Review: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Title and Author of book: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Fiction or non-fiction: Fiction
Genre: Adult literature/YA (I think it makes a great YA book!)
Where did I get the book: My public Library
Challenges that this fulfilled: none

Who recommended this book to me?: I've seen this one everywhere, but after Janel's great review I knew I needed to get this one read!!

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending!
We're introduced to eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison. It is the summer of 1950—and a series of inexplicable events has struck Buckshaw, the decaying English mansion that Flavia’s family calls home. A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath. For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”

What did you like most about this book? I loved the cheeky Flavia!! Her mind is faster and sharper than any eleven-year old I've ever met. I liked how she connected everything to Chemistry in some way and that she really had a very active imagination. especially when it came to poisons and how to kill/maim someone with them.

What did you like least? I have to say that there wasn't anything that I didn't like in this book, except for the fact that Flavia is much smarter than me!!!

Have you read any other books by this author? This is my first experience with Alan Bradley and I've heard around the grapevine that he's going to write several more book with Flavia!! (jumping up and down !!)


What about the ending? Perfect and everything was neatly wrapped up with a bow. I found this one to be extremely satisfying, and after finishing it, I wanted to grab book #2 in the Mary Russell series because I found these two English girls to be extremely engaging!!!

If you enjoy a good mystery, set in England, with a precocious, charming eleven-year old as the main character, then you will surely enjoy this one!!!
I highly recommend this book!!

Other Book lovers thoughts:

Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea
Direct quote from review: "The first person narrative by this unconventional spunky protagonist works so well, it was hard to believe a seventy year old male could capture the character of this eleven year old detective so beautifully. I caught myself laughing at loud numerous times as Flavia worked to solve the mysteries."

Janel's Jumble
Direct quote from review: "I honestly haven't enjoyed a mystery this much in a long time. An eleven-year old girl is not a usual cozy main character, but I fell in love with Flavia anyway."

Review: The Turnaround by George Pelecanos

Title and Author of book: The Turnaround by George Pelecanos

Fiction or non-fiction: Fiction
Genre: Adult literature
Where did I get the book: My public Library
Challenges that this fulfilled: none

Who recommended this book to me?: Kathy from Bermudaonion's Weblog.

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending!
On a hot summer afternoon in 1972, three teenagers drove into an unfamiliar neighborhood and six lives were altered forever.
Thirty five years later, one survivor of that day reaches out to another, opening a door that could lead to salvation. But another survivor is now out of prison, looking for reparation in any form he can find it.

What did you like most about this book? I enjoyed the setting of the book which took place in the D.C. area. I also liked how the author took the time to develop the characters that played an integral part in the story.

What did you like least? There wasn't anything that I didn't like.

Have you read any other books by this author? This is my first Pelecanos book and it won't be my last!

What did you think of the main character? I felt that there were two main characters in this story one white and the other black. They had a chance encounter when they were young which changed both of their lives dramatically. I liked both of them by the end of the story and felt that they both tried to make amends for their mistakes and to live their lives with integrity.

What about the ending? Can I just say that sometimes it is very satisfying when someone gets what they deserve???? I liked the ending..(she laughs with a touch of devilish delight!!)

Reviews: 3 for the price of 1!!

I was going to review each one of these books separately but then decided against it. The reason? Two of the books have been reviewed everywhere and I really don't think that I have much else to add. So I decided to talk about these three books, what I learned from reading them, and why I think you should read them one right after the other.

I read The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet first. I was swept away by this novel. I think the author did a great job of giving the main character his voice. Here are just some of the historical facts I learned.

• This book took place in Seattle, Washington. I had no idea that there was such a huge concentration of Chinese and Japanese that lived there during this time.
  
• I knew nothing about the Japan attacking China before WWII even broke out.
• I didn't know that there were internment camps located in Washington.
• Can you imagine having to wear a button that says "I'm Chinese."

I fell in love with Henry and Keiko. Their story rang so true to me and the ending made me cry!! This is Jamie Ford's debut novel and wow, he knocked my socks off. I see big things ahead for him. I can't recommend this one enough and it is on my faves list for 2009!


Next up on my reading list was Shanghai Girls. I adore Lisa See and her writing style. This one did not disappoint me at all. This story begins in Shanghai and introduces us to sisters, May and Pearl. They are young, beautiful and carefree. Much of their lives they have been spoiled by their parents. Then war comes to China and the Japanese have invaded. I now had some idea of this war, The Second Sino-Japanese War, because it was referenced in The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Another piece of the puzzle fell into place. I don't want to say my history teachers were not skilled, but we only talked about how WWII affected the United States. I love it when I take away new information from reading!! Somehow (I know how but don't want to spoil it for anyone) the two sisters make it out of China and end up in the United States. Once again, the prejudice that the Chinese people experienced in the US at this time is forefront in the story and you get another glimpse into how Asians were perceived during WWII.
For me, See hit a home run with this beautiful novel. This one is a favorite read of 2009.


The final book that I read was Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas. I would've never known about this book until I posted my review of her newest release, Prayers For Sale. Kaye from Pudgy Penguin Perusals recommended this one to me. I'm so thankful that she did because this one was a WINNER!!! The setting is in Colorado and it is based on an actual Japanese internment camp. The main character Rennie Stroud is something else! I loved this girl and her feistiness. I also thought her parents were pretty awesome characters. You honestly can't help but want to be a part of their family. A twist on this book that is different than the others, is that a murder of a young girl occurs in Rennie's hometown and everyone wants to blame the Japanese. Througout the story you see how if people just take a chance and put aside their prejudices, then true friendships can be made. Tallgrass also makes the list of favorite reads this year!!!




