Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

 

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

This book was an award winner!

• YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) as a Best Fiction Book for Young Adults in 2013
• Printz Honor 2013
• Rainbow List 2013 (featuring significant GLBTQ content)
• Pura Belpre 2013 Author Award Winner 
• School Library Journal Starred Review
• Publisher's Weekly Starred Review

I can totally see why Aristotle and Dante made all these lists and won awards. I really don't know where to start in writing a review. My words would not give it justice. It was a beautiful book. A special book. Poetic, lyrical, lovely. It is a book about friendship, family and love. A coming of age story. A story about denial and acceptance and finding your own truth.  Love between two boys. Love between parents and children (seriously the best written parents in a Young Adult novel that I have ever read!) Just take my word for it and buy it or get it from your library. But read it now.

Race Review: Stratton-Faxon Danbury Half Marathon

 

So, this is what I did yesterday. A half marathon.  I had it planned for a couple of months. It was more of a "let me try and do this because I had an injury and I need to prove it to myself that I can come back" race.  I set no expectations for myself. I did not have a time goal. My goal was to cross the finish line standing up and uninjured.  I did so much better than I thought I would. I ran a 1:57:37 half marathon, which happens to be a PR for me. Go figure!

The race started at 10:20, so we left at about 8:00 for a 1 1/4 hour ride.  We made it at about 9:15 to pick up our packets and tech shirt.  Got in a short line for the bathroom and then decided to head back to the car for a change. The weatherman had forecast 62 degrees and sunny but it was anything but. It was cold and windy, with gusts 20-30 mph. I had originally planned to wear a running skirt and a sleeveless shirt, but was so glad I packed longer pants, hat and gloves. I did not touch my outfit during the race. That wind was pretty persistent.

The race started promptly at 10:20 with the 5K following at 10:30. Miles 1-5 were pretty flat with a few rolling hills. Miles 5-13 were HILLY. This was the most hilly run I have done. Usually what goes up must come down, but not this time. Just more hills. I felt myself slow down a bit and figured it was a combo of the hills and the wind and just concentrated on the miles passing. I knew if I could do 10 miles, all I had to conquer was a 5k which is do-able.

Starting around mile 9, I felt something going on with my toe.  I was wearing fairly new sneakers, which I had not worn for a run this long, and I was concerned that my toe was bleeding. I stopped and wiggled my toe and started running again. The pain did not let up until the run was over :(

The course was a loop and after I passed the Mile 11 marker, things started looking familiar so I knew I was heading toward this finish.  I thought maybe I would finish just over the 2 hour mark, so when I crossed the finish line and saw the 1:57, I was quite surprised and happy.

I would probably do this race again. It was small and I was able to run at my pace from the very beginning. At some races where there are a lot of people, you spend the first few miles dodging people and wasting a lot of energy to get to your pace.  The course support was good, with water/Gatorade stops about every 2 miles.

The one negative about the course was that it was out on the road with traffic. Most of the time you were on the shoulder where it was single file running and difficult to pass people with the traffic going by. And people drive way to fast. Scary.

One thing I need to learn to do is take pictures while running. All of my pictures came out blurry. I need some tips from other running bloggers!

But here is a good one of a very happy girl!

 

Book Review: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

 

Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.
So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.
I’m not kidding, he says.
You should be, she says, we’re 16.
What about Romeo and Juliet?
Shallow, confused, then dead.
I love you, Park says.
Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.
I’m not kidding, he says.
You should be.
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love—and just how hard it pulled you under. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

I heard a lot of buzz about a YA book that takes place in the 80's and I knew I had to read it. I found it in our library system and got it on Saturday morning. I finished it on Saturday night.    My kids like to say I am stuck in the 80's.  I probably am. This book just cemented it. You don't have to have been in high school in the 80's in order to enjoy this book, but it was sure fun reading about some things that defined that decade, such as: U2, a Walkman, and mix tapes. Brought back a lot of memories.

