One Librarian's Book Reviews

Retro Friday Review: Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer

2012-05-25T11:24:00.001-07:00

Retro Friday is a meme hosted by Angie of Angieville and "focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc."

Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady by LA Meyer
Publisher: Listen & Live Audio
Publication date: (book published in 2004)
Length: 14 hrs 13 min
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun
Series: Bloody Jack Adventures, Book 2

*Likely to be spoilers for the first book, Bloody Jack*
After being set off shore in Boston to attend a ladies' school, Jacky misses her life on the open seas - and Jaimy, of course. She's finding that all of her training at sea and on the streets didn't prepare her for the horrors of being a lady. It seems that around every corner is a new disaster, waiting for Jacky to put her foot in it.

Things I Liked:
Are you prepared for more Jacky-raving? If not, skip right on by this review. Oh, Jacky. I love this series with a serious passion and I can't get enough of Jacky's hard-headed, foolish, impulsive charm. She goes from one disaster to the next, leaving a wake of destruction behind her, but you can't help but love her! I'm also quite impressed with the natural historical fiction details about Boston that Meyer manages to squeeze in. I once again must rave over the inimitable Katherine Kellgren, who does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook, keeping me enthralled in the story not only with her many and varied accents, but with the emotions she can portray with that voice. I am so happy to have more adventures with Jacky, and thrilled there are still more books in the series for me to devour (all with similarly awesome titles).

Things I Didn't Like:
Ok, I have to admit the adventures leave you a bit incredulous. It's a big stretch to imagine her literally going from stepping in one pile of poop right into the next with no break between. But honestly, I just can't help but follow her wherever she goes. Count me a fan of Miss Jacky Faber.

Read-alikes:
Start with Bloody Jack by LA Meyer (and prepare yourself to be entertained)
It kind of reminded me of (an irreverent, more lively version of) A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
a fair number of cuss words

mrg-factor: XX
they do tend to get a bit bawdy

v-factor: ->
mostly for some scary situations she finds herself in

Overall rating: *****

Please tell me some of you are Jacky-addicts? I may have to create a week-long celebration for this character!

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

Book Review: Die For Me by Amy Plum

2012-05-24T10:29:00.000-07:00

Die for Me by Amy Plum
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: May 2011
Pages: 352
Source: Review copy from publisher
For: Review
Series: Revenants, Book 1

Following her parents' death in a car crash, Kate and her sister move to Paris to live with their grandparents. While Kate struggles to recover from the loss, she meets a boy who might just help her start to live again. But the mysterious Vincent has a deeper history and more secrets than she imagined - secrets that might put her in danger.

Things I Liked:
While at first glance, this book appears to be a Twilight knock-off, substituting vampires with revenants, I was still intrigued by its unique elements. I liked our fair heroine, who has spunk and vitality and doesn't go easily into her world of monsters and death without some kicking and screaming. I really enjoyed the Parisian setting, which also added some fun elements to a very familiar plot. And the added bonus of her sister and grandparents was also refreshing. A pretty good paranormal, over all.

Things I Didn't Like:
The romance didn't do anything for me, though to be fair I think paranormal romance is not my cup of cocoa. Despite Plum's best efforts to avoid insta-love of the eternal variety and the vampire culture (repeated jokes about NOT being vampires abound), I think the romance was a little too much too soon. I liked that Kate fought it, but I don't like that it was just so inevitable. I was also very unsurprised by any of the plot twists. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger, which is very nice for a change, but I currently have no strong urges to pick up the next one.

Read-alikes:
Twilight fans will likely enjoy it
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
a few, no f-bombs

mrg-factor: X
some heavy kissing

v-factor: ->->
a few vivid scenes, but not really graphic

Overall rating: ***

Will we forever be doomed to compare all paranormal romance books to Twilight? Do you think there will ever be a book in that genre as big?

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

Book Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

2012-05-23T11:04:00.001-07:00

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: October 2011
Pages: 416
Source: Library
For: Fun (and Printz Project)

Puck Connolly has never want to be in the races - her parents were brutally killed by water horses - but she is compelled to sign up anyway. Sean Kendrick is the returning champion, so in tune with the vicious horses and his mount in particular he's likely to win easily again. The two must face off, along with many other contenders, in a race that always ends in bloodshed.

Things I Liked:
Oh, this book. (Don't dismiss it based on my horrible summary.) I'm not sure what I think about this book. On the one hand, it is, in true Stiefvater fashion, gorgeously written with this lovely prose that seems to drip from the pages like nectar and characters that worm their way into your affections so slowly you don't notice until it's too late. On the other hand, I couldn't get into it. It's kind of embarrassing to say that about a book filled with killer sea horses, but there it is. I struggled to want to keep reading, with the slow plot and the characters I hadn't yet come to love. I was nearly three-fourths of the way through before I decided that I did like the book, the characters, and the crazy killer water horse story. And then it ended (in such a nice way, too). I will admit that I won't soon be forgetting about the cappaill uisce or Sean or Puck. It boasts a beautiful mythology in the perfect setting - with a creepy undertone and old magic simmering under the surface.

Things I Didn't Like:
Like I said, I got nearly all the way through before I wanted to keep reading and see what happened. It was, to be honest, rather dull at the start. Depending on when you are grabbed by the characters or setting or story, you may love it more or less. I'd say it's worth the effort of pushing through the beginning to get to the rest.

Read-alikes:
Um, I can't really think of anything! Perhaps a bit like Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
some, not a lot

mrg-factor: X
a few dirty jokes, nothing action-wise

v-factor: ->
bloody killer man-eating horses!

Overall rating: ****

What did you think of these killer sea horses?

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

Book Review: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull

2012-05-22T10:33:00.001-07:00

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's (Aladdin)
Publication date: March 2012
Pages: 512
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: Beyonders, Book 2

Jason is desperate to find a way back to Lyrian, since he left Rachel behind and he needs to share an important secret. But his parents are so overjoyed at his return he finds it hard to escape. When he does eventually return, things are not as he left them, with tensions running high and both Jason and Rachel in great danger. Will Jason, Rachel, and their friends be able to rouse a rebellion to fight against Maldor or will they all lose their lives?

Things I Liked:
I do not know what is going on inside Brandon Mull's head, but he has more imagination than any writer I've read, hands down. The weird and crazy and magical beings that inhabit these books are just unbelievable in number and variety. The story also manages to keep me interested and wondering what will happen next to our displaced hero and heroine. It's an imaginative series filled with the strange and unusual. There's never a dull moment, that's for sure.

