Category Archives: books

The Book Blog

Posted on July 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

Okay guys and gals (mostly gals), I told you quite a while ago that I was thinking of separating the personal blog from the book reviews. Especially now that I’m getting farther in my Library Media degree, I’d like to be able to refer people to my reviews without them being able to see the personal junk.

So, I’ve been thinking and thinking and thinking about a name and I finally came up with one yesterday that I think is fun and most importantly, available:

Madame bookworm

What do you think? I’m just now working on the template, uploading book posts from here to there, etc. I hav the actual URL purchased, but for now if you want to go ahead and become a follower, the temporary URL is:

http://madamebookworm.blogspot.com/

Go follow and I’ll keep you updated on the progress. After I get this all set up, you won’t be seeing any book reviews here. This will be my personal blog of randomness (which you should still follow).

Anyway, what do you think of the name?

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Posted in blogging about blogging, books

Cryer’s Cross

Posted on July 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

  Cryer’s Cross

by Lisa McMann

My rating: A-

Goodreads synopsis:  The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on… until Kendall’s boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it’s crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear…and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating…and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico’s mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

My thoughts: I am such a huge Lisa McMann fan and loved her Wake trilogy so much that I was really looking forward to this book. It was really fun and a nice, quick read, but it left me wanting more. I guess I didn’t feel connected enough to the characters and felt like I needed an extension with them. That said, the mystery aspect of the story was really fun. This didn’t live up to her previous novels, but it’s still worth your time.

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Posted in 2011 Reads, books, Lisa McMann, mystery, Young Adult

Matched

Posted on July 11, 2011 | Leave a comment

Matched

by Ally Condie

My rating: A

Goodreads synopsis: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander’s face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham’s face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it’s a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she’s destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can’t stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society’s infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My thoughts: This is another one of those books that received so much hype that I didn’t want to read it right away. It sat on my shelf forever. I can’t believe I waited so long. I really loved the main character, Cassia. Condie did a great job of creating her own world that really made me think. I haven’t always been a dystopian fan, but this is another one I’ll have to put under my belt. Great read!

By the way, Ally Condie is SO nice!

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Posted in 2011 Reads, books, dystopian, Young Adult

The Romeo and Juliet Code

Posted on July 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Romeo and Juliet Code

by Phoebe Stone

My rating: B+

Goodreads synopsis: 

Phoebe Stone, author of the sleeper hit DEEP DOWN POPULAR, is back with a middle-grade code-breaking mystery full of romance and excitement. Think CHASING VERMEER meets THE SECRET GARDEN!

Felicity’s glamorous parents have a secret. When they leave her with distant relatives in Maine, Felicity hopes they won’t leave her long. Her new Uncle Gideon hides things. Her Aunt Miami is star-crossed. And Derek, a kid her age, refuses to leave his room.

But Felicity needs Derek’s help. Gideon is getting coded letters from Felicity’s parents, and she’s sure they’re in trouble. Can Felicity crack the code, heal the family and save her parents, all while surviving her first crush? It’s a tall order, but – like THE SECRET GARDEN’S Mary Lennox before her – Felicity’s up for the challenge.

My thoughts: I haven’t read many middle grade novels lately, but I can definitely say that this was such a refreshing change from the ones I have read. I tend to stick with fantasy, so this awesome historical fiction novel was just what I needed. I love anything set in the WWII period and this was no exception. The author did a great job building up the characters and showcasing their interesting relationships along with the factual historical information. My favorite part of this book were the quirky characters and their fun interactions. This is a fun, easy read that will leave you with a smile.

