by Jennifer Weiner
When Becky, an overweight chef, meets Ayinde, the biracial wife of an NBA star, and Kelly, an overachiever struggling to overcome her chaotic childhood, at a prenatal yoga class, all three women soon unexpectedly find themselves relying on each other for everything from bathing newborns to unemployed husbands. When Lia, a mysterious woman running from a tragedy, joins their group, the women find that together, they can survive anything. Even the first year of motherhood.
At times funny, at times heartbreaking, and sometimes both at the same time, Weiner delivers one her best I've read so far. Told in alternating chapters by all 4 women, Weiner has the ability to give each character her own voice, without shorting anyone. I was in tears with Lia's story, laughing out loud with Becky, sympathetic of Ayinde, and wanting to shake some sense into Kelly.
My only complaint about Jennifer Weiner's books is that I never want them to end.
Library book
Monday, August 15, 2011
Fly Away Home
by Jennifer Weiner
Sylvie Woodruff has it all - a senator husband, two grown daughters, a judge mother, and all the privileges she spent her life building. Until the media discovers her husband had an affair with a young staffer and got her a job. As Sylvie's life quickly unravels, she retreats to her childhood vacation home in Connecticut. Joined later by her daughters, Sylvie and her daughters slowly put back together the lives that had so recently fallen apart.
What more can I say about Jennifer Weiner's books? Her characters feel like friends by the time the story is over. I usually read her books in a matter of days - in this case, one day - because I cannot put her books down and then am sad when it's done. This one was a little different because the main character, Sylvie, is older than the characters Weiner usually writes, but still superbly done. If you've ever seen a politician standing up admitting an affair and wonder how his wife can stand there next to him, Weiner takes you inside the life of that wife and shows you what she's thinking.
As always, a great book by Jennifer Weiner.
I got this on Kindle for $11.99
Sylvie Woodruff has it all - a senator husband, two grown daughters, a judge mother, and all the privileges she spent her life building. Until the media discovers her husband had an affair with a young staffer and got her a job. As Sylvie's life quickly unravels, she retreats to her childhood vacation home in Connecticut. Joined later by her daughters, Sylvie and her daughters slowly put back together the lives that had so recently fallen apart.
What more can I say about Jennifer Weiner's books? Her characters feel like friends by the time the story is over. I usually read her books in a matter of days - in this case, one day - because I cannot put her books down and then am sad when it's done. This one was a little different because the main character, Sylvie, is older than the characters Weiner usually writes, but still superbly done. If you've ever seen a politician standing up admitting an affair and wonder how his wife can stand there next to him, Weiner takes you inside the life of that wife and shows you what she's thinking.
As always, a great book by Jennifer Weiner.
I got this on Kindle for $11.99
Toys
by James Patterson
Hays Baker and his wife Lizbeth have super-human strength, amazing looks, and are smarter than your average human. Because they're not human - they're Elites, an exclusive group of "people" who are part of the Agency of Change. They work to rid the world of ordinary humans and make the earth a better place.
Until a brutal attack leaves Hays gravely injured. While in surgery, doctors make a discovery that changes everything Hays knows about the world around him - and himself.
This is by far not one of Patterson's best. Honestly, it was all I could do to get through it. There was a lot of action, which is not unusual for a Patterson novel, but it was hard to stay with it through the car chases, airplane escapes and runs through abandoned buildings.
There are so many other great James Patterson novels out there that I wouldn't waste my time on this one.
I got this for Kindle from Amazon for $14.99.
Hays Baker and his wife Lizbeth have super-human strength, amazing looks, and are smarter than your average human. Because they're not human - they're Elites, an exclusive group of "people" who are part of the Agency of Change. They work to rid the world of ordinary humans and make the earth a better place.
Until a brutal attack leaves Hays gravely injured. While in surgery, doctors make a discovery that changes everything Hays knows about the world around him - and himself.
