The Girl Who Chased the Moon

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are two story lines to this book. Emily Benedict is a 17 year old, returning to the town her mother was raised in but where she had never returned. She finds that her mother has left behind a dubious legacy, completely in contrast with the woman she knew. Julia Winterson, a 30-something neighbor, helps Emily on her journey while trying to decide where home is for her and reconciling her past with her future.

Reading Sarah Addison Allen's books are akin to eating Southern comfort food. They are so entertaining, easy to read, satisfying and they make me happy. I can't help but love her use of magical realism with a summertime North Carolina setting.  I definitely recommend Garden Spells and The Sugar Queen as well.

Also reviewed by:

• Cafe of Dreams
• Peeking Between the Pages
• Lesa's Book Critiques
• Medieval Bookworm
• Bookfan
• The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
• Bibliophile by the Sea
• 2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews

Yours?

Book 27 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge, Book 12 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge, Book 1 for the Once Upon a Time Challenge, Book 27 of 50 for the Countdown Challenge (2010) 

Source: Library

Open

Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi

New York Times Notable Book of the Year

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am talking about this book to anyone who will listen...

At tennis practice: Did you know 7-year old Andre Agassi had to hit 2,500 balls a day?
To my sister: Let me tell you about the Andre Agassi-Pete Sampras rivalry.
At my book club: His dad! Oh, his awful dad!

I come from a tennis family. We played tennis together growing up, attended Wimbledon when we lived in England, and I play on a league now. Lovers of Andre and/or tennis will find this book to be a very insightful and interesting look into the world of professional tennis. I was completely immersed in Andre's world while I was reading this.

While Agassi is admittedly far from perfect, I have nothing but respect for the person that he has become--his family with Steffi Graf, his philanthropic efforts, his honesty and his love of books. This book (co-authored with the help of Pulitzer-Prize winner J. R. Moehringer) is incredibly well-written and is certainly recommended.

Also reviewed by: Book Nut

Book 26 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 17 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 11 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge 

Source: Library

The Hourglass Door

The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum 

Series: Book 1 of ?

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Abby Edmunds has a good life. She's a senior in high school with great friends, parents she gets along with, and a boyfriend/best friend who lives next door. But, her life feels too scripted. She secretly wants to attend a different college than her friends, and she wants her boyfriend to be more spontaneous.

Enter: Dante Alexander. A foreign exchange student from Italy with smoldering dark looks, an air of mystery, and a special smile reserved just for Abby.

But Dante is not what he seems. Rumors fly, but Abby eventually learns the truth by developing a relationship of trust with Dante that just might have to withstand the test of time.

This is a great time-travel YA romance alternative that is a blend of fantasy and sci-fi. Twilightish--yes, but a great world all on it's own. Abby and Dante seemed real and I loved their emotional development. I'll admit that the writing was a little labored in parts and the story didn't really pick up for me until about halfway through--but then it really got moving. I was completely hooked. This was a fun and entertaining page-turner and is refreshingly clean which makes it easy to recommend. I'll definitely read the next one.

Also reviewed by:

• cucullus non facit monachum
• It's All About Books
• Book Thoughts
• Fantasy Debut 
• Tempting Persephone
• Gamila's Review
• SherMeree's Musings
• One Librarian's Book Reviews 

Yours?

Book 25 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge, Book 16 of 50 for the New Author Challenge, Book 15 of 50 for the YA Reading Challenge, Book 11 of 50 for the RYOB Challenge 

Source: Purchased

Need

Need by Carrie Jones

Award: VOYA Award/Honor
Series: Book 1 of ? (Need)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Zara's step-dad passes away suddenly from a heart attack, leaving her truly depressed. Her mom sends her to live with her grandma in Maine, hoping that Zara will snap out of her funk. But once there, Zara quickly realizes that instead of ingratiating into the new town, her presence is causing issues in the community and threatening her safety. As Zara uncovers the mystery of what is unsettling her, she is exposed to a world of benevolent weres and evil pixies that she never knew existed.

Here's what bugged:
So, there's no doubt that this book is kind of Twilight-ish. In some ways, it kind of made me appreciate Stephenie Meyer's wordiness, because I felt like this book yanked me from one thing to the next without a lot of lead in. The writing style is a little too simplistic for an upper grade book, in my opinion. And, I can't stand the cover art.

