Just Bookin' Around

Book Review: Swoon

2012-01-28T09:28:00.003-06:00

Book Review: Swoon by Nina Malkin

First sentence: "Love at first sight must be glorious."

From the front flap: "Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut... until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him -- but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking.

Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy and even more potent -- and irresistible -- adversary before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.

What do you do when the boy of your dreams is too bad to be true?"

My take: This book and I have a love hate relationship. I really enjoyed the story. But... there were parts of the book that felt unnecessary. The trip to the Tarot Card reader for one. What was that all about? Did we just need an extra chapter thrown in there? Another thing about the book that positively grated on my nerves was the "cutesy" nicknames. Dice for Candice. Pen for Penelope. Those aren't so bad, but everyone... and I mean EVERYone has some shortened form of their name as a nickname. With the exception of Momster and Daddy and Pen's parents. Are parents exempt from name shortening? There's even a "No" and a "Way." The book has sex and drugs but no rock and roll? If you can get past the voice in this book, you'll love the story.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse; 1 edition (May 4, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416998012
ISBN-13: 978-1416998013

My rating: C

Book Review: Fracture

2012-01-23T21:08:00.003-06:00

Book Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

First sentence: "The first time I died, I didn't see God."

From the front flap: "By the time Delaney Maxwell was pulled from a Maine lake's icy waters by her best friend, Decker Phillips, her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead.

But somehow, Delaney survived -- despite the brain scans that show irreparable damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be fine, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney now finds herself drawn to the dying, and when she meets Troy Varga, a boy who recently emerged from a coma with the same abilities, she is relieved to share this strange new existence. Unsure if her altered brain is predicting death or causing it, Delaney must figure out if their gift is a miracle, a freak of nature -- or something else much more frightening..."

My take: Excellent. I couldn't find anything about this book I didn't like. The way it was written was superb. The storyline was engaging. The characters were true to life. I could not put this book down and read it in a matter of a few hours. I read the first two chapters online before the book was released and went immediately to Amazon.com and pre-ordered it. Just enough supernatural, paranormal intrigue to keep it interesting, yet believable. I loved Decker and wanted Delaney to love him too. I look forward to more work by Ms. Miranda.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Princess Bookie

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Walker Childrens; 1 edition (January 17, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802723098
ISBN-13: 978-0802723093

My rating: A

Book Review: Wither (Chemical Garden)

2012-01-21T11:09:00.004-06:00

Book Review: Wither (Chemical Garden) by Lauren DeStefano

First sentence: "I wait. They keep us in the dark so long we lose sense of our eyelids."

From the front flap: "What if you knew exactly when you would die? Thanks to modern science, every newborn has become a ticking genetic time bomb -- males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape -- to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant she is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left."

My take: I can't really say I didn't enjoy this book. Some of it left a bad taste in my mouth. Like the pregnancy of a 13 year old sister wife. But it was part of the storyline and the girl genuinely "loved" her husband. Thankfully there were no graphic sex scenes to contend with along the way. I'm no prude, but even I draw the line at reading about sex with children. Overall, the book was a good read. It held my interest through to the end and I will probably eventually read the next one in the trilogy. I believe the release date is 2/21/2012. I am never sure of the time period this takes place but it does take place in the future. Rhine's creepy father-in-law reminds me of Dr. Frankenstein with his experiments. Linden is good to all of his wives and when Rhine tells him no, he doesn't press the issue. There were times when you had to wonder, why not just stay?

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (December 6, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1442409061
ISBN-13: 978-1442409064

My rating: B

Book Review: Twisted

2012-01-18T08:34:00.003-06:00

Book Review: Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

First sentence: "I spent the last Friday of summer vacation spreading hot, sticky tar across the roof of George Washington High."

From the back: "High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background -- average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since eh got busted for doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer working outdoors to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Mulbury, who just so happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy -- and Tyler's secret crush. Soon his life is a roller coaster, with fantastic highs, devastating lows, and no seat belt to protect him. He has no choice. He'll have to ride it out..."

My take: There were times while I was reading this book that I had to hold my breath and hurry to the next page to see what was going to happen. This is not for kids. It's tough, it's gritty. It's true to life. No happy family in the burbs. His mom's a gin nipping dog photographer. His dad's a wannabe social climbing ass. When things go wrong, Tyler gets the brunt of things. What he gains by the end is a healthy amount of self-respect rather than self-loathing and stands up to the people who have been taunting him in one way or another for a very long time. You know that song: "We're not going to take it, no we ain't gonna take it no more..." Great read. It gives you a look inside the head of a teenage boy struggling to fit in to his own niche.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Speak (May 15, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142411841
ISBN-13: 978-0142411841

My rating: A

Book Review: Don't Breathe A Word

2012-01-15T09:44:00.005-06:00

Book Review: Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

First sentence: "Slyt. Slyt. Sliding metal cut through the still night, spiraling ribbons of hair into the sink."

From the back: "Joy delamere is suffocating.

From asthma, from her parents, and from her boyfriend, Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. She can take his cruel words, his tender words . . . until the night they go too far.

To escape, Joy sacrifices her suburban life to find the one who offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. He introduces her to a world of fierce loyalty, to its rules of survival, and to love—a world she won’t easily let go.

Set against the backdrop of the streets of Seattle, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the secrets we keep, and the ways to redemption. But above all, it is an unflinching story about the extraordinary lengths one girl will go to discover her own strength."

My take: I read the first 2 sample chapters online yesterday and was so hooked I immediately bought it electronically and downloaded it to my phone to read. I didn't want to wait for it to get here if I ordered it and I didn't want to run up the street to the local B&N to buy a hard copy. So I did the unthinkable... for me... I read it on my phone. That should tell you how it was able to hook me from the beginning. I never read electronic books if I can avoid it. I don't own a Kindle or a Nook. I loved this book. I laughed, I cried and found myself pulled into Joy's world. The horror of everything and the happiness in the simple pleasures. The things most people, the Normals, take for granted. Every teen needs to read this book. Every adult, too. It is eye-opening and somehow humanizing and humbling all rolled into one neat little package.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

The book Vault
Confessions of a Bookaholic
Colorimetry

Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen; Original edition (January 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061766690
ISBN-13: 978-0061766695

My Rating: A

Book Review: Tiger, Tiger

2012-01-13T21:14:00.003-06:00

Book Review: Tiger, Tiger by Margaux Fragoso

First sentence: "Nineteen eighty-five."

From Publishers Weekly: "In this gut-wrenching memoir of sexual abuse, Fragoso, who has written short stories for various literary magazines, explores with unflinching honesty the ways in which pedophiles can manipulate their way into the lives of children. Fragoso met Peter Curran at a public pool in Union City, N.J., in 1985 when she was seven and he was 51. He seemed harmless, and invited Fragoso and her mother back to his house. This marked the beginning of Curran and Fragoso's 15-year relationship, which ended when Curran committed suicide at age 66. Fragoso's home life was strained—her mother was in and out of psychiatric wards and her father was an alcoholic—and Curran's home, with its myriad pets and lack of rules, became her refuge. The sexual abuse began slowly, progressing to oral sex in Curran's basement, an act that he requested as a "birthday present." Fragoso's sense of alienation—Curran controlled her world for more than half her life—is palpable in her telling. Using her own diaries and the myriad letters, diaries, and photographs Curran left behind, Fragoso eloquently depicts psychological and sexual abuse in disturbing detail."

My take: This book was disturbing. I, myself could not imagine at the age of 7 years old being even remotely interested in a man 51 years old. After reading the book and how she grew up... It seems like it perhaps started out as a cry for attention. He paid attention to her. He listened when she talked. He fascinated her with his eccentricity. I really don't know what else I can say about this book. It was a well-written memoir. I don't know who I could even recommend it to. I like to pick the way the mind thinks, so that's probably whey it was interesting to me.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Open Book

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; First Edition, First Printing edition (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0374277621
ISBN-13: 978-0374277628

My rating: B

Book Review: That Summer

2012-01-10T09:04:00.003-06:00

Book Review: That Summer by Sarah Dessen

First sentence: "The day my father got remarried, my mother was up at six A.M. defrosting the refrigerator."

From the back: "For fifteen-year-old Haven, there's just too much going on. First, there's her father's wedding to Lorna Queen, the local television "Weather Pet." Then her sister Ashley's wedding to boring Lewis Warsher, who doesn't seem to suit Ashley at all. And Haven can't ignore the fact that she's nearly six feet tall and still growing. Haven can barely figure out who she is anymore or where she fits in. Then Ashley's old boyfriend, Sumner Lee, shows up and sparks Haven's memories of the summer when her parents were happy, her sister was plucky and carefree, and everything was perfect... or so it seemed."

My take: I am still wondering what I missed. I didn't get this book. I found no rhyme or reason for it. It read more like Haven's diary. The people were all likeable. For the most part. The writing was good. The descriptions great. But this one needed something more. More pizazz with the storyline. I saw no conflict, other than Haven's own inner conflicts and her spoiled bratty sister's temper tantrums. Haven thought the sun rose and set on Sumner and didn't understand why her sister broke his heart. She finds out the truth about that a little later in the book. I still enjoy Sarah Dessen's writing. This just wasn't one of my favorites.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Viking Juvenile (April 6, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0670061107
ISBN-13: 978-0670061105

My rating: D

Dystopian - Post - Apocalyptic Challenge

2012-01-06T07:56:00.005-06:00

Reading Challenge: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic

Info:
Goal is to read 12 books in a year. You can pick ANY 12 books you want and read. Starts Jan 1-Dec 31st.

You can join at anytime.

Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).

You do not have to be a book blogger to participate. Some people have just a Goodreads page. You can keep track on there too!

Post this reading challenge on your blog so you can keep a list of the books you’ve read for this challenge. Please include a link back to this post so other readers can join the challenge too. Sign up here: Rosey's Review.

You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them. It is not required that you review the books you read for this challenge but feel free to do so!!!

1. Ashfall by Mike Mullin
2. Wither (Chemical Garden) by Lauren DeStefano
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Book Review: Ninth Key (Mediator, Book 2)

2012-01-06T06:39:00.005-06:00

Book Review: Ninth Key (The Mediator, Book 2) by Meg Cabot

First sentence: "Nobody told me about the poison oak."