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Posted in 2011 Reads, books, historical fiction, Middle Grade, Phoebe Stone

A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future

Posted on July 9, 2011 | Leave a comment

A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future

by Daniel H. Pink

My rating: C

Goodreads synopsis: The future belongs to a different kind of person with a different kind of mind: artists, inventors, storytellers-creative and holistic “right-brain” thinkers whose abilities mark the fault line between who gets ahead and who doesn’t. Drawing on research from around the world, Pink outlines the six fundamentally human abilities that are absolute essentials for professional success and personal fulfillment-and reveals how to master them. A Whole New Mind takes readers to a daring new place, and a provocative and necessary new way of thinking about a future that’s already here.

My thoughts: I read this for a class this Spring. I really wasn’t terribly impressed by this book. There were several interesting studies quoted, but overall the author’s opinions were much different from my own. I felt like the entire book was just him restating the same thing in another mundane way. Skip this unless you are seriously interested in the artistic mind versus the left brain.

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Posted in 2011 Reads, books, nonfiction

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You

Posted on April 7, 2011 | 2 Comments

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have To Kill You

By Ally Carter

My rating: C+

Goodreads synopsis: The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women lives up to its name. Not only does this exclusive boarding school teach advanced language skills and correct deportment; its students also master the arts of tapping phones, hacking into computers, and spying in public places. At school, second-generation Gallagher Girl Cammie Morgan has impeccable credentials: She is fluent in 14 languages and able to kill an assailant in seven different ways. But recently life has dealt Cammie a card that she never anticipated: She has fallen in love with an ordinary boy who knows nothing about her exotic double life. A truly covert romance.

My thoughts: I had such high hopes for this. First of all, the author is an OK native and went to my alma mater. Second, it’s a novel with teen girl spies. How can it be bad?

It wasn’t bad. It just didn’t hold up to the level of great I was hoping for. I’m a little bummed by that. The characters had such potential to be amazing, but they fell sort of flat. The plot was okay, too, but again, didn’t bring the level of awesome I hoped for.

I will be reading the next in the series, I’m sure. I just don’t see myself pre-ordering any of these or jumping in line to get them. Maybe you’d like them better, though. Has anyone read her Heist Society stuff?

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Posted in 2011 Reads, Ally Carter, books, Young Adult

Demonglass

Posted on April 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

Demonglass

by Rachel Hawkins

My rating: A+

Goodreads synopsis: Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

My thoughts: I’ve said it before: Rachel Hawkins and I totally need to be BFFs. She just doesn’t know it.

I loved Hex Hall like Whoa and I really wasn’t sure if Demonglass could measure up to it. Not only did it measure up, but it even went beyond. I’m just now posting this, but I assure you that the second the beautiful Amazon.com box arrived on my doorstep, this was in my anxious little hands and I was flying through it. I’m just a posting procrastinator.

Without spoiling too much and making this review ridiculously long and unreadable, I’ll keep it to a few points. Bullets, shall we?

  • Sophie is once again filled with awesome. She’s witty. She’s snarky. She has a rad, yet comfortable fashion sense. Go her.
  • Archer. Be still my heart, you rogue demon hunter. If I was a fictitious teen girl, I’d totally be swooning over him. Oh crap, I am anyhow and I’m neither a teen nor fictitious. Whatev.
  • Jenna? Still so funny and so loyal, yet she has a few major things of her own going on here.
  • The action is ramped up BIG TIME in this. It doesn’t end up all rainbows and unicorns, either.

Rachel, you nailed it.

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Posted in 2011 Reads, books, paranormal, Rachel Hawkins, Young Adult

Like Me

Posted on April 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Like Me

by Chely Wright

My rating: B

Goodreads synopsis: From her childhood in Wellsville, Kansas, high school homecoming queen, determining at a young age to become a country music star, being cast in Country Music USA Opryland, making a pact with God—to keep her “sinning” to a minimum if he’d get her to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry—and her dream coming true at eighteen . . .

She writes about the record contracts and bus tours; the concerts and TV videos; the critical acclaim and industry awards; the #1 hits on the Billboard charts; the fans; the friendships and the working collaborations with Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, and others. . .

We see the vortex of success taking its toll on her life, and then her finding a new voice in her music, with music flowing naturally from her that never came so easily.