Rainbow Rowell is a great writer. The book is told through alternating points of view. I really enjoy when an author does this and does it well. Because Eleanor and Park come from different places, both literately and figuratively (Eleanor in a dysfunctional family- Park has a loving family), it made a lot of sense.  She was able to capture all of their feelings, hopes and dreams.  She had me hooked from the very first chapter where Eleanor gets on the school bus and no one will give her a seat. Ugh. It was so real and my heart broke for her.

The story takes place in 1986. I was 16 and in high school in 1986. Although I did not date in high school, if I did happen to have fallen in love in high school, I would have wanted it to go something like this. Slow in the beginning and bittersweet in the end. If you are a fan of a coming of age story, you need to read this.

 Eleanor and Park is a sweet romance book for teens and for adults who can remember what it was like to be a teen and fall in love.
 
Perfection. 

Highly recommended!

Looking forward to reading Attachments, also by the same author.

And maybe a sequel?

Book Reviews!

I just finished two great Young Adult novels. One was the final book in a trilogy. The other was the second book of a trilogy. I was so happy with both of them!

The first one was Shades of Earth by Beth Revis



 Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME.
(Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

Finally! A Young Adult trilogy that holds it's own from the first book to the last. I have read quite a few trilogies where the first book starts out so promising and the series just seems to lose it's steam during the second and third book. So congratulations to Beth Revis for a great finale. I don't want to say much about the plot, because it would be filled with spoilers and I don't want to do that.  Let's just say that this Centauri-Earth is filled with a lot of things that are not quite what they seem. This is the type of book that has a lot of twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the end. It also happens to be a great series for someone who is not a huge science fiction fan.  The plot elements are not too complicated that you can't follow.  Now, my friend Rebecca and I have had a lot of conversations about what we thought was going to happen in Shades of Earth, and we were both completely wrong!  Thanks to her for allowing me to borrow her book. If you don't have a great friend, find a library. Don't miss this one!

The second book was Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi



It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death.

Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.
Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at fi rst. Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?
Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night? In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and sci-fi elements to create a captivating adventure—and a love story as perilous as it is unforgettable. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

Under the Never Sky was one of my favorite books of 2012. I was looking forward to the sequel and hoped that it lived up the to the first. It was brilliant. As discussed before, second books in series often suffer from that second book slump and are just a filler between the first and last book. Not this one!  Although the world building is unique in it's own way, the book is very character driven and that is probably why I loved it.  There are a lot of interesting relationships; brother/sister (Perry/Liv) lover/lover (Perry/Aria), best friend of lover/lover (Roar/Aria) which are very well-developed and interesting to read. I especially loved the friendship between Roar and Aria. There was a point where I thought maybe there might be something more between them, but was happy to find out I was wrong. If you read Under the Never Sky, you need to read Through the Ever Night now. If you have not read either, you need to do so soon. Looking forward to Into the Still Blue, which is expected to be published in January 2014. Highly recommended!

Book Review: Kepler's Dream by Juliet Bell

A young girl makes her fractured family whole again with the help of a very special book

When eleven-year-old Ella's mother has to be hospitalized to undergo a dangerous cancer treatment, Ella spends the summer at "Broken Family Camp" with her eccentric grandmother, whom she's never met. The situation is hardly ideal for either of them. Ella is scared her mother may die, but her grandmother seems to care more about her library full of books than she does about her very own granddaughter.

But when a rare and beloved book, Kepler's Dream of the Moon, is stolen from her grandmother's amazing library, Ella and her new friend Rosie make up their minds to find it. Finding the beautiful book her grandmother loves so much could even be the key to healing Ella's broken family.

An affecting and beautifully written story of family, forgiveness and the wonder of the stars, Kepler's Dream is a sparkling and memorable debut. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

I have really tried to search out and read some excellent Children's Literature lately. Why? Well, last year I read far too few.  Lots of Young Adult, lots of Adult Fiction, too little Juvenile Fiction.  Second, I want our library book bag to be filled with some good stuff. Lately my boys have been reading a lot of graphic novels/Wimpy Kid/Big Nate which is fine once in a while, but I want them reading novels. If I have read it, it always seems easier to talk it up. Kepler's Dream has been on my radar for a while and I finally found it on the shelf. The big hurdle in recommending the book to my own children is the fact that the main character is a girl. Not an easy task.