From Amazon.com: "Everything is going great for Suze. Her new life in California is a whirlwind of parties and excellent hair days. Tad Beaumont, the hottest boy in town, has even asked Suze out on her very first date. Suze is so excited that she's willing to ignore her misgivings about Tad... particularly the fact that he's not Jesse, whose ghostly status—not to mention apparent disinterest in her—make him unattainable.

What Suze can't ignore, however, is the ghost of a murdered woman whose death seems directly connected to dark secrets hidden in none other than Tad Beaumont's past."

My take: This is the 2nd book in the Mediator series as well as the 2nd book in the series I've read. I liked Shadowland better, but it wasn't a terrible read. It kept me engrossed enough to want to keep turning the pages to find out what happened next. But toward the end I found myself wanting to be done with it already. Suze is an alright character. Her step brothers are entertaining. Her friends -- Cece and Adam add a lot to the storyline. Not sure when, or if, I'll get to the other books in the series, maybe later.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (December 28, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060725125
ISBN-13: 978-0060725129

My rating: C

Book Review: Ashfall

2012-01-03T06:52:00.005-06:00

Book Review: Ashfall by Mike Mullin

First sentence: "I was home alone on that Friday evening."

From the front flap: "Many visitors to Yellowstone National Park don't realize that the boiling hot springs and spraying geysers are caused by an underlying supervolcano, so large that the caldera can only be seen by plane or satellite. And by some scientific measurements, it could be overdue for an eruption.

For Alex, being alone for the weekend means freedom from his parents and the chance to play computer games and hang out with his friends without hassle from his mother. Then the supervolcano erupts, plunging his hometown into a nightmare of darkness, ash, and violence. Alex begins a harrowing trek, searching for his family and finding help in Darla, his travel partner. Together, they must find the strength and skills to survive and outlast an epic disaster."

My take: I can't believe I waited this long to find and read, no -- devour, this book. I couldn't put it down. The reason it took me as long as it did was because I had to put it down while I drove the 4 hours back home from Iowa this weekend. Finding a book based in Iowa that was realistic was a pleasure! I was born there, and lived there for 47 years before moving to Missouri. The places he mentions in his book are all very familiar to me -- having driven in that area several times. I loved the action. I love the in-your-face realism. I liked Alex and Darla. She's the technically inclined one of the pair, and I think that's an unusual -- but welcome change of pace. Now, I can't wait for the second book due out later this year. I only have one TEENSY little problem with the book. I doubt anyone unfamiliar with Iowa caught it, but I did. On page 299 at the bottom... Darla and Alex were talking about his old girlfriend. Darla asks him about Cedar RAPIDS instead of Cedar FALLS. Not a big deal -- and I'm sure folks from Iowa caught it. One other thing I'd like to mention, as an aspiring writer who has sought representation of an agent for her work... I think it's fabulous that this book was rejected by several agents. He wound up going with a local (to him) publisher without an agent. Kudos to you Mr. Mullin!

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Caught Between the Pages

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 476 pages
Publisher: Tanglewood Press (September 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933718552
ISBN-13: 978-1933718552

My rating: A

Book Review: Shadowland

2012-01-02T09:25:00.002-06:00

Book Review: Shadowland by Meg Cabot

First sentence: "They told me there'd be palm trees."

From the back: "Suze is a mediator -- a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business on earth. But after a cross-country move to sunny California, Suze is looking forward to a fresh start and a life free of special interventions.

Too bad Suze can't escape the undead that easily. She might not mind Jesse, the sexy ghost who haunts her bedroom, but there are plenty of other poltergeists out there with less friendly intentions. Some of them are out for revenge... of the murderous kind. And Suze might be the only one who can stop them."

My take: I can't figure out why I've never read anything by Meg Cabot in the past. She's written a lot of books! And this type of thing is right up my alley. I actually just read the first book in the Mediator series so far. Though books one and two are under this cover. Suze has just moved across country from NYC to California and when she saves the life of the popular guy at school, she gains overnight celebrity -- high school-wise. Seems the guy has a dead ex-girlfriend who wants to do him in. It was a fun read and I look forward to the 2nd in the series.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (December 28, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060725117
ISBN-13: 978-0060725112

My rating: B

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

2012-01-01T18:51:00.012-06:00

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

The Eclectic Bookshelf is hosting 2012's Young Adult Reading Challenge. Go on over and get signed up!

There are four levels:

The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.

The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.

The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.

I'm going to attempt the Jumbo Size and read 40 YA novels. Since that is my preferred genre, it shouldn't be a problem.

1. Shadowland (The Mediator, Book 1) by Meg Cabot
2. Ashfall by Mike Mullin
3. Ninth Key (The Mediator, Book 2) by Meg Cabot
4. That Summer by Sarah Dessen
5. Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
6. Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
7. Wither (Chemical Garden) by Lauren DeStefano
8. Fracture by Megan Miranda
9. Swoon by Nina Malkin
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50 Books in 2012 Challenge

2012-01-01T18:23:00.003-06:00

50 Books in a Year 2012 Challenge

I came pretty close to making it to 50 in 2011. I came up short at just 40. I am vowing to do better this year. Since I read over a hundred in 2010, I'm sure I have it in me! To sign up for the challenge, go visit Zimlicious: A Bookish Blog.

My progress will show in the center column and on the 2012 Reviews page.

2012 Debut Author Challenge

2012-01-01T17:34:00.005-06:00

2012 Debut Author Challenge

This is a challenge I attempted in 2011 and didn't complete. It's really a simple challenge, and a great way to read all those awesome debut authors. To learn more about the challenge and to sign up, go here: The Story Siren.

The debut author lists can be found here: 2012 Debut Author List.

1. Fracture by Megan Miranda
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2011 A Year in Reading

2012-01-01T16:44:00.004-06:00

2011 -- A Year in Review

To see the complete list of books I read in 2011, go here: 2011 Reviews.

I read some great books in 2011. I didn't read even half as many books this year as I did in 2010. I spent more time focusing on my writing rather than my reading. Some of the books I read didn't draw me in as much as they could have and when I'm not totally enthused about the book I'm reading, it takes me longer to get through it. I should probably just not struggle through books that don't capture my attention right away. But I hate quitting!

My ten favorite reads for 2011, in no particular order:

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Stay by Deb Caletti
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

As you can see... I was extremely smitten with the "Summer" series by Jenny Han! There were others that should get an honorable mention, but I'll leave you with only ten!

Here's to 2012!

Book Review: We'll Always Have Summer

2011-12-30T07:29:00.004-06:00

Book Review: We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

First sentence: "On Wednesday nights when I was little, my mom and I would watch old musicals."

From the back: "Belly has only ever been in love with two boys, both with the last name Fisher. And after being with Jeremiah for the last two years, she's almost positive he is her soul mate.

Almost.

Conrad has not gotten over the mistake he made when he let Belly go, even as Jeremiah has always known that Belly is the girl for him. So when Belly and Jeremiah decide to make things forever, Conrad realizes that it's now or never -- tell Belly he loves her, or lose her for good. Belly will have to confront her feelings for Jeremiah and Conrad and face a truth she has possibly always known: She will have to break one of their hearts."

My take: Sigh. Long sigh. It has been a long while since I've read a series of books back to back. I barely finished book two -- and I was diving into book three. I devoured the series. Yes. It was THAT good. When I finished book two, I made up my mind I wanted her to wind up with Conrad. Jeremy was sweet. They were best friends. But Conrad... wow. Belly grows up a lot throughout this series. I wasn't sure I liked her so much in books one and two. But I felt all of her pain in this third and final book of the "summer" series. My only regret... and it's a huge one... is that the series is over. I recommend you go to a bookstore and buy all three. Because if you read one, you have to read two and then you will most assuredly need to read three.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Chick Loves Lit

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (April 26, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416995587
ISBN-13: 978-1416995586

My Rating: A

Book Review: It's Not Summer Without You

2011-12-29T08:50:00.004-06:00

Book Review: It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

First sentence: "It was a hot summer day in Cousins."

From the back: "After spending every single summer at Cousins Beach, Belly's life is about to change. Since her brief relationship with Conrad fizzled out this past winter, she'll be staying home for the first time. Her best friend, Taylor, has lots of plans for them -- boat parties and tanning by the pool and new boys to obsess over. But when Jeremiah calls and says that Conrad has disappeared, all roads seem to lead back to the beach house. Will Belly spend another summer chasing after Conrad, or will she finally be able to let him go?"

My take: I am hooked on this series. In fact, I finished this one quickly last night and am already half-way through the third and final book in the series. I'm sure there are those of you who have read this series who have your favorite Fisher boy. Jeremy or Conrad? These books are an easy read and I can relive my youth vicariously through Belly. Belly is a good strong character but she sometimes can be a spoiled, rotten mean young lady. But reading the things she does, I can't help but think I wold have done some of the things in exactly the same way. I can't wait to finish the third book -- but I have to tell you -- I'm already hoping she ends up with ... I'll tell you when the third book review is posted.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (April 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416995560
ISBN-13: 978-1416995562

My Rating: A

Book Review: The Summer I turned Pretty

2011-12-26T09:24:00.004-06:00

Book Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

First sentence: "We'd been driving for about seven thousand years."

From the back: "When each summer begins, Belly leaves her school life behind and escapes to Cousins Beach, the place she has spent every summer of her life. Not only does the beach house mean home away from home, but her favorite people are there: Susannah, her mother's best friend, and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly has been chasing Conrad for as long as she can remember, and more than anything, she hopes this summer will be different. Despite distractions from a new guy named Cam and lingering looks from Conrad's brother, Jeremiah, Belly's heart belongs to Conrad. Will he offer his to her? Will this be the summer that changes everything?"

