I read about this book in Entertainment Weekly, which gave a favorable review, and decided to pick up this story from a pregnant woman who lost her huI read about this book in Entertainment Weekly, which gave a favorable review, and decided to pick up this story from a pregnant woman who lost her husband in the 9/11 attacks. Told in the form of a graphic novel, this book succeeds at painting a nice picture of the atmosphere in NYC, her panicked search for her husband, and, at the end, how she deals with wanting to get away from the city, but ultimately this book was filled more with the woman's frustration with the bureaucracy and less about her relationship with her husband. Maybe it's just because I don't usually read graphic novels (although the illustrations in this one were good), but I think the story would have been a lot stronger if it'd been told in a regular book form and if it focused more on relationships and individuals instead of spending so much time on her frustrations afterward. It wasn't what I expected....more
A strange book, and pretty similar to Robin Wasserman's Skinned, which I also read recently. In the future world Jenna Fox lives in, medical advances A strange book, and pretty similar to Robin Wasserman's Skinned, which I also read recently. In the future world Jenna Fox lives in, medical advances have made it possible to transfer brains from a damaged body into a new one, but people are restricted to a certain number of modifications and brain transplantation is pretty much illegal. Jenna's been in an accident and, now that she's out of a coma and recovering, her family has moved all the way across the country to California to help her acclimate, and she sort of explores the new area she lives in and gets to know new friends while flashing back to old memories that she can't completely remember. I thought the plot was interesting, and the writing was decent, but I didn't like the way the book was set up (a weird verse poetry-like thing broke up chapters and didn't add anything to the book), and the ending felt too neat and tidy (or at least gave the appearance of being so...). I would say this was an okay read, but nothing I'd recommend to others. ...more
Another great book in this series! I like the adventures that Amy and Dan have trying to interpret various clues as they race around the world (in thiAnother great book in this series! I like the adventures that Amy and Dan have trying to interpret various clues as they race around the world (in this book, in Europe) in an effort to beat other branches of their family in the contest their grandmother set up in her will. The author of this installment did a great job keeping the action going and inserted a few funny lines here and there, plus there were some interesting historical facts mixed in. Looking forward to the next installment coming out in March....more
4.5 stars. This book was great - long, but entertaining throughout. It begins with children answering a mysterious ad calling for gifted children, and4.5 stars. This book was great - long, but entertaining throughout. It begins with children answering a mysterious ad calling for gifted children, and four of these kids are picked to go on a top-secret mission that will help save the world. They end up going undercover on an island, searching for clues everywhere they can find them, and using Morse code to communicate with their allies on the mainland. The four kids are all very different - and one wasn't very likable - so their interactions were always entertaining, and I did like reading about them all. The other characters, though some were exaggerated, were amusing and kind of reminded me of the crazy characters you find in Roald Dahl books. I think this book has lots of appeal for both kids and adults, as I couldn't wait to finish it. I look forward to reading the sequel....more
What a cute book! This reminded me a lot of Little Women or Anne of Green Gables, as it's about the escapes four sisters, ages 4 through 12, go througWhat a cute book! This reminded me a lot of Little Women or Anne of Green Gables, as it's about the escapes four sisters, ages 4 through 12, go through together over the summer while renting a cottage with their father, and the friendship between them and the boy next door, who quickly becomes involved in all their mischief, much to his mother's dismay.
