Adventures in Never Never Land

Review:The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:23:00 +0000

Henrietta Lacks is the woman behind the famous hela cells. The hela cell line has helped with everything from the polio vaccine to research for cancer. Yet her family did not get answers that they wanted about their mother.

This books uncovers what it was like to be poor and black in the 50’s. Lacks had cervical cancer. Her cancer spread like wildfire and she died shortly after. Without her or her family knowing the DR. took a sample of her cancer cells and they became the first immortal cell line. Her family had questions but no one would talk to them or answer them until the author came along. In the decade that she spent researching this book, she became friends with Lacks daughter Deborah. Together they embarked to find out all they could on Lacks.

I felt that this book was well written. What could have descended into technical jargon instead remains assessable for the lay person and it superb storytelling. This book is a fascinating look into who Henrietta Lacks was. The author does not hold anything back. She tells the good with the bad. So we get a balanced picture of the Lacks family.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes science. Even if you do not like science the writing itself is so well written it makes this book worth reading.

Review: The Amber Spy Glass

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

This is the third book in His Dark Materials trilogy. I read the first two during Banned Book Week but never got around to reading this one until I got my Nook for Christmas and downloaded it from my library.
From Good Reads:The Amber Spyglass brings the intrigue of The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife to a heartstopping close, marking the third and final volume as the most powerful of the trilogy. Along with the return of Lyra, Will, Mrs. Coulter, Lord Asriel, Dr. Mary Malone, and Iorek Byrnison the armored bear, The Amber Spyglass introduces a host of new characters: the Mulefa, mysterious wheeled creatures with the power to see Dust; Gallivespian Lord Roke, a hand-high spy-master to Lord Asriel; and Metatron, a fierce and mighty angel. And this final volume brings startling revelations, too: the painful price Lyra must pay to walk through the land of the dead, the haunting power of Dr. Malone's amber spyglass, and the names of who will live—and who will die—for love. And all the while, war rages with the Kingdom of Heaven, a brutal battle that—in its shocking outcome—will reveal the secret of Dust.
My Review: This book is just as good as the previous two in the trilogy. The story continues with Will trying to find Lyra and the angel’s who want him to give the Subtle Knife to Lord Asriel in the fight against the authority.
Lyra and Will want to travel to the Land of the Dead but will they be willing to pay the price to do so?
This book covers a multitude of feelings. The lengths people will go to for love. The price people must pay for things they feel they must do among other things. This book will cause one to think about how in real life we must do these things too.

Review: Ashfall

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

From GoodReads:

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

My Review: I have always wondered what would happen if we were to have some really bad event happen. In Ashfall we get just that. Alex who is used to all modern stuff must make do with out them when a super volcano erupts. The author does a superb job of imagining what this is like. He effortlessly blends storytelling and science together to create a book that will suck you right in.

It is especially gratifying to see the growth of Alex through out this book. He starts off being a cranky child that cant be bothered going with his family to visit his uncles farm to a almost adult like state of being able to help on a farm and doing adult like things. We see this growth very clearly in the book.

This book is heavy on both character and action plots. There is action so that you are never bored in the book. There is enough character growth so that the plot is realistic.

Sunday Salon

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The biggest news is I started class in Library Science this past week. I am really looking forward to what this semester may bring. I cant wait until I am a librarian.

As some as you may have already know I received a Nook for Christmas. I was SOO excited. I tried to figure out how to download library e books on my own but to no avail. So I called the library and they walked me through the steps and then it was easy. I saw there was a waiting “line” for most books so I signed up for lots of books. This proved to be a problem when many became available at the same time. Now I just sign up for the wish list function so I can stagger the books out.

I have also noticed that since I have gotten my nook I have only read one “real” book. The rest have been on the Nook. I wonder if it is because of the excitement or the ease of which I can get books for the Nook.

It being a new year and all I decided I was going to attempt to keep up with the blog this year. I am trying to write all the reviews on Saturday’s so that way I will have time during the week for other stuff. We shall see how it goes.