My take: I really enjoyed reading this book. It was light and breezy like a summer should be. But it was serious too. Touching on more serious issues than which bikini to wear to the pool or what to wear to the bonfire. It's about other things like death and dying. Divorce and resentment. Jealousy and spite. The tender time when a girl is caught between being a little girl and being a bigger little girl. I finished this one and picked up the 2nd one in the series and can't wait to get into that one as well. I recommend this book to readers of Sarah Dessen and Jennifer Echols.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (April 6, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416968296
ISBN-13: 978-1416968290

My Rating: A

Book Review: Don't Breathe A Word

2011-12-24T16:16:00.005-06:00

Book Review: Don't Breathe A Word by Jennifer McMahon

First sentence: "Are you sure this is right?" Phoebe asked, doing her best to sound like a chipper, adventure-loving girl."

From the back: "On a soft summer night in Vermont, twelve-year-old Lisa went into the woods behind her house and never came out again. Before she disappeared, she told her little brother, Sam, about a door that led to a magical place where she would meet the King of the Fairies and become his queen.

Fifteen years later, Phoebe is in love with Sam, a practical, sensible man who doesn't fear the dark and doesn't have bad dreams -- who, in fact, helps Phoebe ignore her own. But suddenly the couple is faced with a series of eerie, unexplained occurrences that challenge Sam's hardheaded, realistic view of the world. As they question their reality, a terrible promise Sam made years ago is revealed -- a promise that could destroy them all."

My take: This is the second book by Jennifer McMahon that I've read this month. I like the way she writes and weaves a story. Some of the spots in this book were predictable, but it didn't detract from the enjoyment I got from reading it. On the cover it asks "Are you one of the chosen?" Throughout the book Phoebe talks about her childhood and her mother's strange demise. She talks about the door under the bed and the shadow people. When things start piecing together as the book winds down, you start wondering was it the fairies or something more sinister? Was it some sick, twisted pedophile who abducted Lisa? Things start leaning one way and then they are thrown in a different direction. I totally enjoyed the book and think you will too -- if you like a good mystery with a bit of paranormal and magic thrown into the mix as well. I look forward to reading more work by Ms. McMahon.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

My Random Acts of Reading
Eve's Fan Garden

Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (May 17, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061689378
ISBN-13: 978-0061689376

My rating: A

Book Review: Possession

2011-12-24T08:04:00.004-06:00

Book Review: Possession by Elana Johnson

From the back: Good girls don't walk with boys. Even if they're good boys -- and Zenn is the best. He strolled next to me, all military with his hands clasped behind his back, wearing the black uniform of a Forces recruit. The green stripes on his shirtsleeves flashed with silver tech lights, probably recording everything. Probably? Who am I kidding? Those damn stripes were definitely recording everything. Walking though the park in the evening is not technically against the rules. Good people do it all the time. But walking through the park with a boy could get me in trouble. When darkness fell, another rule would be broken.

My take: This book had great promise. I love Dystopian. But after reading awhile I realized it was one adventure after another. Reading more like a series of disjointed short stories than a smoothly flowing novel. I was over half-way through when I started wondering what was really going on. Where were we headed. Were the main characters really going anywhere or was there a method to their madness. I'm not sure I ever got it. Over 400 pages that could have been much shorter. Honestly, I could not get into this book and hate saying that about any author's hard work.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Taming the Bookshelf

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1442421258
ISBN-13: 978-1442421257

My rating: D

Book Review: Promise Not to Tell

2011-12-11T10:50:00.005-06:00

Book Review: Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon

First sentence: "Touch it," she said.

From the back: "Forty-one-year-old school nurse Kate Cypher has returned home to rural Vermont to care for her mother who's afflicted with Alzheimer's. On the night she arrives, a young girl is murdered -- a horrific crime that eerily mirrors another from Kate's childhood. Three decades earlier, her dirt-poor friend Del -- shunned and derided by classmates as "Potato Girl" -- was brutally slain. Del's killer was never found, while the victim has since achieved immortality in local legends and ghost stories. Now, as this new murder investigation draws Kate irresistibly in, her past and present collide in terrifying, unexpected ways. Because nothing is quite what it seems... and the grim specters of her youth are far from forgotten."

My take: I really enjoyed reading this book. The weaving of past and present and intertwining it into a believable ghost story and murder mystery. The characters were colorful. I liked the main character, Kate. As a young girl, new to the area, Kate lived in a commune with hippies. An outsider who just wanted to fit in. So much so, that she betrayed her only friend, Del to gain the "respect" of the more popular, better adjusted children at school. Del was Kate's best and only real friend and Kate let her down when it mattered the most. I won't tell you what happens in the end, but it's a good ending with a surprise twist or three. If you like a good who-done-it murder mystery with a bit of paranormal on the side, you'll enjoy reading this book.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (April 10, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061143316
ASIN: B002N2XFRI

My rating: B

Book Review: The Sky is Everywhere

2011-11-27T15:49:00.003-06:00

Book Review: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

First sentence: "Gram is worried about me."

From the back: "Adrift after her sister Bailey's sudden death, Lennie finds herself town between quiet seductive Toby -- Bailey's boyfriend who shares her grief -- and Joe, the new boy in town who bursts with life and musical genius. Each offers Lennie something she desperately needs... though she knows if the two of them collide her whole world will explode.

Join Lennie on this heartbreaking and hilarious journey of profound sorrow and mad love, as she makes epic mistakes and epic discoveries, as she traipses through band rooms and forest bedrooms and ultimately right into your heart.

As much a celebration of love as a poignant portrait of loss, Lennie's struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often uproarious and absolutely unforgettable."

My take: I loved this book and read it in a matter of a few hours. The characters are rich and inviting. From her sympathetic Gram who reminds her that she lost Bailey too. To her pot smoking uncle. These characters are not your cookie-cutter type of 2 dimensional characters at all. The book is very well written and the story is at once heartbreaking and eye-opening. In getting through her grief, Lennie finds herself -- her individuality -- the part of her who was lost in her sister's shadow. I recommend you get this book and read it. I look forward to more work by Jandy Nelson.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Speak (March 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142417807
ISBN-13: 978-0142417805

My rating: A

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-11-21T07:55:00.003-06:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, November 13:

Adult

1. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
2. 11/22/63 by Stephen King
3. Death on a Platter by Elaine Viets
4. Wreck the Halls by Jen Yates
5. Blue Nights by Joan Didion
6. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
7. Goodnight iPad by Ann Droyd
8. Rag and Bone by Kathryn Nuernberger
9. William Greenleaf Eliot: Conservative Radical by Earl Holt
10. Were You Born on the Wrong Continent? by Thomas Geoghegan

Children's/YA

1. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
2. Brotherband Chronicles by John Flanagan
3. Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5. Powerless by Matthew Cody
6. Every Thing on It by Shel Silverstein
7. Crossed by Ally Condie
8. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
9. Olivia Talks Turkey by Farrah McDoogle and Jared Osterhold
10. Lost Stories: Ranger's Apprentice #11 by John Flanagan

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: Eve

2011-11-17T09:24:00.003-06:00

Book Review: Eve by Anna Carey

First sentence: "By the time the sun set over the fifty-foot perimeter wall, the School lawn was covered with twelfth-year students."

From the front flap: "Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth's population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the new America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school's real purpose -- and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she's ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Even has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust... and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life."

My take: I read right through this book. There were many things I enjoyed and there were some nagging things which bugged me about the book, though I can't put my finger on what they were exactly. I knew going in that it was the first book in a planned trilogy. (The next one is "Once" and I'm not sure when it's scheduled to be released.) I got down to about the last three chapters and realized there were a lot of things that weren't going to get wrapped up this time around. The book ends at a good spot, but that didn't make me like the ending any better than I did! It just makes me antsy for the next book in the series to come out. Publishers do that on purpose I'm guessing. I like Eve. She's a good heroine who turns out to be a lot more gutsy than her sheltered life would lead you to believe her capable of. I can already read the writing on the wall, so to speak, about who the King of the New America is and why he's trying to capture her. But I'll let you form your own theories about that one!

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062048503
ISBN-13: 978-0062048509

My rating: B

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-11-14T08:33:00.002-06:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, November 6:

Adult

1. That Is All by John Hodgman
2. Blue Nights by Joan Didion
3. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
4. The Litigators by John Grisham
5. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
6. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
7. Amazing Adventures of a Nobody by Leon Logothetis
8. Tony Duquette/Hutton Wilkinson Jewelry by Hutton Wilkinson, Stephanie Hanchett and Glenda Bailey
9. The Cardinals of Cooperstown by Greg Marecek
10. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley

Children's/YA

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
3. Heroes of Olympus: Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
4. Press Here by Herve Tullet
5. The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers Book 1: The Medusa Plot by Gordon Korman
6. Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
7. Curious George: Curious About Christmas by H.A. Rey
8. Emako Blue by Brenda Woods
9. Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber
10. Spongebob Square Pants: Attack of the Zombies by Alex Harvey

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: A Date With Death

2011-11-08T08:38:00.004-06:00

Book Review: A Date With Death by Michele R. McPhee

First sentence: "Standing shirtless, Philip Markoff stared into the bathroom mirror of his comped hotel room in the Pequot Towers at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut and the words spilled out."

From the front flap: "In a luxury Boston hotel on April 14, 2009, police discovered the body of a beautiful young woman -- her head battered, a bullet through her heart. The victim, a masseuse named Julissa Brisman, had advertised her erotic services on Craigslist, the popular classified-ads Web site. A twenty-two-year-old medical student named Philip Markoff was her last-known client...

Why was a soon-to-be-married man prowling the internet for sex?
What events led up to Markoff's meeting with Brisman?
What happened on the night of their fateful -- and fatal -- date?

The Boston Police Homicide Unit followed a digital trail that led to Markoff's home, where investigators found a gun, prepaid cell phones, plastic handcuffs, and a stash of women's undergarments. How many other women did Markoff meet before Brisman? And what happened to them? This is the true story of one woman's date with death."

