from Book 1 (Storm), but in Book 2, Spark, which is Gabriel's book, he totally stole my heart...which is kind of funny since he was my least favorite brother in the first book. He has a tough-guy attitude, but eventually shows his vulnerable side. When that side came out, he totally became my new favorite. Followed by Michael.
10. Noah from Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - Oh jeepers. I gotta have at least one tattooed "bad boy" on the list. I just can't even explain Noah. His vulnerability, determination (to the point of hardheadedness at times), and sense of responsibility (at least where his brothers are concerned) made me melt.

What do you think of my crush-list? Who made YOUR list of Character Crushes? Leave us a link & we'll be sure to visit!

Top Ten: Books I Recommend Most!

2013-03-26T07:22:00.005-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week our list (brought to you by Becky) is Top Ten books I recommend most! This is a hard list for me, because I don't usually "recommend" books. I don't like it when said person doesn't love the book as much as me, lol. Sorry Randi. I usually just "suggest" books based on what I know about the person in question or what I've recently read and liked. If I magically found someone I thought would appreciate similar books as me, I'd recommend these, though...

Click photos for a link to the book's Goodreads page.

The Scorpio Races~ For fans of gothic romance. I love the magical realism of the carnivorous horses that ride out of the water every year. If you don't like this book, you may not have a soul :). The Curiosities~ For fans of short story collections like zombies vs. Unicorns. The author commentary and bizarre sketches are the best part! The Age of Miracles~ I'd recommend for fans of the City of Ember. This is a really fast, bleak dystopia but it felt very real. It is suitable for younger ages and would be a great book club read. The Poison Eaters~Another good book for fans of Zombies vs. Unicorns. I love the dark, magical worlds of Holly Black! The Diviners~ Oh, my gosh. This book is a wild, dense ride of magic, mystery and horror. I liked how the magical elements were subtle/dormant for most of the story with just whispers of it rising up like fog.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake~ For fans of Chocolat! The magical realism and food really hooked me. I warn you, though, this is a very bizarre tale.

The Snow Child~ For fans of literary fairy tale adaptations. This book has a very measured pace and is not for everyone. If you like a lot of atmosphere, the you may enjoy it. The Night Circus~ For fans of Harry Potter who have grown up. If you're looking for a new magical reality to captivate you with its detail and atmosphere, look no further. The Magicians~ Also for grown up harry Potter fans who want something snarky, hard-edged and utterly depressing haha. It's like the Harry that would have been, if a school for wizardry did exist. I actually liked this way more than HP, please don't stone me to death. The Thirteenth Tale~ For fans of Jane Eyre and/or the Turn of the Screw. If you want a windy mystery with heavy gothic elements and books galore, this is for you!

Have you read any of these? What did you think? What is on YOUR Most Recommended List? Link us up!

Top Ten: Books At The TOP Of My Spring 2013 TBR list!

2013-03-11T22:41:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week our list (brought to you by Randi) is Top Ten books at the TOP of my Spring 2013 TBR list! It just so happens that I made a reading list just a few days ago full of books that I can't stop thinking about reading, need to reread, or simply need to read for various reasons. I'm trying to make good use of my reading time so I've started planning things out. Here are 10 from that list. Surprisingly this includes only ONE new release.

Click photos for a link to the book's Goodreads page.

1984 by George Orwell, I feel slack in my reading of the classics, despite the English degree. This seems like one that everyone should read at some point. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen,I feel I need to read a Sarah Dessen book since I have come to adore YA contemporary - I happen to own a copy of this one. Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood, I love books about food/cooking/baking and this middle grade read has been on my radar since last summer. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon, I occasionally find my mind wandering to Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall Fraser at odd moments...ever since I read Outlander a year ago. I've avoided picking this up because the length is daunting, but I've got to know what happens (happened?)! Lord of the Flies by William Golding, I hated this book when I read it in high school; however, I've come to realize that my feelings toward a book can really be altered by the context, so I'm willing to give this a reread and hope that I feel more kindly toward it!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, I've heard awesome things about this trilogy and after winning a copy of the final book from Epic Reads (thank you!), I splurged for copies of the first two books and, despite my resistance to angel-related books, I'm going to give it a go. Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson, I won this from a Goodreads giveaway months and months ago and have not gotten around to reading it yet. But I love foodie books (see previous mention in this post!) and have read some very enjoyable memoirs recently, so it's time to crack it open! The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, I've never read any of Hemingway's work, a fact which needs to be remedied, especially considering the sentimental attachment to his name ~ my honeymoon suite was called the Hemingway suite! Emma by Jane Austen, I still haven't managed to read an Austen novel and my friend Rachel (who is a huge Austen fan) suggested I start with Emma first. I've got to start somewhere. Clockwork Princess by Cassie Clare, Ohmygosh, ohmygosh. The final book in The Infernal Devices trilogy is being released in a week! I'm scared to read this book (once it arrives, I've already put in my pre-order), but am also anxious to find out what happens with Tessa, Jem (GO JEM!), and Will.

Have you read any of these? What did you think? What is on YOUR Spring 2013 To Be Read List? Link us up!

Picture Book Spotlight: Clever Jack Takes The Cake & The Duchess of Whimsy

2013-02-27T17:20:00.000-06:00

Picture Book Spotlight is an original weekly post that will highlight relevant and/or popular picture books and suggest age groups and storytime themes for them. It will also include a mini-review.
Today I have a double whammy because these two books share so many themes. Another great pairing would be Apple Cakes.

