Thursday, February 26, 2009

The House on Tradd Street

The House on Tradd Street The House on Tradd Street by Karen White

Book 11 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge
Book 22 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge

rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

The run of mysteries I've been reading lately has made me remember why I loved Nancy Drew so much as a kid.  I like the mental exercise of figuring the mystery out, good mysteries are usually page turners, and I kind of like being a little bit spooked.  

The House on Tradd Street was our in-person book club choice this month.  Most of our book club has been to Charleston, which makes the reading experience extra fun.  Melanie Middleton is a thirty-nine year old realtor who specializes in the historic housing district of Charleston. She is bequeathed an old home with the stipulation that she must restore it to its former glory as well as solve a 80 year mystery surrounding the house.  Melanie is helped along they way by a local author (who happens to be very cute!) who needs a career comeback and her father, with whom she has a rocky relationship.  Melanie also has an extra gift that both helps and hurts her along the way--she can see dead people.

I think Karen White is a great storyteller.  However, the writing was repetitive in parts and the typos were inexcusable. But, the plot was gripping and I'll definitely read the next one in this series when it comes out in November.

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Monday, February 23, 2009

A Northern Light

A Northern Light A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Book 21 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 5 of 12 for the 2009 YA Challenge

Awards: Los Angeles Times Book Prize; Printz Honor Book; BCCB Blue Ribbon Book; Carnegie Medal/Honors; SLJ Best Book; Publishers Weekly Best Book; Booklist Editors' Choice; ALA Best Book for Young Adults; YALSA Top Ten; Parent's Guide Book Award/ Honor Book; ABA Teen Top Ten Book Sense 76; ALA Notable/Best Books; Jefferson Cup Award/Honor

rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I think the premise of this novel is really interesting. Jennifer Donnelly takes a real-life event (the death of a young girl in an upstate NY resort town in 1908) and molds her story around that event. Mattie Gokey is the daughter of a farmer who shows great academic promise but lacks the financial means to get to Barnard where she has been accepted. She decides to take a summer job at the Glenmore hotel where she unravels the truth behind the death.

Some things about this book I really loved, but there were other things I really didn't care for. Some of the characters were a little too cliched, there were some editing errors, it was predictable, and the chapters told the story in a weird back and forth sequencing that I found confusing. But, I really became attached to Mattie and was rooting for her the whole way.

As far as the book goes, I really wanted to love it, but in the end, I just liked it.

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Friday, February 20, 2009

The Geography of Bliss

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner

Book 20 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 10 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge

rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really should read more non-fiction. I always enjoy learning something new, or chewing on thoughts, observations, ideas, and perspectives of someone else. The Geography of Bliss is no exception.

Eric Weiner is an NPR correspondent who traveled to 10 different countries asking people if they are happy or not. While not exactly a scientific approach, his adventures provide a look into culture and location as happiness coefficients. He visits Iceland and Switzerland, countries that rank consistently high on the happiness scale. He also visits Moldova, the unhappiest country on the planet. And the end of it all, Weiner realizes that trust, envy (the lack of), culture, family, friends and gratitude have a lot to do with how happy we are. As Americans it seems our focus on ambition, money and greed have a lot to do with why we aren't a particularly happy people.

This book provided me with plenty of food for thought, and many, many laughs.

You can read the introduction here.

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Monday, February 16, 2009

Uglies

Uglies (Uglies, Book 1) Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Book 19 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 4 of 12 for the 2009 YA Challenge

Awards: SLJ Best Book; Golden Duck Award; ALA Best Book for Young Adults

rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tally lives in a world where normal is ugly. At the age of 16, everyone undergoes surgery to make them pretty. The pretties live a glamorous life full of parties and fun. The uglies can only watch from the other side of the river, and wait longingly for the day they get to become pretty.

Tally Youngblood has a late birthday. She is the last of her friends to remain ugly. To pass the time, she likes to play tricks on the younger uglies. She meets Shay one night after she had illegally entered New Pretty Town to see her friend Peris. Shay teaches Tally how to ride a hoverboard and sneak out of Ugly Town to where the Rusties used to live. As their 16th birthdays approach, Shay puts Tally in a predicament that will change their lives forever.

The book ends with a whopper of a cliffhanger, so I'll definitely be picking up the next book in the series, Pretties. I thought this was a good page-turning YA book with a sci-fi hook. It is very plot-driven and I found the moral quandries very interesting. Recommended!

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Sunday, February 8, 2009

Hattie Big Sky

Hattie Big Sky Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

Book 18 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 3 of 12 for the 2009 YA Challenge

Awards: Newbery Honor; SLJ Best Book; Booklist Editors' Choice; ALA Best Book for Young Adults; ALA Notable/Best Books 

 rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hattie Inez Brooks is an orphan who moves to Montana alone when she is 16 to take over the homestead her uncle had left for her.  In less than one year she must build a fence, plant wheat and flax, and raise enough money to claim the land as her own.  Her small community becomes her family as they work together despite the harsh Montana land.  The story is told during WW1 and the author does a great job showing how the war would have impacted this rural area.

My only gripes about this book are really in the editing.  At the beginning Hattie's uncle's name was Chester Wright, her mother's brother (and Hattie supposedly had the backbone of her mother).  But then later on, his named turned into Chester Brooks, making him a paternal relative.  There were a couple of little things like that, but it wasn't enough to ruin a truly great story.

I found both Hattie and her story compelling and sweet.  It's a story of determination, loyalty and friendship.   If you like pioneer stories like These is My Words, you'll probably like this one too.  Recommended for age 12 on up.