I really enjoyed it. More than I anticipated. The book is marketed as a mystery. I am not a huge mystery reader, but it had a great balance between a mystery and a family story, and that is probably why I liked it.  The missing book was almost secondary. The story was so well-written and it is always nice to read a book that has some smartly written girls. Ella has a good kind heart, she is charming and has a great sense of humor. She is placed in a difficult situation and navigates through it bravely.  I really enjoyed seeing how the relationship with her Grandmother (The GM) evolved from the beginning of the story until the end.  Her Grandmother is a bit of a pip in the beginning but redeems herself in the end. 

I would recommend this book for ages 10 and up. Without a whole lot of action, it would be appropriate for a child who likes a book that has a lot of feelings. Since I can't see my boys reading it, I will book-talk it to my nieces... I know they will enjoy it.

Fitness!

Sorry it has been so long since a blog post. I increased my hours at work and have been trying to balance that with the boys, running, reading, the husband, the house, etc. The blog is the last thing on my list.  I had a little time before work and decided to do a quick blog post not about books but about fitness! I hope to have a race review in March. The husband and I are doing a St. Patrick's Day 5k on the 17th and then I have something in the works for April. Fingers crossed!
 
Yesterday I did a 7 mile run on the treadmill, which is the longest run that I have been able to do since July!  The leg feels good today, so I must be doing something correct.  I found a half-marathon training program that consists of run/walk training. Here it is: http://running.competitor.com. I figured I needed to start from scratch when trying to come back from an injury. Also, because I am trying to be more aware of my body, I like that I can run the miles for a particular day, or scale back and run/walk if I am feeling any twinges.

Because I am feeling great and itching to get back into some racing, I signed up for the Danbury Half Marathon on April 7th. I paid in full but also paid the extra $7 for insurance in case I am ill or too injured to run.  I have a friend to run with and my husband is running the 5k, so he can cheer me on. 

I also decided that I needed a new pair of shoes. After a couple of pairs that I bought and returned, I finally found these:



I have a couple pairs of not so expensive Asics that I absolutely adore.  So I went with a mid-priced pair.  I wore them yesterday for the first 5 miles of my run, then decided to change into an older pair. I felt like I needed to break them in a little more.  So far so good. Plus, I love the color. Nice and cheerful.

I also found myself watching an infomercial one late evening for this exercise program called JNL Fusion. It looked to be a little like Insanity (but a little less insane) and with weights.  I ordered it and it came in the mail so I added it to my routine last week.  Each DVD is about 30 minutes and concentrates on a specific body part (shoulders, legs, biceps) mixed in with some intense cardio. Like the dreaded burpees and lots of plyo. I did the Shoulder Shredder this morning and was beat at the end of the 30 minutes. It came with a calendar to guide you as to which DVD to do for that particular day. I am not sure how much I am going to follow the calendar because of my running, but I do like having something else to fall back on on days that I am not running or can't get to the gym. Mixing things up is always good.  You can read more about JNL Fusion on their website here: http://www.bodyfx.com/JNL_C1/

To quote an instructor at my gym: "Today is a great day for fitness!"

Stormy Weather...

Finally got out of the house today after many days at home. We woke up on Saturday morning to this:

30+ inches of snow.  This is the view from inside my garage.  Took about 6 hours to clean it up. The roads are still one lane around here and the children have missed three days of school. Hoping they can make it back tomorrow.  They are asking to go back to school.

So what did I do all weekend? Read, read, read.  Luckily I had hit the library and stocked myself up. I read a total of 5 books;  1 adult, 1 children's and 3 young adult titles.  I enjoyed them all.  Just going to touch briefly on each book.


I started with My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

 

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself? (Description from  http://www.amazon.com)


My thoughts:
This book was great.  A perfect summer teen romance. I loved the Garrett family, every single one of them. The author wrote them all quirky and easy to love. Especially George. And Jase is the boy that every girl wants; a good son, a great brother, a sweet boyfriend.  Samantha on the other hand, wasn't my favorite at the beginning, but she did grow on me. So did Tim.  Huntley Fitzpatrick really spent some time developing the secondary characters and I enjoyed seeing them grow. I do have two problems with the story. The conflict did not happen until about 3/4 of the way through and I kind of felt it was left unresolved. I also feel that the issue between Samantha and her best friend Nan came out of left field and was also left unresolved. But overall, a good young adult story.