I am reading a Last Werewolf. It has captured my attention so far. I think with winter in full swing it provides the right kind of atmosphere for these kinds of books.

Review: Wither

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:04:00 +0000

From Goodreads: Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings.

My Review: I heard many good things about this book but I have to be honest. Rhine the main character sounded like a whiney brat to me. I KNOW she was brought to the marriage against her will and most people in that circumstance would want out. I couldn’t but help think that she has it so much better than her previous life so why does she try and make it sound like she is stuck in a prison.

To be honest it is a prison but come on. She has a servant who does almost anything for her. She gets to go out to all the best parties and she basically gets everything she wants. Yet she spends the whole book moping. I can understand she wants to get back to her twin brother but seriously. Cut out the poor me mentality. It is irritating and gets on my nerves.

That aside the book was well written. The world building and the character growth is amazing. Nothing much happens in the way of the plot but I guess not much can happen while you are at home most of the time. I had mixed feelings about this book. I want to read Fever and see what happens next but it is not a book that I went crazy over.

Sunday Salon

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:15:00 +0000

Happy New Year Everyone!! I for one am happy that a new year is here and there is a fresh start on all my goals. 2011 wasn’t the best as I deal with depression and ADHD. Both negatively affected my reading for the year. The good news is both are now under control and I have been reading up a storm the past few weeks. Look for lots of reviews coming!

I had a great Christmas I am now the proud owner of a Nook. I started trying to download library books on it bit was stumped. I finally went to the library where the nice librarians helped me. In this day of digital technology we will need librarians more not less! I was shocked by how long the waiting list were for most of the books. When I go to the library I can have most of the books right then but when I went to check out digital books there were waiting lists of a hundred or more people on some of the books. However some titles came up really fast and I now have 6 books to read in three weeks.

I did meet last years goal of branching out with my reading. I now love steampunk and young adult books. For 2012 I want to continue branching out. You never know if you might find a new genre you like.

I also want to interact more. This will mean commenting on other blogs and on this blog. One of the reasons so many of us blog is for the community and I want to get more involved with that.

I also will make every effort to keep this updated. Last year I let it slip but now that both things are under control I want to keep it updated as much as possible.

Those are my goals for 2012! What are yours?

Review: When She Woke

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:12:00 +0000

When She Woke is a dystopian retelling of a Scarlet Letter. In this world criminals are chromed (their skin turned a different color) according to their crimes. Hannah the main character in this book is charged with murder, because she had an abortion, and is chromed red. Life as a chrome is not easy and Hannah must navigate difficulties she never encountered before.

What impressed me most about this book is how strong Hannah is. Even though it added years to her sentence as a chrome she refused to name the person who performed her abortion. She also refused to name the father of her child to protect his job as he is famous and influential. You do not find many woman of this strength in books. She poses a good role model for doing what is right for you and having the strength and backbone to follow up on it. This book does not descend into preachy moral tones but instead present things as they happen as the logical next step in the life of Hannah.

This book if full of tension. I had to stop reading a few times because I was so afraid of what would happen to Hannah. I really felt connected to her and cared about her and what happened to her. The author did I good job at ratcheting up the tension. This book is horrifying in a way because it shows what can happen if political climate goes to far to the right. It shows a world where choice is taken away. Where people must live how other people say you must. While I was reading I kept thinking this could really happen. That made it all the more horrifying.

Every word seems to be crafted to mean something in this book. The prose was beautiful. It was like Hannah was your friend and she was telling you, the reader, what had happened to her. This book comes highly recommended.

Library Loot

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:05:00 +0000

It is winter break so I went to the library and picked up

When She Woke- I heard rave reviews on this one so I decided I had to read it.

How I Stole Johnny Depp’s Alien Girlfriend- I liked the premise of the book so I thought I would get it.