The writing in here is great, the girls and the boy are all a lot of fun, each with their own personality (not overly developed, but this is aimed at younger readers, so I thought it was good), and the writing isn't too juvenile or silly that adults wouldn't enjoy this as well. Though it was written for kids, the story is fun, and I enjoyed it enough to read the sequel, which I will hopefully find soon. I think I would have enjoyed this even more if I was younger, but hopefully other kids are either reading this book or having it read to them....more
The sequel to The Luxe, which I read a few months ago and enjoyed. In this installment, all the same characters continue to live their secretly scandaThe sequel to The Luxe, which I read a few months ago and enjoyed. In this installment, all the same characters continue to live their secretly scandalous society in the last month of 1899, some scheming to better their situation, others trying to marry the fiance Elizabeth left behind, and so on. There is a lot going on in this book, with a number of characters and stories, but the author does a good job weaving it all together and skipping from one scene to another, and the writing is very strong. I loved all the details of life at the end of the 19th century. My only complaint was the fact that one of the plots, about why a character had to return to her home, felt like more of a forced plot point than anything else and, as such, made me roll my eyes and figure that no good would come out of it. Indeed, I was right. The ending of this book was also a little disappointing, at least one part of it. Still, the 3rd installment should be equally as entertaining, and I look forward to reading that when it is released....more
Ahhh, J.K. Rowling. I was so excited to read this book full of wizard fairy tales, and it did not disappoint. While not starring Harry Potter, the stoAhhh, J.K. Rowling. I was so excited to read this book full of wizard fairy tales, and it did not disappoint. While not starring Harry Potter, the stories are set within the same magical world, supposedly the tales wizard parents would read to their children to teach them about magic and such. Five stories are in this book, supposedly translated by Hermione, and each followed by commentary from Dumbledore. They shed some light on wizarding history and add a little more background to the world in which Harry lives.
The writing in each of the stories was almost a little formal, definitely making it seem like it was written long ago and actually translated by Hermione, and they were all very different - and one very dark. The stories on their own were good, but the commentary from Dumbledore, explaining the history of the story and lessons learned from it, etc., really made the book even better because it turned fairy tales into reflections on life and gave them deeper meaning.
While not as good as the books actually starring Harry, Hermione, Ron & co. (what is?), I still really enjoyed Tales of Beedle the Bard and thought some of the stories were actually quite better than typical fairy tales simply involving a princess waiting for a prince to come along and for them to fall in love. I'd read this again easily....more
3.5 stars. I saw this book at a store and the plot intrigued me; I couldn't wait to read it: Lia, a girl in the future who is injured in an accident, 3.5 stars. I saw this book at a store and the plot intrigued me; I couldn't wait to read it: Lia, a girl in the future who is injured in an accident, has her mind transported to a new body that is impervious to pain and aging, but most people hate these new not-quite-human beings, and she is forced to try to find place to belong. Plus, the cover had a blurb from Scott Westerfeld! I figured this would be like his Uglies series - exciting, interesting, and addicting. Unfortunately, while this book was decent, it didn't live up to expectations.
I liked Lia as a main character, and I thought the concept behind this book was fascinating. A lot in this novel made me think about what really does make us human and whether our minds, if transported into another vessel, continue to be "us" or simply a copy that thinks they're us. Good stuff. There was a lot of drama going on in the story, between characters and in situations, and a lot of the cool technology was very Uglies-ish, which I liked.
What I didn't like so much was how thin the plot seemed. So Lia's transported into a new body an has trouble adjusting... then what? That's pretty much it, and I felt like the plot should have been much more complex, especially for the first book in a trilogy and for a story in such a complicated but well-thought-out world. The ending was disappointing as well.
Will I read the next installment? Probably; I did like the world and the situation, after all. I just wish there had been more to this....more
I never know how a randomly selected book will be, but I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It might even be worthy of 4.5 stars. Arden, a college student I never know how a randomly selected book will be, but I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It might even be worthy of 4.5 stars. Arden, a college student whose dad has and mom is now deployed with the Army, is heading to Italy to help sell her family's vacation home when she meets three other college students on the plane, planning to travel around Europe, and Arden takes them up on their invitation to join them. Soon, she's exploring all sorts of tourist spots and not-so-touristy spots around the continent, trying to fit in with the other girls, who are quickly becoming her friends, and not worry so much about if her mom is in danger.