I then moved on to something totally different. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.  I had previously read Gone Girl and Dark Places and was anxious to read her debut novel.



WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg
Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:
I am a big fan of Gillian Flynn. Her writing is terrific and her her mind is warped. If you are looking for a psychological thriller that will keep you reading and make you say "WHAT THE HELL?" this would be the book.

On to a Young Adult that I have been waiting for! Prodigy by Marie Lu, which is the sequel to Legend.



June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.
But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong? (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:
Marie Lu totally delivered on this one. Sometimes a second novel in a series is just a filler and just does not go anywhere. This one was filled with loads of conflict. Conflict between Day and June, conflict between The Republic, the Patriots and the Colonies. It was one of those novels where you had to pay attention to every detail (well, at least I did) so you can understand exactly who is on what side of this political conflict. Just when you think you have it straight in your head, something will change.  And the ending. Ugh! How long until the next book?

Then I read Girl of Nightmares, which is the sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake which I reviewed here.  Being that I just read Anna a week or so ago, everything was still really fresh in my mind. That makes me happy.
 
 

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

Great ending to a fun series. Well developed characters, interesting plot twists. Ending was as it should be!

The last book I finished was something that some of my librarian friends had been talking about and I just happened to find a copy on the shelf. I was surprised to find it, as it had just been announced as a Newbery 2013 Honor Book. This might have been my favorite book of the five that I read.  Although I am a trained Children's Librarian, I read far less juvenile fiction than I should.  Sometimes it seems well, a little juvenile, and it takes a special book to get me excited to read some kid's fiction again. This was one of them! Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage.





A hilarious Southern debut with the kind of characters you meet once in a lifetime

Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone's business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago, and she's been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her "upstream mother," she's found a home with the Colonel--a café owner with a forgotten past of his own--and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known.

Full of wisdom, humor, and grit, this timeless yarn will melt the heart of even the sternest Yankee. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:
This book was delightful. It was so well-written. The book has heart. I loved, loved, loved the characters, the plot and the pacing. It made me laugh out loud. While funny and heartwarming, it did deal with some tough issues (alcoholism, domestic abuse and abandonment). Parents and kids will enjoy it. I keep raving about it to my boys and hope that they will pick it up. I love talking about books with my kids!

Happy reading!

Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. They follow legends and local lore, destroy the murderous dead, and keep pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

Searching for a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas expects the usual: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

Yet she spares Cas's life. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

Usually I am not a big fan of the horror genre; book or movie!  This all goes back to 7th grade and a sleepover and The Exorcist and having to call my Mom to come and get me. I had never been that scared in my entire life. Talk about embarrassing. I still cannot watch that movie. Even the music creeps me out. 

So a ghost story is not something that I naturally gravitate to. I cannot remember the last time I read a really great ghost story; adult or young adult. I had seen this book reviewed by other bloggers and I put it on my list.  I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to read the sequel. 

It had the perfect combination of ghost story and love story.  It had violence, gore and even a little bit of humor. It had a strong male lead character who had a completely developed back story.  The main female character was Anna and I wanted to hate her and protect her at the same time, which shows how great of a writer Kendare Blake is.  I mean, she is a ghost! I liked the fact that Anna and Cas's "relationship" was unconventional and real. I almost forgot what Anna really was. 

I also liked that the supporting characters were a little different than usually portrayed in Young Adult novels.  For example, when Carmel was introduced, I thought she was going to be just one of those fluffy girl characters who stands there and screams or gets killed. Not so. She was pretty strong and kick-ass.

The book was a page turner and I finished it in a few hours yesterday. Nice plot twists to keep you reading. I could not put it down.

The book is marketed as a YA, but I would say that it is for older YA's, not the 13 year old crowd due to the the f-bombs and fair amount of blood and gore.