Why We Read what We Read- Again the book summary caught my attention

AshFall- I heard this was on the best of 2011 lists for Young Adults

The Iron Knight- I heard rave reviews

Wither- Again I heard rave reviews

The Unbecoming of Myra Dyer- I also saw this on a lot of blogs so wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

Have you read any of these? What did you think?

Review: How I stole Johnny Depp’s Alien Girlfriend

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:24:00 +0000

This has to be one of the weirdest books I have read recently. I mean this in a good way.

It starts with Zelda who claims to be 325 years old and an alien. She is under treatment with David’s dad who is a psychologist. He prefers to treat people in his home because he fells that a home setting is more beneficial for them. She makes a few escape attempts and then when David finds out that she is looking for her one true love who happens to be Johnny Depp he agrees to help her find him. Off they go on an adventure that includes police chase arson and more.

I saw this in the library and thought it looked interesting so I picked it up. The story is a fast paced and easy read. It is plot driven with not much character growth. About halfway through the book you do learn about Zelda and her home planet. I thought what world building there was was good. I would have liked more but as this book is geared toward a young teen audience I can see why it keeps the focus on the action. This would be a good book for teens who might not like to read heavier books and young teens that like action novels with a bit of sci-fi thrown in.

Review: A Cousin’s Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:03:00 +0000

This is the third and last book in the Amish Indiana Cousins Series.

This book I was looking forward too as it had a Deaf main character and I am Deaf myself. Granted the woman in the book lost her hearing after she was in a van accident and I was born Deaf but I will take a deaf character where I can find them. Especially if they are positively portrayed like they are in this book.

Jolene lost her hearing in a Van accident and had went to PA to live with her aunt to learn to sign. She is back in Indiana to teach two deaf children. She also teaches some adults in the community. Lonnie becomes deaf after getting hit in the head with a fence post. Yeah, that was stretching it a little far even for me but I am willing to suspend my disbelief for the sake of the story. His girlfriend breaks up with him after he becomes deaf and he thinks he cant be a good husband because he cant hear. Throughout the whole story I kept wanting to push these two together. I know that they had to grow and the author was showing authentic relationships but honestly Jolene and Lonnie was so perfect that each time they did not end up together I just wanted to scream in frustration.

The story throughout the three books really draws you in and you can see how all of the characters grow. I became attached to the characters and was rooting for them. The story drags at times but looking back I can see it was necessary for the characters to go through what they did to complete to growth.

Review: A Cousin’s Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:16:00 +0000

From Goodreads: Kumme to Amish country, where the simple ways of life lead to hope and healing. Katie Miler is traumatized after her boyfriend is killed in a van in which she was also a passenger. How will she find her way out of the valley of her depression? Freeman Bontrager will make any excuse to be near to Katie, hoping to win her love. But how far will he go to gain her trust. . .and her heart? What will bring this girl out of the shadows of fear, and open her heart to life—and love?

My Review: This is the second book in the Indiana Cousins series. The book can be read as a stand alone. Like the previous book before it, it focuses on one character in each book so you can see how each character grows and changes over time.

Katie is still not over the tragic death of her boyfriend Timothy who was killed in a car accident. Ever since Katie has these attacks where she has a feeling of unreality and a sense of panic and like she is going to die. Her good friend Freeman is the one who tells her it is panic attacks and helps her get over them.

Over time her and Freeman draw closer and a romance starts to brew. There is one hitch, there is a woman who wants Freeman for herself. I felt that the love story in this books was authentic and relatable. You could see where each character was coming from and it was easily to become emotionally invested in the outcome. You find yourself rooting for Katie all the way.

Like the previous book this book provided insight into the Amish lifestyle which I enjoyed. It even has some Amish vocabulary words and refers to the things that the Amish would. It also does not gloss over difficulties such as a woman spreading gossip about Katie which we can all relate to.

This is a book that I would recommend to anyone wanting to get a glimpse into the Amish way of life and for those looking for a sweet inspirational and or romance.