Title: Clever Jack Takes The Cake
Author: Candace Fleming Pages:40 Audience: K-2 Themes: fantasy, fairytales, food, love, humor

Summary:
What would you do if you were invited to the princess’s tenth birthday party but didn’t have money for a gift? Well, clever Jack decides to bake the princess a cake.

Now he just has to get it to the castle in one piece. What could possibly go wrong?

My Thoughts: I LOVED this picture book. It has really charming illustrations and a storyline that will make you slap your head and laugh at the same time. Jack tries to take a cake to the princess but little by little it gets eaten away by other creatures on his journey.

Title: The Duchess of Whimsy
Authors: Peter de Seve Pages: 32 Audience: K-2 Themes: fantasy, fairytales, stories, food, love, humor

Summary:
The great New Yorker artist Peter de Seve teams up with the author of bestselling Toy Boat in a slightly outrageous fairy tale. The Duchess of Whimsy is fancy and fussy—and definitely not ordinary—surrounding herself with wild friends, fabulous foods, and fancy dress. The Earl of Norm (ho hum) is completely ordinary, but he adores the Duchess. She ignores him, until the chef gets sick, and her friends have to make a super supper—which includes tracking down truffles, spinning sugar stars, and looking for quail eggs.

But the Earl is hungry! He sneaks off to an ordinary grilled cheese sandwich—and suddenly takes the Duchess’s eye. Maybe there’s something to simplicity after all. Maybe there’s something to the Earl after all . . .

This deliciously told and illustrated love story by the remarkable de Sèves shows how utterly charming and extraordinary a picture book can be

My Thoughts: Cute! I loved these whimsical ;P illustrations full of color and fun and crazy things. The story is about a normal Duke who falls in love with the Duchess of whimsy. The moral is you should get to know people before judging them. Because this is really focused on romance, I probably wouldn't read it for a storytime. It has a very princess-story feeling with your typical themes. The language was fun and had some rhymes.

Mini Reviews (Becky): Fairy Tale Anthologies Continued

2013-02-24T11:11:00.000-06:00

Fairy Tale Anthologies

I'm currently in a storytelling class where I learn to tell tales without using a book. Terrifying, right? One of our major responsibilities is to read as many story collections as possible to find stories that appeal to us. As Randi well knows, I dislike most of what I read, so this is really taking some digging.

My first row reviews the scary anthologies I have been reading and the second just shows some general collections.

Scary Stories

Passion and Poison, by Janice M. Del Negro. This is a very small collection of YA horror stories to tell aloud. I loved how each of them had a strong female protagonist, and a few of them were very familiar, as they had been adapted from traditional stories. Del Negro really makes these stories her own by adding creeptastic imagery and new character names. I loved the grayscale illustrations!
Here There Be Witches, by Jane Yolen.
Ask the Bones: Scary Stories from around the world, by Arielle North Olson and Howard Schwarts.

A Wolf at the Door: and Other Retold English Fairy Tales by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling.

General Collections

Ten Small Tales, by Celia Barker Lottridge Possibly the worst collection I've read lol. I don't know if it is because these stories are aimed at very young children, but it seems like all the flavor has been washed out of these stories. I could barely get through them, and this is a short book! Needless to say I won't be telling any of these. The Boy Who Lived with Bears: and other Iroquois Stories, by Jospeh Bruchac A stunning collection of stories and images. I would have no problem telling any of these, and I enjoyed the trickster tales. My favorite was the book's namesake. This collection has a lot of authentic atmosphere and spirit (or it feels that way to me). A Treasury of Trickster Tales, by Valerie Marsh I normally don't care much for trickster tales, and I care even less for animal tales lol. I thought this book did a good job with them, regardless, organizing by anti-hero and adding all kinds of supplementary telling devices such as sign language, cut outs, puzzles,etc. Favorite Fairy Tales Told in Russia, by Virginia Haviland. I would not mind owning this collection. It has most of my favorites from Arthur Ransome's larger collection and streamlines the stories while keeping the colorful imagery and spirit. I prefer Ransome's version of the snow child, however. The illustrations are messy but atmospheric.

Picture Book Spotlight: Lovabye Dragon

2013-02-20T05:07:00.000-06:00

Picture Book Spotlight is an original weekly post that will highlight relevant and/or popular picture books and suggest age groups and storytime themes for them. It will also include a mini-review.

Title: Lovabye Dragon
Authors:Barbara Joosse Pages:32 Audience: K-2 Themes: fantasy, fairytales, friends, humor

Summary:

When a lonely dragon follows a trail of princess tears, a beautiful friendship is born. They march and sing, roar and whisper, hide and seek, then settle into snug companionship at bedtime. Barbara Joosse’s fiercely protective and gently loving dragon cavorts across the pages, endearingly illustrated by Randy Cecil. At the end of the day, who can resist curling up in the embrace of a lovabye dragon?

My Thoughts:
This is a really cute, simple rhyming story about a princess who wishes for a dragon friend. She cries silver tears that drip all the way to the dragon's cave. He wakes up and they find each other. This would be a great pick for a dragon storytime The illustrations are muted colors, adorable cartoon-style with a hilariously goofy looking dragon. I'd pair with Puff, the Magic Dragon!