The sequel is called Girl of Nightmares and it was published in August 2012. Hoping to get my hands on it soon.

Also read that Stephenie Meyer is producing the film version of Anna Dressed in Blood.

Happy Reading!

The Real Poop...

 

Bear with me here. This blog is about not only reading, but things that make my list.  One thing that is always on my list is how to make my bathroom smell better. I mean, I live with two little boys and one big boy. I clean my bathrooms everyday. I cannot imagine not doing this. I don't know if they close their eyes when they pee, but that stuff happens to get everywhere. Then it dries up and you have to scrub, scrub, scrub to remove it. I use lots of bleach and Lysol.

Pee is one thing, but poop is another. No matter what you spray, it never quite removes the smell.  I happened to be flipping through channels a few weeks ago and found myself watching QVC where they were selling this stuff called Poo-Pourri. 

"Poo~Pourri is not a chemical cover up! Based on aromatherapy principles, a squirt or two into the bowl forms a protective layer of essential oils that prevents nasty smells from showing up in the first place." 

People were calling in and saying how much it works; yada, yada, yada. I checked the QVC reviews and it got 5 star reviews that were mostly positive. So I decided to purchase some.  I got the 4 bottle set and it cost me $30.00 with shipping and tax. Expensive, but one bottle has over 100 uses and if it makes my bathrooms smell great, then it would be worth it.  The boys eagerly awaited the shipment in the mail...

Verdict is... it works! I mean really works. It is made from essential oils, so it smells like lemon or lavender or mint or whatever. Not that fake floral of a bathroom spray. Directions say 4-6 sprays, however through some experimentation, we have found that 3 sprays does the trick. 

 http://poopourri.com/

I will repurchase.  

The next "bathroom" related thing on my list is my own bathroom. A girl can wish...

New Toy... and some books!

Since I decided not to fly to Florida and run a half-marathon until my stress fracture is completely healed, I had some money burning a hole in my pocket. So I decided to buy a tablet. You see, I was the only tablet-less person in my house. Husband has a Nook Color, DS #1 has a Kindle Fire and DS #2 has an Ipad.  Frankly, they are not good at sharing their electronic devices.

I love my new tablet. It was so easy to set up as I have an android phone with a Google account. All I needed to do was enter my Google info and every app that I had purchased on my phone magically appeared on my tablet.

My favorites are of course the Overdrive App (which allows you to borrow books from the library collection for free) and the Amazon Kindle App (which now contains my entire e-book library).

I love the fact that I can check my e-mail and even blog without up having to start up the computer.

Onto books. I read some good ones over the past few weeks, one was actually really great!



When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:
Loved this one. Exceptional. Great writing. Highly developed characters. Lots of growth. I wish that I could have traveled as an 18 year old girl. Paris was beautifully written. Cannot wait for the second book, which is written from Willem's point of view. Don't let this one pass you by.






 Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. (Description from http://www.goodreads.com)

My thoughts:
I really loved Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins and was excited to read this one. I did not know that the stories would be connected; as Anna and St. Clair made an appearance.  It is such a cute, fun story with a quirky girl and a pretty desirable boy next door. I will read anything by Stephanie Perkins and am looking forward to the final companion story, Isla and the Happily Ever After which will be published later this year.


 





 

There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.(Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

I happened to be looking in the Kindle store and found this book for $0.99 and it had good reviews. I liked it more than I thought I would.  It is a New Adult Contemporary which would be appropriate for older teens (17 and up) due to mature sexual situations. The book was kind of addicting and difficult to put down.  Both of the main characters, Callie and Kayden deal with some heavy stuff; they are broken and they have a lot of secrets. Chapters alternate between the two characters and it is very clear who is speaking. Their pain is both pronounced and subtle at the same time.  The story had a nice pace...until the end. Cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. I need the sequel now!

Book Review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

 

I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ.

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club . . . and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer. (Description from http://www.amazon.com).

My thoughts:

My best "Adult" book pick for 2012 was Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Previously to Gone Girl, Gillian wrote two novels, Sharp Objects and Dark Places.  I happened to find Dark Places on the paperback shelf at my library, so I decided to read to see if her previous novels were as good (or better) than Gone Girl.