Review: Sex on Six Legs

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:43:00 +0000

From Goodreads:

Insects have inspired fear, fascination, and enlightenment for centuries. They are capable of incredibly complex behavior, even with brains often the size of a poppy seed. How do they accomplish feats that look like human activity— personality, language, childcare—with completely different pathways from our own? What is going on inside the mind of those ants that march like boot-camp graduates across your kitchen floor? How does the lead ant know exactly where to take his colony, to that one bread crumb that your nightly sweep missed? Can insects be taught new skills as easily as your new puppy?

Sex on Six Legs is a startling and exciting book that provides answers to these questions and many more. With the humor of Olivia Judson’s Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation, Zuk not only examines the bedroom lives of creepy crawlies but also calls into question some of our own longheld assumptions about learning, the nature of personality, and what our own large brains might be for.

My Review: I have to admit when I saw this at the library it was the title that drew me in. My first thought was sex life of insects? Who would write a book on such things? Then I picked it up and saw that it compared human processes and insects process and was hooked.

I never thought of insects as having any redeeming qualities. I see one and I stomp on it. This book opened my eyes. It described how insects can be social and how they communicate various things. For example, wasp can tell when another wasp not of its nest intrudes and will fight the intruder. What I found most fascinating was the fact that a researcher actually got a hold of a wasp and painted their faces to test this fact. I want to know how they do these sort of things without getting stung.

The biggest thing that the book does is to show that even though we think of humans has having special qualities and insects are nothing like us they are in fact. They do not have brains per se so everything boils down to neurons. We can see how neurons influence behavior and this in turn can lead us to discover more about humans and the why we act the way we do.

This was a fascinating book. I could not put it down, The author writes in a way where lay people can understand it. The author injects a sense of humor throughout the book that makes it a funny and delightful read.

Review: Becoming a man of Unwavering Faith

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0000

From Goodreads:

During the course of his 60-year ministry, John Osteen combined an extraordinary love for people with a vision for ministry best described in his own words: "No limits." In this hardcover volume not only includes content from John's sermon transcripts, but also a foreword and commentary written by his son, Joel; the principles of this "no limits" faith come alive again for a new generation.
For the moments of struggle and temptation that every man faces, and the times in life when he feels surrounded and under attack, John's message is profoundly simple-those moments are precisely the time for an unwavering faith. In this book, John schools today's believers in seven qualities of unwavering faith:
1. It hears and sees what the world cannot see or hear.
2. It prays earnestly even though it has already heard the answer.
3. It is strong when there is no evidence of the answer.
4. It always says, "Go Again!"
5. It goes on when there's just a little evidence.
6. It believes for the big when it sees the little.
7. It begins with nothing but ends up doing mighty things for God.
Osteen also provides principles for those times when faith doesn't seem to be working. BECOMING A MAN OF UNWAVERING FAITH is a guidebook to stronger faith, from a man who spent a lifetime testing its limits.

My Review: If you have ever wondered what it is like to live a life of unlimted faith then this book explains how. It describes the seven things people do to get the most out of life and how to trust God for everything. People think that faith is something you have but this book also explains that faith is something that you do. It goes into depth of each of the seven steps that you do. This book was short but there is a lot of information packed in this book.

Review: Blood Red Road

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:03:00 +0000

From Goodreads:

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

My Review: I have been attempting to branch out from my usual fare of Literary Fiction. I head good reviews from several bloggers on this Young Adult book and when I saw it in the library decided to give it a try. I am glad I did..

This is a book that is fast paced so you will never get bored. It seems that from the very first page there is action. The world building is done through the plot. And what a world it is! It is set in a dystopian future where chaal (a drug) is used to control people and they have barbaric cage fights using humans and stuff. There is some points where I thought there was no way Saba (the main character) could get out of this one but yet she always did. I came to admire her strong independent spirit. I loved the characters in this book. It was easy to connect with them and imagine myself in their place.

The narration style is different than what one would be used to. It took me a few pages to get used to it but once I did it quickly fit in with the characters and the plot and only added to the story.