Things I Didn't Like:
I think I was put off a little by the non-stop descriptions. It seemed that everything and everyone had at least two descriptive adjectives. It got to be a bit much, bogging down the story and action. Also, Mull uses a lot more obscure or difficult words, making it less accessible than his Fablehaven series, but perhaps will help kids learn more vocabulary. Still, for those not afraid of some bigger words, the story is satisfying and worth the effort.

Read-alikes:
Start with Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull
Reminds me of Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some sword fighting, not graphic though

Overall rating: ****

How does this one compare to Fablehaven for you?

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

Where We Went

2012-05-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

I just know that my dozens of readers noticed my web absence this weekend (ha ha). I thought I'd still post about where we went and what we did, because I'm still recovering and it might be a bit before I get back into the swing of things. So, we were...

Checking out rock piles

Hiking steep mountains

Keeping rocks from falling

Generally enjoying the view

Oh, and hanging out on bridges

What did you do this weekend?

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

Guest Post: Author Cat Patrick's Top Five Books

2012-05-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

Today's guest post is from Cat Patrick. About Cat: Cat Patrick is an author of books for young adults including Forgotten (June 2011), about a girl who remembers the future instead of the past; Revived (May 2012), about a girl in a top secret government trial to test a drug that brings people back from the dead and The Originals (May 2013), about three clones living as one person in order to hide their past. Cat lives outside of Seattle with her husband and twin daughters, and is both obsessed with and afraid of zombies and America’s Next Top Model.

Check out my review of Revived.

Cat Patrick’s Top Five Books

Whenever I’m asked to list my five, ten or even twenty favorite books, I panic. I stare up at the wall of books behind my computer, certain I’m going to forget The One. The one that kept me up at night and left me thinking about it long after I’d turned the last page. The one that’s not actually on my bookshelf right now because I loaned it out for the umpteenth time…and by the way, I really need to get that back.

You know who you are.

Ahem.

Since the process of selecting only five books is so ridiculously daunting to me, I’ve helped myself by allowing only a top pick from each reading phase of my life. So, without further ado:

Preschool Me Recommends…Anything by Richard Scarry, but specifically What Do People Do All Day? I remember this book feeling huge in both size and content. I was fascinated by Busytown and all of the zany characters who lived there.

Middle Grade Me Recommends…The Choose Your Own Adventure series. For the first time, I didn’t have to go on the journey the author chose for me—I could choose the path myself! I certainly wouldn’t want all books to be like this, but at that point in my life, it was incredibly exciting and empowering to control the outcome of the story.

High School Me Recommends…Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. I have to admit: I love me some dystopia. The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner…yes, please! I think that love traces back to Fahrenheit 451. In high school, I didn’t read a lot more than what was required. But this was one requirement that I devoured.

Twentysomething Me Recommends…The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Thinking of it gives me chills: It’s so lyrical and lovely despite being about the abduction and murder of a young girl. I think Sebold’s choice to tell the story from the perspective of the victim was genius. It’s a book I’ll never forget.

Today Me Recommends…(I know it’s cheating, but it’s a tie between) World War Z by Max Brooks and The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I read both on vacation recently and love them for very different reasons. Both are gripping for sure, but while World War Z terrifies and traumatizes you with its oral history of the zombie war—which you’ll swear really happened after reading the book—The Scorpio Races wraps you in a wool cardigan and transports you to a chilly, eerie island where people race killer horses that walk out of the sea. And then it makes you fall in love.

What books are you in love with? Post here or feel free to visit me at http://www.catpatrick.com/.

Thanks for stopping by, Cat!
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Revived by Cat Patrick

2012-05-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Revived by Cat Patrick
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: May 2012
Pages: 352
Source: ARC sent by publisher
For: Review

Daisy Appleby has died five times already - and been brought back to life each time by a drug called Revive. Part of a secret government program designed to study Revive and it's effects, she has had anything but a normal life. But when Daisy makes some new friends, she is about to discover that there is more to life than not being dead - and that there is more to the Revive project than she could ever guess.

Things I Liked:
I was intrigued by the premise - a drug that brings back from the dead, a secret government testing program, a girl who's died five times already - what's not to love? This book was not exactly what I expected, but I still found that it was remarkably intriguing. I loved Daisy and what she begins to discover about herself and about others when she makes friends with Audrey and Matt. When she finally gets a grasp on death and what it is like for those who do not have Revive to bring them back, she really starts to grow. I love the ethical implications that are slowly introduced and how she struggles to understand them. This is the greatest strength of the book - a discussion of what something like this drug would mean for every day people and how death affects each of us in different ways. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time to come.

Things I Didn't Like:
I had a really hard time getting into the book for a lot of the beginning. It seemed like nothing interesting was happening, despite Daisy's unusual lifestyle. When it did pick up, I was more invested in what happened to Daisy. I was somewhat disappointed in the ending, though. It seemed a little too neatly wrapped up after all the build up. I expected more action, but got very little. It is definitely more character-driven than plot-driven, but the interesting medical ethics alone make it worth a read.

Read-alikes:
Jenna Fox Chronicles by Mary Pearson
A little like The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

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

mrg-factor: X
they make out a bit

v-factor: ->
well, come on, she's died 5 times!

Overall rating: ***

Check out the guest post from Cat Patrick as part of her Revived tour!

What do you think will be the next big medical break-through?

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

Book Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

2012-05-16T08:59:00.002-07:00

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication date: April 2012
Pages: 560
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review
Series: His Fair Assassin, Book 1

When Ismae was born, she was marked as the daughter of Death. So when she ends up at the convent devoted to St. Mortain, she is welcomed with open arms and trained as an assassin to deal death to those who are marked to die. But an assignment to protect the young Duchess of Brittany might just test her loyalty to the Sisters against the feelings of her heart.