Libby is the only survivor of a horrific murder that killed her mother and two sisters. Her brother Ben was incarcerated as the killer, due to Libby's testimony.  Libby obviously suffers from various post-traumatic stress issues and happens to get involved in a secret society called "The Kill Club," whose members are obsessed with crimes. With the promise of payment, she will reconnect with her brother and find out what exactly happened that night.

Dark Places, for me, was just as good as Gone Girl. Loved it. Yes, it was another disturbing novel from Gillian Flynn, but oh so satisfying. One that I could not put down. I don't know exactly what is it about her writing that keeps me on the edge of my seat, but it does and I enjoy it.

Gillian Flynn does an amazing job of alternating between characters (Libby, her mom and her brother); both in the present day and in flashback. Never once did I need to go back and find out who was speaking, it was that clear.  All of her characters are rich and complex. The ending was satisfying because as so many times in life, things are never perfect.

If you are looking for a deep, dark and disturbing novel this would fit the bill. I love that in the end notes the author acknowledges her twisted thoughts by writing  "What do I say to a man who knows how I think and still sleeps next to me with the lights off?" Love it!

Anxious to read Sharp Objects and anything else that she writes in the future!

Book Review: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

 

Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.
Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.
Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.(Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

I placed The One and Only Ivan on hold when I read that there was some Newbery buzz around the book (awards will be announced the last weekend in January at the ALA Midwinter meeting). Upon further review, it earned a lot of starred reviews and numerous places on "Best of 2012" lists.  The book has been compared to Charlotte's Web, which is a classic and a favorite of mine, so is a must read.

All in all it was a great book, for big kids and little kids alike.  As soon as I finished it, I stuck it in our library book bag and raved about it. I will be interesting to see who picks it up first and hopefully it will not spark some kind of battle as everything else seems to these days.

Based on a true story, Ivan is a gorilla who is living a primarily solitary life with a few friends; Stella the elephant, stray dog Bob, and Julia the caretaker's daughter.  Ivan's situation is so sad and he is just so sweet. Katherine Applegate really makes you feel Ivan's depression and humility the beginning of the story.  It isn't until the arrival of a new elephant named Ruby that challenges Ivan to turn his and her world around.  He had made Stella a promise and he intends to keep it. You then feel his determination and finally, happiness.

The book contains many short chapters and choppy writing. But it makes sense in this story. It is a first person narrative from the gorilla's viewpoint. Some people might find this off-putting, but I found it charming.  That being said, it probably would make a great read-aloud. Publisher states that book is for ages 8+ with a grade level of 3 and up, but I think younger kids would enjoy it read aloud.

Highly emotional and bittersweet, this book would make a great bedtime story or read-aloud. If you are an animal lover you will love this book.  If you have a heart, you will love this book.

Book Review: Flesh and Bone by Jonathan Maberry

Reeling from the devastation of Dust & Decay, Benny Imura and his friends plunge deep into the zombie-infested wastelands of the great Rot & Ruin. Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong journey through a fierce wilderness that was once America, searching for the jet they saw in the skies months ago. If that jet exists then humanity itself must have survived…somewhere. Finding it is their best hope for having a future and a life worth living.
But the Ruin is far more dangerous than any of them can imagine. Fierce animals hunt them. They come face to face with a death cult. And then there’s the zombies—swarms of them coming from the east, devouring everything in their paths. And these zoms are different. Faster, smarter, and infinitely more dangerous. Has the zombie plague mutated, or is there something far more sinister behind this new invasion of the living dead?
One thing Benny and his companions can’t afford to forget: In the great Rot & Ruin, everything wants to kill you. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)


My thoughts:

• I went into this book thinking it was the final book in a trilogy. But no! I read in the author's forward that this series is a quadrology! I have never heard that expression before.  

•  Jonathan Maberry is not only an excellent writer, but he is a thoughtful person. I loved the author's note that spoke of grief, because this series deals with it a lot.  I love that he told his young readers to ask for help if they are dealing with any kind of grief. They are not alone. Young people need to hear this more often.