I'm glad that I read these 3 books. I wish now that I would've read them one right after the other just because it would've been a much more cohesive history lesson for me. Nothing detracts from the stories by reading them months apart, but if you're interested in reading about this time period then these are three stellar stories that gives the reader many different perspectives.

Review: The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

Title and Author of book: The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

Fiction or non-fiction: Fiction
Genre: Adult literature
Where did I get the book: My public Library
Challenges that this fulfilled: The Pub 2009

What led you to pick up this book? I fell in love with the cover when I saw it on Bonnie's blog Red Lady's Reading Room.

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending!
"You can always start again," Kate Robinson's mother once told her, "all it takes is a new thread." Overwhelmed by heartbreak and loss, the struggling twenty-six-year-old fashion designer follows her mother's advice and flees to her ancestral homeland of Ireland, hoping to break free of old patterns and reinvent herself.

What did you like most about this book? The theme of loss runs deep through this story, however, the author shows the reader how each person deals differently with their own heartaches and is able to have hope once again! I also liked how the sharing of a craft brought together a group of women who treated each other like family. I would love to belong to a group like this.

What did you like least? There wasn't anything that I didn't like. This book was beautifully written and the characters came to life in my mind. The only down side to reading this is that it made me want to be in Ireland!!

Have you read any other books by this author? No, I haven't but I would easily pick up her first novel, Snow in July, because of how much I loved this one.

What did you think of the main character? I loved each of the characters introduced in this book. Each one had something to add to the story and made it that much more interesting.

What about the ending? Well, I can't tell you anything about that!! I don't want to spoil this wonderful book for anyone!!

I totally recommend this book to anyone. It was a lovely read and when I closed the book I was truly sad to say goodbye to these people. I wanted to get on a plane and travel to their village and ask them if I could be a part of their extended family!!

Other Book Friends who read and reviewed this book:
Tara @ Books and Cooks
Direct Quote: "For some reason, I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did, perhaps because it seemed formulaic. But it brought me pleasure and I am happy to recommend it."

I want to give credit to Kailana of The Written World
for the format of my review today.
I really like how she does her reviews,
so as I wanted to change things up a bit,
I thought I would review this book in her style.

Review: In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor

In the Land of Cotton
by Martha A. Taylor
Published 2009 by Outskirts Press
Pages: 256




My Thoughts:

This is the story of Martha's childhood and teen years living in Memphis during the 1950's and into the 60's. She allows us into a glimpse into her world where we find out that she experiences child molestation from an adult who was supposed to care for her, someone that should've never hurt their own grandchild. Her parents are distant, stingy with their love, and always fighting. As a way to escape these three people, she follows the babysitter, Lucy, who is a black woman, home one day. She realizes that there is a world unknown to others deep in the woods behind her sub-division. She spends much of her summers with Lucy's extended family and feels like a loved family member. During her time there she meets and falls in love with Silas. They both know that their feelings have to be kept secret,but after Silas is sent to Vietnam, they realize that they MUST be together no matter what. Her story unfolds as the Civil Rights movement is underway and her relationship with Silas is one that is fraught with danger. There is so much to learn from this wonderful book. I took more from Martha's story than I ever did in history class. She made the events come alive and because she lived during that time, her story made more of an impact on me. Not only that, but a lot of what was happening affected her and Silas's relationship. It wasn't until the late 1960's when the government finally removed the laws that had prevented blacks and whites from marrying. This book was well worth the time I spent reading it. I walked away with a much broader knowledge of the discrimination and hatred endured by our fellow Americans and I came to love Martha, Silas, Lucy, Mammy Grace and all of the other Boyd family members. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone wanting to read about an innocent and true love developing against the backdrop of racism, hatred and fear of other races, and America at war in Vietnam.

Review: A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson

A Guide to the Birds of East Africa
Author: Nicholas Drayson
Published: 2008
Genre: Fiction- for Adults and YA
Pages: 202

From Goodreads: A beguiling novel that does for contemporary Kenya and its 1,000 species of birds what Alexander McCall Smith's Ladies Detective series does for Botswana. Kenya is wildlife heaven and Drayson's descriptions make you long to travel there. But the author also turns an eagle eye on the foibles and follies of the people and politicians who roam the East African landscape. Readers looking for winning fiction that delivers wit and wisdom need look no further than in the pages of this novel.





My Thoughts:
This is an absolutely charming book. It made me wish to be in Kenya to observe these birds first hand. Written with humor and grace, this book is a delightful romp into the lives of Rose Mbikwa, Mr. Malik, and Henry Khan. The story is told from an unknown third party and the style reminded me of Alan Bennett's book ,The Uncommon Reader. It has that dry, quirky British humor feel to it. This was a wonderful way to spend three hours. I totally recommend this little book to anyone out there who loves birds, likes to learn about other countries, and enjoys getting a peek into some interesting characters daily lives.

Here are just some of the birds that were spotted during the reading of this book.