Things I Liked:
What I think stuck out to me the most in this book is the intricate plot and complicated heroine. I love the idea (I mean, who didn't perk up at the idea of assassin nuns?) and I really enjoyed watching Ismae's progression from her oppressed home to powerful assassin to compassionate woman. The politics and the twisty slippery villains and plots kept me interested and reading to know just what would happen next. I especially love how nothing is easy for Anne - it would seem nice to have a convenient way out of all her troubles, but she doesn't and I like it, even as I wished it would happen. I suppose that is because she was a real person and real stories don't often have convenient endings. There is so much in this book that I can't even talk about all of it and do it justice (plus the numerous beautifully expressed reviews I've read about it make that even more daunting). But I think the court maneuevering and political machinations were my favorite things. Despite having seen who the villain was well in advance, I was intrigued enough to continue to the end. Another fabulous historical fiction, again reminding me just how much I like the genre!

Things I Didn't Like:
It did get a bit long. I took a lot of long breaks (most of them not of my own choosing), so that might have affected how smoothly the book flowed for me. I was also a touch annoyed by the somewhat convenient and slightly strange way Ismae manages to save someone near the end. Definitely not a book for younger teens, what with the mature themes. Otherwise, I pretty much enjoyed it, especially the parts where she plays the defenseless girl but instead kicks the bad guys around. Never gets old.

Read-alikes:
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Poison by Sara Poole

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

mrg-factor: XX
implied, not described in detail, but it does happen

v-factor: ->->
she is an assassin so death happens, sometimes in gruesome ways

Overall rating: ****

I've seen lots of great recommendations for courtly intrigue books floating around as a result of this book. Anybody have some good historical fiction courtly intrigue books to recommend to me?

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

Book Review: Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

2012-05-15T11:06:00.000-07:00

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Publication date: September 2011
Pages: 352
Source: Library
For: Fun (and because it won the Newbery)

Jack is planning to have the summer of his life, until he's grounded for life. His only escape is the unusual job of writing obituaries for Mrs. Voelker, his eccentric old neighbor. But things in his dead end town are about to get more exciting when a whole bunch of the original town members start to die off.

Things I Liked:
What a fun and interesting story! I really liked Jack and especially Mrs. Voelker, who is the life of this story. She is the Grandma Dowdel of the book. There were lots of fun, quirky characters and I loved seeing the world of the 1960s from the eyes of a kid. The writing was excellent, with some seriously great imagery and similes. Check out the quotes below for a taste (ok, they're mostly just funny parts). Not to mention, some of the stories are simply hilarious - I can totally picture Mr. Spizz riding around on his adult tricycle. Definitely will be remembering these stories for a long time!

I was a nosebleeder. The moment something startled me or whenever I got excited or spooked about any little thing blood would spray out of my nose holes like dragon flames. p 8

"I've only driven a tractor," I said nervously. "I don't know if I can really drive a car."
"It's the same," she said. "Just go slow and it won't matter if you hit anything."
"But what if I slowly drive off a cliff?" I asked.
"You'll have more time to pray before you hit the bottom," she said impatiently. "Now try to be a man and let's get going." p 102

Things I Didn't Like:
Honestly, I thought it was boring. Yes, there were funny stories and interesting things happened, but a lot of the time, there was nothing to keep me invested. Also, it was a very all-over-the-place kind of book; I wasn't exactly sure what the point of the narrative was or often where the story was going. It was fairly episodic, but not necessarily in a good way. Instead of being completely impressed with this book, I felt it was just good, despite the fun I had reading it. Now I really wish Okay for Now had taken the Newbery.

Read-alikes:
The Wednesday Wars and Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt
A Long Way From Chicago and A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe one or two

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
well, there are some people dying

Overall rating: ****

Are you often a bit disappointed with award winners?

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

Northwest Regional Library

2012-05-14T08:45:00.001-07:00

It's been quite some time since I highlighted a library, and I've been remiss in showing my new local library. Since I use this delight quite frequently, I thought I'd get around to sharing the local love.

Coming from a place where the local libraries were NOT a branch of a bigger system, this county-wide library system was new to me. And I have to admit, I kind of like it! Not only does it make the selection much wider, but it also allows for more copies of books and (hopefully) shorter hold list waits! Without further ado, here's a glimpse at the new local, the Northwest Regional Library:

(all of the photos are from the Northwest Regional Library page of the Maricopa County Library District website)

This is the front of the building, definitely has a southwest flavor to it. I love the mural, even though most of the time when I come, I don't even give it a second glance.

This is the detail from the mural, which was done by a local artist (Niki Glen).

This is the clock tower, though to be honest, I don't think I've ever even noticed this. Gotta open my eyes a bit more.

This, I have seen. It's pretty cool actually, a sculpture of a tree, called "The Reading Tree" and it's really beautiful. Done by another local artist Joe Tyler.

I didn't take any photos of the inside either, but it's got LOTS of computers and even a (small-ish) teen section, which I feel free to browse (though not too often, as that would explode the TBR pile).

Is your local library part of a bigger system or is it a stand alone? Which do you prefer?

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

What's Next on the TBR and, More Importantly, Why?

2012-05-11T10:51:00.001-07:00

This is kind of similar to what I posted a few weeks ago, where I wondered if book advertising swayed your reading choices, but now I want to know what kinds of things make you decide what to read next. What feeds the TBR pile and what moves things to the top. And, more importantly, who feeds it and moves it along.

I know that often I'll put books on the TBR just from what publishers send to me and read in order of release. Then there are the sequels to all the great series I started, which sometimes take a back seat, but usually make it to the top eventually. I know that usually when I first hear about or see a new title coming out it's months in advance (which is a two-edged sword, me thinks, but that is a post for another day). I'll see the description, but rarely am I drawn to read it just from that (exceptions: authors whose stuff I've adored in the past...and dystopian).

I think it requires a bit more than those eagerly anticipating posts (like my I Actually NEED It posts) to persuade me. Sometimes. I usually need a few trusted folks to get it, read it, and write good solid reviews. I like to note those things mentioned that I might like or dislike and decide based on that. Or sometimes I throw caution to the wind and move it up the TBR based solely on one random raving review. Or a really fun description.

And so, since I'm in an analyzing mood and not a reviewing mood, here's a look at what induced me to pick up my last eight reads (with the random added bonus of where it came from):

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
-Despite the many good and reliable reviews I saw for this, I think it was the mere fact of it being a Printz Honor book tipped the scales. Plus, I've enjoyed everything Maggie's written that I've read. Library.