•  The story starts about a month after the destruction of Gameland.  Benny, Nix, Lilah and Chong are once again navigating the Ruin in search of that airplane. That search puts them right into the center of a war. Something that is possibly more horrifying that the zoms that surround them.

•  This war is going to make them question humanity.

•  Maberry is a great writer who understands character development.  The four main characters grow up amid chaos and are still very resilient.  Each on of them is so weak and strong in different ways (both physically and mentally).  They amaze me.

•  Maberry writes excellent secondary characters. Some are full of wisdom. All are quirky. They are all important to the development of the story.

•  The book contains a lot of action, violence, grief, sadness and some hope. Perfect set up for a great ending.

• Fire and Ash will be published September 26, 2013. Can't wait.

 

Book Review: Do or Di by Eileen Cook

A laugh out loud romantic comedy, from the author of Unpredictable and Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood. Erin Callighan has given up on the idea of a fairy tale romance. Having dated her own version of the Seven Dwarves (including Grumpy and Sleepy), she's letting go of the idea of Prince Charming and settling for Prince Good Enough. Erin’s focused on reaching her dream of having her own talk radio show, even if it means having to temporarily co-host with the annoying “Voice of Seattle”, Colin Stewart. To score points with her station manager, she agrees to be a part of the Positive Partnerships program that matches her with Diana, a troubled pre-teen who swears she's channeling the spirit of the late Princess Diana. She's supposed to be mentoring Diana, but the channeled princess has a lot to teach Erin about love and happily ever after endings. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

I had purchased this book for my Kindle months ago. I try to buy a free or "cheap" book to keep on there when I am waiting for something on reserve from the library. It is only available as an e-book from Amazon. You might think from the title that it is a mystery, but it is not. It is a contemporary romance with some quirky characters.  I loved Erin and Diana and their relationship.  Erin was supposed to be mentoring Diana, but Erin learns a lot more from this teen than she ever imagined.  Yes, the ending was predictable but the story read at a nice pace.  If you are looking for something to read on a snowy winter afternoon, this would be a good choice.

2012/Best Books/2013

 

2012 was a great year for me. I accomplished my goals, the most important of which were running a half marathon, starting a blog and reading more books than I ever have.

• I  never ever thought I could finish one half-marathon, and I did three. Very proud of myself for that.  In recap I ran 12 races; three half marathons, 8 5K's and the Manchester Road Race which was 4.8 miles and does not fall into any race category. I battled a stress fracture which caused me to drop out of one race which I really wanted to do. As far as my stress fracture goes, it had been feeling fine until just about last week. In late November and most of December I was doing more miles than I have since July (10-15 miles a week) which has proven to be too much. So I am feeling some pain and trying to be smart, which means taking a few weeks off from running. :( I was planning on going down to Florida to run Melbourne and Beaches again and I am glad now that I did not pay for a flight and additional registration. I have no races planned right now and I can't imagine doing any in the near future.  The goal is to get back to running without pain. Maybe I will never run a half again. So I'm going to remember this day and cherish it.

Melbourne Music and Beaches Half Marathon February 5, 2012

• Starting a blog was something I had been thinking about for years and I finally got the courage (and some time) to start one.  I mainly do it for myself and my friends who want to know what I read and what I like. I used to publish my "Books Read" list on Facebook, but now I can do it here and also do some reviews too. I wish I had more time to review every book that I read, but have to be happy with what I can put out. Being a good mom and wife is my main priority, along with my part-time job, the house, etc...

• In 2012 I read 175 books! Last year I read 107. I have some librarian friends who read upwards of 300-400, so 175 is pretty small compared to that. I don't know where I found the time to read so much, but I did. I guess it is a priority!

My favorite books of the year were:

Young Adult
 

Adult
 


Children's
 

New Adult

I am not much for making New Year's Resolutions, but here are a few goals of mine:

• Blog more
• Stop weighing myself every day (limit to once a week, it is really a bad habit)
• Keep my leg healthy, even if it means taking more rest days than I like.
• Order the Insanity program and start it.
• Become a better writer
• Run one half marathon
• Laugh and Love