Blacksmith Lapwing









African Emerald Cuckoo







Hadada Ibis








Hartlaub's Turaco







Also reviewed by:
The Book Lady's Blog
Direct quote from review: "In A Guide to the Birds of East Africa, Nicholas Drayson has created a very pleasant light read with well-drawn characters and a charming story."

Fresh Ink Books
Direct quote from review: "It's a good story, told by a somewhat cheeky narrator, laugh out loud funny in places and well worth reading. I enjoyed it very much. Four stars out of five."

Review:Death By Bikini by Linda Gerber

Death By Bikini
Author: Linda Gerber
Genre: YA
Published: 2008
Pages: 225
Description from Goodreads:
A fun, sexy, murder-mystery romance for all teen sleuths! Aphra Behn Connolly has the type of life most teenage girls envy. She lives on a remote tropical island and spends most of her time eavesdropping on the rich and famous. The problem is that her family’s resort allows few opportunities for her to make friends—much less to meet cute boys. So when a smoldering Seth Mulo arrives with his parents, she’s immediately drawn to him. Sure, he’s a little bit guarded, and sure his parents are rather cold, and okay he won’t say a word about his past, but their chemistry is undeniable. Then a famous rock star’s girlfriend turns up dead on the beach—strangled by her own bikini top—and alarm bells sound. Is it too great a coincidence that Seth’s family turned up just one day before a murder? As the plot thickens, Aphra finds that danger lurks behind even the most unexpected of faces.


My Thoughts:
This was a fun mystery that contained just the right mixture of teen angst, romance, and a great location with a mystery mixed in for entertainment. I read it in one sitting and found it to be a very enjoyable book, and even though I totally knew who the bad guy was, I still had a good time. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series...Death By Latte and Death By Denim,because I want to see what happens next with Aphra and Seth!! Plus, how can you pass up a book with such a cute cover?????

Reviewed Elsewhere:

The Story Siren
Direct quote from her review: " I enjoyed Aphra’s character and her fearlessness. I can’t wait to read more about her in Death by Latte!"

Presenting Lenore
Direct quote from her review: "This is a quick paced and satisfying teen mystery with some truly scary moments (a near drowning, claustrophobic moments in tight caves, and chases through the rain-soaked jungle at night), lots of intrigue and a dash of romance."

**Sidenote: I need to give credit to Robin of My Two Blessings from which I lifted the idea of posting snippets from other reviews!!!

Review: Dark Places: A Novel by Gillian Flynn

Dark Places
by Gillian Flynn
Published: 2009
Pages: 368

Reason for Reading: I loved Flynn's first novel,
Sharp Objects, and when I saw this one on a Friday Finds post I immediately requested it from the library.
Challenges this book fulfills: The Pub 2009
Borrowed from my local library





My Thoughts:

Goodreads: When Libby Day was seven years old, her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” Thinking about that night sends Libby straight into what she calls her Darkplace

My Thoughts: When Libby enters these parts of her mind that she calls her dark places you're not sure if you can trust what she saw or heard. You find yourself feeling a little unnerved by this character.


From Goodreads: Michelle was strangled. Debby was chopped up with an axe. And Patty Day’s head was blown off with a shotgun.

My Thoughts: The murders are so brutal and chilling. It's hard at times to imagine the gruesome scene that this would have been to Libby and to the person who discovered these murders. Flynn does a great job of painting the picture of how horrific the final minutes of life were for Libby's family.


From Goodreads: As the prosecution’s star witness, Libby testified that she saw her brother Ben—then 15—commit the crime. Little Libby escaped into the freezing January snow, losing a few fingers and toes but saving her life. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and Libby is living off the dregs of a trust fund that was set up for her after the murders.

My Thoughts: As you read this story it flips between the Libby now to the Libby back in 1985 when the murders took place. At times, Libby's thoughts made the hair stand up on my arms. I didn't trust her and questioned how someone could live off of a trust fund that would have been a daily reminder that you received this check because someone hacked your family to death. Her only thoughts are how she's going to continue to make money from her "poor little lost girl" facade.

From Goodreads: When the Kill Club, a macabre social group obsessed with infamous crimes—and believers in Ben’s innocence—reaches out to her, Libby hatches a plan to profit from her tragic history: Contact everyone tied to the events of that January night and report back her findings for a fee. And maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

My Thoughts: The Kill Club---I know that there are people and groups out there like this in the world. But to feel like you're on the inside of one of these groups made my stomach turn. How can people collect mementos from a murder victim? Reminds me of women who would write love letters to Ted Bundy!! and then the crazy one that married him and had a child with him....not enough words to describe how out-of-touch with reality I feel they are.

From Goodreads: Interspersed with Libby’s investigation are the events of that day, told through the eyes of her doomed family members—including Ben. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself back in her Darkplace—and fighting for her life.

My Thoughts: The last 1/4 of the book was nerve wracking and the story came together beautifully. I always feel like I should've seen it coming (the truth) but as usual I was shocked and then amazed at how Flynn was able to make all of the pieces fall into place. This book is not for the faint of heart, there's some graphic language and scenes, but she stays true to the tone of the book. If you read and loved Sharp Objects then you're in for another satisfying read. If you enjoy books that have an undertone of dread, evil lurking behind the pages, and characters that you just can't quite figure out if they're the good guy or the bad guy, then I believe you will like this book.