Revived by Cat Patrick
-Sent for review from the publisher (I requested it, because of the wicked-cool-sounding premise) and then I got a chance to be part of the blog tour. That certainly pushed it to the top of the TBR :)

Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer
-I mentioned the two bloggers who influenced me to pick up the first in the series. Which in turn influenced my need to devour them all. A case of next in the series. Audio download from library.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
-This is one that intrigued me from the first mention of its summary. I had it on my radar. Then, several trusted bloggers wrote lovely reviews and I wanted it. Finally, NetGalley had a special promo offering it and the deal was sealed.

Die For Me by Amy Plum
-This one was sent for review (you know, way back when it was first published, which is a hint of the awful wasteland that inhabits my review books) and then the winner of my Book Puzzle Mini-Challenge picked it as a prize. I thought I'd try to squeeze a read of it out before sending it off.

Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull
-A delightful sequel to a fun series by a favorite author. Library.

Partials by Dan Wells
-Beautiful cover, dystopian premise (which, btw, is a huge weakness for me from the summary phase), Utah author (I have a weakness for them too). Done deal. Library.

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
-Picked up only because it was the Newbery winner and I had to figure out how it beat out my beloved Okay For Now.

So, I'm wondering what moves your books up the TBR? Feel free to tell me about your most recent reads and the reasons behind them. And who do you use as a move-it-to-the-top reviewer (like Angie, Small Review, and Susan, among others, for me)?

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

Book Review: Partials by Dan Wells

2012-05-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

Partials by Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication date: February 2012
Pages: 480
Source: Library
For: the Dystopian Challenge
Series: Partials, Book 1

In a world where nearly all humans have been wiped out by the RM virus, and replaced by an engineered race of not-quite-humans, Kira has spent the last few years trying to fight the virus that continues to decimate the last surviving humans. When she makes a desperate bid to try to find the cure, she is led on a dangerous mission that might offer her more than she bargained for.

Things I Liked:
Wow, what a good story! I think the best part about this dystopian book is the complex story and the very well thought out and developed setting and world. It seems like Wells thought it through very completely and it is so thorough that I truly felt immersed in the story. I really appreciated the passages where Kira tried to figure out how the virus works and what might cure it (though I can see how that will deter some readers). I honestly wasn't entirely sure where the story would go, because it wasn't what I thought it would be from the beginning. Though, there was something I figured out very early on, I wasn't 100% sure how it would play out. It's an interesting, fast-paced, and rather terrifying look at the future of our race. And there was much laughing along the way too:

"I've never been this wet in my life," said Kira. "Even immersed in a bathtub I swear I was dryer than I am now."
"Look on the bright side," said Marcus.
Kira waited.
"This is the point," she said, "at which you would traditionally suggest a bright side."
"I've never been a real traditional guy," said Marcus. "Besides, I'm not saying I know a bright side, I just think this would be a great time to look at one." p 45

"My contribution was to somehow refrain from peeing myself. You can thank me later." p 344

Things I Didn't Like:
There were parts of the story that I can see people being bored - as I mentioned above the parts where she's figuring out the RM virus and how it works, etc. The somewhat technical explanations can be confusing or frustrating or just plain boring. It was quite a long book too, with a lot of stuff going on. Still, I never got bored or distracted and I really loved how everything developed and played out. Including that cliff-hangery ending. Great new series!

Read-alikes:
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
The Passage by Justin Cronin

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

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
fighting and rioting and such does happen, but not really gory

Overall rating: *****

How do you like the science in your books?

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

Book Review: The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee

2012-05-09T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Agency 3: The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee
Publisher: Candlewick
Publication date: February 2012
Pages: 384
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review
Series: The Agency, Book 3

Mary has settled for a quiet and comfortable job at Buckingham Palace, investigating some rumors of petty thefts. As a maid there, she is inconspicuous and the job is pretty small. But, when a much bigger scandal threatens to upend the royal family, she finds there is more going on in the palace than she could possibly imagine.

Things I Liked:
I still love this series. There's something so fascinating about a Victorian mystery starring a woman who works for a secret agency employing only women agents. Mary continues to entertain with her headstrong, dangerous ways and cleverness. I just love watching the way she interacts with people in the time period, because she's different from what you'd expect of a woman, especially one who is half Chinese, in that era. The historical details are very well done, compelling and believable and they bring you 100% into the story. Oh, and James - wow I loved their interactions! Some really good romance there. It was interesting, it was compelling, it's just smart historical fiction with a unique heroine. I'd like more Mary adventures, especially with the way the Agency is going now.

Things I Didn't Like:
The mystery and story itself didn't seem to hold together as well as the other books did. There were a few too many different story lines going on and I kind of lost interest at times. Still, I think this is a series worth reading and following. I'm especially interested to see where Mary goes next, what with that surprising ending.

Read-alikes:
Read the first two Agency books by Y.S. Lee
Still reminds me of The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman

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

mrg-factor: X
heavy kissing, but no further

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

What's your favorite historical fiction time period?

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

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Book Quotes

2012-05-08T08:16:00.001-07:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and today's topic is our Top Ten Favorite Quotes from a Book. I used to quite often include quotes from the books I reviewed, though I've been doing it less often. So there are a LOT of quotes on my blog and it was practically impossible to pick an actual Top Ten Book Quotes. So, here are ten book quotes that I enjoy, and to make things fun, why don't you folks try to guess which books they come from? There are a few easy ones and some hard ones. Enjoy!

"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men."
--Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

"It occured to me that Heaven must be a place where the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. No...eight days a week."
--Flavia de Luce in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."
--in reference to Aragorn in The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

"Stories give you a way to see things. A way to understand the events of your life. Even if you don't realize it while you're hearing the tale."
--from Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

"Reader, I married him."
--Jane Eyre in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
"Flawed, we're truly interesting, truly memorable, and yes, truly beautiful."
--from North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

"No. Definitely not. We could lose our lives for that Jewish child!" Unseen by either of us, Father had appeared in the doorway. "Give the child to me, Corrie," he said.... "You say we could lose our lives for this child. I would consider that the greatest honor that could come to my family."
--from The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

"It looks too new and pristine ever to have been read by anyone else, but it has been: it keeps falling open at the most delightful places as the ghost of its former owner points me to things I've never read before."
--Helene in 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

"Today defies explanation, but for me, life has never been explainable. It's been a lopsided, illogical, messy affair, where answers are in short supply, but maybe that's the way it is for everyone. Sometimes the fairness is all bunched up in one place, and all the injustice is bunched up in another, and sometimes it is all bunched up in the most improbable ways, but whatever you get, wherever you are, there are still the moments that pin you to this world when you'd rather float away. Small, in-between moments, where there is magic and purpose and design and they are so perfectly beautiful they ache."
--from The Miles Between by Mary Pearson

"Real life is not quite as it is in stories. In the old tales, bad things happen, and when the tale has unfolded and come to its triumphant conclusion, it is as if the bad things had never been. Life is not as simple as that, not quite."
--from Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

With a little ingenuity, I think you can find those quotes (hint: most of them are already on my blog in the review for the book). Where do your favorite bookish quotes come from?

