I knew when I first read this book in 2012 that I'd come back to it eventually. This is a special book, and it was even more affecting the second timeI knew when I first read this book in 2012 that I'd come back to it eventually. This is a special book, and it was even more affecting the second time around. I don't know that it's one I'd go around pushing into people's hands, though. It's brutal.
This series is sort of the book equivalent of Legally Blonde. Ridiculous, but a lot of fun. I stop and watch EVERY single time I come across that moviThis series is sort of the book equivalent of Legally Blonde. Ridiculous, but a lot of fun. I stop and watch EVERY single time I come across that movie flipping channels, and when Carlos Ruiz Zafon and Meg Cabot released their new books on the same day, I chose this one, heaven help me. ...more
Being familiar with Shalom Auslander, I knew this was going to go to a dark place. I also knew that it would be uncomfortably funny. I was right on boBeing familiar with Shalom Auslander, I knew this was going to go to a dark place. I also knew that it would be uncomfortably funny. I was right on both counts. I enjoyed it, but I do think it would have made a better short story or novella. ...more
I feel like this is a book that could have been really good. Maybe I was just expecting a different type of book, but I was disappointed. So much was I feel like this is a book that could have been really good. Maybe I was just expecting a different type of book, but I was disappointed. So much was ridiculously over-the-top and improbable and some parts veered into romance territory. I wanted something a little more believably dark. I guess if I'm being honest, what I really wanted was for this book to have been written by Joanne Harris.
Despite this, I did still like the book. It would probably make a really good tv movie. ...more
I need to reread, as I suspect a large part of this went right over my head. The book is so deceptively simple that I don't think I gave it the attentI need to reread, as I suspect a large part of this went right over my head. The book is so deceptively simple that I don't think I gave it the attention it deserved and I regretted it when I got to the end. ...more
This is what the last week at work has reduced me to. Hopefully my brain power will return soon, but until then, I really do love Boots and Bruno. SpeThis is what the last week at work has reduced me to. Hopefully my brain power will return soon, but until then, I really do love Boots and Bruno. Spending my lunch hour in the car reading YA is such a stress reliever. In college I used to sneak to the children's floor while studying in the library during finals week to read Junie B. Jones.
This isn't the best MacDonald Hall book, but really, who cares? ...more
Sometime between the ages of 12 and 16 I read a book that had something to do with a teenage girl in an icy world who was able to channel an internal Sometime between the ages of 12 and 16 I read a book that had something to do with a teenage girl in an icy world who was able to channel an internal fire--maybe something to do with underground fires--I can't remember. She and a male companion are banished or lost or something and at some point I think she uses this power to save him. I've been trying to find this book for ages. I think it was probably written during the early 90s.
Anyway, in my quest to find this book, I posted a stumper on loganberry and it was suggested that this was the book. I didn't recognize the cover, but the description sounded right, so I read it. And it's not the book. Some parts seemed vaguely familiar, but I think that it's because this is a pretty formulaic YA fantasy novel. Not my favorite genre, and I certainly wouldn't have finished it if I hadn't been trying to figure out if it was the book I was looking for. Also, I paid $8 for it, so I felt a certain obligation.
I probably would have enjoyed this book when I was 13. Oh, well, the quest continues. ...more
Huh. Not even sure what to say about this one. I picked it up because I noticed it on the Modern Library's list of 100 best novels (where the women arHuh. Not even sure what to say about this one. I picked it up because I noticed it on the Modern Library's list of 100 best novels (where the women are sadly underrepresented), the library happened to have it, and it's fairly short. It's not a Goodbye, Mr. Chips inspirational teacher type of book, which was good, because after having taught high school I don't have much patience for that stuff anymore (with the obvious exception of Sister Act 2 because how could you not love that movie). Miss Jean Brodie is a hypocritical, delusional egomaniac, which makes for a good character, but I never did figure out if this book was a comedy or not. I still enjoyed it, but I guess it's just not really my type of book. I wanted a lot more details. ...more