I would encourage everyone to read this book. This is one book that lives up to its hype.

Review: The Loving Dead

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:22:00 +0000

From Goodreads: Kate and Michael are roommates living in the Oakland hills, working at the same Trader Joes supermarket. A night of drunken revelry changes their lives forever, but not in the way that anyone would expect. A slow-spreading plague of zombie-ism breaks out at their house party, spreading amongst their circle of friends, and simultaneously through the Bay Area. This zombie plague - an STD of sorts - is spread through sex and kissing, turning its victims into mindless, horny, voracious killers. Thrust into extremes by this slow- motion tragedy, Kate and Michael are forced to confront the choices they've made in their lives, and their fears of commitment, while trying to stay alive and reunite in the one place in the Bay Area that's likely to be safe and secure from the zombie hordes: Alcatraz.

My Review: I was looking for something to read for Halloween when I saw this book in the library so I picked it up. I was not sure what to expect from this book. Would it be gory? Would it give me nightmares? Would it gross me out leaving me unable to eat for a week?

Thankfully expect for a few gory details it was none of the above. It was a quick fun read. It is good for people just getting into zombie reads.

The story while it drew me in was not such that I was willing to suspend me disbelief and become emotionally invested in the characters. For some people this can be a deal breaker and for me in some books it is. This story had enough of a plot though to keep me moving forward. The characters do not have much of an arc they stay static for most of the book. There were some points that were so unbelievable that it snapped me out of the book. Such as the group taking a paddleboat across the bay to Alcatraz. I mean the ocean is so rough there that it was near impossible to escape and I am supposed to believe that inexperienced group managed a paddleboat? Other than a few plot points such as these the plot was good.

While I did not love this book. It was tolerable. Maybe zombies not my thing.

Overall I would recommend this book to a person who is looking to get into zombie reads. The ones who are more experienced might think this is too light to read.

Readathon Introduction

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:23:00 +0000

1)Where are you reading from today?

Northeast Ohio
2)Three random facts about me…

I love the color purple

I am addicted to caffeine

I love to meet new people.

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

4- Coffee talk, Elizabeth Tudor Secret Vampire Slayer, The Amber Spy Glass and the Stuble Knife
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

To stay awake as long as possible.
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? Pick a book that is interesting and fast paced.

Review:Squirrel Seeks Chipmunks

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:51:00 +0000

From Goodreads:

Featuring David Sedaris's unique blend of hilarity and heart, this new collection of keen-eyed animal-themed tales is an utter delight. Though the characters may not be human, the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of everyday life.

In "The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck," three strangers commiserate about animal bureaucracy while waiting in a complaint line. In "Hello Kitty," a cynical feline struggles to sit through his prison-mandated AA meetings. In "The Squirrel and the Chipmunk," a pair of star-crossed lovers is separated by prejudiced family members.

My review: I got this from the library because I loved David Sedris older work. I was unaware that this was a collection of convoluted fairy tales. I was a bit disappointed if only because it was different than what I originally anticipated.

Once I got into the stories though I could see how the related to his older work. Those familiar with his previous stories will be able to pin point what he is referring to in this book.

As long as you don’t go in expecting his usual stories about his life and prepare yourself for a sort of fairy tales you should like this book.

Review: State of Wonder

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:09:00 +0000

From Goodreads:Sometimes being on the vanguard of scientific progress thrusts you into the teeth of danger. For Minnesota pharmaceutical researcher Dr. Marina Singh, that means being sent into the remotest region of the Amazon jungle to track down her former mentor. Finding Dr. Annick Swenson promises to be perilous: The last scientist assigned to find her has disappeared too. What follows is the most ambitious novel yet by Bel Canto author Ann Patchett as its adventure story opens into a penetrating study of personalities, loyalties, and ethics.