Also reviewed at:
Bibliophile By the Sea

Book Review: Back Creek by Leslie Goetsch

Back Creek: A Novel
by Leslie Goetsch
Genre: YA
Published: Bancroft Press 2008
Pages: 226

Synopsis from Goodreads:
It's the summer of 1975. Eighteen-year-old Grace Barnett knows she should be preparing to leave for college in September. But a strange Memorial Day boating accident on the creek near her Virginia home she s the only witness to the apparent suicide kicks off a series of events that will define her family's future as well as her emerging view of life.







My Thoughts:

I truly loved every single word written in this brilliant coming-of-age story. The main character Grace is a person some of us book geeks can totally relate to.

High school wasn't of great interest to me: I was far more absorbed by the fiction I read than the fiction I lived.
p.11

How can you not connect with this young girl? She lives inside her two favorite novels, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. They're the one constant in her life that she can depend on, that and Back Creek itself. Within this story is another character that you will grow to love and that is Back Creek. Even though this is a fictionalized sleepy town, you feel as if you've been there on your travels to the south and that it would be a place to welcome you home. Grace's life is tumultuous, not by her own doing, but rather by the sudden departure of her mother, the sudden reappearance of her wayward sister, and her father's alcoholic binges.

Remembering my berry-picking made me realize I was always trying to make peace through gifts--drawings I made, unusual shells I found on the shore, even a heron's feather. I guess I didn't know how else to respond to the tension I felt in the house. p.75

The writing in this novel is lyrical and somehow transports you back in time to 1975....to a place that you really don't want to leave when you've read the last page. Goetsch is a new author to me that I feel has so much promise. To me this book has mass appeal that goes beyond the YA target audience. I totally recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of southern fiction and just wants to read a good story.

As we followed the recipes her mother had followed and her mother before that, we talked in an abstract way. As the afternoon wore on
and Mother kept talking, I was listening to preserve the stories in mind. p.176

Other reviews of Back Creek:
Carrie at Books and Movies

**I would like to personally thank Harrison Demchick from Bancroft Press for contacting me to read and review this great story!!!

Review: Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas

Prayers For Sale
by Sandra Dallas
Published 2009 St. Martin's Press
Genre: Adult Lit
Pages: 305

From Goodreads:Hennie Comfort is eighty-six and has lived in the mountains of Middle Swan, Colorado since before it was Colorado. Nit Spindle is just seventeen and newly married. She and her husband have just moved to the high country in search of work. It's 1936 and the depression has ravaged the country and Nit and her husband have suffered greatly. Sandra Dallas has created an unforgettable tale of a friendship between two women, one with surprising twists and turns, and one that is ultimately a revelation of the finest parts of the human spirit.





My Thoughts:

The sun was warm on Hennie's bones, and she was not anxious to leave. "Can you stand another story?" "I can. I wouldn't like it half so well in Middle Swan if it wasn't for you and your stories." p. 190-191

The stories, that is what draws you into this wonderful book. The stories that are weaved into present day and links you to the past. Hennie is eighty-seven years old and she's experienced pretty much everything life can throw at a person: husband dying in the Civil War, brutality at the hands of a cruel man, losing her only child, living in harsh conditions, becoming a widow for the second time. She posts a sign on her fence out front that says, "Prayers for Sale." There's a story behind this sign...and one that I'm not going to tell you, but this sign is what brings Nit, a young, newlywed girl to her front door. From that chance meeting you get to watch as their friendship grows and how living life in the high country of the Rocky Mountains can forge relationships that last forever. This is definitely a character driven book. I loved Hennie by the time I came to the end, she's one tough cookie and she will stay with me for some time. Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. It made me think back to my childhood when my Grandpa Bill would get out his harmonica and start blowing on that thing, singing, and bringing all us grandkids to his feet. From there he would start telling his own stories; driving a Model A car when he was eleven, running moonshine in Kentucky, being wild with his buddies, how he met my Grandma and took her to the outdoor picture show. I loved it when he shared these treasures with us, they fascinated me and the memory of them will stay forever. Storytelling needs to be a tradition that is handed down to the next generation. So, if you're looking for good old fashioned story telling....then look no further, because this book fits the bill. I'm new to the author, Sandra Dallas, and Kaye of Pudgy Penguin Perusals assures me that Dallas is a great author. She was so enthusiastic about her that I've requested Tallgrass already from the library!!!! I feel pretty confident about Kaye's recommendation...because I loved this book!!

She'd had a good life, Hennie reflected, but there were things left for her to do before she went below. The girl Nit needed help if she was to become a mountain woman. Hennie had a lifetime of stories she wanted to tell one more time. p. 107

If you've reviewed this book let me know and I'll add your link!

YA Review: Undercover by Beth Kephart

But playing Roxane made me feel uncomfortable. For there is Cyrano, writing letters to Roxane on behalf of the local pretty boy, and there is Roxane, buying every bit of it, hook,line, and sinker. Why can't she see that it is Cyrano's heart and head inside those letters? Why can't she tell how much he loves her? And what does this say about people in general, that they can't see what is standing before them? Beauty rules, every single time. Beauty is the password.
p.41

Undercover
Beth Kephart
Genre: YA
Published: 2007
Pages: 278 beautifully written prose

Short Synopsis: Like a modern day Cyrano de Bergerac, Elisa ghostwrites love notes for the boys in her school. But when Elisa falls for Theo Moses, things change fast.