Like Me is a book of revelation: honest, inspiring and true.

My thoughts: Admittedly, I’m not the biggest country music fan. I like it okay, but I probably wouldn’t have picked this up if it weren’t for a couple of my friends. B & T had this sitting on their shelf and were talking one night about the Oprah episode where Chely came out. I hadn’t seen the episode, so they offered this to me.

Her writing style is very raw and very real. It’s easy to read, and it’s obvious that she wrote this to portray her feelings and not to become an acclaimed novelist. I wasn’t a fan of how she wrote sometimes, because she tended to go on and on about some points but be very choppy with others. The great thing about this story was just that: the story. It’s a story of overcoming obstacles and finding yourself. I think we can all benefit from that. Wright has done a ton to further music education and take a stand for teens who are being bullied. I salute her for that.

Overall, this was a quick, enlightening read. Check it out if you’re in the market for a non-preachy inspirational biography.

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Posted in 2011 Reads, biography, books

Beautiful Creatures

Posted on April 4, 2011 | Leave a comment

Beautiful Creatures

By Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

My rating: B+

Goodreads synopsis:

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

My thoughts: I really liked Lena and Ethan. They were such eccentric characters and a really interesting take on the average paranormal couple. They both had flaws and both had really interesting back stories aside from one another. I really appreciated that.

One great thing about this book: It’s a male POV. That seems so rare in YA these days and I love that Stohl and Garcia did a great job of it. Kudos to them!

The story itself was a little bizarre at times. It was well written and easy to read, but I found myself losing interest for a chunk of the book. The book weighed in at around 563 pages and I felt like the story could’ve been accomplished in less. I hope that this won’t be the case for the next two books in the Caster Chronicles.

If you like paranormal YA (no vampire-werewolf love triangle this time!), this would be great to check out.

Also, I’ll be meeting these two at the LA Times Festival of Books. Watch out!

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Posted in 2011 Reads, books, Kami Garcia, male narrator, Margaret Stohl, paranormal romance, Young Adult

Captivate

Posted on February 21, 2011 | 2 Comments

 

Need

by Carrie Jones

My rating: B

Goodreads synopsis: Zara and her friends knew they hadn’t solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king’s needs grow deeper every day he’s stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It’s made him vulnerable. And now there’s a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he’s one of the good guys. Nick isn’t buying it, though Zara isn’t as sure — despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it’s a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It’s her life — and his.

First of all… how beautiful is that cover? I mean come, on. You can’t go wrong with fairy dust.

I really loved the first book of this trilogy and was hoping for the same from Jones’ second book, Captivate. It just didn’t have the same appeal as Need. It didn’t captivate me. (See what I did there? Hah.)

I love Zara as a character. She’s quirky and tough, but still vulnerable. There are so many things going wrong in her life, but she brings the humor. Captivate finds us just after Need ends and Zara is trying to decide between 2 equally sucky choices that she is facing. Enter…cute fairy boy. (Not that type of fairy boy. A REAL fairy.) Zara is forced to take action into her own hands and come up with the best compromise that she can offer, given the tense situation.

I also loved the appearance of this new and interesting character. For me, he made the book. I knew I wasn’t supposed to like him, but I couldn’t help it. It was definitely a great addition, since a few of the characters that I really enjoyed in Need were rather flat this time around. The biggest thing that bothered me in Captivate was the pacing. I feel like it was rushed and we didn’t get a good feel for how epic the decisions Zara makes are. A good portion of the book was spent building up the relationships (which IS important, but it may have gone too far) and not enough on the actual plot.

I’m really looking forward to Entice, to see whether or not Jones was able to up the ante and pull me back into the story.

Totally unrelated side note: I’m not sure whether or not I’ve ever shown you my fairy. Here she is:

What do you think? She has no name. She needs a name. I’m open for suggestions.

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Posted in 2011 Reads, books, Carrie Jones, Young Adult