Salvage the Bones

WARNING dog lovers! Set in an impoverished Mississippi bayou where dogs bred to fight are better fed than children, Salvage the Bones portrays 1 family & their Pit Bulls up until, then during Katrina.  I don't do spoilers, but suffice it to say several plot lines are delicately woven into this gripping, poignant, & very real story. Stick with it through the grit, & you may be stunned at the poetic writing & mesmerizing events.  I was drawn into a world I know nothing about & came away stunned. 2011 National Book Award winner.

Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught

  Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught explores the world of, as our main character Jason (aka. Freak) puts it, alphabets.  Jason is SCZI - schizophrenic, his best buddy Drip is ADHD, and Sunshine, Jason's favorite person in the world is SM - selectively mute.  When Sunshine mysteriously vanishes one day after school, Jason must fight through the voices in his head, try to separate which memories are true and which are a product of his mind, and convince the adults that what he says shouldn't be discounted just because of his alphabet.
  Vaught writes with a clarity that seamlessly connects the voices in Jason's head and everything that is going on outside of Jason.  She highlights the difficulties faced by kids like Jason.  Bullying from other students, suspicion from adults, and some level of fear from loved ones.  While parts of this book were difficult to read, I'm glad I got a look inside the mind of someone like Jason.  I feel like I have been enlightened.  Freaks Like Us was an entertaining read - and so very much more.

Sons of the 613 by Michael Rubens

  I intially chose this book because I find that I have limited choices in young adult literature that showcases a teen boy perspective.  I wanted to make sure that there were books like this in the library in case a guy ever decided to check something out, and I decided to read it because I was curious about what I would find.  I got an unexpected surprise.  Michael Rubens is a fluent author and was, for a long while, a producer on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
  Sons of the 613 is about Issac as he begins his journey to manhood, literally.  At the beginning of the book Issac is prepping for his Bar Mitzvah.  Later, his parents drop a bomb on him - they're leaving him at home alone for two weeks with his older brother Josh.  Issac freaks.  He and Josh aren't tight.  Josh is a mystery, an angry mystery at that, but as Issac tells us, he's also a "Super Jew".  So, at least Issac will get the help he needs with his studies before his big day, but Josh has other plans on how to turn Issac into a man.  And so the journey begins.
  Sons of the 613 is clever and entertaining.  Even though I started reading this book as part of my job I was quickly pleased that I did.  By the end I was in tears, but hey, most teenaged boys probably wouldn't have that same reaction (and if they did, they'd never admit it).  Highly recommended read, but I should note that there is quite a bit of offensive language.

Butter by Erin Jade Lange

  Butter is a big guy.  He's tipping the scale at over 400 pounds.  His father stopped speaking to him a long time ago, and his mother overfeeds him because she doesn't know what else to do.  Given his size it's hard to imagine but at school Butter is invisible.  He sits by himself at lunch and has a special desk in each of his classes to accommodate his size.  After Butter sees a post online voting him "Most Likely to have a Heart Attack", he snaps and creates www.butterslastmeal.com.  He invites all of his fellow students to watch as he eats himself to death on New Year's Eve - he's even taking menu suggestions.  Butter expected a backlash, but instead finds morbid encouragement as people egg him on.  He's even invited to sit at the popular table at lunch.  Now Butter wonders if he can really go through with it and wonders what the consequences might be if he doesn't.

  Butter is a compelling and timely read.  Butter is equal parts hilarious and heart-breaking.  Some strong language is used, and one bullying scene is intense, so this is a book better suited to mature readers.  Witty and insightful Erin Jade Lange has done justice to the inner thoughts and struggles of teens.  While most teens will never bear the burden of such a struggle, most of us have felt invisible or "less than" at one point or another, so Butter feels relatable.  All in all a great read.

Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead

Seating Arrangements takes its reader into a world of upper class New England socialites where what is unspoken is more important than what is, alcohol is a food group and wearing your tennis whites is done so unironically.  I, for one, love a story that skillfully weaves its tale around characters whose flaws are believably typical and mundane yet NOT redemptive. 

The family of Winn Van Meter on the surface is preppy perfection.  As family and friends convene at the Van Meter Summer Home for the wedding of his eldest daughter, Winn Van Meter confronts infidelity, his daughters' dramas and his own desperate socially climbing with pathetic hilarity.  By the end of the novel, the man seems less like a powerful patriarch and more like a laughable idiot proving that money can not buy you dignity.