My Thoughts:

This book is absolutely lovely. The words contained within these pages are poetic and I guess they're meant to be right? Because Elisa has a way with words, in fact, she hides behind the words that she writes. Kephart hit a home run with her first foray into YA fiction. There is so much going on underneath the facade of Elisa. She lets her guard down when she's writing for others and when she writes for herself. The poetry in this book is wonderful. At times in my life I've been intimidated by poetry, felt that I never quite got the gist of the author's meaning. Not so here. I was moved by the writing in this book so much that this book is going on my list of favorite YA books ever...!!! I'm so grateful to Lenore at Presenting Lenore for reviewing Undercover a while back. If I hadn't read that review I would've missed out on this gem. That makes me sad...this book was published in 2007, so why haven't I heard about it? And for that reason alone I'm so glad that I belong to a group of book lovers who are so passionate about what we read and are so willing to share it with others. Because without blogs some truly wonderful books may remain unread and we can't let that happen, can we? If you're new to the YA genre and are looking for a good first book then look no further......Undercover is one you should add to your list, I promise that you will not be disappointed!!

Guess what? Beth blogs!!! Beth Kephart Books

Other Reviews:
Presenting Lenore
My Friend Amy
Em's Bookshelf

Important Book- A Must Read for 2009! Willow by Julia Hoban

Willow
by Julia Hoban
Published: 2009
Genre: YA
352 painful, gritty, raw, and very real pages

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow’s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy —one sensitive, soulful boy—discovers Willow’s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down.
Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl’s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy’s refusal to give up on her.



My Thoughts:

Willow is going to be one of those books that you will talk about for days, even weeks later, after you finish it. There's no sugar-coating or glossing over the harsh reality of Willow's destructive behavior. And I think that's why I was so drawn into the story. I couldn't for the life of me understand why someone would want to hurt themselves in order to feel better. Crazy huh? Hoban does this though, she make you, the read, understand what is going on with Willow and why she chooses self-mutilation as the way she deals with her feelings. I'm sure a lot of parents will shy away from the topic of this book. Some may even feel that their teen shouldn't read this because it might make them want to "cut" themselves. People, that's just plain silly!!! I had to fight to keep Cut by Patricia McCormick, on my middle school shelves. I fought for it because I know of students who do this behavior or have friends that engage in cutting. Reading about it does not make someone do those actions. Instead, it educates that person and helps them to understand that they need to find a different way to express their hurt, anger, and repressed feelings. Willow takes Cut to the next level and really gets into the psyche of a young person who is overwhelmed with guilt, grief, and other unspoken feelings. Yes, it is gritty and painful, but it is so important for you, the reader, to complete this journey with Willow. To see that in the end she does reach out for help, but to get there is hard, oh so hard. For me, this book will put a spotlight on a subject that no one really wants to acknowledge--CUTTING. This is the book that will be the turning point to starting conversations with other teens, teens talking to their parents, parents talking to their teens, and even teens reaching out to a trusted individual for help. To me, Willow will be ranked right up there with the classic, Speak, and ten years from now, we'll still be talking about it, passing along copies to someone, and heralding the brave writing that Julia Hoban has accomplished.

Interested in hearing from the author herself?

Come back tomorrow when I host a Q&A with Julia. I sent her 9 questions which she so graciously answered and I will highlight 5 of those questions on Saturday. Sunday I will feature the remaing 4 and because I BELIEVE in this book so much I'm buying a copy to offer as a giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• All comments from the 3 posts will be entered for the book drawing.
• I'm opening it up for international.
• Please just make sure that I have a way to contact you if you win!!
• If not, I'll draw again.
• Last day to enter will be Friday, June 5th at 10:00 pm est.

Other Reviews:
Presenting Lenore
Look at that Book

The Geometry of Sisters- My Thoughts

The Geometry of Sisters
-Luanne Rice
Published: 2009
400 Pages
Adult Literature

From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice explores with the penetrating insight for which she’s acclaimed to explore the complex emotional equations of love and loyalty that hold together three pairs of remarkable sisters—a bond that proves powerful and true even in the face of loss and tragedy. Here in the halls of Newport Academy, a unique private school that has attracted generations of rebels, outcasts, and visionaries, a poignant and unforgettable lesson in the eternal truths of sisterhood is about to begin.





My Thoughts:
This is my second time reading Luanne Rice. The first encounter I had with this author was listening to The Edge of Winter on CD. And to be perfectly honest, I wasn't that thrilled with it. The story was fine, but the narrator irritated me to death. But I'm not going to hold that against Luanne and when I saw the blurb about her newest book, it sounded interesting so I requested it from my library. I'm glad that I decided to 'read' the book this time instead of listening to it. I enjoyed her writing so much more this time around. I'm always drawn to stories about families in some sort of crises and this one has that, plus a little bit more. There wasn't really any surprises, but that was o.k. because I was just enjoying these characters and seeing what kind of choices they were going to make. I guess you could say that it was a predictable read. Which for me, every once in awhile, is just fine. I would recommend this as a fun, easy summer read. Or one of those books that you need to read to decompress after experiencing a really emotional or harrowing book earlier. I'm glad that I gave Rice a second chance and I'm sure that I'll pick up another one of her books in the future. Because in the end....I was satisfied.

If you're interested to read more about Luanne Rice and her books, you can find all of that at Random House.