This is by far not one of Patterson's best. Honestly, it was all I could do to get through it. There was a lot of action, which is not unusual for a Patterson novel, but it was hard to stay with it through the car chases, airplane escapes and runs through abandoned buildings.
There are so many other great James Patterson novels out there that I wouldn't waste my time on this one.
I got this for Kindle from Amazon for $14.99.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Flight Lessons
by Patricia Gaffney
When Anna finds her live-in boyfriend and her boss in her bed, she goes home to Maryland to help manage the family restaurant. Unfortunately, Anna and her aunt Rose haven't been on speaking terms for years, ever since Anna caught her father and Rose together while her mother was dying.
This was a good book that didn't get too bogged down in the family drama. There were quite a few other characters that were well written and interesting, such as Frankie and Theo. Anna and Rose muddle through trying to work out their issues, while Anna also struggles to rebuild her life after her boyfriend's betrayal.
I got this book at Barnes & Noble for $6.
When Anna finds her live-in boyfriend and her boss in her bed, she goes home to Maryland to help manage the family restaurant. Unfortunately, Anna and her aunt Rose haven't been on speaking terms for years, ever since Anna caught her father and Rose together while her mother was dying.
This was a good book that didn't get too bogged down in the family drama. There were quite a few other characters that were well written and interesting, such as Frankie and Theo. Anna and Rose muddle through trying to work out their issues, while Anna also struggles to rebuild her life after her boyfriend's betrayal.
I got this book at Barnes & Noble for $6.
Saving Max
by Antoinette Van Heugten
Daniella Parkman knows her son Max. He's brilliant and fragile and autistic. But when she finds him unconscious and bloodied in the room of another boy at the psychiatric facility he's been admitted to, she suddenly isn't sure what she knows about her son. But time is running out for Danielle to save her son.
This book started off very strong and I was quickly drawn into the storyline. However, about halfway through it seemed to move into an unrealistic arena that it just didn't come back from. That Danielle is able to break into the facility more than once, that she's the only person that can unravel the mystery of Max's victim, that the random man she meets in a hotel bar later becomes the only person who can help her, that what is considered the finest facility in the country hires a doctor with less than stellar reputation, I just couldn't swallow all of it. Maybe any one of those points, but I think it was the combination of all of them together that bothered me.
This was a Kindle book for $7.55 (though I believe the price is slightly higher now).
Daniella Parkman knows her son Max. He's brilliant and fragile and autistic. But when she finds him unconscious and bloodied in the room of another boy at the psychiatric facility he's been admitted to, she suddenly isn't sure what she knows about her son. But time is running out for Danielle to save her son.
This book started off very strong and I was quickly drawn into the storyline. However, about halfway through it seemed to move into an unrealistic arena that it just didn't come back from. That Danielle is able to break into the facility more than once, that she's the only person that can unravel the mystery of Max's victim, that the random man she meets in a hotel bar later becomes the only person who can help her, that what is considered the finest facility in the country hires a doctor with less than stellar reputation, I just couldn't swallow all of it. Maybe any one of those points, but I think it was the combination of all of them together that bothered me.
This was a Kindle book for $7.55 (though I believe the price is slightly higher now).
I'd Know You Anywhere
by Laura Lippman
A letter from death row arrives for Eliza saying "I'd know you anywhere" and Eliza is instantly transported back to the summer she was 15 and abducted by Walter Bowman. What Walter wants from her now, Eliza doesn't know and she's not sure she can tell him anyway.
Told both from the current time and flashbacks to the summer she was 15, this story just moves and moves. I could not put it down. Why does Eliza survive? Why is she the girl that Walter doesn't kill? How could she not escape? And why does she agree to meet Walter now, after 20 years, when she has managed to put that summer behind her?
In a backdoor sort of way, this story also takes a look at the death penalty. It's not overpowering, but the character that acts as the go-between for Walter and Eliza has a definite opinion, but she is also drawn as an unlikable character so it's hard to take anything she says to heart.
I loved this book and have been recommending it to everyone.