Sir John Fielding Mysteries by Bruce Alexander

Allow me to introduce you to Sir John Fielding the "Blind Beak of Bow Street".  While Sir John was a true historical figure, as were his Bow Street Runners, Bruce Alexander weaves fictitious tales on this stage all set in England around 1750.  I adore this series, of which there are 11, and find myself returning to them as if visiting an old friend.  The language used in conversation is true to it's time, as are descriptions of dress, propriety, working conditions etc.  Sir John is a court magistrate of renown, able to identify thousands of people by the sound of their voices and is known far and wide for his impartiality.  His young apprentice, Jeremy Proctor, came to him by way of a series of unfortunate circumstances, but serves as Sir John's eyes at crime scenes.  They have an interesting dynamic and each mystery/book is worthy in and of itself.  A great mystery series if you like historical fiction.

Fifty Shades of Grey

To all you aspiring writers convinced you could never write a book:   read Fifty Shades of Grey.

Having been number 438 on the hold list, I was anxiously anticipating a good read.  Hadn't seen any reviews or listened to any hype because I like to form my own opinion.  I deeply regret that decision.
This is quite possibly the worst book I have ever read and the author is laughing all the way to the bank. The writing is so poor, I started skimming over several pages at a time just to get thru it.  How many times can you tolerate  "he looked so freakin' hot!"?   or revelations about  "my inner goddess" ?  
Spoiler alert:   The 2 main characters are shallow and juvenile & much of the book consists of them writing emails to each other to which the reader is painfully subjected.   It's obviously to take up space in between sex scenes (involving bondage and torture), and to make the book longer because the author can't write her way thru a coherent story.   Did we ever find out about the trauma Grey was subjected to as a boy and how he became the character he is?  What about "Mrs Robinson", now a "good friend and business partner"?   What about the roommate and the brother?  What about Ana's new publishing job?  Huh???????   But in fairness, I may have missed something skimming through all those tediously boring emails.
I'm guessing the end is a cliff-hanger to "force" you to "submit" to enduring the next 2 books?    Reading 50 Shades of Grey was more than enough bondage and torture for me.

The Wave: In Pursuit of the Oceans Greatest Furies, by Susan Casey

 If you are interested in surfing, weather, oceanography or photography, this is the book is for you.  The author follows scientists and surfers all over the globe in search of the elusive 100 foot giant. The surfers study weather patterns around the world, then with their photographers, hop planes to catch giant storm waves.  Scientists in research vessels measure freak 40, 50, 100 foot swells in the North Atlantic and try to predict where and why they occur. Perfect blend of science and sport.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

  I cannot stress enough how tired I am of the "series".  There is something to be said for a book in which there is a definitive ending within the bounds of the front and back cover.  Not knowing anything about a book before reading it, and then realising within the last one hundred pages that there is absolutely no way in which anything can be wrapped up is starting to wear my nerves, but I digress.

  Now that I've gotten that out of my system, Cinder is a futuristic take on the classic Cinderella.  Set in the bustling metropolis of New Beijing, Cinder is a cyborg - a human with some mechanical parts, implanted after an unfortunate accident that claimed the lives of her parents, or at least, that's what she was told.  Within New Beijing there are others like her, treated a second class citizens, and basically looked upon as slaves by their guardians.  There are also regular humans, androids, and illegal immigrants from the moon - Lunars.  Not to mention a plague, the wicked step-family, and political dealings.

  There's a lot going on in this book, but the futuristic take on an old story actually translates quite well.  Meyer does a spectacular job of making Cinder the cyborg feel human and vulnerable.  The prince is quite cheeky, as is Cinder's android, which adds a nice feeling of levity to some of the more depressing passages.  Meyer ends this first installment of her Lunar Chronicles Quartet  on a real cliff hanger.  I'm happy I ran into this book a little late in the game, since the second in the series Scarlet is due out in early 2013.  All in all the book was okay - not something I'll be thinking about for weeks to come, but it was entertaining enough.