If you have reviewed this book please let me know so that I can list your link!!

Review: The Cellist of Sarajevo- My thoughts

The Cellist of Sarajevo

Author: Steven Galloway
Published: 2008
Pages: 235
Genre: Adult Literature but I would recommend it for YA readers too!!

Synopsis:In a city under siege, four people whose lives have been upended are ultimately reminded of what it is to be human. From his window, a musician sees twenty-two of his friends and neighbors waiting in a breadline. Then, in a flash, they are killed by a mortar attack. In an act of defiance, the man picks up his cello and decides to play at the site of the shelling for twenty-two days, honoring their memory.Elsewhere, a young man leaves home to collect drinking water for his family and, in the face of danger, must weigh the value of generosity against selfish survivalism. A third man, older, sets off in search of bread and distraction and instead runs into a long-ago friend who reminds him of the city he thought he had lost, and the man he once was. As both men are drawn into the orbit of cello music, a fourth character -- —a young woman, a sniper -- —holds the fate of the cellist in her hands. As she protects him with her life, her own army prepares to challenge the kind of person she has become.

My Thoughts:
This book was utterly amazing!!! If I hadn't been reading Musings of a Bookish Kitty I would've missed out on this beautiful book. It takes place during the siege of Sarajevo based loosely around an actual event. A man plays his cello for twenty-two days out in the open for all to see, putting himself at risk by death from the snipers that are in the hills killing the citizens at will. I've read only one other book that pertains to this time in history and that was, Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Wartime Sarajevo, which was so gripping and opened my eyes to what these people endured. To help put their life and struggles into perspective, during the time I was reading this I was without power for three days because of a severe storm. I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't watch television or turn on the lights, make my coffee, or flush the toilet. The people in Sarajevo went without power for almost seven years. At times they would flip the switch by habit and the lights would be on!! This was a time when they would react quickly because they might be able to recharge their radios so that they could get news from the outside world. To get untainted water, one of the characters made the several mile hike to a brewery where a water source was available. But to do this, he had to cross streets and bridges which would leave him vulnerable to those that wanted to see him dead. This story revolves around Arrow, Dragan, and Kenan with the story of the cellist setting the scene. It is a fast and very involving read, one that you will find yourself not putting down and then when you do realizing how much we take for granted...food, electricity, running water, music, internet, phones, being able to cross the street and not fearing for your life. This was a powerful story that will stay with me for some time and one that I totally recommend to others. I know that it sounds so depressing and weary but it isn't at all, it's a story of how music connects humans to their memories, good and bad. It's a story of how music brings people together and gives them hope in the end.

I would like to share one passage that hurt my heart and made me really sit there and think about what is happening somewhere else on this planet while I take for granted my comfortable life.

"if we stay they will shoot at us from the hills until we're all dead, and then they'll come down just the same."
"The world will never allow that. They'll have to help us sooner or later." she says. He's not sure from her tone of voice if she believes what she says. He doesn't know how she could. They must both see the the same city disintegrating around them.
"No one is coming." His voice is harsher than he means it to be. "We're here on our own, and no one's come to help us. Don't you know that?"
Emina looks down, and fastens the top two buttons on her coat. She puts her hands in her pockets. After a while she says, very quietly, "I know no one is coming. I just don't want to believe it."

p.73
Interaction between Dragan and Emina while waiting to cross a dangerous intersection and bridge.

Other Reviews:
Caribou's Mom
Raider Girl 3
Printed Page
Books and Movies
Books for Life

If I missed yours please let me know so that I can post your link!!

BoneMan's Daughters- My Thoughts

BoneMan's Daughter's
Author: Ted Dekker
Genre: Christian Fiction/Suspense
Published: 2009 by Center Street
Pages: 416

Short Synopsis from Goodreads:
A Texas serial killer called BoneMan is on the loose, choosing young girls as his prey, His signature: myriad broken bones that torture and kill - but never puncture.Military intelligence officer Ryan Evans is sent to Fallujah and captured by insurgents, he is asked to kill children not unlike his own.Returning home after the ordeal, a new crisis awaits. A serial killer is on the loose, and his method of killing is the same. Ryan becomes a prime suspect, which isn't even the worst of his problems: Ryan's daughter is BoneMan's latest desire.




My Thoughts:

I have read Ted Dekker in the past and enjoyed his books. This one is a fast and compelling read, but there were moments for me that just didn't work. The relationship between Ryan, his wife, and daughter was not developed at all. The reader is just suppose to accept the hatred coming from the wife and daughter towards Ryan. It did not ring true to me. When he comes home from his ordeal of being captured and tortured, neither his wife nor his daughter welcome him home. In fact, they treat his so horribly that I was honestly turned off by it. The other thing that distracted me from my reading was Dekker's habit of writing the same thing over and over again. Here's what I'm talking about:

There were two things Alvin loved, three that he would kill for.

There were two things that Alvin Finch, aka BoneMan, wanted; nay, three that he would cut off his own hands to possess.

This is just a few of them...it happened throughout the book. The flow just didn't work for me and I'm upset by that because the story is pretty good, but my mind kept getting hung up on those little oddities. Dekker does make up for most of this in the ending of the book. It kept me hanging on and wondering if what I read was true or not....I'm still questioning who the BoneMan really was. Overall, it wasn't a bad book, and I'm glad that I took the time to read it. If you've enjoyed Dekker in the past , then I'm sure you will like this one too.