My Review: I had heard wonderful things about this book so when I saw it at the library I had to get it. I was not disappointed. This was a riveting read. With Anne Prachet’s writing one is drawn into the lush jungles of The Amazon complete with how life is really lived there.

The superficial story is the Marina the main character goes to the Amazon to find out what happens to her co worker who has died. But it goes much deeper than that Marina finds a kind of salvation through her work there. She has been haunted by an accident that she had during medical school and her old professor is the same woman who she goes to meet in the Amazon. First she is terrified but then as the story weaves tales of Amazon way of life and interactions with her old teacher she is in a way relived of the burden.

There is also exploration of ethics that one must choose when confronted with a different non Western way of life. I feel that the author got to the heart of this and through a story beautifully told she also showed that human no matter where they are or where they came from are not fallible and can make what would seem at home a blatant display of wrong ethics seems almost right in a strange environment.

This is a story that borrows from the book Heart of Darkness but while there are similarities in themes the author makes it her own book. This is a testament to the authors writing. This book comes highly recommended.

Review: A Cousins Promise

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:59:00 +0000

From Goodreads:Willkumm to the Amish country, where a tragic accident and an old beau complicate the lives of two young lovers.

My Review: A friend lent me this book. I normally would not pick up Amish Fiction but I have to say I am glad I did. This book is the first book in a trilogy. It starts with a car accident and goes on to explore what happens when a normally abled bodied person become disabled.

I liked this aspect of the book. It showed a realistic grieving process while at the same time keeping with the faith and lifestyle of the Amish community.

This trilogy was given to me because all three deals with disabilities and in one book there is a Deaf person in the storyline. I haven't gotten to that book yet but if the first book is any indication I am looking forward to the next two books. I feel it is important to portray disabilities in books as they happen. Here the man who lost his leg in the car accident did not all of a sudden come to terms with it. The grieving process was accurately shown. While I wanted to slap the main character Wayne a few times the reader comes to understand that accepting becoming handicapped takes time and even with a person of supposedly deep and unwavering faith you can still make what seems like stupid decisions. In the end though one must accept what has happened and go on to live the best life possible. This is exactly what happens.

BBAW Interview

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:28:00 +0000

Today I have Bailey from Window Seat Reader for an interview.

What made you decide to start book blogging? I love talking about books, and one day I came across Goodreads when I felt like venting about an upsetting read. Next thing I know, I'm reading several blogs regularly! I'd thrown the idea around a few times of starting a blog. Finally, I just went for it, and it's been lots of fun ever since.

What is your favorite genre? I really enjoy historical fiction especially books with a Gothic setting. I also like literary fiction and memoirs!

How did you come up with the name of your blog? As a kid, I always thought it'd be awesome to have a window seat in my room. I imagined it'd be a great place to relax and read and write. My dream hasn't come to fruition yet, but I thought it was a fun and unique name for the blog!

You mention on your blog you are a graduate student what do you study? I'm studying school psychology. Some parts of the US don't really use school psychologists in their education systems so I'll briefly explain what that role entails. Basically, I'll be trained to asses students with behavioral and learning deficits; additionally, I'll be able to implement interventions and consult with teachers and parents on effective strategies and solutions to help their children succeed in the classroom and in life.

What is your favorite book of this year? Favorite audiobook: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees; Favorite memoir: Little Princes by Conor Grennan; Favorite fiction (print): The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (Sorry, I can't ever choose one!)

What Have I Been Up To?

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:24:00 +0000

I know things have been quite on the blog front lately. No I havent forgotten about it, I have been studying all..the.. time for

the GRE. I am hoping to enroll in graduate school to get my Masters of Library Science. I have still been reading during study breaks. Most lately this book:

What are you reading?

Review:Nemesis

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:06:00 +0000

This is a historically imagined polio outbreak in Newark in the summer on 1944. Bucky who wishes he was in the military fighting in the pacific is disqualified because of his bad eyesight. Instead he is the playground director for a local school. Apart from his bad eyesight he is the epitome of manliness. When the chance arises he goes to the Poconos which is polio free. Then the twist occurs which I am not giving away for it is spoilirsh.