This was a Kindle book for $9.99.
A letter from death row arrives for Eliza saying "I'd know you anywhere" and Eliza is instantly transported back to the summer she was 15 and abducted by Walter Bowman. What Walter wants from her now, Eliza doesn't know and she's not sure she can tell him anyway.
Told both from the current time and flashbacks to the summer she was 15, this story just moves and moves. I could not put it down. Why does Eliza survive? Why is she the girl that Walter doesn't kill? How could she not escape? And why does she agree to meet Walter now, after 20 years, when she has managed to put that summer behind her?
In a backdoor sort of way, this story also takes a look at the death penalty. It's not overpowering, but the character that acts as the go-between for Walter and Eliza has a definite opinion, but she is also drawn as an unlikable character so it's hard to take anything she says to heart.
I loved this book and have been recommending it to everyone.
This was a Kindle book for $9.99.
Strange Fits of Passion
by Anita Shreve
Mary arrives in a small Maine town with her baby daughter and a past she doesn't discuss with anyone. Fleeing her abusive reporter husband in New York City, Mary - formerly Maureen English - tries to settle in and make a safe life for them. Her affair with an older lobsterman brings her happiness she had never experienced. But when she is betrayed by another, and Mary's husband finds her, Mary must make a decision that will forever change her life.
This story originally starts as a reporter brings her noted to Mary's now college-age daughter regarding her mother's story. The story is unfolds by way of interviews and letters written by Mary and the Maine townspeople. While maybe predictable in it's climax, Mary's story is nonetheless engaging. I kept reading to find out who betrayed Mary.
This was a paperback I picked up at a book sale.
Mary arrives in a small Maine town with her baby daughter and a past she doesn't discuss with anyone. Fleeing her abusive reporter husband in New York City, Mary - formerly Maureen English - tries to settle in and make a safe life for them. Her affair with an older lobsterman brings her happiness she had never experienced. But when she is betrayed by another, and Mary's husband finds her, Mary must make a decision that will forever change her life.
This story originally starts as a reporter brings her noted to Mary's now college-age daughter regarding her mother's story. The story is unfolds by way of interviews and letters written by Mary and the Maine townspeople. While maybe predictable in it's climax, Mary's story is nonetheless engaging. I kept reading to find out who betrayed Mary.
This was a paperback I picked up at a book sale.
Eden Close
by Anita Shreve
Andrew returns to his childhood home in upstate New York to bury his mother. Next door lives Eden Close and her mother, two women still suffering from the loss of Eden's father, who was killed by the person that broke into the house and raped Eden 20 years before. Eden, now blind, continues to live with her mother, in spite of a difficult relationship when Eden was a child. As Andrew prepares his mother's house for sale, he and Eden rekindle their relationship and uncover the secrets of that long-ago night.
This was a good book with a great story. It moves along and leads you in one direction before taking a turn and leading you somewhere else. Eden is a mysterious character for much of the book and the reader only sees her through Andrew's memories. I didn't find the ending unbelievable as some of the reviews I've seen suggest. The entire book leads to the ending and all the pieces fit.
This is available as paperback (as I read) or for the Kindle.
Andrew returns to his childhood home in upstate New York to bury his mother. Next door lives Eden Close and her mother, two women still suffering from the loss of Eden's father, who was killed by the person that broke into the house and raped Eden 20 years before. Eden, now blind, continues to live with her mother, in spite of a difficult relationship when Eden was a child. As Andrew prepares his mother's house for sale, he and Eden rekindle their relationship and uncover the secrets of that long-ago night.
This was a good book with a great story. It moves along and leads you in one direction before taking a turn and leading you somewhere else. Eden is a mysterious character for much of the book and the reader only sees her through Andrew's memories. I didn't find the ending unbelievable as some of the reviews I've seen suggest. The entire book leads to the ending and all the pieces fit.
This is available as paperback (as I read) or for the Kindle.