Other reviews that are much better than mine!!
Dar- Peeking Between the Pages

If you reviewed BoneMan's Daughter's let me know so that I can post your link here!!

More YA Obsessive Reviews!!!

I've given myself just 1 hour to get this post done (because it's so nice outside!!) so I'm going to make it short and sweet. These next two books were absolutely FANTASTIC!!!!
So here they are:

If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Published: 2009 Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 199
Genre: YA

Short blurb about book: In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

My Thoughts:
This book quite simply put, is breathtakingly beautiful. I loved every single page and how the author went back and forth between Mia's past, so that you could see her life as it was, and the present, to what she would be waking up to. That is if she decides to wake-up. I've always believed that people in comas can sense others around them, can hear people talking to them, and I also believe in out-of-body experiences. Right around the time I finished this book, a co-worker's mother was on her death bed. She hung in there for two weeks while she was in the hospital, towards the end she said she wanted to GO HOME. She hadn't been inside her own home in almost a year. They took her home on a Thursday evening and she died Friday morning. I believe people can will themselves to die and will themselves to live. This book will touch you.......and make you look at the after-life with a different slant of light.

Other Reviews:
Presenting Lenore- I'm so glad that Lenore is out there in the blogging atmosphere because I would've missed out on this fantastic book if it weren't for her beautiful review....thank you Lenore!!
The Bookbind
A Patchwork of Books
The Story Siren


____________________________________________________________________


Wintergirls
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Published: 2009 Viking Juvenile
Pages: 282
Genre: YA

Background:
Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

My Thoughts:
What can I possibly say that hasn't already been written? Anderson has always been one of my favorite authors ever. I've loved and recommended every single one of her books. Why? Because she writes with an unflinching honesty that draws teens, children and adults to her words. Wintergirls is no different. It's dark, gritty, emotional, heartbreaking, and unfortunately all too REAL. There are no answers in this book, only the deepest, rawest emotional experience of Lia as she journeys through her own personal hell to learn how to live again, to learn how to WANT to live again. I have never flagged so many passages in one book and there are far too many to list. Click here to visit my other blog if you're interested in reading all the passages that struck me so hard. But I am going to leave you with one of my favorite:

I inscribe three lines, hush hush hush, into my skin. Ghosts trickle out.

p.61

If you have never read a Laurie Halse Anderson book then you must! It's just that simple...go find any of them....they're all great, but don't let another day go by without experiencing this truly gifted author.

Other reviews:
A Patchwork of Books
Book Addiction
Presenting Lenore
Devourer of Books
The Compulsive Reader
Stuff As Dreams Are Made On

Obsessed with YA- My thoughts on many books

Over the past couple of weeks I've read some fantastic YA books but never carved out any time to post them to my blog. So today I decided to do a mini-review for these wonderfully written gems.........

Perfect: A Novel
Author: Natasha Friend
Published: 2004
Genre: YA

Short Synopsis from Goodreads:
Isabelle Lee has a problem, and it's not just Ape Face, her sister, or group therapy for an eating disorder, or even that her father died and her mother is depressed and in denial.Caught in the orbit of popularity and appearances, Isabelle must navigate a world with mixed messages, false hopes, and potentially harmful turns, while coping with her own flailing family and emotions.

My thoughts:
This author does a great job of introducing harmful body image and eating disorders to the 12 year-old demographic and above. I have found that my middle-school students really like reading her books and we find a lot to talk about. I know of girls who at the early age of 10 don't eat lunch and think they're fat. Friend takes the reader into the life of Isabelle and shows the reader how through depriving herself of food, Isabelle thinks she's controlling a part of her life that she feels is totally out-of-control. The author does list quite a few resources for parents and girls who find this story a reflection of themselves.
____________________________________________________________________


Wicked Lovely
Author: Melissa Marr
Published: 2007 by Harper Teen
Genre: YA/Fantasy/Fae/Faeries

Background info from Goodreads:
Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention. But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries. Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries. Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world.

My thoughts: This book for me was wickedly DELICIOUS!! I loved it. In fact, I loved it more than any of Holly Black's books....please don't kill me Black fans! This book was just the right mix of faerie, real-life, intrigue, and a little romance. I'm so happy that this is a trilogy because I really enjoyed Marr's writing and I wasn't ready to leave this world behind. I brought home the second book this week from the library!!! I have a lot of girls at school all in a tizzy because I've been gushing about this book constantly and my favorite thing to say about it is this:

After I read Wicked Lovely, I said to myself.....Edward who?
I'm officially in love with Keenan- the Summer King and
Seth, who is Aslinn's mortal boyfriend.

Keenan was staring at her, too intently for comfort. "I don't know why certain people shine for others. I don't know why you and not someone else." He gently pulled her forward and whispered, "But it's you I think of when I wake each morning. It's your face in my dreams."

He didn't move, he just stood there in the middle of the room, watching her. "You're what matters.""Hold me? if you still want to, I mean. She looked away."Everyday"- and then he was there, lifting her into his arms,holding her like she was fragile and precious- "I want to hold you every day. Nothing will ever change that."
- scene between Aslinn and Seth

Do you understand now? I'm swooning!!!!!
Read this!