I really liked the writing and story in this novel. It flowed really well, and the descriptions of places were so well done that I almost felt like I was there (or at least I wanted to be there). The plot was on the thin side, which was okay because of how well it was done, although I did feel like Arden's new friends weren't as fully drawn as they could have / should have been; it wasn't until I was over halfway through the book that I really felt like I could distinguish one personality from another, and there's no reason it had to be like that. I did enjoy the friendships, though, and thought the author did a great job portraying the character's emotions and bringing to life other individuals and scenes through memories and email correspondence. My only complaint (other than about the 3 girls) is that I wish the ending would have gone on a little longer; though there was an epilogue, I wanted to see what happened in between the book's ending and the epilogue's beginning. Oh well. I'd recommend this book to others easily!...more
The cover of this novel made me pick it up, and the plot sounded good, so I took it home and read this story of a high school senior who is told he haThe cover of this novel made me pick it up, and the plot sounded good, so I took it home and read this story of a high school senior who is told he has less than a year to live and decides to make the most of his remaining time while keeping his diagnosis to himself. I was really impressed by the thoughtfulness in this book; there were a number of scenes with good quotes to ponder. The relationships between the boy, his family, and his friends are all well done, and I kept rooting for him to accomplish more with his life. I could have done with a little less football in the book, though I'm sure that I would have appreciated it more if I loved the sport, and a lot of the issues covered in the story are very heavy. There are also a few characters in the book who are only in it briefly and serve a good purpose, but their personalities were two-dimensional instead of having real depth. But I did enjoy this book overall and will probably pick up another book by the author one of these days....more
3.5 stars. This is the second Neil Gaiman book I've read (the first being Stardust), and while I liked the concept and the main plot, I didn't love th3.5 stars. This is the second Neil Gaiman book I've read (the first being Stardust), and while I liked the concept and the main plot, I didn't love this book the way everyone else seems to always love his books.
The plot: After the rest of his family is murdered, Bod grows up in a graveyard, raised by ghosts, and learns how to "fade" and do other tricks like producing fear; he can do this because the graveyard is his home, and he can't leave it without being hunted by the man who killed the rest of his family.
Some of the stuff in this book was really clever. For example, I loved the way Bod helps other kids (and then himself) deal with bullies, and I enjoyed the parts about him trying to be a normal kid and attend school. Plus, all the ghosts in the graveyard were interesting; it was a great place to read about and a good setting for a story. What I didn't like so much is how disjointed all the chapters felt, each almost like its own self-contained short story about Bod, and I would have liked a little better flow for the novel. Also, parts of the story were just really odd. ...more
Not the best. A magician named Carter the Great rises to fame in this novel, mainly set in the early 20th century, and is investigated by the Secret SNot the best. A magician named Carter the Great rises to fame in this novel, mainly set in the early 20th century, and is investigated by the Secret Service because they suspect he has something to do with President Harding's death. An okay premise, but my problem was in the book's execution.
This is a book about a magician. It should feel magical. It does not. It almost felt like I was reading a history book; not exactly what I like in a novel. On top of that, the storyline jumps around in time so it felt confusing, and some scenes I just could not comprehend no matter how many times I read it. It took me a while to finish because I just wasn't all that interested in what happened next; the ending, while decent, wasn't enough to save the book or make me enjoy it any more. Another complaint: The author begins way too many sentences and paragraphs with "Also:" Just like that. Also, colon. It felt like the author was going for Literary, really striving to write Literature, when this could have been much more enjoyable had it been a little more casual and entertaining. Alas....more
Roald Dahl books are always so wonderful. This one, a collection of stories from his childhood, is just as good as his fiction for children, which I'vRoald Dahl books are always so wonderful. This one, a collection of stories from his childhood, is just as good as his fiction for children, which I've read many times. In Boy, he tells stories about being caned at school, getting into a car accident and how surgery was performed, and how he became a "bog-warmer" at boarding school (my personal favorite - I couldn't stop laughing!). The stories themselves are good, but the way he tells them is what makes them VERY good. There are few writers who can brings stories to life the way he does. ...more
Probably 3.5 stars. This book is long, and because of the two families it detailed and all the family members these families included, I was extremelyProbably 3.5 stars. This book is long, and because of the two families it detailed and all the family members these families included, I was extremely glad to find a family tree charting everyone at the beginning of the book. If that hadn't been there, I may have given up on the book, lost in confusion. As it was, the book was pretty good, though the beginning was a little slow and it took a while for me to really warm up to it overall. I don't know how else to describe the plot except it focuses on two families - the rich, recognizable Gates family and the poor, Jewish Warshinsky family - and shows how their lives intersect and influence each other over the years because of the friendship Jed Gates and David Warshinsky strike up during WWI.
What I liked about the book: It took its time to get to the end, but not in a bad way. Though the beginning was slow, it did read well and a lot of it was quite interesting. The relationships between different people were well thought out, and the ending was built up to nicely, though I did figure out what would happen before I read it. I did like most of the characters too and felt for their plights.