My take: While this is a compelling story -- there's not enough facts to fill 62 pages, let alone 262. The author tends to go off on tirades, expressing her personal opinion or things about the people in the BPD or involved with the BPD. The story rambles and wanders and meanders rather recklessly along. I skipped several pages of babble at a time trying to get to the "good parts." Not very well written. Sorry. Hate saying that about any author, ever. But it's just not a well written book and if you find it on a bargain table, or can get it from the local library, it might give you a few moments of entertainment. Otherwise, don't bother.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime; First Edition edition (May 25, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031294506X
ISBN-13: 978-0312945060

My rating: D

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-11-07T08:18:00.002-06:00

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, October 30:

Adult

1. Wound Up: The Yarn Harlot Writes for a Spin by Stephanie Pearl McPhee
2. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
3. Tony Duquette/Hutton Wilkinson Jewelry by Hutton Wilkinson, Stephanie Hanchett and Glenda Bailey
4. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
5. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
6. Little Black Dress by Susan McBride
7. The Adjustment by Scott Phillips
8. The Myth of Choice: Personal Responsibility in a World of Limits by Kent Greenfield
9. Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff
10. Gently Down the Stream by Bill McClellan

Children's/YA

1. Medusa Plot: 39 Clues: Cahills vs Vespers #1 by Gordon Korman
2. Zoobreak by Gordon Korman
3. Titanic #1: Unsinkable by Gordon Korman
4. Liar, Liar Pants on Fire by Gordon Korman
5. How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
6. Swindle by Gordon Korman
7. Heroes of Olympus: Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
8. The 39 Clues Book 11: Vespers Rising by Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman, Jude Watson
9. The 39 Clues Book 8: The Emperor's Code by Gordon Korman
10. I Believe in You by Marianne Richmond

[Note: Four stores had events with Gordon Korman during the week.]

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: Speak

2011-10-21T08:11:00.005-05:00

Book Review: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

First sentence: "It is my first morning of high school."

From the back: "Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth."

My take: My only complaint about reading this book is why didn't I do it sooner. Very well written and believable point of view. Anyone who has ever bullied, been purposely mean to someone else because it was what everyone else was doing, needs to read this. Anyone who has ever been on the other side of the coin as the recipient of the bullying or shunning or has ever felt like an outcast needs to know that they are not alone no matter how much it seems like it. Sometimes, there are extenuating circumstances and we'd all do good to remember not to jump to the wrong conclusions. To filter through the details first. I can't imagine why this book was ever on the banned book list. Maybe it hits too close to reality?

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Speak; 10 Anv edition (March 19, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142414735
ISBN-13: 978-0142414736

My rating: A

Book Review: Girl, Interrupted

2011-10-18T07:08:00.004-05:00

Book Review: Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

First sentence: "People ask, How did you get in there?"

From the back: "In 1967, after a session with a psychiatrist she'd never seen before, eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen was put in a taxi and sent to McLean Hospital. She spent most of the next two years on the ward for teenage girls in a psychiatric hospital as renowned for its famous clientele -- Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, James Taylor, and Ray Charles -- as for its progressive methods of treating those who could afford its sanctuary.

Kaysen's memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perception while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers. It is a brilliant evocation of a "parallel universe" set within the kaleidoscopically shifting landscape of the late sixties. Girl, Interrupted is a clear-sighted, unflinching document that gives lasting and specific dimension to our definitions of sane and insane, mental illness and recovery."

My take: It was okay. A quick read but odd. I don't think I've seen the movie, but it might be one to find and watch. The book consists of short chapters talking about off the wall things that happened while she was in McLean Hospital and the people who she was in their with. The story bounces around and seems to have no real structure. I have to wonder if she kept a journal while she was living there, or if these are just snippets of things she remembered later and wrote down. Just another read about life inside the loony bin.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Vintage (April 19, 1994)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0679746048
ISBN-13: 978-0679746041

My rating: C

Book Review: Timeless

2011-10-15T12:44:00.005-05:00

Book Review: Timeless by Alexandra Monir

First sentence: "Michele stood alone in the center of a hall of mirrors."

From the front flap: "When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor's family, she is forced to move from Los Angels to New York City to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she has never met. In their historic Fifth Avenue mansion, filled with a century's worth of family secrets, Michele discovers the biggest family secret of all -- an ancestor's diary that, amazingly, has the power to send her back in time to 1910, the year it was written. There, at the glamorous high-society masquerade ball, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life. And she finds herself falling for him, and into an otherworldly romance.

Soon Michele is leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves -- and to complete a quest that will determine their fate."

My take: I really enjoyed this read. it was a fast read for me. I'm not a fan of History at all, so found the descriptions from going back in time a little distracting. But the storyline is dependent on the different times in history. 1910 is the first stop. There are the roaring twenties. WWII in the forties. Even a non-history buff like myself was able to get through okay. It's a touching story and I enjoyed it very much. The ending is intriguing and leaves you wondering what next. Especially when you turn the last page and read "To be continued..." I look forward to the second installment!

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (January 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385738382
ISBN-13: 978-0385738385

My rating: B

Book Review: Eddie's War

2011-10-12T07:24:00.004-05:00

Book Review: Eddie's War by Carol Fisher Saller

First sentence: "In town Thomas pulled me by the hand through the books."

From the back: "World War II. Hitler is threatening to take over the world. Eddie Carl thinks America should stop him -- it's just plain right. But Eddie's just a kid, and the farm in Ellisville, Illinois, is a long way from the fighting. Ellisville: where the big news stories are gophers in the graveyard and the new bank alarm.

But then America joins the war and Eddie's brother Thomas goes off to fly a bomber. Suddenly the war doesn't seem so far away. And Eddie faces more grown-up problems at home: A fire at the Strothers' place, and his gypsy friend accused of arson. Grampa Rob, all stubborn and mean. Grama Lucy with her secrets. And that redhead Sarah, who definitely likes him -- unless maybe she hates him.

Somehow Eddie's in the middle of it all, trying to figure out what's right. Let Thomas fight World War II. Eddie's right here in Ellisville.

Eddie's war is a lyrical collection of prose vignettes linking Eddie, his family, and a small-town cast of Ellisvillians. Poignant and funny, this WWII story tells how a distant war affects the life of one little boy in the Heartland."

My take: I first heard about this book from a newsletter I get, "Fiction Notes." The author, Carol Saller, found old diaries belonging to her grandfather and got a book idea from them. She talks about how she wrote the book here: XTreme Shrunken Manuscript. Literally outlining the book one sentence at a time. I found the book to be a fast read, but not lacking in substance that longer, more wordy books have. I'm not a fan of history. Even less a fan of war history. But this book isn't so much a book about the history of WWII and the United States getting involved as it is a story of people in small town USA living their lives in spite of the war. The stories are endearing, charming, happy, sad and just plain good. I really enjoyed the book and think Ms. Saller should continue with more Eddie's stories.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 206 pages
Publisher: namelos (August 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1608981088
ISBN-13: 978-1608981083

My rating: A

Book Review: The Dark Side of Innocence

2011-10-09T07:37:00.004-05:00

Book Review: The Dark Side of Innocence: Growing up Bipolar by Terri Cheney

First sentence: "Killing yourself at any age is seriously tricky business."

From Amazon.com: "As a young girl, Terri Cheney’s life looked perfect. Her family lived in a lovely house in a tranquil Los Angeles suburb where the geraniums never once failed to bloom. She was pretty and smart, an academic superstar and popular cheerleader whose father doted on her. But starting with her first suicide attempt at age seven, it was clear that her inner world was anything but perfect.

“There’s something wrong with her,” her mother would whisper, her voice quivering on the edge of despair. And indeed there was, although no one had a name for it yet. Hostage to her roller-coaster moods, Terri veered from easy A-pluses to total paralysis, from bouts of obsessive hypersexuality to episodes of alcoholic abandon that nearly cost her her life. Throughout Terri’s chaotic early years, nothing was certain from day to day except this: whatever was so deeply wrong with her must be kept a secret.

Thirty years later, Terri wrote Manic, a harrowing memoir that revealed her adult struggle with bipolar disorder. It became an instant New York Times bestseller and received passionate critical acclaim. But it didn’t tell the whole story. The mystery of Terri’s childhood remained untouched— too troubling, too painful to fathom. The Dark Side of Innocence explores those tumultuous formative years, finally shattering Terri’s well-guarded secret. With vivid intensity, it blends a pitch-perfect childlike voice with keen adult observation. The Dark Side of Innocence provides a heart-rending, groundbreaking insider’s look into the fascinating and frightening world of childhood bipolar disorder, an illness that affects a staggering one million children. This poignant and compelling story of Terri’s journey from disaster and despair to hope and survival will serve as an informative and eye-opening tale for those who would trust a flawless facade."

My take: Here we are, yet another book about people with mental problems. I find the subject to be quite interesting. And it's in the name of research. At seven years old, Terri Lynn got mad at her brother for sitting in the "wrong chair" at the dinner table. She got so mad, in fact, that she stabbed him in the hand with a fork. She refers to her inner voice as the black beast. When she went through the manic episodes, she would go for days without sleeping or getting very little sleep. She would be driven, obsessed, by whatever task at hand was going on. She missed a lot of school because she didn't want to leave her bedroom. It's a very interesting read and for anyone who's ever loved someone suffering from bipolar disorder or has suffered themselves, it's a highly recommended read. I think, when I have time, I will look into reading her other book.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439176213
ISBN-13: 978-1439176214

My rating: A

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Book Review: Thirteen Reasons Why

2011-10-05T08:45:00.005-05:00

Book Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

First sentence: "A shoebox-sized package is propped against the front door at an angle."

From the back: "You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret is to press play. Clay Jensen doesn't want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead. Her secrets should be buried with her. Then Hannah's voice tells Clay that his name is on her tapes -- and that he is, in some way responsible for her death. All through the night, Clay keeps listening. He follows Hannah's recorded words throughout his small town... and what he discovers changes his life forever."

My take: It's been awhile since I've read a book this fast. I picked it up and couldn't put it down. Gripping. I'm working on a book right now about depression and suicide. So some of the books I'll be reviewing are going to be somewhat different from my usual genre. This book is a very good read. Kids can be cruel. And most of the time, they don't realize how far they're pushing people when they push. The tough ones grow a thicker skin. The sensitive ones... don't. The premise for this book was a fabulous one. I loved the dual narrative. Hannah's messages on the cassettes and Clay's commentary interspersed between. The raw emotions I felt reading this book. From laughing to crying. Very good book that I highly recommend!