I have to be honest I had a hard time getting through this book as it seemed nothing happened. I know usually the first 100 pages is used for scene setting but this book dragged on past that. The book went into detail about the playground. Kids died. It described in excruciating detail about Bucky’s past and how he wanted to join the military. The overall theme of the book was what kind of God would let polio happen? I was getting pissed. I wanted a twist or SOMETHING big to happen in the book. In the end I got what I wanted. I really did not see that twist coming. It is at the end of the book so you will have to suffer through 200 pages to get to it but boy, it it worth it!

To be fair it did give an accurate portrayal of the horrifying conditions and the panic that ensued.I was able to empatize with the characters. While reading this book I felt bad for the people that got polio and suffered it devastating effects before the vaccine was created. What it must have been like for those people not knowing where polio came from or how it was spread.Philip Roth does a brilliant job of creating a historically accurate portrayal of that summer. How the kids on the playground felt when their friends died or was confined to an iron lung. How healthy kids were falling one by one to the disease.

The part that bothered me was the long drawn out descriptions of the summer camp. That I could do without. I am sure most of us have been to summer camp and is aware of what it entails. However it is here that the twist comes up and it makes suffering through the 200 pages prior worth it.

Review: Wolf Mark

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:48:00 +0000

This book was sent to me by the publisher

From Goodreads:

Luke King knows a lot of things. Like four different ways to disarm an enemy before the attacker can take a breath. Like every detail of every book he’s ever read. And Luke knows enough—just enough—about what his father does as a black ops infiltrator to know which questions not to ask. Like why does his family move around so much?
Luke just hopes that this time his family is settled for a while. He’ll finally be able to have a normal life. He’ll be able to ask the girl he likes to take a ride with him on his motorcycle. He’ll hang out with his friends. He’ll be invisible—just as he wants.
But when his dad goes missing, Luke realizes that life will always be different for him. Suddenly he must avoid the kidnappers looking to use him as leverage against his father, while at the same time evading the attention of the school’s mysterious elite clique of Russian hipsters, who seem much too interested in Luke’s own personal secret. Faced with multiple challenges and his emerging paranormal identity, Luke must decide who to trust as he creates his own destiny.

My review: I am now a fan of TU a new imprint of Lee and Low Books. I have liked all three of the books they have sent me. I never thought I would like young adult books but boy, was I wrong. I think I am going to seek out the genre a bit more.

Wolf Mark is has sci-fi elements which I love. It also has a little romance thrown in but with a young adult feel to it. It brought back to memory of my own high school days.

The characters all of them are well developed. I found myself rooting for Lucas and he races to save his father. It is hard to find a book whose secondary characters are as well developed as they are in this book. I could find myself empathizing even what I thought to be the bad guys (even though they weren't) and his best friend.

I also love the lore that was interposed in this book. I love mythology. And there was not short of it here. It explained in such a way that it was assessable to it target audience which is 12 and up. I myself learned quite a few things from this book. Such as what a grue is among other things.

I would recommend this book to any young adult who likes sci-fi and to any adult who likes sci-fi and young adult books.

Book Blogger Hop

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:11:00 +0000

“What is the one ARC you would love to get your hands on right now?”

I would kill to get my hands on “The last Werewolf”

For the rest of the hop click here

Review: And the Angels Were Silent

noreply@blogger.com (hillary roberts) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:37:00 +0000

Max Lucado is one of my favorite Christian authors. He writes so fluidly and tight it almost as if God himself were feeding him words to say. He tone is never to condemn or to be to preachy but rather to convey the message that God really loves you and you are destined for better things in life.
In this book he examines the last week of Christ while explaining how it applies to real life. I have never thought about many of the aspects that he mentions. As always I have felt refreshed after reading one of his books.
I really enjoyed this book. You can see how his writing has evolved if you have read his earlier works. It is amazing to see.