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Friday, February 6, 2009

Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale

Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale by Donna Jo Napoli

Book 8 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge
Book 17 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 2 of 12 for the 2009 YA Challenge

 rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I read Zel by Donna Jo Napoli a couple of years ago and really loved it.  This cover caught my eye, so I decided to read another one of Napoli's fairy tale retellings.  I did not realize, however, that this book is a little different than Zel.  Based on Icelandic legend, Hush tells the story of an Irish princess who is kidnapped by Viking slave traders around 900 AD. 

This book is definitely not the "happily ever after" type. This story pulls no punches about what life may have been like for the unfortunate women and children sold in to slavery during this time period. But, I appreciated that Napoli wanted to stay as true to the legend as possible. Melkorka's life is full of heartbreak and brutality, but she learns how she can make life better for others, even while maintaining a vow of silence.

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Thursday, February 5, 2009

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska Looking for Alaska by John Green

Awards:  SLJ Best Book; Kirkus Editors Choice; Booklist Editors' Choice; Michael Printz Award/Honor Book; ALA Best Book for Young Adults; YALSA Top Ten

rating: 1 of 5 stars

Did not finish.  

I really debated whether to read this or not.  I had a feeling I wouldn't like it two years ago when we had a choice to read it in my YA Lit class.  (I chose to read Keturah and Lord Death instead, which I really liked!)  Based on the comments in my class, some really liked Looking for Alaska and some really didn't.  And there were spoilers all over the place, so I knew where the book was headed.  So, I have held off until now.  But after really enjoying An Abundance of Katherines, I decided to give this John Green book a try.  I'm 100 pages in, and I'm done.

This book was just too much--too much smoking, drinking, sex, and foul language. There was also something about the characters that just suffocated me.  I didn't care about any of them except for Miles and I hated how he just went along with everything thrown in his path without a second thought--the smoking, drinking, porn, etc.  He didn't have an identity, but I did feel sorry for him.  

This book has been the subject of much controversy, for many of the reasons I have mentioned.  I will just say for the record that I do not advocate censorship, but I do advocate using my reading time in ways that make me happy.

Will I read Paper Towns?  Probably.  John Green in indisputably a talented writer.  And, certainly my feelings are in the minority regarding this book.  But, there's a wide range of opinions in the blogging world on this one, so check these out:
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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Last Days of Summer

Last Days of Summer Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger

Book 16 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge

Alex Award Winner

rating: 2 of 5 stars

Maybe I just don't have the right sense of humor.  Or maybe I'm just not in the right mood.  Or maybe this isn't the right book for a snow day.  

Joey Margolis is a 12-year old Jewish kid, living in Brooklyn in the 1940s.  He loves the New York Giants and starts a correspondence with the 3rd baseman, Charles Banks, who eventually becomes a surrogate father for troubled Joey.  

I thought it was kind of cute and clever, but it just wasn't for me.  The whole book is told through newspaper clippings, letters, telegrams, report cards, psychiatrist interviews, etc. which is a nice change of pace from a regular read.  But, the crude language and humor just kind of turned me off.  It's unfortunate because I think it would have made a great YA novel, especially for boys, but instead it's on the adult shelves.  I also found the whole premise of the book a little unbelievable, so I'm sure that didn't help matters for me.

Others have loved it though, so check out these reviews:
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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

A Fatal Waltz

A Fatal Waltz A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander

Book 7 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge
Book 15 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge

rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I just found out this book has been nominated for the Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award given for historical mysteries set before 1950.  I think it definitely deserves it.  A Fatal Waltz is the third book in the Lady Ashton series, and even though I've loved them all, each one gets better and better. 

Lady Ashton is invited to spend the weekend at the home of politically prominent Lord Fortescue.  While there, a murder takes place and her best friend's husband becomes the prime suspect.  In solving the murder, Emily must travel to Vienna where she becomes embroiled in both the art and political scenes of the early 1890s.  

The mystery and romance were well-balanced in this book.  I'm only sorry that I will have to wait until September for the next installment in this series--Tears of Pearl.  

To read the first chapter of A Fatal Waltz, click here.

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Monday, February 2, 2009

Very Valentine

Very Valentine Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Book 6 of 25 for the Support Your Local Library Challenge
Book 14 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge


rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm a big fan of Adriana Trigiani.  I've liked everything she's written apart from Rococo.  So, I was excited when I noticed this on the new book shelf at my library this weekend.  I was especially excited when I realized it isn't even due to be released until Feb. 3rd, so I was getting a sneak peek!  

Valentine Roncalli lives with her grandmother in the West Village of Manhattan where she designs and makes custom wedding shoes.  She has a wonderfully crazy Italian family and a handsome chef vying for her heart.  Valentine is stunned when she realizes that the shoe business isn't doing well, and her brother is pressuring her grandmother to sell the building and close down the legacy shoe shop that has been in her family since 1903.

This is the start of a new trilogy, but it read more like a second book in a series rather than a first to me.  While there was a lot of character development and detail, not enough actually happened.  I loved Trigiani's superb details of food, Italy, and life as a cobbler, but sometimes the writing was a little formulaic for my taste.  As a side note, I thought the blatant self-promotion of her book Lucia, Lucia as a movie within this novel was tacky.  

I do think Trigiani has created a fun group of characters though, so I will certainly be looking forward to the next book.  In the meantime, I was excited to find out the author will be releasing her first YA novel, Viola in Reel Life, in fall 2009.

You can read the first chapter of Very Valentine here.

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