What I didn't like so much: While the author definitely took care with her research about early 20th century NYC, almost too much is included - little phrases and such are dropped to make it sound authentic, but it feels like overkill and instead inauthentic, especially since it seems like the author wanted to include references to everything going on at the time. A couple of characters are almost caricatures, and some dialogue sounds forced or stilted. Plus, some events in the book seem too convenient.
Overall, a good read but not one I will be picking up again. If you like historical fiction (especially ones with a some gay overtones), you'll probably enjoy this. ...more
3.5 stars. This is another book I randomly checked out at the library and read. It's about a girl named Andrea Anderson, who's more of a spectator tha3.5 stars. This is another book I randomly checked out at the library and read. It's about a girl named Andrea Anderson, who's more of a spectator than an actual player in life, and how she truly comes into her own when she starts caring for a sick neighbor's dog.
The writing in here is simple and a little slow at the beginning. I wasn't fully drawn into the story for a while because of that, and while I liked Andrea overall, I also got frustrated with her for her inability to find confidence in herself. She develops a friendship with a girl she'd never thought of a three-dimensional before, and I thought this friendship was handled very well, with it being balanced and interesting and just basically what new high school friendships are like. I also liked the interactions between Andrea and the dog and the sick neighbor. Oh, and her mom's boyfriend, too. All good characters.
So why only 3.5 stars? Other than the slow pace at first (which, now that I think about it, feels kinda dreamy, almost), it felt like there could have been even more to the book and the ending did not go on long enough - I wanted to hear what happened next. For a story with many layers, a story that touched upon a lot of issues, it felt much too simple. I wanted more insight, more depth....more
Randomly picked this up at the library because the cover was cute and it sounded halfway decent - a girl travels to a faraway (fictional) territory, nRandomly picked this up at the library because the cover was cute and it sounded halfway decent - a girl travels to a faraway (fictional) territory, newly under her empire's control, to be with her father and her fiance, then falls in love with someone else and starts thinking about life in general as well.
When I opened the book, I was amazed by the long list of books the author has penned. Then I started reading and discovered how she'd found enough time to do so - there wasn't much to the book.
The first problem was at the very beginning. Talk about lazy writing - instead of introducing characters in a clever way, this guy Ket tells Averie (the main character) about the territory he comes from, saying that there people usually introduce themselves by telling you all about their background. Averie then "practices" this introduction and tells Ket (and the reader) all about herself, from her age, to her status, to her parents professions, to her siblings, etc. Good grief, it was painful! But I kept reading, mainly because I was in the bathtub and had no other material at my disposal. Not a promising start for the book.
There were a few things I liked in this book, like the description of the marketplace and Averie's friendship with another girl her age who's also visiting the territory. But there were far too many things I didn't like, such as the way the author almost "forced" Averie and her fiance apart (her fiance, for what it's worth, seemed to be a decent guy and Averie's constant spouting about political issues she knew nothing about were irritating), to the "love story" between Averie and Ket (even though they barely saw each other), to the "twist" at the end of the book. I say "twist" in quotation marks because I was expecting it from the moment the character it involved was introduced. Not very subtle foreshadowing.
There are better books out there. I will make sure to bring a stack of them with me next time I want to read in the bath! ...more
MUCH better than the abysmal and pointless 3rd installment in the Ember series, but a far cry from the brilliance of the first book. Doon and Lina (anMUCH better than the abysmal and pointless 3rd installment in the Ember series, but a far cry from the brilliance of the first book. Doon and Lina (and the other refugees from Ember) are still in Sparks, only it's winter now and the living conditions are harsher than they've ever experienced, having grown up in a place without seasons. Doon finds a book that seems like it was written for the people of Ember, and the two of them decide they should go back into Ember to find clues about what the book is referring to and perhaps find necessary items, like food and medicine, that can be used by their new city (and for trading). Of course, their journey doesn't go as smoothly as they'd hoped...