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

Listless Monday: Out of This World Edition

2012-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Listless Monday was inspired by both Amanda at A Bookshelf Monstrosity's feature Books by Theme and Court at Once Upon a Bookshelf's Listed feature. Be sure to check out their lists!

I love a good space book, though I think I am one of the only astronomy majors ever who didn't read adult sci-fi like it was going out of business. I guess that's why I'm loving the YA sci-fi with touches of outer space in them. Here are a smattering of those books:

Books that are Out of this World:

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
Across the Universe series by Beth Revis
Black Hole Sun by David Gill
Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Larklight by Philip Reeve
Last Survivors series by Susan Beth Pfeffer (kind of :)
Outside In by Maria V. Snyder
Relic Master series by Catherine Fisher
SPHDZ by Jon Scieszka
Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Any additions?

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

Book Review: Tempest by Julie Cross

2012-05-04T09:13:00.003-07:00

Tempest: A Novel by Julie Cross
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication date: January 2012
Length: 10 hrs, 51 min
Source: Audiobook received from publisher
For: Review
Series: Tempest, Book 1

In the present, Jackson Meyer is a college student with a fabulous girlfriend, who doesn't yet know about his ability to travel back in time. But when something horrible happens to Holly, Jackson panics and travels back in time two years - and is unable to return. He desperately tries to return to Holly, but also wants to focus on his current "present," until his future comes looking for him in his past.

Things I Liked:
This was definitely a fun, twisted, sometimes complicated time travel story. I really liked the time travel parts and how the way Jackson could move in time was explained, especially when he manages to get stuck. I thought it was clever and smart and definitely had some unique and fun twists on the time travel theme. The book opened up lots of room for sequels, so we can figure out just what is going on - which is good, because there are a LOT of loose ends that are left dangling. I kind of hope Courtney plays a role in the future books. The narrator, Matthew Brown, did a pretty good job on the voices - definitely on the teen boy voices, slightly less so on the teen girl voices. But all around I enjoyed the listen. I'll be interested to see what happens next.

Things I Didn't Like:
Honestly, the love story of Holly and Jackson didn't do much for me. I hated Jackson, because he acted a little too much like a teenage boy - a selfish, hormonal jerk that really treated Holly (and Adam and his dad to some extent) like dirt. I couldn't figure out what Holly saw in him and I just really didn't care much for the romance. It made it hard to be fully invested in the story, because that was the story. Also, there were a LOT of things that weren't explained well at all. Some of the time it was clear, but sometimes it was too vague and left me with a sense of some holes in the way the time traveling was set up. Definitely the series has a lot of potential for fun, but I wished this book was less focused on Holly and Jackson and more on Jackson's abilities and his history and future. If you liked Time Traveler's Wife (which I didn't for some of the same reasons), I think you'll like this one.

Read-alikes:
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A bit like Hourglass by Myra McEntire and The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@$%
plenty with quite a few f-bombs

mrg-factor: XX
not in a lot of descriptive detail, but it happens

v-factor: ->->
there's some action violence and shooting

Overall rating: ***

What's your favorite time travel story?

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

Book Review: The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi

2012-05-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: May 2012
Pages: 448
Source: ARC from publisher
For: Review
Series: Companion to Ship Breaker

Mahlia and Mouse are war maggots - cast off children caught in the midst of the many wars that ravage a future America. While trying to escape the dangerous gang-plagued streets of the cities, they come upon something even more dangerous in the wild jungles - a half man on the run. They must form a tentative alliance with this creature in order to be free from the soldiers, but when something terrible happens, Mahlia must make the choice between friendship and freedom.

Things I Liked:
Once again, Bacigalupi has created a future world that is terrifying, realistic, vivid, and engrossing. I honestly couldn't stop thinking about how some of this stuff might actually happen to us in the future. I think it is a testament to his skill as a writer that the world felt so real, from the coywolv to the jungle to Tool himself, it began to feel not made up. The story was interesting as well, but took kind of a back seat to the setting and world building (and Tool) for me. Tool, though, was fascinating. I remember wanting to know more about him when I finished Ship Breaker, and this book delivered. He was complex and mysterious and so intriguing. I loved trying to figure out what he was thinking, what he would do and why. Mahlia was also fabulous, being stubborn, smart, but also foolish and impetuous - in short, believable. This is truly complex and well-written dystopian/futuristic fiction.

Things I Didn't Like:
I was not invested in what happened to Mahlia and Mouse nearly as much as Tool (though that might be because of the first book piquing my interest in him). It seemed to sometimes not know quite where it was headed. The ending was action-packed and crazy, making up for the parts where I thought it was slower. I like Ship Breaker maybe a little better, but this one is still exceptionally good.

Read-alikes:
Start with Ship Breaker, though it isn't necessary to read that one first
Partials by Dan Wells
A bit like The Death Cure by James Dashner

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
not much, actually

mrg-factor: X
kind of vague implied stuff, but nothing happens on page

v-factor: ->->->->
some pretty vivid details, and often

Overall rating: ****

Which do you prefer - companions or sequels (or both)?

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

Classic Double Challenge: May

2012-05-01T11:43:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's May already! How are you coming on your Classic Double reading? I FINALLY got two books read and reviewed last month (New Girl, a retelling of Rebecca). I don't even have my next books planned out yet, but I've got to get more organized if I'm going to get more pairs read. If you'd like to sign up for the Classic Double Challenge, you still can. Check out all the information at the Classic Double Challenge sign-up post. If you still need some inspiration on books to choose, check out my list of retellings and other related books.

I've picked a winner for April and it is:

Bluerose's Heart!

Congrats - and way to go on your progress! She's posted a few reviews already (check out April's links for some of them).

I can't think of a fabulous question to ask about retellings today, my mind is ridiculously empty. Instead, I'll ask what the biggest road block to completing this challenge is for you - a specific book, general lack of time, too many other books to read, etc.