Go Ask Alice
by Anonymous
For more than 25 years, this diary of a drug-addicted teen has served as a warning for teenagers about the dangers of experimenting with drugs. Try as she might, the writer is not able to stay away from drugs for any length of time.
I remember seeing this as a play in junior high school back in the early 80s. It was intense then and is still intense in written form. Whether it is an actual diary or a work of fiction is still being debated, but either way, it's a good read.
For more than 25 years, this diary of a drug-addicted teen has served as a warning for teenagers about the dangers of experimenting with drugs. Try as she might, the writer is not able to stay away from drugs for any length of time.
I remember seeing this as a play in junior high school back in the early 80s. It was intense then and is still intense in written form. Whether it is an actual diary or a work of fiction is still being debated, but either way, it's a good read.
Island of Lost Girls
by Jennifer McMahon
Sitting in front of the local convenience store, Rhonda Farr witnesses a little girl being a abducted from her mother's car by a six-foot bunny. This abduction brings Rhonda back to 1993, and her best friend Lizzie who later disappeared. By revisiting the events of that summer, Rhonda sees through her adult eyes the secrets she didn't see as a child.
Another great book by Jennifer McMahon. She manages to tell the story both in the current time and that long-ago summer without any confusion or loss of storyline. I especially liked how the way that Rhonda perceived things as a child shaped into what she believed happened as an adult. It's only when Rhonda is able to understand what really happened that she is able to move past that fateful summer.
This was a paperback I got from Amazon for $6. It would have been worth paying more.
Sitting in front of the local convenience store, Rhonda Farr witnesses a little girl being a abducted from her mother's car by a six-foot bunny. This abduction brings Rhonda back to 1993, and her best friend Lizzie who later disappeared. By revisiting the events of that summer, Rhonda sees through her adult eyes the secrets she didn't see as a child.
Another great book by Jennifer McMahon. She manages to tell the story both in the current time and that long-ago summer without any confusion or loss of storyline. I especially liked how the way that Rhonda perceived things as a child shaped into what she believed happened as an adult. It's only when Rhonda is able to understand what really happened that she is able to move past that fateful summer.
This was a paperback I got from Amazon for $6. It would have been worth paying more.
Port Mortuary
by Patricia Cornwell
Dr. Kay Scarpetta is back, along with her regular crew of husband Benton Wesley, niece Lucy and ex-cop Pete Marino. This time she returns home to Boston, where a man is found mysteriously murdered near her home. Before long, Scarpetta's military background comes back to rear its ugly head and she finds that as usual, nothing is what it seems.
I'm a long-time reader of the Kay Scarpetta series. The early ones are by far the best, but I dutifully read each installment as it is released. This one, however, was a chore for me to finish. There was less action and more inside Scarpetta's head. Pete Marino and Lucy have both become somewhat unlikable characters and it's hard to care about them much. Benton is so full of "I can't talk about my patients" that it's hard to understand why he's even included in the story. This group of characters seem to have outlived their early connections. I guess being at the top of her field has made Scarpetta less able to accept help from anyone.
If you haven't read any of this series, I would recommend the early ones. The most recent are vastly different, in my opinion.
Dr. Kay Scarpetta is back, along with her regular crew of husband Benton Wesley, niece Lucy and ex-cop Pete Marino. This time she returns home to Boston, where a man is found mysteriously murdered near her home. Before long, Scarpetta's military background comes back to rear its ugly head and she finds that as usual, nothing is what it seems.
I'm a long-time reader of the Kay Scarpetta series. The early ones are by far the best, but I dutifully read each installment as it is released. This one, however, was a chore for me to finish. There was less action and more inside Scarpetta's head. Pete Marino and Lucy have both become somewhat unlikable characters and it's hard to care about them much. Benton is so full of "I can't talk about my patients" that it's hard to understand why he's even included in the story. This group of characters seem to have outlived their early connections. I guess being at the top of her field has made Scarpetta less able to accept help from anyone.