Luckily, unlike the third book, this one doesn't seem to have any heavy "message" to it, other than about the value of books; the author isn't using it as a metaphor for her own world views, and numerous plots and details are not introduced with only a line (if anything!) to sum it up at the end. I think all the mysteries uncovered in this book are answered. The problems stem from the book not being quite as complex as the first - or even the second - book in this series. The action unfolds very neatly and orderly, and the bad guys that the characters run into are like caricatures - they even do the whole "let me tell you my secrets, since I will get away with everything!" that is so unrealistic and overused. That was a little disappointing; I like my characters well-rounded. The end of the book, while satisfying, is also a little cheesy (though there is a brief one-sentence mention of how something from the 3rd book factors into this book - but you don't need to read the 3rd book to understand it; I just think it's interesting that something else tied that book into the series). Finally, there is a really lame subplot with Doon and Lina's friends trying to help them; I say it's lame because the plot goes nowhere and only serves to take up pages.
Overall, an okay book, but not one I'd want to reread or would necessarily recommend to others. If you liked The City of Ember and have to read more, read The People of Sparks, and if you still have to read more, skip the 3rd book and read this. The way the author ended this book makes it clear this is the final installment in the series, which was nice. The series was good, but got way overplayed, and I'm glad to be done with it. Now, to see the Ember movie and compare it to the books......more
There are a lot of good thoughts in the book, filled with stories and advice from the author, who was given just months left to live. I have not seen There are a lot of good thoughts in the book, filled with stories and advice from the author, who was given just months left to live. I have not seen the video of his lecture, so I can't compare the book with the actual lecture, but I did like his message in this, and I think this will be a wonderful gift to his children when they are old enough to read it.
What I liked about this is the number of life lessons he imparts and the encouragement given to others to achieve their own dreams - basically saying, if you work hard enough, your dreams can be achieved. He talks about brick walls being there to keep people out if they don't want it enough and how, if you really want something, you just need to be willing to do everything in your power to get past the brick wall and achieve it. I also really appreciated his thoughts on self-esteem and how this isn't accomplished by blindly praising children but by helping them understand the foundations for what self-esteem should be based on, helping them achieve what they wanted. There are a lot of lessons in here that are just so refreshing to hear, and the author is really likable.
It's a short read, but a very thought-provoking one, and I'd recommend this for anyone who has not yet read it. ...more
Yes, I read another book about marching band, though this book is infinitely better than the last one I read (can't even remember the title, it was soYes, I read another book about marching band, though this book is infinitely better than the last one I read (can't even remember the title, it was so awful!). This book has the main character, Ellie, a senior in high school and the trumpet section leader, get interested in a new sophomore in her section but not wanting others to find out about their relationship. I thought the characters were pretty well-written, and I did like them all. The plot was not exactly super intense but still cute, and I liked marching band as a backdrop for everything; it felt authentic, and really too few books show what marching band is actually like! The only thing I didn't like was the pace of the writing. It felt like not enough happened in the book for its size, and instead of taking time to put the characters in new situations and have them take new action, a lot of pages were simply dedicated to talking about what thoughts were going on in Ellie's mind, which wasn't nearly as exciting. Plus, I didn't buy one of the subplots, which included a graduate of the high school coming back and wanting to play a solo in their field show (and everyone thinking this is okay!). I mean, shouldn't solos just be for the current students?? So, not one of my favorite YA books, but still decent, and I'll probably read the sequel when it comes out next year....more
I liked this book so much! It deals with a future world in which child geniuses are trained to become military officers to fight in the war against "tI liked this book so much! It deals with a future world in which child geniuses are trained to become military officers to fight in the war against "the buggers." It details their training and subsequent battles and the mental (and physical) toll it takes on them. Ender, the main character, is just a kid but so smart, able, and I sympathized with him immediately, with all the pressure put on him to become a great commander, continually being pushed to his limits and beyond.
The pacing of the book was excellent and kept moving forward. There were points where I wasn't sure why this book was considered such a classic (even as I enjoyed it), but about 2/3 or 3/4 through the book, it suddenly jumped from good to amazing. The author did such a great job capturing emotions, actions, and making me feel a part of the book. It was just very... powerful. I'd highly recommend this book to others.
My only complaint is that the last chapter felt a little odd; I don't think I even fully understood the point of it, even though I liked bits of it as well. Perhaps it was just set-up for the next book in the series, which I am kind of interested in reading but also scared because this installment was so good and I've heard it deteriorates as it goes on......more