Tuesdays with Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

AR Book Level: 5.5
On the library stacks: Adult Biography
Awards: ABBY Children's Award/Honor Book; Christopher Award

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For those who aren't familiar with this book (or the movie) this is the story of the last days of one of Mitch Albom's professors, Morrie Schwartz, who passed away from Lou Gehrig disease. Mitch visited Morrie for 13 Tuesdays and recorded the life lessons Morrie taught.

Nothing in the book was really new or earth-shattering, but it's a book that is a good reminder about the important things in life. It's a sweet story and I was surprised at how emotional I got at the ending. I think I liked The Last Lecture better, but this is a quick read and well worth the time.

Here's my favorite quote:

Aging is not just decay, you know. It's growth. It's more than the negative that you're going to die, it's also the positive that you understand that you're going to die, and that you live a better life because of it...if you've found meaning in your life, you don't want to go back. You want to go forward. You want to see more, do more.

Source: BookMooch

As You Wish

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

AR Reading Level: 4.7
On the library stacks: YA Fiction
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Poor Viola. Her boyfriend came out of the closet, and now that he's her best friend things just aren't the same. At least when she had a boyfriend, Viola felt like she belonged somewhere, or at least to someone. But now she feels alone and adrift in the world of high school. Her single wish to belong is so powerful that her own personal Jinn shows up to grant her three wishes.

Viola takes her sweet time deciding on her wishes, frustrating Jinn to no end. And of course, when she starts making her wishes, she realizes that they just might not be all that they are cracked up to be.

This is a cute, sweet book that's easily read in an evening. While there is certainly a fantasy element, it's not too overpowering for those leery of the genre. The romantic development in the storyline is particularly fun. I closed the book with a satisfied smile on my face.

Also reviewed by: Book Nut ~ Your link here?
Source: Purchased

Midnight in Austenland

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

On the library stacks: Adult fiction
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Straight up, I'll just say that if you read and liked Austenland, you should definitely read this book.

Charlotte Kinder has decided to leave her kids with her ex-husband for a few weeks in the summer while she takes a much-needed break to England. She treats herself to two weeks in Austenland, dressing up and playing her character of Charlotte Cordial. She is attracted to her "Mr. Darcy"-like character named Mr. Mallery, but she's never really sure what's real and what is just acting.

Adding a serious creep factor to her vacation is the dead hand she is quite sure she saw while playing a game of Murder in the house. There are both real and imagined mysteries to be solved during Charlotte's stay and she is quite determined to get to the bottom of them, all while still trying to remember she is supposed to be on vacation.

This book is really good mind candy. The humor didn't exactly work for me, but I was mildly amused. However, I was really taken away with the story and I'm always a sucker for a mystery. It was fun to see a reappearance of a couple of the characters from the previous book. While this is not as good as Austenland, it's still quite fun.

Also reviewed by: Book Nut ~ I Am A Reader, Not a Writer ~ Lesa's Book Critiques ~ Emily's Reading Room ~ Your link here?
Source: Library

So Big

So Big by Edna Ferber

AR Reading Level: 5.8
On the library stacks: Adult fiction
Award: Pulitzer Prize (1925)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have wanted to read this book for years. Inexplicably, I was turned off by the title. I never would have guessed that So Big is actually a person! (After reading the book, I still think it's a silly title.)

Selina Peake's father, Simeon, was a gambling man. She and her father traveled from place to place-- sometimes flush with cash, sometimes not. Eventually they settled in Chicago and Simeon made sure Selina went to the best school money could buy. When Simeon dies unexpectedly, Selina decides to take a teaching position in High Prairie, a Dutch farming community just outside the city. She approaches what was to be a short-term position with a sense of adventure. But when Selina marries a poor farmer, High Prairie becomes her everything.

"So Big" is Selina's son, whose name is actually Dirk. Selina works herself to the bone to make sure Dirk can get a good education and get out of High Prairie. He does so, but then he becomes a person that Selina doesn't really like. He eschews the beauty and grace in life that Selina thought she had taught him to see, opting for security among the monied society of Chicago.

This is a beautifully written book. It's one of those books that really gets right into the guts of humanity and what makes people tick. It's about the meaning of success and how our choices can either backfire or how they can spur us on into greatness. The book moved a tad slow for me and it ended in a really odd spot. I would really have liked Ferber to have written a post-Depression update on these characters. But it's a lovely novel, definitely deserving of its Pulitzer Prize.

Also reviewed by: Gerbera Daisy Diaries ~  The Book Nest
Source: Library

Bel Canto

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

On the library stacks: Adult fiction
Awards: Orange Prize for Fiction (2002), Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Paperback (2003), PEN/Faulkner Award (2002)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So one of my goals this year is to either read or get rid of books that have been languishing on my bookshelves for years. I figure that if a book has been on my Goodreads to-read list for over 4 years, it's time to read up or ship out. My mother-in-law recommended this book to me years (and years!) ago. I was really impressed with this author when I read State of Wonder last year, so my expectations were high.