If you haven't read any of this series, I would recommend the early ones. The most recent are vastly different, in my opinion.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
A Book Note
Most of you know by now that I got a Kindle for Christmas and wow, do I love it. Which you all probably also already now. But I'm currently reading "Port Mortuary" by Patricia Cornwell and it's a real book and I have to say that in the 3 short months I've been a Kindle owner, I've become very spoiled. Carrying and holding this 500 masterpiece is killing me. I much prefer my Kindle.
I do have probably 50 or more actual books that I haven't read yet, picked up at the library book sale or thrift stores. And with any luck, a library will open in this town of mine before I die. So I know I'll be reading actual books for a long time yet.
As far as the Kindle goes, I wanted to tell any other Kindle owners a couple of things I do.
-- Since I have so many books to read, I can't quite yet justify paying for books. So I check the amazon.com site EVERY DAY, that's right EVERY DAY, and scan the "free" books list. You'd be surprised by the number of times you can find something amazing for free. And free books are a good way to try books or authors you wouldn't otherwise try.
-- Check the Amazon "Bestseller" list. Those are the books that people paid for, but right now, 4 of the the top 10 books are only 99 cents. Click around on those and see what other books people have bought.
-- For these free or low-cost books, be sure to read the descriptions. A lot of them are Christian fiction, which I don't always care for. Read the reviews. Some of them might only be partial books. Some of them might be books from a series. (I like to read a series in order.) Most of the time, you won't have a problem, but it's best to know what you're getting ahead of time so you're not disappointed.
Good luck and happy reading!
I do have probably 50 or more actual books that I haven't read yet, picked up at the library book sale or thrift stores. And with any luck, a library will open in this town of mine before I die. So I know I'll be reading actual books for a long time yet.
As far as the Kindle goes, I wanted to tell any other Kindle owners a couple of things I do.
-- Since I have so many books to read, I can't quite yet justify paying for books. So I check the amazon.com site EVERY DAY, that's right EVERY DAY, and scan the "free" books list. You'd be surprised by the number of times you can find something amazing for free. And free books are a good way to try books or authors you wouldn't otherwise try.
-- Check the Amazon "Bestseller" list. Those are the books that people paid for, but right now, 4 of the the top 10 books are only 99 cents. Click around on those and see what other books people have bought.
-- For these free or low-cost books, be sure to read the descriptions. A lot of them are Christian fiction, which I don't always care for. Read the reviews. Some of them might only be partial books. Some of them might be books from a series. (I like to read a series in order.) Most of the time, you won't have a problem, but it's best to know what you're getting ahead of time so you're not disappointed.
Good luck and happy reading!
Don't Die, Dragonfly
by Linda Joy Singleton
Sabine Rose is living with her grandmother after being kicked out of her last high school. This time, she is determined to keep a low profile and keep her psychic gift a secret from everyone. But when she can't get rid of her spirit guide Opal and starts seeing disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo, she has to find a way to protect herself and her friends.
Another teen fantasy book that I really enjoyed. This genre has seemed to pull me in over the last few months and there are so many of these books available for reasonable prices. This was a fast read and intriguing. Sabine was a realistic teenage girl - from what I remember - and all the characters were interesting. Definitely an author I would read again.
This was a free Kindle book on Amazon. I see it's now listing for $7.96.
Sabine Rose is living with her grandmother after being kicked out of her last high school. This time, she is determined to keep a low profile and keep her psychic gift a secret from everyone. But when she can't get rid of her spirit guide Opal and starts seeing disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo, she has to find a way to protect herself and her friends.
Another teen fantasy book that I really enjoyed. This genre has seemed to pull me in over the last few months and there are so many of these books available for reasonable prices. This was a fast read and intriguing. Sabine was a realistic teenage girl - from what I remember - and all the characters were interesting. Definitely an author I would read again.
This was a free Kindle book on Amazon. I see it's now listing for $7.96.