 

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Wintergirls - where do I start?  Admittedly, Laurie Halse Anderson is the queen of tackling difficult subject matter and Wintergirls is no exception.  Wintergirls was published in 2009, ten years after her seminal work Speak.  In Wintergirls Anderson dives into the world of eating disorders.  Lia has anorexia, while her best friend Cassie struggles with bulimia.  The insight that Anderson offers into the mind of those experiencing trouble with eating disorders could have only come from thorough research and interviews.  From the outside looking in, it is very easy to assume what is going on inside the mind of someone with an eating disorder, but Wintergirls shatters all preconceived notions.  Such insight is visible on almost every page - Example - As Lia and her mother delicately dance and debate about Lia eating, her inner monologue is this, "I am so hungry I have to stay strong - bend, but not break. 'One muffin'."  The relationships within the novel are tenuous at best, artfully explored, and absolutely realistic.  But the stand out of the book, the thing that stays with you, is how tortured Lia is, how lost and confused, how set in her ways, and how frighteningly easy it is for her to believe the distorted thoughts in her head.  I will be thinking about this one for a while.  A must read for anyone interested in the psychology of eating disorders, or for those who may want to educate their kids about the dangers of eating disorders.  It's relatable, not preachy.

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Okay - so some of the plot seems to be much like other books that have become popular with teens over the last couple of years.  A love story, a tragedy, zombies and so on.  While the zombie action is somewhat predictable Showalter's insight into the heart and mind of teens is surprising.  Some of the scenes actually took me back to high school - and that's a pretty far ride.  Alice is a normal girl with an abnormal father - he sees things - dead things.  Of course, Alice thinks he's crazy, that is, until a tragic accident takes Alice's entire nuclear family.  As she adjusts to life at her grandparents, a new school, and new friends, Alice has a surprising and unexplainable connection with the school bad boy, Cole.  It's not until later in the book that their connection is revealed and Alice begins a new life among the undead.  Some scenes with Cole and Alice leave you feeling breathless, catapulting you back to your first high school love.  Alice's grandparents are equally endearing as they try to communicate with Alice on "her level" using slang like "crackalackin" and "dead presidents".  The book is equal parts action, romance, and comedy.  I will definitely be on the lookout for the next in the series, due out this time next year (Through the Zombie Glass 10/2013).

Museum of the Missing: A History of Art Theft by Simon Houpt

While this book is decidedly Non-Fiction it reads like a fast paced thriller, constantly slapping you in the face with shocking facts of art theft throughout the ages.  The book tackles the cost of art theft - both as a finanical loss and a cultural one.  Houpt covers ground throughly but you never feel as though you're sitting through a college lecture.  This book may be a good choice for young adults who are looking for something in the Non-Fiction realm for school, or just as a change of pace.  This book feels more like "The Thomas Crown Affair" than anything else.  Just as surprising - one of the works noted as "Missing" is from right here in little old Delaware.

When It Happens to You by Molly Ringwald

Yes, that Molly Ringwald.  It turns out she can write. I stumbled upon an interview with her about this novel on NPR while driving one afternoon and was drawn to her thoughtful yet not overly sentimental musings on family life. Plus, hearing a short excerpt of the novel read on air convinced me I wanted to read more.  When It Happens to You is a quiet novel in stories about a family with issues that may never be resolved.  From infidelity to raising children, Ringwald writes with clear, sparse prose, creating characters that are perfectly imperfect humans -  vulnerable yet resilient.

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Loved this book - - made me believe in magic!  Imagine a traveling circus entirely done in black and white that only opens at night.  With no schedule & no advertising, it just appears and disappears with the wind.   Yet somehow it spawns a world-wide cult of followers who meet to discuss the acts, and speculate where the circus will appear next. Well-developed characters are woven into a suspenseful plot involving a paranormal game of life and death.     Unique read. 

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Okay, so I'm a little behind the curve.  Pretty Little Liars was released in 2006, and since then has spawned ten follow-up books (with a eleventh scheduled for release on December 4, 2012), and a television series that airs on the ABC family network.  With all of that said - I thought I should read the book.  The first book in the series introduces us to Alison, Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna, all of whom are BFFs and in the seventh grade.  Alison is the ring leader, and as such, she knows all of the girl's secrets.  All of the girls bend to her will, not always agreeing with her, sometimes even hating her, but all equally dying for her approval.  Then one day Alison disappears.

The book picks four years later when the remaining girls are juniors in high school.  They have gone their separate ways, as girls will sometimes do.  Each girl is dealing with issues of her own, each struggling with a secret or a secret pain.  These issues range from the seemingly benign - lust for an older sister's boyfriend, to the intense - eating disorders and affairs with much older men.
As the story moves along each girl starts receiving startling and somewhat threatening messages from a person known only as "A".  Since the girls no longer speak to each other each of them feels isolated and afraid.  A shocking development starts to mend the relationship of the remaining girls toward the end of the book, making the reader salivate for the next in the series.
As far as chic lit goes this book is far more interesting and complicated than say the Gossip Girl series, and tackles much heavier subject matter.  While it certainly can not be considered great literature, the story is interesting and will be an easy sell to most teenage girls, hence the popularity of the books and the television show.

Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland.

This is a novel in search of a plot. Actually it's a virtual "kitchen sink" of plots - just pick one.  Set in turn-of-the-century Manhattan, the story is loosely based on real people and events.  However, I wasn't sure if I should be following the squalid immigrant conditions, Clara's revolving love interests, art vs. manufacturing constraints, emerging gay issues among uptown literary types, trade unions, interracial marriage, suffragettes, Tiffany's business ventures, etc, etc, etc. I should have known it was hopeless after reading the scene where Clara watches the sweaty, muscled, glass-blower hauling molten glass out of the furnace.  It was comically, painfully obvious the author was thinking: why not throw some erotica in?  Multiple plot lines & undeveloped characters kept me reading to the end hoping for some closure.  Didn't happen.

The Blackhope Enigma

  The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin fell flat.  While the premise was promising the writing and story were underwhelming.  The story chronicles Sunni, an art student, who goes to study a famous painting at the Blackhope Tower along with her sort-of-crush Blaise.  While there her little brother, Dean shows up and vanishes into the painting.  In a panic Sunni repeats the actions her brother took and finds herself inside the painting as well.  Blaise follows shortly after.  Once inside the painting the team must find each other, work together to move through the different layers of the painting, find their way home, and determine which of the fantastical characters they meet along the way are friend or foe.

  The idea of wandering through a painting is intriguing but Flavin lost me with the predictability of the storyline and underdeveloped characters.  At some points, I found myself wondering, "who cares"?  I suppose this book could have been saved if I had found myself more deeply invested in the characters, but I wasn't.  The writing, characters, and ending were all paper thin.  Hopefully Flavin's next book offers more to her readers than this one.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

There's always a much higher chance of disappointment when reading a New York Times Bestseller that has been getting as much press and rave reviews as Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. Expectation is high but Gone Girl only partially disappoints. The first half of the novel reads like a predictable, recycled thriller with a dull plot line and not much to keep a reader from continuing to turn the pages. But, sticking with it is entirely worth the wait.  At the point you are falling asleep, Flynn throws a few major twists into the story, making it a page turner until the end and making you forget you ever considered the novel predictable.  Though a few of the main characters seem a bit one dimensional at times, like the characters in Flynn's earlier novels, their disturbing quirks keep you guessing until the very bitter and creepy end.  While it will not be winning any literary awards, Gone Girl is pure entertainment and could be an ideal beach read for a sunny fall day.   

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Revolution is a surprisingly explosive historical fiction novel for teens.  The first third of the book is decidedly depressing as Donnelly explores the life of her main character - a teenage girl named Andi.  Andi's little brother was killed suddenly and the ripple effect of that incident leaves her parents divorced, Andi's mom struggling with debilitating mental illness, and Andi spiraling out of control.  Andi's father, tired of the direction Andi is taking, decides she should come with him to Paris during her break from school.  When Andi arrives she finds a long lost diary inside of a guitar case.  This diary recounts the story of Marie Antoinette and her son Louis-Charles during the french revolution.  Andi feels a strange connection to them and becomes increasingly transfixed by the diary.  Then, one fateful night in the catacombs under the streets of Paris changes everything.....Andi's strange connection to the royal family becomes clear.

The book was a riveting read, a real page turner, especially after the depressing introduction to Andi's reality.  The writing is vivid and brings life to a time in history that is decidedly more exciting than your average history class ever lets on.  This book is great for older/mature readers given the subject matter that is covered - death, drugs, and mental illness.  I am looking forward Jennifer Donnelly's next book especially if it's anything like this one!!

Brief Intro

I have some really great library workers.  As far as librarians go, these people are some of the best.  I'm proud to call them my own.  They read a lot of different stuff.  They also like to talk about what they read and they always seem to have an opinion to share.  So, since they work pretty hard to make me one of the best small public libraries EVER, I figured I'd let them use my blog to talk about what they've been reading. 

But, before I officially hand over this blog to the librarians, I'd like to just mention that I am still seeing an awful lot of the Fifty Shades of Grey series coming and going through my doors and I am ready for the next big series to emerge.  Truth be told, I might be a bit bored with Fifty Shades of Grey now.  Just look at that cover.  Boring.  I wonder what those books are about anyway?