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Razorbill; Reprint edition (June 14, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 159514188X
ISBN-13: 978-1595141880

My rating: A

Book Review: The Bell Jar

2011-10-03T08:20:00.004-05:00

Book Review: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

First sentence: "It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York."

From the back: "The Bell Jar chronicles the crack-up of Esther Greenwood: brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under -- maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that Esther's insanity becomes completely real and even rational, as probable and accessible an experience as going to the movies. Such deep penetration into the dark and harrowing corners of the psyche is an extraordinary accomplishment and has made The Bell Jar a haunting American classic."

My take: I've recently begun to write a book about a young man suffering from depression and have been reading a lot about the subject. I can't believe I've never seen this movie or read the book before now. But it's a dark story only not dark like I usually read. This is real life stuff. I find it interesting that the book was released in the US last due to Ms. Plath's mother not wanting it published here. Ms. Plath went on to commit suicide when she was just 31 years of age. According to Wikipedia: Plath's semi-autobiographical novel was published in 1963 and in the US in 1971, which her mother wished to block. Describing the compilation of the book to her mother, she wrote, "What I've done is to throw together events from my own life, fictionalizing to add color- it's a pot boiler really, but I think it will show how isolated a person feels when he is suffering a breakdown.... I've tried to picture my world and the people in it as seen though the distorting lens of a bell jar". She described her novel as "an autobiographical apprentice work which I had to write in order to free myself from the past". She dated a Yale senior named Dick Norton during her junior year. Norton, upon whom the character of Buddy in The Bell Jar is based, contracted tuberculosis and was treated at the Ray Brook Sanatorium near Saranac Lake. While visiting Norton, Plath broke her leg skiing, an incident that was fictionalized in the novel. Anyway, I found it to be a little strange in the way it was written, but it was a good, interesting read.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics (October 17, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061148512
ISBN-13: 978-0061148514

My rating: B

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-10-03T07:01:00.002-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, September 25:

Adult

1. Trick of the Dark by Val McDermid
2. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
3. Plugged by Eoin Colfer
4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
5. The Sookie Stackhouse Companion by Charlaine Harris
6. Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
7. Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
8. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
9. Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy by Caroline Kennedy and Michael Beschloss
10. Noir at the Bar edited by Scott Phillips and Jedediah Ayers

Children's/YA

1. Earth Mother by Ellen Jackson
2. Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham
3. Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
4. Everything on It by Shel Silverstein
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
6. What Was I Scared Of? by Dr. Seuss
7. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
8. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
9. Floyd and the Future Frog by Paul Cook
10. Shelter by Harlan Coben

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

2011-09-27T07:10:00.003-05:00

Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

First sentence: "I spent the last afternoon of Before constructing a 1/10,000-scale replica of the Empire State Building from boxes of adult diapers."

From the front flap: "It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that Miss Peregrine's children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for a good reason. And somehow -- impossible though it seems -- they may still be alive."

My take: I liked the book. One thing I enjoy while reading is when the author throws in a little humor to make ma laugh out loud and Ransom Riggs does not disappoint in that area. I have on teensy issue with what is written on the flap to what I remember happening in the book. I don't remember the children being dangerous or the possibility of their being quarantined, either. Perhaps I flew over that part half asleep one night. But the book is an adventure and there is time travel. The Peculiar Children are more like circus freaks or they all have a special "gift" or talent. Jacob will soon find out some secrets about himself and his grandfather that will surprise him -- and the reader. Enjoyable debut!

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books; Book Club edition (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1594744769
ISBN-13: 978-1594744761

My rating: B

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-09-26T08:26:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, September 18:

Adult

1. The Sookie Stackhouse Companion by Charlaine Harris
2. Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton
3. Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff
4. Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
5. Fatal Fixer Upper by Jennie Bentley
6. Shards by Ismet Prcic
7. The Adjustment by Scott Phillips
8. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
9. Live Wire by Harlan Coben
10. Face Time by Hank Philippi Ryan

Children's/YA

1. Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham
2. Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
3. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
4. Artemis Fowl #1 by Eoin Colfer
5. Shelter by Harlan Coben
6. You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
8. The Wizard of Oz Scanimation by Rufus Butler Seder
9. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
10. Who's There on Halloween by Pamela Conn Beall

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: The Light Bringer

2011-09-23T07:57:00.003-05:00

Book Review: The Light Bringer by Chris DiGiuseppi and Mike Force

First sentence: "Marine Corporal Alan Crane stared at the dull tile floor of the chapel's vestibule."

From the back: "16 people will die on Police Officer Alan Crane's watch. But while tragic and untimely death is no stranger to the jaded ex-marine, his new-found supernatural ability to lead these people to their spiritual fates sends him on a sensational and frightening saga that will ultimately answer: Why these sixteen? What do they have in common? And why has Alan been chosen to bring them to the light?"

My take: I was fortunate enough to get a free copy of this book for review. It's fiction, but for some reason, I had it in my head that it was going to be a true story. That's neither here nor there, it doesn't take away from the message behind the story. I found it an interesting theory about what happens to people when they die. Where they go after their own personal light goes out. I think they way it was conveyed in the book -- how each person's journey after death is in direct proportion to their journey before death. Some of the trips they make are mind boggling! I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more from these two.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: HCI; 1 edition (July 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0757315739
ISBN-13: 978-0757315732

My rating: C

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-09-22T09:14:00.001-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, September 11:

Adult

1. Time to Plant: Southern-Style Garden Living by James T. Farmer
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. Bossypants by Tina Fey
4. The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens
5. Noir at the Bar edited by Scott Phillips and Jedediah Ayers
6. Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer Holland
7. The Leftovers by Tom Perotta
8. The Magician King by Lev Grossman
9. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
10. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Children's/YA

1. Skippyjon Jones, Class Action by Judy Schachner
2. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4. Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret
5. Feed by M.T. Anderson
6. Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
7. Wildwood: The Wildwood Chronicles Book One by Colin Meloy
8. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
9. The Bridge to Never Land by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
10. The Wizard of Oz Scanimation by Rufus Butler Seder

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-09-13T06:17:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, September 4:

Adult

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
2. Little Black Dress by Susan McBride
3. Room by Emma Donoghue
4. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
5. The Light Bringer by Chris DiGiuseppe and Mike Force
6. The False Friend by Myla Goldberg
7. Noir at the Bar edited by Scott Phillips and Jedediah Ayers
8. God Upgrade: Finding Your 21st-Century Spirituality in Judaism's 5,000-Year-Old Tradition by Jamie Korngold
9. Just My Type by Simon Garfield
10. The Eighty Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts

Children's/YA

1. The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. Big Nate on a Roll by Lincoln Peirce
4. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
5. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
6. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
7. Pinkalicious and the Pink Drink by Victoria Kann
8. Big Nate in a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce
9. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
10. What Was I Scared Of by Dr. Seuss

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-09-06T09:11:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, August 28:

Adult

1. The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy Seal by Eric Greitens
2. Little Black Dress by Susan McBride
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
4. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
5. The Cougar Club by Susan McBride
6. Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo
7. The Light Bringer by Chris DiGiuseppi and Mike Force
8. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
9. Noir at the Bar edited by Scott Phillips and Jedediah Ayers
10. But for the Grace of God: An Autobiography of an Aviator and Astronaut by William Reid Pogue

Children's/YA

1. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
2. The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
3. If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff
4. The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book by Jeff Kinney
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
6. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
7. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
8. Three Pigs, Business School and Wolfe Hash Stew by Matthew S. Field
9. Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox
10. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-08-30T08:06:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, August 21:

Adult

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
2. Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland
3. Noir at the Bar edited by Scott Phillips and Jedediah Ayers
4. One Day by David Nicholls
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
6. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
7. I'll Mature When I'm Dead by Dave Barry
8. The Adjustment by Scott Phillips
9. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
10. How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive by Christopher Boucher

Children's/YA

1. The Bridge to Neverland by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry
2. In the Garden With Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby
3. The Smurfs by Simon Spotlight
4. Super Diaper Baby 2 by Dav Pilkey
5. Peter and the Starcatchers by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry
6. Indestructibles: Hey Diddle Diddle by Jonas Sickler
7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
8. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
9. No Such Things as Ghosts (Dragonbreath 5) by Ursula Vernon
10. My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: The Giver

2011-08-19T09:51:00.006-05:00

Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

First sentence: "It was almost December and Jonas was beginning to be frightened."

From the back: "Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.

When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from the Giver. The giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back."

My take: This was a really great concept and a great story. Though it was a bit lower level -- more of a middle grade read -- than I typically read. It still enjoyed the story and couldn't help but imagine what the world would be like if everyone went about their lives as though they were on auto-pilot, robot-like. Jonas starts to feel something, but he doesn't know what that something is, for his friend Fiona. When he tells his mother, she informs him that there's a pill for that. He just needs to remember to take his pill and he won't be attracted to her ever again. I wish I had one of those pills where some of my ex's are concerned... Anyway, families are created and everything is done scientifically. It was an enjoyable read, one I would recommend to young readers everywhere.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (January 24, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385732554
ISBN-13: 978-0385732550

My rating: B

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-08-17T08:08:00.001-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, August 7:

Adult

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
2. Room by Emma Donoghue
3. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
4. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
5. Noir at the Bar edited by Jedidiah Ayers and Scott Phillips
6. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
7. The Light Bringer by Chris Digiuseppi and Mike Force
8. The Best of The Way I See It and Other Political Writings 1989-2010 by Jamala Rogers
9. The Adjustment by Scott Phillips
10. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Children's/YA

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
4. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson
5. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth
7. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
8. Chocolate Moose for Dinner by Fred Gwynne
9. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
10. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-08-08T08:11:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, July 31:

Adult

1. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
2. Cloris: My Autobiography by Cloris Leachman
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
4. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
5. Tinkers by Paul Harding
6. Serial by John Lutz
7. Amazing Journey by Felicia Graber
8. The Inverted Forest by Jon Dalton
9. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
10. Room by Emma Donoghue

Children's/YA

1. The Hunger Games by Susanne Collins
2. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
3. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
4. Mockingjay by Susanne Collins
5. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
6. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
7. St. Louis Cardinal's ABC by Brad M. Epstein
8. Remarkable Animals: 1000 Amazing Amalgamations by Tony Meeuwissen
9. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
10. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: I Am Number Four

2011-08-06T09:21:00.004-05:00

Book Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

First sentence: "The door starts shaking, it's a flimsy thing made of bamboo shoots held together with tattered lengths of twine."