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

Name That Book, Episode 24

2012-04-30T08:54:00.001-07:00

Name that Book is an irregular feature where you get to guess a book title from the photo clues.

So, it's been much too long since my last Name That Book game and I finally got one together for you today! Leave your guesses in the comments and if you need a hint, one of these books I'm currently reading and the other is closely related to that book...

Book 1:

Book 2:

Any guesses?

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

Retro Friday Review: Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer

2012-04-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

Retro Friday is a meme hosted by Angie of Angieville and "focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc."

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy by L.A. Meyer
Publisher: Listen & Live Audio
Publication date: (book published in September 2002)
Length: 7hrs, 22 min
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun
Series: Bloody Jack Adventures, Book 1

Jacky Faber, formerly Mary Faber, finds life as a ship's boy practically a dream. She no longer has to fight for food and her life on the streets of London and being a boy makes things a LOT easier. But everything is not as easy as all that, especially if her secret gets out.

Things I Liked:
Oh. My. Word. Why didn't I get to this series sooner? (Huge thanks to Susan for always raving about it and to Megan for giving me the heads up on the audio.) I love, love, love it! Jacky is so hilarious and has become one of my new favorite characters. She is tough and smart and also really stupid sometimes. She made me laugh even while she was dealing with horrible things. I fell in love with her and wanted her to succeed. I am a big sucker for the girl disguised as boy thing and this one does it very well and very thoroughly. There are lots of things Jacky does throughout to make the deception believable. And I love that she is always thinking ahead to when she will be found out. She doesn't just ignore that it will happen, she expects it. She deals with a lot of crap and she takes it, well, like a smart girl. And, oh, the audio of this book is the very best I've ever listened to. Katherine Kellgren is amazing at the cockney accent, making it so believable and doing so many voices that I honestly didn't care how long my commute was, I was only paying attention to the story and the characters and loving every minute.

Things I Didn't Like:
The romance element was not that amazing, since I didn't know why she liked him and I didn't get a good handle on him as a character, but honestly that isn't the focus of this book. And I liked it that way just fine.

Read-alikes:
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Maybe a bit like Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
they are sailors, after all :)

mrg-factor: XX
there is attempted rape and plenty of passionate kissing

v-factor: ->
some fighting and killing

Overall rating: *****

What series do you wish you'd discovered sooner? (And if you haven't tried this one, do yourself a favor and get on it!!)

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

Book Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

2012-04-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

Fever by Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: February 2012
Pages: 352
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series: Chemical Garden, Book 2

*Spoilers for book 1, Wither, are inevitable*
Rhine and Gabriel may have escaped from the mansion where Rhine's husband and father-in-law ruled their lives, but they are far from free. Stumbling onto a strange circus world where nothing is as it seems, the two find themselves just as confined as before. Can they survive in this new world?

Things I Liked:
I love how the story is so strangely atmospheric. Gabriel and Rhine see some very weird and totally destroyed places in the real world and DeStefano has painted them very well for us, especially with the vivid use of color and scent. I was quite surprised by some of the twists at the end - not all of them, but some. I really like how Gabriel and Rhine's relationship is not set in stone, they are not in insta-love or even necessarily in love, but trying to figure it out. It feels more realistic than some of the true love YA books out there, which was refreshing. The ending definitely left me eager to figure everything out and see what happens next.

Things I Didn't Like:
Honestly, the first two thirds of the book were so trippy and insane that I had a really hard time enjoying it. Rhine has the craziest dreams/hallucinations/nightmares so often that I got tired of reading about the things she saw. It seems to be (in my very uninformed opinion) an accurate portrayal of a person in her situation, but it was also really annoying. The ending picked up when things began to fall into place, but it almost seemed like the first part of the book at the circus was a random side trip with no significant place in the story. I still plan to read the next book, but I'm not raving about this second in the series.

Read-alikes:
Honestly, not sure it's like anything I've read - maybe a bit like Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Start with the first book, Wither by Lauren DeStefano

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
some, not a lot

mrg-factor: X
some steamy stuff, but not beyond

v-factor: ->
a little bit of action and some scary images

Overall rating: ***

Who likes trippy books? And why? :)

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

Mini Reviews 6: Everything But the Kitchen Sink

2012-04-25T10:37:00.002-07:00

I've got another crop of minis for you, though I'm starting to think I can't write truly short mini reviews! It's a real conglomeration of different types of books today, so hopefully there's something here for everyone!

Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue
Publisher: Little, Brown
Publication date: September 2010
Pages: 336
Source: Library
For: Book Club

Jack has always lived in Room - a place where he and his Ma live, eat, sleep, and play. It is his whole world. But for Ma, it is a place of torture that is only made bearable because of Jack. But she knows they can't remain there forever and hopes that both of them can escape the clutches of Old Nick.

My thoughts:
This is a unique, intriguing, thought-provoking, emotional book.  What I think I liked best was that we are able to explore a difficult, tragic, and painful topic just a little easier, because we view it through a child's eyes. Everything is softened and has a lighter cast to it, because we see through Jack's point of view. The pain, torture, and other psychologically damaging things his mom experiences could have been too much for me to finish, but having it just a step away made it more bearable. It really has a lot more going for it than I initially expected. Honestly, the fact of its subject (is it a spoiler to say what it is?) makes it kind of not something you want to recommend or "enjoy." The one thing consistently bothering me was that in the Room Jack has a name for everything, most of them capitalized. Except for when he's "having some." I think it was a tiny bit inconsistent that he did not ask his mom what "some" should be called, or at least called it Some. Probably there's a reason for it, but I thought it seemed a little less consistent with Jack's voice, like she added it so she could prolong the surprise of what "some" was. Still, it offers a unique look at a very difficult topic. It obviously is an adult book with some very disturbing and sometimes graphically violent things happening.
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I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Publisher: Harper Audio
Publication date: August 2010
Length: 11 hrs, 24 min
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun
Series: Lorien Legacies, Book 1

There were nine who left Lorien as it was destroyed, each of them separated for their own safety. But when number four, going by the name John Smith, discovers that the first three are dead, he knows they are coming for him next. Will hiding in this new small town, where a cute girl and a new friend make him feel welcome, keep him safe long enough?