Hardly Knew Her
by Laura Lippman
A series of short stories featuring women and what they do in different situations. There are also two stories featuring Lippman's well-known character Tess Monaghan, from her mystery series. From the title story to two stories featuring single mom and suburban prostitute Heloise, Lippman does not fail to surprise the reader with twists and turns that keep everything moving along.
I have not read Lippman's Tess Monaghan series, though the two stories in this book have persuaded me to. I have read her book "What the Dead Know" and really enjoyed it. All of these stories feature strong women and the choices they make. "The Crack Cocaine Diet" is probably my favorite because I was so surprised by the story.
I got this on Kindle for Amazon for 99 cents. Definitely a bargain!
A series of short stories featuring women and what they do in different situations. There are also two stories featuring Lippman's well-known character Tess Monaghan, from her mystery series. From the title story to two stories featuring single mom and suburban prostitute Heloise, Lippman does not fail to surprise the reader with twists and turns that keep everything moving along.
I have not read Lippman's Tess Monaghan series, though the two stories in this book have persuaded me to. I have read her book "What the Dead Know" and really enjoyed it. All of these stories feature strong women and the choices they make. "The Crack Cocaine Diet" is probably my favorite because I was so surprised by the story.
I got this on Kindle for Amazon for 99 cents. Definitely a bargain!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Saving Rachel
by John Locke
Sam Case is having the best morning of his life: he finally gets the beautiful Karen into bed and she has no idea he is married. Until, of course, Sam learns that Karen has been kidnapped. And so has his wife, Rachel. And Sam must choose which one to save.
This book started off really well. I was intrigued by the idea. But about two-thirds of the way through, when the book switches to the point of view of Donovan Creed, it lost me. Because no one is who they appear to be and the whole point of the book - who will Sam choose? - is swept under the rug in favor of all the other drama. Most of which seemed a bit far-fetched to me.
I have since learned that this is the 3rd book of the Donovan Creed series. I would try one of the others to see if they are all like this or if they are more to my liking. This book was 99 cents on Amazon for Kindle, so if there were others for this price, I would give them a try. But I wouldn't pay much more than that.
Sam Case is having the best morning of his life: he finally gets the beautiful Karen into bed and she has no idea he is married. Until, of course, Sam learns that Karen has been kidnapped. And so has his wife, Rachel. And Sam must choose which one to save.
This book started off really well. I was intrigued by the idea. But about two-thirds of the way through, when the book switches to the point of view of Donovan Creed, it lost me. Because no one is who they appear to be and the whole point of the book - who will Sam choose? - is swept under the rug in favor of all the other drama. Most of which seemed a bit far-fetched to me.
I have since learned that this is the 3rd book of the Donovan Creed series. I would try one of the others to see if they are all like this or if they are more to my liking. This book was 99 cents on Amazon for Kindle, so if there were others for this price, I would give them a try. But I wouldn't pay much more than that.
Jenny Pox
by JL Bryan
Jenny is a high school student with a big secret - even bigger than most high school girls' secrets. Her touch can kill people. Her father has helped her adjust to life without touching anyone and even though she is lonely, she knows this is what she has to do. When she meets a boy who is immune to her poison, she sees hopes for her future for the first time. But there's one big problem: Seth is the boyfriend of Jenny's longtime nemesis, Ashleigh. Then Jenny discovers that Ashleigh has a big secret too, and Jenny must use her power to destroy Ashleigh.
This was a good read. Jenny, even with her pox, is relatable to any high school student who ever felt left out. But her discovery of Seth and Ashleigh's powers changes everything. I had thought this was a young adult book, but there are a couple of pretty intense sex scenes that lead me to believe otherwise. "Jenny Pox" ends in such a way that it could be over, or there could be a sequel. I'm hoping for a sequel.
I got this on Amazon for Kindle for $2.99.