This book is based on the Japanese embassy hostage crisis that took place in Peru on December 17, 1996 and lasted 126 days. I was in college then and I'm afraid to admit, I don't remember anything about it. The book opens right as the opera singer finishes her last aria and the terrorists seize control of the home of the Vice-President. It turns out that these terrorists are a pretty sorry lot of terrorists because they didn't even realize the President was not there, and he was their main target. Eventually they release all but 50-some odd hostages, leaving a group of men and one female--the lovely opera singer.

It's a slow-moving story, with a lot of background information. There really isn't much in the way of action and the author tells the reader how everything is going to end up right from the start. I did appreciate that since I started to feel somewhat benevolent towards the young terrorists. The book is interestingly written and uses both formal and informal tones. The ending seems to generate quite a bit of discussion and I will just say that I thought the epilogue was just...weird. Overall I would say I'm glad I read it, but it's not going to be a favorite.

Also reviewed by: My Friend Amy ~ Bibliophile By the Sea ~ 1morechapter.com ~ Linus's Blanket ~ It's All About Books
Source: BookMooch

The Winter Sea

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

On the library stacks: Adult Fiction
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Carrie McClelland is a Canadian author of historical fiction. She moves to a cottage on the Scottish coast for the winter so she can do research and write her new novel.  On a whim, she decides to base her main character on one of her Scottish ancestors that was alive during the Jacobite uprisings, in the early 1700s.

Everyone in the town where Carrie is writing is very friendly. Her landlord (who is written in a Scottish dialect called Doric) has two sons who seem to take a particular interest in Carrie. What seems weird to Carrie though, is how her life and her art seem to intersect. She finds herself writing things not only similar to what is happening in her own life, but she also realizes that she has an uncanny ability to accurately portray the history of her ancestors without any actual knowledge of the details until after she has written it down.

This is just really solid historical fiction. The author does not mess around very much with the historical figures. Her research is impeccable and I found myself delving even more into the facts after I finished reading. I liked the perspective shift between past and present and felt it kept the story moving along nicely. I read this on my Kindle and I was surprised to find out how many pages it is in print. I finished it in about two days. I also just found out Susanna is writing is "sort-of-sequel" to this book right now. I will definitely be checking that out when the time comes. 

Also reviewed by: Fuzzy Cricket ~ Tribute Books ~ Books, Belles, & Beaux ~ Your link here?
Source: Library Download

Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth

AR Reading Level: 4.8
On the library stacks: YA Fiction
Awards: Publishers Weekly Best Book; SLJ Best Book
Series: Book 1 of 3 (Divergent)
Appropriate for: Ages 14+

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Despite this being a much-talked about book last year, I managed to avoid knowing too much about the plot before I read it. So if you haven't read this one yet, let me keep it brief:

1. It's YA.
2. It's dystopian Chicago.
3. It's a little sci-fi.
4. It's the best book in its genre I've read since The Hunger Games.
5. It's awesome and well worth staying up into the wee hours for.

Also reviewed by: I Am A Reader, Not a Writer ~  Book Addiction ~ Book Nut ~ Tribute Books ~ KIKA.LA ~ Ticket to Anywhere ~ A Bookworm's World ~ Ms. Yingling Reads ~ It's All About Books ~ At Home With Books ~ Royal Reviews ~ Emily's Reading Room ~ Fuzzy Cricket ~ Bloggin' 'bout Books ~ Not Enough Bookshelves ~ Bart's Bookshelf ~ Becky's Book Reviews ~ Book Lover Stop ~ Your link here?
Source: Borrowed

The Ditchdigger's Daughters

The Ditchdigger's Daughters: A Black Family's Astonishing Success Story by Yvonne S. Thornton

AR Reading Level: 6.4
On the library stacks: Adult Non-fiction
Award: Society of School Libr. International Best/Honor
Appropriate for: High School +

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My book club was choosing our books for the new year and my husband chimed in that we ought to read this book. He had read it in college and thought we would like it. I think he was right!

Yvonne Thornton is one of 5 African-American daughters born into poverty in Long Branch, New Jersey. Her parents were determined that the girls would rise above the preconceptions of others based on their gender and race. Yvonne's father told the girls that they were all going to be doctors. The methods Donald Thornton used to encourage his girls may be up for debate. But the results are not.

While all the girls do not ultimately become doctors, they are all successful women. Yvonne is one of the premier OB/GYN specialists in this country. This book is fascinating and inspiring and very well-written. It was published in 1995 and I was happy find out that Yvonne published a sequel more specifically about her journey as a doctor in 2010.

Source: My husband brought this one into the marriage. That's almost 14 years in my TBR pile!