My thoughts:
I liked the idea of aliens living among us, waiting to return to their home planet.  I liked the fact that John didn't want to follow all the rules, keep running, never have a life, and do what Henri told him to.  But ultimately, I had so many issues with this book I can't include them all and still call this a mini review. The writing was, as many have noted, quite bad. It seemed riddled with cliches and strange phrases that made for awkward scenes.  Even more annoying were plot points that seemed painfully obvious and characters that were stereotypical.  The Bernie Cozar plot point (seriously, the name alone annoys me) was evident almost from the beginning, but John doesn't pick it up until the end.   The bad guys are so evil they can't do anything but cackle evilly whenever they are on page.   I think that the characters were not helped by the narrator, Neil Kaplan, who gave them all voices to match the stereotypes (deep jock voice, nasal nerdy voice, and don't get me started on his female voices). Sarah was probably the most annoying character for me - I swear all she did was hit John on the arm and called him "silly." The romance was, as we say in my house, vomitrocious. The whole ending, which I expected to be exciting and heart-pounding and make the book worth listening to was so weird and confusing, with plot points just showing up that made no sense that I can't believe I finished the book. I guess I did because I have a copy of the next book, which I might try, just to see if it gets any better. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. The book has some swearing and violence, but nothing overly graphic.
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Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication date: March 2012
Pages: 288
Source: e-book from Publisher
For: Review

Kelsey Finklestein is fourteen and determined to make freshman year the best yet - she's going to be a soccer star and finally catch the attention of the hot boy she's crushed on for years. But when things don't go quite according to plan, she must figure out what she can do to turn this year around from a disaster to a success.

My thoughts:
I really liked Kelsey! She is really the only reason I kept reading the book. She's smart, funny, teenage, and able to take whatever comes her way. She could have spent the entire year crying in her room over everything, but she doesn't. She is tough and pushes through the embarrassment and other difficult things she deals with and is smart about it. Her views on life were so hilarious, because I remember feeling and thinking the same things, especially her crushes. I laughed a LOT in the book, but pretty much I didn't like anything else. The story seemed to have no real point, except to show one funny, embarrassing, sort of sad moment after the other. I can see how Kelsey was supposed to change over the course of the stories, but I really prefer having more story and less episodes. I was not very interested in what happened next or in any of the other characters.  The seriously lax attitude of the 14-year-olds about drinking made me uncomfortable. I'm sure it happens, but I just don't think (or I guess I just don't want to think) it's quite that common at 14.  There is also a bit of swearing and plenty of talk about sex with one near incident, but most is not on page. I guess this one was just not right for me!
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Dreamland by Alyson Noel
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication date: September 2011
Length: 4 hrs, 50 min
Source: Audiobook provided by Publisher
For: Review
Series: Riley Bloom, Book 3

Riley is learning that the afterlife is really depressing when you don't have much of an afterlife, especially at a permanent twelve years old. After focusing only on her work as a soul catcher, she decides to visit Dreamland - the place where dreams happen. In her eager attempts to contact her sister Ever, she finds herself caught in a nightmare that may never end.

My thoughts:
This series covers a lot of interesting ideas and things that tween girls struggle with and worry about, but in a unique setting. The fact that Riley spends so much time trying to grow up will really resonate with those girls right on the cusp of becoming teens. I remember wanting to be older, grown up, and look like it, so I think it will definitely appeal to those experiencing that.  I thought the narrator, Kathleen McInenery, really nailed the voice too - almost to the point of annoyance as she's got the tween girl whining part down pat. As an adult, though, this book was pretty annoying. I thought the story was kind of pointless, except to show Riley still stuck, not improving, not changing, being obnoxious, selfish, and defiant. She still hasn't learned anything and it's book three? By this point, she should have been getting something. It just seems like she's not going anywhere and each book is the same thing over and over with a slightly different side character's story.  Apparently, I didn't need to pick up the second book (I thought this was the second one) because Riley's exactly the same and had pretty much the same adventure as in Radiance, the first book. Hand these to the tween who is ready to be a teen already.
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Flesh and Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy by Albert Marrin
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date: February 2011
Pages: 192
Source: Library
For: Learnin' :)

This book recounts the events leading up to and happening on March 25, 1911 in the Triangle Waist Factory fire. It also covers the aftermath and modern day working conditions and factory hazards.

My thoughts:
I have become truly fascinated with the Triangle Waist Factory fire from 1911. I've read plenty of historicaly fiction about it, but don't think I've read enough nonfiction. I was so impressed with the detail and the information the book contained. The photos and other graphic images added just the right touch to everything, keeping it real and making it even more possible to imagine the plight of those women and their families. I was especially interested in the details about modern factory tragedies and poor working conditions. It is well researched and interesting, not to mention fascinating and horrifying.  Despite its title, the amount of the book actually dedicated to discussing the fire - what actually happened and the aftermath - was remarkably small. I liked having plenty of introductory information to set the scene and tell about what led to it, but I was truly surprised by how short that part was. Of course, I cried through the whole part about the fire, so perhaps that was good. Either way, this is a great book to introduce the topic and get a better feel for what led to the incident and what happened after.

Which of these books are you most interested in?

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

Top Ten Tuesday: My All Time Favorite Characters

2012-04-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

Today's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish is a great one - our Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters in Books. And this was a struggle for me - not that I couldn't find any, but that I had so many to choose from! So, consider this a very short portion of what is a very long list.

Anne Shirley, from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
That spunky, wild, imaginative girl (who I will always picture as Megan Follows). I can't imagine a childhood or adulthood without Anne being some part of it. I hope we would have been bosom friends.

Harry from The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Harry is the epitome of the orphan girl who grows to be a great sword-wielding, all-around tough gal. Just love her!

Holling Hoodhood from The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
Holling always manages to make me laugh hysterically and also want to cry a little bit. Nothing dampens his spirits completely, not even Shakespeare :)

Bartimaeus from the Bartimaeus Trilogy (and The Ring of Solomon) by Jonathan Stroud
Nothing can get me laughing like the antics of the ignoble djinn Bartimaeus. His wry and slick sense of humor makes this series one of my favorites when I need a good laugh.

Valek from Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
There is something about this broody, hot man that makes me swoon. Maybe it's because he is always there when you need him :)

Jacky from the Bloody Jack series by LA Meyer
This series is a new, but favorite discovery for me. Jacky is incouragable and incurable and just so hilarious! I love how she sometimes just can't be good!