From the front flap: "Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books -- but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next."

My take: Very well written. Great idea. I wanted to see the movie but haven't. I have heard that the movie isn't anything like the book, but I'll have to watch it and see. The main deal I had with this book was it took me forever to get through it. It held my interest just enough to make me want to keep reading to find out what happened. But it didn't hold my interest enough to be what I consider a page turning sleep skipper. I liked the main character, Four -- or John. I will probably get around to reading the second book also. Eventually.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; Mti edition (January 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062026240
ISBN-13: 978-0062026248

My rating: B

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-08-01T09:07:00.002-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, July 24:

Adult
1. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo
4. Bright's Passage by Josh Ritter
5. The Light Bringer by Chris DiGiuseppe and Mike Force
6. The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock
7. Overbite by Meg Cabot
8. Insatiable by Meg Cabot
9. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
10. Founding St. Louis by Frederick Fausz

Children's
1. Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
2. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
5. Abandon by Meg Cabot
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
7. One Fish, Two Fish by Dr. Seuss
8. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
9. Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
10. Ash by Malinda Lo

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-07-26T07:03:00.002-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, July 17:

Adult

1. A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
2. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
4. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
5. Bossypants by Tina Fey
6. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
7. The Kid by Sapphire
8. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
9. Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden
10. The Adjustment by Scott Phillips

Children's

1. The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (Revised and Expanded Edition) by Jeff Kinney
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
4. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
5. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
6. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
8. Invasion of the Potty Snatchers by Dav Pilkey
9. Best Travel Activity Book by Rand McNally
10. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-07-18T07:09:00.002-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo., during the week ended Sunday, July 10:

Adult

1. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
4. Stan Musial: An American Life by George Vecsey
5. The Greater Journey by David McCullough
6. The Elements of F**king Style: A Helpful Parody by Chris Baker and Jacob Hansen
7. The Making of an All American City: East St. Louis at 150 by Mark Abbott
8. The Light Bringer by Chris DiGiuseppe and Mike Force
9. Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
10. Images of America: East St. Louis by Bill Nunes

Children's

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (Revised and Expanded Edition) by Jeff Kinney
3. Time for Bed by Mem Fox and Jane Dyer
4. Princess Peepers Picks a Pet by Pam Calvert
5. Super Diaper Baby #2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers by Dav Pilkey
6. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
7. Passion by Lauren Kate
8. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
9. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
10. I Am Number Four by Pitticus Lore

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-07-11T07:04:00.001-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, July 3:

Adult

1. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
2. Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
4. Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine by Alina Bronsky
5. Fifty-nine in '84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball, and the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had by Edward Achorn
6. The Art of Barter by Karen S. Hoffman and Shera D. Dalin
7. Area 51 by Annie Jacobsen
8. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees
9. Confessions: Fact or Fiction: A Collection of Short Stories and Memoir by Herta B. Feely and Marian O'Shea Wernicke
10. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Children's

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book by Jeff Kinney
3. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
4. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
5. In the Garden with Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby and Nicole Tadgell
6. Where Does Maisy Live?: A Maisy Lift-the-Flap Book by Lucy Cousins
7. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
8. Heist Society by Ally Carter
9. Moon Over Manifest by Claire Vanderpool
10. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: The Heroin Diaries

2011-07-10T17:27:00.006-05:00

Book Review: The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx

First sentence: "Merry Christmas."

Product description (From Amazon.com): "In one of the most unique memoirs of addiction ever published, Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx shares mesmerizing diary entries from the year he spiraled out of control in a haze of heroin and cocaine, presented alongside riveting commentary from people who were there at the time, and from Nikki himself.

When Motley Crue was at the height of its fame, there wasn't any drug Nikki Sixx wouldn't do. He spent days -- sometimes alone, sometimes with other addicts, friends, and lovers -- in a coke and heroin-fueled daze. The highs were high, and Nikki's journal entries reveal some euphoria and joy. But the lows were lower, often ending with Nikki in his closet, surrounded by drug paraphernalia and wrapped in paranoid delusions.

Here, Nikki shares those diary entries -- some poetic, some scatterbrained, some bizarre -- and reflects on that time. Joining him are Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Slash, Rick Nielsen, Bob Rock, and a host of ex-managers, ex-lovers, and more.

Brutally honest, utterly riveting, and shockingly moving, The Heroin Diaries follows Nikki during the year he plunged to rock bottom -- and his courageous decision to pick himself up and start living again."

My take: Not for the faint of heart. This is a brutally honest book. Scary honest. I am not a fan of reading auto-biographies, but I recently saw Motley Crue in concert. They are on their 30 year anniversary tour and it was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time, if not ranked right up there with the best ever. Nikki Sixx is one talented, creative man who defied the odds. More than once. Nikki died. More than once. He had an NDE which he really doesn't talk about too much in the book. (I wish he would have.) He was clinically depressed which often leads to self-medicating to take away the pain. And self-medicate, he did. He has admirable strength, in that he was able to quit on his own. He did not go into rehab. Before he "died" the last time, he was told by a psychic in Japan that if he didn't change his ways, he would not live to see the new year. That was December 22, 1987. He OD'd on December 24th.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: VH1; Second Printing edition (October 28, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781416511946
ISBN-13: 978-1416511946
ASIN: 1416511946

My rating: B

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-07-05T21:29:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, June 26:

Adult

1. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
4. Fifty-nine in '84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball, and the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had by Edward Achorn
5. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees
6. Grant by Jean Edward Smith
7. The Strawberry Letter by Shirley Strawberry
8. A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
9. Why We Believe in Gods: A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith by Thomas Anderson Jr.
10. Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill

Kids

1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
3. Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks
4. Blackest Night Green Lantern by Geoff Johns
5. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
6. Only One You by Linda Kranz
7. Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela Coyle
8. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
9. Mom, I Love Spaghetti by Gary W. Fort
10. Remarkable Animals: 1000 Amazing Amalgamations by Tony Meeuwissen

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: Awaken

2011-06-28T07:14:00.006-05:00

Book Review: Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

First sentence: "My mom gave me an old leather-bound journal for my seventeenth birthday."

From the front flap: "Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether going to school or on a date, no one ever leaves home. There's really no need. And for the most part, Maddie's okay with the solitary, digital life -- until she meets Justin.

Justin likes being with people. He likes physical closeness and face-to-face conversations. People aren't meant to be alone, he tells her.

Maddie is beginning to believe him. Maybe there is a different, better way to live, and perhaps Justin will be the one to help her start living it."

My take: I found the book to be an extremely slow read. Never quite reaching out and grabbing me by the collar of the shirt. It wasn't poorly written. In fact, it was a great concept and very well written. It just lacked something, and I'm not even sure what. I found it to be hard to get into. I don't think I liked Maddie all that much, maybe? The thing that attracted me to this book in the first place was the cover, because I'll be honest with you... I DO by books for their covers.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; First Edition, None edition (May 23, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0547371489
ISBN-13: 978-0547371481

My rating: C

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-06-27T09:26:00.001-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, June 19:

Adults

1. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
2. Stan Musial: An American Life by George Vecsey
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
4. American City: St. Louis Architecture: Three Centuries of Design by Robert Sharoff
5. The Room by Emma Donohue
6. The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens
7. Just Kids by Patti Smith
8. Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them by Wayne Pacelle
9. Netsuke by Rikki Ducornet
10. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larsen

Kids

1. Hunger Game by Suzanne Collins
2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
4. Judy Moody & the NOT Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald
5. Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star: Dork Diaries 3 by Rachel Renee Russell
6. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
7. Faith Hope and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
8. Island by Gary Paulsen
9. Curious George at the Baseball Game by Margret and H.A. Rey
10. Heist Society by Ally Carter

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-06-20T08:24:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, June 12:

Adults

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
2. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
3. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
4. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
4. The Immortal Life of Henriettta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
6. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
7. Bossypants by Tina Fey
8. Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burbo
9. Pat the Zombie by Aaron Xim
10. American City: St. Louis Architecture: Three Centuries of Design by Robert Sharoff

Kids

1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
2. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald
4. Scrapper by Alex Marie Bess
5. My Animals by Xavier Deneux
6. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
7. Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks
8. First 100 Animals by Priddy Books
9. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
10. Unsinkable by Gordon Korman

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-06-14T09:02:00.002-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, June 5:

Adult

1. The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens
2. The Passage by Justin Cronin
3. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
4. A Moment in the Sun by John Sayles
5. The Dave Store Massacre by Ron Ebest
6. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
7. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
8. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
9. American City: St. Louis Architecture: Three Centuries of Design by Robert Sharoff
10. Stan Musial by George Vecsey

Kids

1. Ladder to the Moon by Maya Soetoro-Ng
2. Napping House by Audrey Wood
3. Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
4. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
6. On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
7. My Circus by Xavier Deneux
8. A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black
9. Divergent by Veronica Roth
10. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-06-06T06:52:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, May 29:

Adult

1. Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
2. The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens
3. Guy Fieri Food: Cookin' it, Livin' It, Lovin' It by Guy Fieri
4. A Visit from the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan
5. I'll Never Get Out of Here Alive by Steve Earle
6. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
7. Pumped for Murder by Elaine Viets
8. Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales
9. Room by Emma Donohgue
10. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Kids

1. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Throne of Fire: The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
3. Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama
4. Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
5. Divergent by Veronica Roth
6. Otis by Loren Long
7. Fuddles by Frans Vischer
8. Belly Button Book by Sandra Boynton
9. Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
10. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Christian Stead

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: Divergent

2011-06-03T14:25:00.004-05:00

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

First sentence: "There is one mirror in my house."