Other Reviews:
The Written World
Books and NeedlePoint
Em's Bookshelf
A Striped Armchair
Unmainstream Mom Reads
Beth Fish Reads
Things Mean A Lot

Tomorrow I will post two more reviews of some of my all-time favorite YA books that I've read this year....Wintergirls and If I Stay.....hope to see you then!!

A Reliable Wife- My Thoughts

A Reliable Wife
by Robert Goolrick
Published: 2009
Pages: 291 fast-paced, quickly read pages!!

From the inside jacket: A condensed version

For Ralph Truitt, the wealthy businessman who had advertised for "a reliable wife," this was to be a new beginning. Years of solitude, denial, and remorse would be erased, and Catherine Land, whoever she might be, would be the vessel of his desires, the keeper of his secrets, the means to recover what was lost. That was his plan. This is a story of two people, each plagued by a heart filled with anger and guilt, each with a destiny in mind. But neither anticipates what develops between them........



My thoughts:

I read this book during the early morning hours last Saturda . Once I opened the pages I was lost in the cold, white, endless winter world of Wisconsin. The beginning seems to be slow and very wordy, but after you get past that point you realize that the author wants you to feel the pain of the cold, and to envision how months of winter can drive people to commit heinous acts against those that they love. I was totally engrossed in the lives of Ralph and Catherine. I couldn't put the book down until I had finished it, which is a pretty good sign that I loved it. This story is one of mystery, love, death, murder, and ultimately human connections. But throughout the book there is a subtle vibration of menace. For me, this story at times, made me recall how I felt while reading "The Tell-Tale Heart." Because you know something bad happened or will happen, it's right there for you to see, yet you still feel that tension of impending doom.

She might wound him, she might lie to him, and still he would do anything to hear one word of kindness from her lips, to feel his flesh touch her flesh without humiliation. He was willing to take the chance. And all this because she had stepped from the train with a small scarlet bird in a cage, and she was coming home to him, bringing a fluttering life. He was at last waiting for someone whose name was known to him. People saw her come home to him, people in his town. She smiled at him, and he knew then that he would die for her.

p.192

I wish I would've read this book during a blizzard, for then I would have been able to totally immerse myself into the story, but even though I read it during a spring day, I still felt the harshness and bleakness of the Wisconsin landscape. This is an author that I would read again without hesitation and one that I totally recommend to my friends!!! You won't be disappointed!!

Other reviews:
Devourer of Books
The Booklady's Blog

If you've reviewed A Reliable Wife let me know so that I can add your link!!

Review: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author: Sherman Alexie
Genre: YA
Published: 2007
Pages: 230 of some of the best writing I've ever read!!

From Goodreads:
In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.






My Thoughts:

My son read this book last year and told me how much he loved it. I'd been meaning to get to it sometime but kept letting other books get in the way. Saturday during the Read-a-Thon this book was in my short list of possible reads. Marc came in to check on my progress and said, "Mom, you have to read this book next." So I did and I have to tell you that it blew me away!! I can see why it won the National Book Award. This is a story of a young man who has only known life on the "rez." This life encompasses poverty, alcoholism, funerals, and a school where not much is expected or given in return. Junior is smart, too smart for reservation school. His teacher tells him that he must get out of the rez so that he can be saved. The only way for him to do that is to go to an all-white school 20 miles away. When he decides to do this he experiences racism ,not only from the white kids, which he expected, but also from his own people. Through this ordeal Junior deals with his emotions and experiences by expressing himself with his art. The added bonus in this book is the marvelous illustrations. You will cry, laugh, and root for Junior every step of the way. His journey will give you hope. You will want everyone you know to read this book so that they too can be inspired by this special kid who didn't let anything stand in his way of becoming a better person. This book is at the top of my all-time favorite YA books and one of the best books I've read this year. Run don't walk to the library to get your hands on this one!!

Book Review: Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars
by Sara Shepard
Published 2006
Genre: YA
304 pages

From Goodreads:

In the exclusive Philadelphia suburb of Rosewood, Alison is the Queen Bee of her elite seventh grade hive. BFs Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily vie for her attention, even as each of them hides a hideous secret only Alison knows. So when Alison goes missing after a slumber party, never to be seen again, each girl is heartbroken, but also a little relieved. Now it is three years later, and though the four girls have grown apart, they are each still hiding something.When the girls begin receiving threatening text messages and emails that from someone known only as "A," they must confront the fact that against all odds, it appears Alison is back. Could Alison still be alive? And if so, why is she so determined to uncover all their dirty little secrets?

My thoughts:

I had passed this book several times when I was browsing at Barnes and Noble and I have to admit that the cover with the Barbie doll girl made me think "FLUFF" immediately. Boy was I wrong!! This book is smartly written with characters that come to life within the pages of the story. You get a peek into each of the girls lives since Alison has went missing and you learn little by little each of their dirty little secrets. Hiding in the background though is an even bigger secret that is shared by all of the girls, including Alison and someone out there knows all!!! The mystery behind the story has captivated me and I need to know what the 'SECRET' is and who is behind it all...could it be Alison? If you enjoy a great mystery with interesting characters and fast plot line then you just may enjoy this book which is the first in a series of 5 books to date.

Check out Pretty Little Liars Website for more information on this fantastic YA series!


Other Reviews:

J. Kaye's Book Blog
Book Girl's Bookshelf
Peeking Between the Pages

If I missed your review, let me know and I will link you!!!