Here's the good stuff:
The storyline was entertaining though and this is a good page-turner. I like the love interest and I also like the supporting characters--Devyn, Issie, and Grandma Betty. I also liked the recurring theme of phobias. I thought it worked well. It's a good book when you want a fun and easy read (I read half of it while waiting for my son at gymnastics!).

Interesting concept overall. I'm not blown away, but I'm intrigued enough to read the next one in the series.

Also reviewed by:

• Book Nut
• Beth Fish Reads
• Becky's Book Reviews
• I Read What??
• One Librarian's Book Reviews
• My Favourite Books
• Karin's Book Nook

Book 24 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge, Book 15 of 50 for the New Author Challenge, Book 14 of 50 for the YA Reading Challenge, Book 10 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge

Source: Library

The Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt 

Awards: Booklist Editors' Choice; Kirkus Editors Choice; ALA Notable/Best Books; Newbery Honor; Publishers Weekly Best Book; YALSA's Best Books for YA

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the words of our narrator, Holling Hoodhood:

"Let me tell you..."

This book is absolutely wonderful. I had tears from laughing, and then I had tears from crying. This book will definitely will be one of my favorites this year.

The year is 1967 and Holling is a 7th grader at Camillo Junior High on Long Island. On Wednesdays, half the class is excused early to attend Hebrew School and the other half is excused early to attend Catechism. But Holling is the only Presbyterian in his class. So his teacher, Mrs. Baker, has it in for him because she has to come up with something for him to do every Wednesday afternoon. 

First and foremost, this is a book about growing up. But there's so much more: Vietnam. Shakespeare. Baseball. Rats. Friends. The family business. Cross-country. Architecture. Being a hero. First love. Trust. Faith. Siblings. Not being a jerk. Parents. Teachers....I could go on.

Just read it.

Also reviewed by:

• Books Lists Life
• Maw Books
• In the Pages...
• Mindy Withrow
• Deliciously Clean Reads
• nomadreader
• Book Nut
• Bibliophile by the Sea
• Good Clean Reads
• Confessions of a Book Habitue
• Becky's Book Reviews

Yours?

Book 23 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge, Book 14 of 50 for the New Author Challenge, Book 8 of 12 for the Historical Fiction Challenge, Book 10 of 50 for the RYOB Challenge, Book 9 of 10 for the Book Awards IV Challenge, Book 26 of 50 for the Countdown Challenge (2007), Book 17 of 25 for the MG Reading Challenge, Book 13 of 50 for the YA Reading Challenge 

Source: Purchased

Sugar

Sugar: A Novel by Bernice L. McFadden

Sugar is a prostitute in rural Arkansas in the 1950s. She shocks the town of Bigelow when she moves into 10 Grove Street, upsetting the delicate balance that exists in the tight-knit community. Her pious neighbor, Pearl, has not been the same since her daughter was brutally murdered 15 years prior. But when Sugar moves in, Pearl allows herself to come out and see the world in a new way, despite her reservations about Sugar's lifestyle.

Every once in awhile I find I can't give a book a starred rating, and this is one of those times. I thought the writing was superb. The structure and arc of the plot was deliberate and meaningful. The words were sparse but effective. BUT, it's a tough read. It's very graphic, violent, and sexual with coarse language to match. Words like gritty and raw easily come to mind. It's been awhile since I read a book where I was skimming pages because of the content, but it did happen with this one.

However, there were some things I really liked about the way this book was written. This book didn't try to make these characters evolve into something that would not be true to their time, place, and circumstances. There was no sugarcoating of the way life was for African Americans in the South in the 1950s. And for Pearl and Sugar, who suffered so much tragedy in their lives, there wasn't really redemption in the typical sense of the word. The book didn't end with a nice red bow on the top. And to me, that (along with the rest of the book) felt authentic--which is exactly what I think McFadden accomplished so well with this novel. 

Also reviewed by:

• Book Nut
• The Book Nest
• Gerbera Daisy Diaries

Yours? 

Book 22 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 13 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 9 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge
Book 2 of 6 for the What's in a Name Challenge
Book 7 of 12 for the Historical Fiction Challenge 

Source: Library

The Year of Fog

The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is my in-person book club's pick for March. I actually think it will make for a really good discussion. (Oh, I would LOVE to talk to someone about how it ended!)

Abby Mason loses her fiancee's daughter while walking on a foggy San Francisco beach. This book chronicles the year that follows. Abby never gives up her hope of finding Emma. At the same time, the reader gets an insight into Abby's strained relationship with Jake.