Across the Universe

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

AR Reading Level: 4.7
On the library stacks: YA Fiction
Series: Across the Universe #1
Recommended for: Age 16+

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this YA dystopian sci-fi novel, Amy decides to be cyrogenically frozen with her parents. They will travel 300 years into the future to a new earth. When they arrive, Amy's parents will use their unique skills on the new world. Amy is a "non-essential" but she decides to go with her parents because she cannot imagine her life without them.

Unfortunately, Amy is woken up 50 years too early. Someone appears to be prematurely waking and drowning bodies before their time. Amy is afraid for her parents. But she is also very wary of the life she finds on the ship.

The ship has its own system of government. There is an Eldest who rules and an Elder who will take his place one day. Reproduction is scripted and the inhabitants are monoethnic and just seem apathetic. The only seemingly normal people live in the hospital. 

I thought this book was kind of like Ender's Game meets The Knife of Never Letting Go meets The Adoration of Jenna Fox. It was a cool mixing of some space-agey ideas and there was also a good mystery element to this book. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series which actually came out today!

Also reviewed by: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer ~ Tribute Books ~ Tales of Whimsy ~ Girls Gone Reading ~ The Book Nest ~ Your link here?
Source: Purchased

2011 Stats & Faves

Total Books Read: 82 (That's 31 less than last year. Wow. Time and a season. Time and a season.)
My top 10 favorite were:

1. The Penderwicks
2. The Grand Sophy
3. Okay for Now
4. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party
5. Unbroken
6. Russian Winter
7. Jane Eyre
8. The Disappearing Spoon
9. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
10. Moon Over Manifest

Books Read for In-Person Book Club: 12
Books Read for Online Book Club: 7 (last year I only did 5, so I'm happy about this)

Ratings
5 star: 11
4 star: 48
3 star: 16
2 star: 6
Unrated: 1 (just couldn't rate Beowulf)

Of the books I read:
Books I purchased: 28
Free downloads: 3
Books from publishers/publicists: 16
Books that were gifts: 9
Books from the library: 8 (one of my goals was to read more of what I had on my shelf)
Books from BookMooch: 13
Books I borrowed: 5

Books I read electronically: 12
Audiobooks: 3
Nonfiction: 15

Adult books: 40
YA books: 28
Middle grade/Childrens: 12

Links to all 2011 reviews:

• 82. The Preacher's Bride
• 81. A Season of Gifts
• 80. The Penderwicks *
• 79. Gospel Principles *
• 78. Refuge
• 77. The Cricket on the Hearth
• 76. The Queen of Attolia
• 75. Wonderstruck
• 74. Cutting for Stone
• 73. A Spy in the House
• 72. Caleb's Crossing
• 71. Flying Without Fear
• 70. The Strangers on Montagu Street
• 69. The Book of Mormon **
• 68. Davita's Harp
• 67. The Conference of the Birds
• 66. Wisdom's Kiss
• 65. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
• 64. Scrambled Eggs at Midnight
• 63. Under the Tuscan Sun
• 62. Before I Go to Sleep
• 61. The Diary of Anne Frank
• 60. The Grand Sophy *
• 59. Henrietta's War
• 58. Socks
• 57. Walk Two Moons
• 56. I Am the Messenger
• 55. Venetia
• 54. Monsoon Summer
• 53. Academy 7
• 52. Keeping the Moon
• 51. Quest for a Maid
• 50. Paradise Valley
• 49. Okay for Now *
• 48. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party *
• 47. Beowulf
• 46. What the Dog Saw
• 45. Something, Maybe
• 44. Unbroken *
• 43. The Death of Ivan Ilyich
• 42. City of Fallen Angels
• 41. City of Glass
• 40. State of Wonder
• 39. The Princess Bride
• 38. Hereafter
• 37. Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)
• 36. City of Ashes
• 35. The Beach Trees
• 34. City of Bones
• 33. The China Garden
• 32. The Tennis Partner
• 31. Summers at Castle Auburn
• 30. Secret Daughter
• 29. The Goddess Test
• 28. Charlotte's Rose
• 27. When Everything Changed
• 26. Russian Winter
• 25. The Last Little Blue Envelope
• 24. Dangerous to Know
• 23. The Millionth Circle
• 22. Hatchet
• 21. Paper Towns
• 20. Jane Eyre *
• 19. Matched
• 18. Inconceivable
• 17. The Westing Game
• 16. Countdown
• 15. The Name of the Wind
• 14. Triumph of the City
• 13. The Disappearing Spoon *
• 12. A Room With a View
• 11. The Dreamer
• 10. Delirium
• 9. This Book is Overdue!
• 8. Bamboo People
• 7. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon *
• 6. Moon Over Manifest *
• 5. Savvy
• 4. Guests of the Sheik
• 3. Anna and the French Kiss
• 2. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
• 1. Chains