From the front flap: "In Beatrice Prior's Dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue -- Candor (the honest,) Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is -- she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are -- and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves ... or it might destroy her."

My take: In a word: WOW. It's been a while since a book knocked my socks off. But this one did. It was 487 pages long -- and while I was anxious for the end to see what happened, I didn't want it to end, either. Hunger Games fans... Beatrice makes Katniss seem like a Girl Scout. Tris is a kick-ass heroine and if this book doesn't go on to be a movie, I will be very, very surprised. The author had a way of painting a story that I clearly imagined in my mind's eye as I read along with the words. Well told, wonderfully written, extremely engaging. I highly recommend this book to Dystopian fans everywhere!

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Late Bloomer Online's Review

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (May 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062024027
ISBN-13: 978-0062024022

My Rating: A

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop!

2011-06-01T08:35:00.002-05:00

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop!

Congratulations to Mariee! I've sent an email and you have 48 hours to respond!

Thanks to all the participants!

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-05-31T09:34:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, May 22:

Adult

1. Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
2. The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens
3. I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive by Steve Earle
4. Stan Musial: An American Life by George Vecsey
5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
6. Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle
7. Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base by Annie Jacobsen
8. Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Slan
9. Groping Toward Democracy by Priscilla White-Dowden

Kids

1. Throne of Fire: Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
2. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. Divergent by Veronica Roth
4. Pinkalicious Tickled Pink by Victoria Kann
5. The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
6. Sugar and Spice by Lauren Conrad
7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
8. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
9. Peek-A Who? by Nina Laden
10. Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop!

2011-05-24T23:00:00.003-05:00

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop!

The Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Page Turners. It will take place from May 25th to 31st.

For my contribution to the fun, I will be giving away a $10.00 (USD) gift card to Amazon.com! To enter, you must be a GFC follower of this blog.

**For an extra entry, click on the Blog Lovin' button. It's for my writing blog, which is here!.**

Contest ends May 31, 2011 at midnight eastern time. Winner will be announced June 1 and will have 48 hours to respond.

You must be 13 or older to win!

Contest over, winner chosen soon!

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-05-24T09:10:00.002-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, May 15:

Adult
1. Stan Musial: An American Life by George Vecsey
2. Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
4. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
5. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
6. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
7. Bossypants by Tina Fey
8. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
9. I'll Never Get Out of This Town Alive by Steve Earle
10. Make, Take, Murder by Joanna Slan

Kids
1. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Moon Over Manifest by Claire Vanderpool
3. The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
4. The Kane Chronicles: The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
5. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
6. You Are My Little Cupcake by Amy Sklansky
7. Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
8. The Rainbow Fairies by Daisy Meadows
9. Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman
10. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Book Review: Prism

2011-05-23T08:36:00.003-05:00

Book Review: Prism by Faye and Aliza Kellerman

First sentence: "I always half-believed Fridays could make me fly."

From the back: "Kaida Hutchenson, Zeke Anderson, and Joy Tallon: three teens with nothing in common thrown together by an explosive accident that turns their class trip into a desert nightmare. And the next morning... a return to their ordinary lives with everything just as it was before.

Or is it?

Increasingly unnerved by the distorted world around her, Kaida must band together with Zeke and Joy in hopes of making it back to the reality she remembers... and surviving the one she's fallen into."

My take: I found this book to be painfully slow getting started, and I almost stopped reading it, but around page 85 or so, I found myself liking it more and more. I don't think a sequel is planned, but there sure could be. I was left with some unanswered questions that only another book could answer. Kaida, Zeke and Joy all end up in a parallel universe where everything appears to be the same as the world they left behind. The first time they discover something isn't quite right is when they watch someone get hit by a car and no ambulance comes, people are strangely indifferent and uninvolved. 911 doesn't work. A white van comes and picks the body up, much like a garbage truck picks up our garbage. In this alternate reality there are no hospitals, no medical people, no medicine. You get sick and you either get better or you die... naturally. If you don't mind slow starts, and can stick with this book through the first pages, I think you'll find quite an entertaining read.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (June 23, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061687219
ASIN: B0036DE5CC

My Rating: B

Book Review: Living Hell

2011-05-21T14:13:00.003-05:00

Book Review: Living Hell by Catherine Jinks

First sentence: "You have to understand what it was like."

From the back: "The smell was the first thing we noticed. It was a terrible smell that made us all cough: a smell with another stench overlaying it.

Then we saw Firmus standing by the door. He pointed. "Something is trying to get in," he rasped.

What happens when a single moment changes everything? For seventeen-year-old Cheney, life on earth exists only in history books. He and more than one thousand other people have known life only aboard the spacecraft Plexus: self-contained, systematic, and serene. But that was before the radiation wave.

Now Plexus has suddenly turned on them, becoming a terrifying and unrecognizable force. As the crew dwindles under attack, Cheeny and his friends need to fight back before the ship that's nurtured them for so long becomes responsible for their destruction."

My take: Meh. I wanted to like this. I thought it sounded like a great Dystopian-type novel. What I got instead was something more like Star Trek. I'm not big into that kind of stuff. The story idea would have made a great book. I barely made it to the end. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I couldn't identify with the characters at all. The main character was bland and I can't even tell you how far in I was before I figured out who his parents were. Fans of Sci-Fi, Star Trek-type novels might be mildly entertained, but I sure wasn't.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Graphia; Reprint edition (April 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0547549989
ISBN-13: 978-0547549989

My rating: D

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-05-16T07:44:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, May 8:

Adult

1. The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL by Eric Greitens
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. Bossypants by Tina Fey
4. Iron Butterfly: Memoir of a Martial Arts Master: The True Story of a Mermaid's Daughter by Choon-Ok Jade Harmon
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
6. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
7. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
8. Two Kisses for Maddie by Matt Logelin
9. Tangled Webs by James Stewart
10. Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps by Dave Isay

Kids

1. You Are My Little Cupcake by Amy Sklansky
2. Throne of Fire: The Kane Chronicles: Book 2 by Rick Riordan
3. My Daddy and Me by Amy Sklansky
4. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusack
5. The Secret History of Mermaids and Creatures of the Deep by Ari Professor Berk
6. Oh The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss
7. Mayflower and the Pilgrims' New World by Nathaniel Philbrick
8. Dormia: Book 2 Jake Halpern
9. Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
10. Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Seuss

Reporting bookstores, all of which are members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Enter to Win!

2011-05-15T10:40:00.005-05:00

Enter For a Chance to Win 1 of 100 Advance Readers' Editions of The Leftovers

Enter HERE!

October 14th, The Sudden Departure: Millions of people were plucked from the Earth and millions left behind. For the residents of Mapleton the question is, "How can I rebuild my life in the wake of such a devastating event?" They were looking for a purpose--a feeling that their existence bore some relationship to reality.

Through the prism of a single family, The Leftovers delivers a colorful cast of characters struggling to hold onto a belief in their own futures in the face of their greatest fears.

Read the first 30 pages here: St. Martin's Press.

Which Platform?

2011-05-14T12:24:00.002-05:00

Writing content for a blog post is not the hard part. The hard part is when you decide you want to change the theme. First you have to find a Word Press theme you like. You find one you almost love. If it only had this, or it only did that. Or if this column was over here instead of over there. Or… you know. The possibilities are endless!

I think I’ve finally found a theme I can live with for awhile. Though I am a bit fickle. :) And what I like today, I may not like tomorrow.

Which platform is easier, Blogger or Word Press? Honestly, I think Blogger is easier to use and some features are built-in that WP doesn’t even have. One thing I really miss about Blogger is that it automatically posted my signature image at the bottom of each post. With WP so far, I’ve not been able to figure out how to do that. But I’m still looking. Until then, each time I post something, I manually have to insert the image at the bottom. I can live with that, but it’s not as easy as Blogger was — you know, fix it and forget it. Sort of like cooking with the crock-pot.

Finding images to use is another “fun” thing. Thankfully, I’m fairly graphic-literate. I know my way around the old versions of PSP like the back of my hand. Lucky for me, I have both PSP7 and Corel Paintshop Pro Photo X2 installed on my computer and if I can’t figure out how to do something in the new version, I do it in the old.

And tell me, which platform do you like better? Word Press or Blogger or something else?

Book Review: Blood Red Road

2011-05-12T09:20:00.002-05:00

Book Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

First sentence: "The day's hot."

From the back: "Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother, Lugh, is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives bearing four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on a quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside, 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. 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."

My take: This was an ARC of a book due out June 7, 2011. I didn't know what to expect. But since I like post-apocalyptic type reads, I figured I would give this one a try. To me, it seemed more like it took place in the old, lawless wild west than in the future. But that's just how it felt to me while I was reading it. I think it might have been the voice. Which is hard to explain, and some might find difficult to get used to. For instance: "I ain't never heard of such things, I says. I dunno what yer talkin about. How d'you know about these... Tonton?" The whole book is written like that, in character voice. I didn't mind it at all. I think it worked quite well for this book. That being said... I could not put this book down. I loved it. I devoured it and look forward to more in The Dustland series. This is a wonderful debut novel by a very talented author. I hope you'll all pick up a copy and read it for yourself!

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1442429984
ISBN-13: 978-1442429987

My rating: A

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-05-09T08:04:00.002-05:00

Top-Selling Titles at St. Louis Indies Last Week

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, May 1:

Adult

1. Bossypants by Tina Fey
2. The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens
3. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
4. The Help by Katherine Stockett
5. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
6. The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rassmussen
7. Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo
8. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
9. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
10. Swim Back to Me by Ann Packer

Kids

1. You Are My Little Cupcake by Amy Sklansky
2. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
4. Oh the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss
5. Who Is Coming? by Patricia McKissack
6. My Daddy and Me by Amy Sklansky
7. Of Thee I Sing by Barack Obama
8. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
9. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
10. Ana's Story by Jenna Bush

Reporting bookstores, all members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books and Sue's News.

Book Review: If I Stay

2011-05-06T08:54:00.002-05:00

Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

First sentence: "Everyone thinks it was because of the snow."