The book seemed to me to be a cross between The Memory Keeper's Daughter and The Deep End of the Ocean. It was certainly melancholy. I had to read it quickly because I knew it would be the kind of book that would bog me down. Any parent worries about those split-second decisions that could change everything, And to be honest, it isn't something I really want to dwell on.

I liked the interesting side parts about memory and light and cameras and I found the book to be a relatively quick and easy read. However, Jake really really bugged me. So the Jake/Abby storyline was really hard for me to swallow because I thought Abby was a sympathetic character and Jake just wasn't. Overall, this was a decent read, but nothing I would write home about.

Also reviewed by:

• Caribousmom
• Book Addiction 
• One Person's Journey Through a World of Books
• Thoughts of Joy 
• Good Clean Reads 
• Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? 
• Piling on the Books 
• So Many Books, So Little Time 
• Literarily Speaking 
• Bloggin' 'bout Books

Yours?

Book 21 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 12 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 25 of 50 for the Countdown Challenge (2007)
Book 9 of 50 for the RYOB Challenge

Source: BookMooch

Wild Things

Wild Things by Clay Carmichael

Awards: Kirkus Editors Choice; ALA Notable/Best Books

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Zoe's mother has just died from a drug overdose. She's taken to the home of her Uncle Henry, whom she had never met before. Since Zoe had been taking care of herself her whole life, she has a hard time with trusting adults and following rules. But Henry, a heart surgeon turned artist, has a stubborn streak too. Together, they navigate through their new life with the help of friendly neighbors, the local priest, a mysterious boy in the woods, and an old cat who lives under the house.

This book started out really strong. I loved the developing relationship between Zoe and Henry and I think I wish the story had just focused on their journey. Instead, the book gathered new plot points with new characters along the way that really seemed distracting to me. There was a lot more than one interesting story to be told here, but none ever got as fully developed or resolved as I would have liked.

This book has some really sweet, poignant moments and fiery Zoe was a great protagonist. But she didn't come off as only 11 at all. (I've actually had an 11-year old foster sister and Zoe just didn't ring true.) While this book is shelved in juvenile, I would really hesistate to give this to any kid under the age of 12 and even then, only to a really mature 12. There are some heavy topics in this one including suicide, divorce, death, and drug abuse. Overall, I liked this book--there were flashes of brilliant writing with great emotion--but I was left wanting more in some parts and less in others.

Also reviewed by:

• Book Nut
• A Patchwork of Books 

Did I miss yours?

Book 20 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 8 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge
Book 11 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 16 of 25 for the MG Reading Challenge
Book 12 of 50 for the YA Reading Challenge 

Brava, Valentine

Brava, Valentine: A Novel by Adriana Trigiani

Series: Book 2 of 3

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have read most of Adriana Trigiani's books. So, it pains me to give a Trigiani novel two stars. But really, it was just OK for me and I can't make it out to be something that it isn't. It just didn't work for me.

This is the second installment in the Valentine series. Valentine Roncalli is a 35-year old single woman living in New York City. She recently inherited her family's custom shoe business with the caveat that her brother will take over the business management side of things. Her best friends are Gabe, a gay man who has a flair for decorating, and Bret, her ex-fiancee. She has a love interest in Italy who writes amazing letters to her, but she isn't sure how committed she can get to someone who lives so far away. The business is struggling to expand and Valentine takes a trip to Argentina where she meets a long lost cousin and learns more about her family.

The plot fell flat with this second installment and Valentine is just not likable enough to carry off an entire trilogy. I don't plan on reading the last book. I find Valentine to be immature and tiresome. I could not for the life of me figure out why an older, and presumably wiser man like Gianluca would want anything to do with her.

Trigiani had a tendency to throw in little life lessons along the way that really annoyed me. I literally rolled my eyes during some of the more trite parts. Trigiani also tries to wax lyrical in a forced and unnatural way. She had an obsession with using unique color words to evoke a mood--chocolate, eggshell, ruby, saffron, pumpkin, emerald, etc. But it didn't flow well and it just got overbearing for me. Sometimes brown, off-white, red, yellow, orange and green are all that are needed!

I'm the only blogger I've come across that didn't like this one. So please, check out these reviews:

• Lesa's Book Critiques 
• She is Too Fond of Books 
• Bookfan 
• Bookin' with Bingo 
• Page After Page 
• Michele - One 'L' 
• Booking Mama 
• The Insatiable Reader

Book 19 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 7 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge
Book 24 of 50 for the Countdown Challenge (2010) 

Source: Library