Grandma Dowdel from A Long Way From Chicago, A Year Down Yonder, and A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck
This spunky and still sprightly old lady can always bring the tears to my eyes - from laughing so hard! Her adventures will leave you rolling on the floor with aching sides - guaranteed.

Eowyn and Faramir from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
I know, I'm cheating and doing two at once, but these two are my all-time favorite characters from this series. Eowyn who refuses to accept her role as a woman left behind and Faramir who, despite his character being slaughtered in the films, is the toughest, smartest, and most noble of men in the books.

Jane Eyre from, well, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Despite what many view her as - the plain governess who falls in love with her employer - this woman has a steely resolve and an unwavering sense of what's right and I love how she doesn't let anyone, not even Mr. Rochester, convince her otherwise!

Kit from The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
She's been one of my favorite heroines since I first discovered this book in 4th grade! Her bright, unconquerable spirit and character, despite the New England gloom of her day, was just what I wanted to emulate when I grew up.

Who are your favorite literary characters?

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

Friends of the Blogging Variety

2012-04-23T14:53:00.000-07:00

So. I met up with some blogger friends a few weeks ago. And I totally never posted about it! It was so much fun to see Suey of It's All About Books fame, one of my favorite book bloggers that I knew from Utah. And then I got to meet two new friends, Susan of Bloggin' Bout Books and Gay from Inside a Book, some bloggers from my new homestate of Arizona! We talked and laughed and ate delicious treats (oh, I wish I'd taken a photo of that cinnamon roll I had). I love meeting new bloggers and hanging with ones I already know. Thanks go to Suey for getting it set up, Susan and Gay for showing up, and Changing Hands for putting up with us :) For more thorough or interesting recaps, check out their posts: Suey, Susan, and Gay.

There were photos taken, none of which seem flattering to me, but I'll steal the one from Gay's blog post, since it seems the least horrible (and, um, I don't know where my phone pic went...).

me, Susan, Suey, Gay

What's your favorite part about blogger meet-ups?

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

Bring on the Read-a-Thon: Progress and Finish!

2012-04-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

It's finally time for another read-a-thon! Yeah!

Post read-a-thon survey:

-Which hour was most daunting for you?
Um, actually right in the middle, about hours 13-15, since I was doing other stuff

-Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
I think if you pick some nice short YA non-fiction, it goes down easy - especially if there are photos and other things (I really enjoyed Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin)
Also, I loved Partials by Dan Wells, but it is pretty long despite the quickness of the read

-Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
A little more advertising in advance - I think it kind of surprised me when it arrived cause I hadn't heard anything about it since I signed up!

-What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
The hosts and mini-challenges

-How many books did you read?
I only finished one and started/continued three

-What were the names of the books you read?
Finished: Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin
Started/continued: The Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer (audio), Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, and Partials by Dan Wells

-Which book did you enjoy most?
Um, actually I really loved all of them!

-Which did you enjoy least?
see above :)

-How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again?
Quite likely - I tend to sign up even when I don't have the time

-What role would you be likely to take next time?
Reader and I really ought to sign up to be a Cheerleader too - and I plan to host my Book Puzzle mini-challenge again :)

Update #4, hour 20 (Final Update)

Title of book(s) currently reading: Partials by Dan Wells and listening to The Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer
Number of books completed since I started: still only 1, I guess I jump around too much :)(Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin)
Pages read since last update: 130
Total pages read since I started: 538
Time spent reading since last update: 2.75 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 11.25 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 6 ish (I think) no new ones :(

Update #3, hour 17

Title of book(s) currently reading: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers and listening to The Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer
Number of books completed since I started: 1 (Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin)
Pages read since last update: 200 (including audiobook)
Total pages read since I started: 408
Time spent reading since last update: 3.5 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 8.5 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 6 ish (I think)

Update #2, hour 13
Title of book(s) currently reading: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers and listening to The Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer
Number of books completed since I started: 1 (Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin)
Pages read since last update: 113
Total pages read since I started: 208
Time spent reading since last update: 2 hrs (friends stopped by!)
Time spent reading since I started: 5 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 5 ish (I think)

Mid-event Survey
1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?
Ready to buckle down and read (just said goodbye to some visitors)
2) What have you finished reading?
Just one book - Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin (so moving!)
3) What is your favorite read so far?
I am really enjoying listening to Curse of the Blue Tattoo - what an awesome audiobook
4) What about your favorite snacks?
I just devoured some delicious cookies, so I might need to have something healthy now...
5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love! I haven't had a chance to look at all the book puzzle entries yet, but I'm quite sure there are lots of fun ones there!

Update #1, hour 7
Title of book(s) currently reading: Still with Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin and listening to The Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer
Number of books completed since I started: 0
Pages read since last update: 95 (+ about 45 min of audiobook)
Total pages read since I started: 95
Time spent reading since last update: 3 hrs
Time spent reading since I started: 3 hrs
Mini-challenges completed: 3 ish (I think)

Ok, so this might be another disastrously poor blogger event for me, but I think with some handy dandy audio books, I might be able to pull off something decent. I love read-a-thons, and though I'm trying to accomplish stuff on our new house, I just couldn't pass it up. Here's my info for the intro challenge:

-Where are you reading from today?
My new house! Hopefully outside in the nice weather of AZ (nice until it gets too hot, that is).

-A bit about me.
1- I should be working on my house.
2- I'm neither a morning person nor a night person - I guess I'm a midday person
3- I can't say no to chocolate peanut butter candy (oh the reese's were invented for me)

I have a list of 6 books here that I'd say are my options, not necessarily TBR:
Curse of the Blue Tattoo by LA Meyer (best. audiobooks. ever.)
Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin
The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin
Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Partials by Dan Wells
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
-Book I'm most looking forward to is Partials by Dan Wells

-Snack I'm looking forward to:
Oops, forgot to plan for snacks! I did have Cherries with fresh strawberries though and it was yummy :)

-If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
Stop reading if it is becoming a drudgery and do something else. This shouldn't make you not want to read, it's not a contest. Enjoy yourself until you aren't anymore and then stop :)

I'd like to read about three books, but have no real goals as far as hours or mini-challenges (I am hosting a fun mini-challenge from hour 3 to 6, so check it out).

I'll be updating this post throughout the read-a-thon, so just check back every once in a while to see how things are going, if you're interested.

What are your plans for the read-a-thon (or for this weekend if you're not doing the read-a-thon)?

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