From the back: "Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, adoring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. Then, in an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left -- the most important decision she'll ever make."

My take: On the cover of this book it says: "Will appeal to fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight." Don't get me wrong... I loved Twilight. The Twilight Saga is the reason I started getting into books again... But in no way, shape or form is this book anything at all like Twilight. The only thing I can see that makes the two alike is that the main character is a teenage female. That's it. I liked this book, I liked it a lot. It made me cry. When a book brings out my emotions, it's good writing. Mia is a complex individual. I felt like the book was the accident and Mia's back story. Her reflecting on her life before the accident and deciding whether or not she wants to stay here without the family she lost. It's a very good, engaging story. I liked it a lot, but I didn't love it. But that's not a bad thing. I still recommend you read it!

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition (April 6, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 014241543X
ASIN: B004VD3PE0

My rating: B

Spring Blog Carnival

2011-04-30T23:44:00.006-05:00

~~Click on the image above to enter!~~

Contest closed!

Spring Blog Carnival!

Lori from Pure Imagination, Angela from Reading Angel, Candace from Candace’s Book Blog, Mary from The Book Swarm, decided to join together and throw a blog party!

The carnival runs from 12:01 May 1, 2011 through midnight May 8, 2011. All times EDT.

My contribution to the party is a $15.00 (USD) gift card from Amazon.com! You must be a confirmed GFC follower of this blog and over 13 years old to win!

Book Review: Stay

2011-04-27T08:36:00.003-05:00

Book Review: Stay by Deb Caletti

First sentence: "First off, I've never told this story to anyone."

From the front flap: "Clara's relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she's ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it's almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is -- and what he's willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city -- and Christian -- behind. No one back home knows where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won't let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough..."

My take: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved the author's writing. To me, it has almost a lyrical quality to it. Cliche'? Maybe. There are so many great words of wisdom contained in this book. I remember thinking when I read it what great quotes a lot of it would make later on. Throughout the book there are these little pearls of wisdom in the form of footnotes at the bottom of the page. I liked Clara, I liked her a lot. Maybe it's because I understood a lot about what she was going through. I was never in a controlling relationship but in some ways this is about co-dependence, and I've been there, done that. Clara's relationship with her father is great. I liked him. The people throughout the story are colorful, likeable people who add a certain depth to the book. I will have to check into some of Ms. Caletti's other work now!

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (April 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 144240373X
ISBN-13: 978-1442403734

My rating: A

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop Winner!

2011-04-26T21:12:00.005-05:00

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop Winner!

Congratulations, Justine! I've sent you an email, and you have 48 hours to respond.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Book Review: Enclave

2011-04-24T11:31:00.005-05:00

Book Review: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

First sentence: "I was born during the second holocaust."

From the front flap: "In Deuce's world, an enclave deep underground, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed "brat" has trained to join one of three groups -- Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear -- to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading the ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She's worked toward this goal her whole life and nothing's going to stop her, not even a brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce's troubles are just beginning.

Fade doesn't like following orders. Deuce has never known a boy like him before, someone as likely to touch her gently as use his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce's perception shifts, so does the balance in the battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat due to their sheer numbers, now show signs of cunning and even strategy... but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. No matter how hard she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she's every known."

My take: I found this book fully engaging. I devoured it. I like books with strong heroines, and Deuce is strong, to the point of never having learned how to feel or understand her emotions. The world is black and white, once you are a Huntress, you cannot be anything else. It is hard to come to terms with her feelings for Fade as time goes on. Feelings of love are signs of weakness and unless you are a Breeder, you are not supposed to have those feelings. Lately, I am totally engrossed with Dystopian books and enjoyed this one very much. I recommend it highly if you are a fan of Incarceron or The Hunger Games or The Forest of Hands and Teeth,

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

New Reading Mania Review

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends; 1 edition (April 12, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312650086
ISBN-13: 978-0312650087

My rating: A

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop!

2011-04-19T23:01:00.003-05:00

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop!

The Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop is scheduled from 12:01 AM April 20th until 11:59 PM April 25th. All times EDT.

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Once upon a Twilight.

I am giving away a $10.00 gift card from Amazon.com. ~~All you have to do is become a GFC follower and fill out the form below!~~

Contest is now closed.... Winner announced soon!

Bestsellers in St. Louis

2011-04-18T07:45:00.003-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in St. Louis

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in and around St. Louis, Mo. During the week ended Sunday, April 10:

Adult

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Bossypants by Tina Fey
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Pale King by David Foster Wallace
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The Land of Painted Caves by Jean Auel
Uppity: My Untold Story about the Games People Play by Bill White
The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

Kids

The Trouble With Chickens by Doreen Cronin
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
If I Could Keep You Little by Marianne Richmond
Our Children Can Soar: A Celebration of Rosa Barack and the Pioneers of Change by Michelle Cook
The Easter Story by Patricia A. Pingry
Remarkable Animals: 1000 Amazing Amalgamations by Tony Meeuwissen
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Why Do We Celebrate Easter by Mark Sutherland and Julie Hammond
Beyonders by Brandon Mull
Monster at the End of This Book by Michael Smollin and Jon Stone

Reporting bookstores, all members of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance: The Book House, Left Bank Books, Main Street Books, Pudd'nhead Books, Subterranean Books, Sue's News.

Oops!

2011-04-17T09:59:00.004-05:00

I wrote up a post for the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop and thought I scheduled it to post on the day the hop is actually supposed to start... Imagine my surprise when I saw that it had prematurely appeared on my blog this morning! Operator error, that's all I can say. If you were one of the 5 people who took advantage of my boo-boo and signed up, rest assured, you will be included in the drawing!

Book Review: The Peach Keeper

2011-04-16T16:21:00.004-05:00

Book Review: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

First sentence: "The day Paxton Osgood took the box of heavy-stock, foil-line envelopes to the post office, the ones she had a professional calligrapher address, it began to rain so hard the air turned as white as bleached cotton."

From the front flap: "Walls of Water, North Carolina, where the secrets are thicker than the fog from the town's famous waterfalls, and the stuff of superstition is just as real as you want it to be.

It's the dubious distinction of thirty-year-old Will a Jackson to hail from a fine old Southern family of means that met with financial ruin generations ago. The Blue Ridge Madam -- built by Willa's great-great-grandfather during Walls of Water's heyday, and once the town's grandest home -- has stood for years as a lonely monument to misfortune and scandal. And Willa herself has long strived to build a life beyond the brooding Jackson family shadow. No easy task in a town shaped by years of tradition and the well-marked boundaries between the haves and the have-nots.

But Will has lately learned that an old classmate -- socialite do-gooder Paxton Osgood, of the very prominent Osgood family -- has restored the Blue Ridge Madam to her former glory, with plans to open a top-flight inn. Maybe, at last, the troubled past can be laid to rest while something new and wonderful rises from its ashes. But what rises instead is a skeleton, found buried beneath the property's lone peach tree, and certain to drag up dire consequences along with it. For the bones -- those of charismatic traveling salesman Tucker Devlin, who worked his dark charms on Walls of Water seventy-five years ago -- are not all that lay hidden out of sight and mind. Long-kept secrets surrounding the troubling remains have also come to light, seemingly heralded by a spate of sudden strange occurrences throughout the town.

Now, thrust together in an unlikely friendship, united by a full-blooded mystery, Will and Paxton must confront the dangerous passions and tragic betrayals that once bound their families -- and uncover truths of the long-dead that have transcended time and defied the grave to touch the hearts and souls of the living."

My take: Sarah Addison Allen is one of my favorite authors. This is her fourth book and I've read them all. The characters in this book are very likeable. They come to life off the pages, and I felt their joy and their pain. This book made me cry in a few places and it made me smile in many. The author has done a wonderful job of bringing the people an the places to life. Teaching some important life lessons along the way. If you've not read anything by Sarah, what are you waiting for?!

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Bantam; First Edition edition (March 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553807226
ISBN-13: 978-0553807226

My rating: A

Book Review: The Scorch Trials

2011-04-14T22:08:00.005-05:00

Book Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

First sentence: "She spoke to him before the world fell apart."

From the front flap: "Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety... until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated -- and with it, order -- and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim... and meal.

The Gladers are far from done running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder -- does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?"

My take: I enjoyed this book, and I think I might have enjoyed it a little bit more than The Maze Runner. At the end of the book I felt very close to the cast of characters and one of the even made me want to club them over their head. I won't tell you who... that would be a spoiler. :) I am a huge fan of Dystopian novels and recommend this series if you are too.

If you've reviewed the book, leave a comment here and I'll post a link to your review!

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (October 12, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780385738750
ISBN-13: 978-0385738750
ASIN: 0385738757

My rating: A

Bestsellers Chicagoland and Milwaukee

2011-04-07T07:53:00.002-05:00

Top-Selling Titles in Chicagoland and Milwaukee Last Week

The following were the bestselling books at independent bookstores in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas during the week ended Sunday, April 3:

1. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
2. The Social Animal by David Brooks
3. The Land of Painted Caves by Jean Auel
4. Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo
5. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
6. Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr
7. The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
8. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
9. A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear
10. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Fool For Books Giveaway Hop Winner

2011-04-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Fool For Books Giveaway Hop

Congratulations to: Carina L. Tai! You are the lucky winner of the Amazon.com gift card. An email has been sent notifying you of your win. You have 48 hours to respond!

Thanks to everyone for following my blog and entering!

Fool For Books Giveaway Hop!

2011-03-31T23:01:00.009-05:00

Fool For Books Giveaway Hop

Dates for the Fool for Books Giveaway Hop:Friday, April 1st and Saturday, April 2nd The hop begins at 12:01 AM on Friday, April 1st, 2011 and closes on Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 at midnight. All times are EDT. (This blog's origin: CDT)

The Fool For Books Giveaway Hop is hosted by I am A Reader, Not a Writer, with thanks to The Bookish Snob for helping host this giveaway hop!

For this giveaway hop, I am giving away an Amazon.com gift card worth $25.00! The only requirement is: You must be a GFC follower to win.

Contest is now closed! I will be announcing the winner soon, stay tuned and good luck!