Jenny is a high school student with a big secret - even bigger than most high school girls' secrets. Her touch can kill people. Her father has helped her adjust to life without touching anyone and even though she is lonely, she knows this is what she has to do. When she meets a boy who is immune to her poison, she sees hopes for her future for the first time. But there's one big problem: Seth is the boyfriend of Jenny's longtime nemesis, Ashleigh. Then Jenny discovers that Ashleigh has a big secret too, and Jenny must use her power to destroy Ashleigh.
This was a good read. Jenny, even with her pox, is relatable to any high school student who ever felt left out. But her discovery of Seth and Ashleigh's powers changes everything. I had thought this was a young adult book, but there are a couple of pretty intense sex scenes that lead me to believe otherwise. "Jenny Pox" ends in such a way that it could be over, or there could be a sequel. I'm hoping for a sequel.
I got this on Amazon for Kindle for $2.99.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Never Let Me Go
by Kazuo Ishiguro
The children who grow up at Hailsham, an elite school in the English countryside, are special. So special that they are kept isolated from the outside world and spend their days learning and creating art that is taken away to a gallery by a woman known only as Madame. Years later, Kathy recounts her days at Hailsham and the reason she and her fellow students are so special.
This was a very interesting book. It's hard for me to describe this book without spoiling it. Kathy and her friends grow up being "told but not told" what their future holds and what is expected of them. Is there any way to change the path of their lives? Maybe, but maybe not.
This is the kind of book that strikes you later. It has just enough in it to make you wonder if this could someday be a true story. Kathy and her friends, especially Tommy and Ruth, are teenagers like any others, with dreams and loves and conflicts. But they are not like other teenagers, and will not grow up to be like other adults.
I see that there's a movie about this book and I'm curious to see how this translated to the big screen. Almost all of this book is told from Kathy's point of view, and there's so much that she doesn't understand.
(Amazon Kindle, $5.00)
The children who grow up at Hailsham, an elite school in the English countryside, are special. So special that they are kept isolated from the outside world and spend their days learning and creating art that is taken away to a gallery by a woman known only as Madame. Years later, Kathy recounts her days at Hailsham and the reason she and her fellow students are so special.
This was a very interesting book. It's hard for me to describe this book without spoiling it. Kathy and her friends grow up being "told but not told" what their future holds and what is expected of them. Is there any way to change the path of their lives? Maybe, but maybe not.
This is the kind of book that strikes you later. It has just enough in it to make you wonder if this could someday be a true story. Kathy and her friends, especially Tommy and Ruth, are teenagers like any others, with dreams and loves and conflicts. But they are not like other teenagers, and will not grow up to be like other adults.
I see that there's a movie about this book and I'm curious to see how this translated to the big screen. Almost all of this book is told from Kathy's point of view, and there's so much that she doesn't understand.
(Amazon Kindle, $5.00)
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Leaving Home: Short Pieces
by Jodi Picoult
A collection of three short pieces by Jodi Picoult, two fictional and one a letter Picoult wrote to her own son as he was leaving for college. The pieces all fit together with the theme of leaving home.
The first story, "Weights and Measures", is a sad little piece about a couple coping with the loss of their daughter. The second is the letter to her son. The third piece, "Ritz", is a story of a mother who takes a vacation.
Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite writers and if you haven't read anything by her yet, you need to remedy that post haste. Her stories are always relate-able and honest and her characters are real people you can understand. These three short pieces are a nice dose of Picoult if you, like me, have read everything else she's written and are just waiting for her newest book to be released ("Sing You Home" on March 1).
Amazon has started this "Kindle Singles" series, a variety of short pieces all priced under $3. Check them all out.
A collection of three short pieces by Jodi Picoult, two fictional and one a letter Picoult wrote to her own son as he was leaving for college. The pieces all fit together with the theme of leaving home.
The first story, "Weights and Measures", is a sad little piece about a couple coping with the loss of their daughter. The second is the letter to her son. The third piece, "Ritz", is a story of a mother who takes a vacation.
Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite writers and if you haven't read anything by her yet, you need to remedy that post haste. Her stories are always relate-able and honest and her characters are real people you can understand. These three short pieces are a nice dose of Picoult if you, like me, have read everything else she's written and are just waiting for her newest book to be released ("Sing You Home" on March 1).
Amazon has started this "Kindle Singles" series, a variety of short pieces all priced under $3. Check them all out.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
by Jamie Ford
Henry is 12 years old in the early 1940s, being raised in Chinatown in Seattle. His father is obsessed with the war and having Henry grow up American. He attends a white school, where he is mostly ignored by the other kids there. Until Keiko arrives, a Japanese American girl who feels just as out of place as Henry. The two form a fast bond, and when Keiko and her family are evacuated to the internment camps. Henry manages to visit Keiko, but soon the two lose touch. Forty years later, Henry watches as the Panama Hotel, the gateway to Seattle's Japantown, discovers the belongings of all those evacuated Japanese families in its basement. And soon Henry is caught up in his memories of Keiko and his need to find her belongings in that basement.
This book has been on my list for a long time. I am so glad I finally got around to reading it because - wow. It was amazing. The reader is caught up in two mysteries: What will happen to young Henry and Keiko? and Will older Henry find Keiko? I won't give anything away, because I'm not all spoilery like that, but you NEED to read this book. It's a great story of a young boy trying to find out where he belongs in his school, his neighborhood, even his own family. Even forty years later, Henry is still trying to find his place, determined to be a different type of father for his own son, but not really knowing how to do that. The opening of the Panama Hotel helps Henry to open up his own life.
This is really an amazing book. I got mine for Kindle on Amazon for $5.
Henry is 12 years old in the early 1940s, being raised in Chinatown in Seattle. His father is obsessed with the war and having Henry grow up American. He attends a white school, where he is mostly ignored by the other kids there. Until Keiko arrives, a Japanese American girl who feels just as out of place as Henry. The two form a fast bond, and when Keiko and her family are evacuated to the internment camps. Henry manages to visit Keiko, but soon the two lose touch. Forty years later, Henry watches as the Panama Hotel, the gateway to Seattle's Japantown, discovers the belongings of all those evacuated Japanese families in its basement. And soon Henry is caught up in his memories of Keiko and his need to find her belongings in that basement.
This book has been on my list for a long time. I am so glad I finally got around to reading it because - wow. It was amazing. The reader is caught up in two mysteries: What will happen to young Henry and Keiko? and Will older Henry find Keiko? I won't give anything away, because I'm not all spoilery like that, but you NEED to read this book. It's a great story of a young boy trying to find out where he belongs in his school, his neighborhood, even his own family. Even forty years later, Henry is still trying to find his place, determined to be a different type of father for his own son, but not really knowing how to do that. The opening of the Panama Hotel helps Henry to open up his own life.
This is really an amazing book. I got mine for Kindle on Amazon for $5.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Hollowland
by Amanda Hocking
So, once I started reading Amanda Hocking's books, I just couldn't stop. This book is a stand-alone (though I've seen on her website that there may be a sequel coming and I'd love to read that!) book about what happens when the world is infested with - wait for it - zombies.
19-year-old Remy is one of the few humans left. She was living in a government-run quarantine and her brother Max was in the medical unit. But the zombies are getting smarter and managing to work together in their attacks. When Remy learns her brother has been moved, she sets out across America to find him, with a young girl, a former rock star, an almost doctor and a lion.
But Remy has a secret about her brother that the others don't know. And that secret might apply to her too.
Again, Hocking creates a strong, kick butt girl character cast into a world full of mythology creatures who are out to destroy her. I really liked Remy and her ragtag gang of zombie fighters. They meet a few other groups of survivors on their journey, both those who help and those who try to harm them.
I didn't expect the story to end where it did, which is probably why Hocking is writing a sequel. But really, it could end right there and the reader would know that Remy did what she had to do.
Another good read by Hocking. This one is also available on Amazon for Kindle for 99 cents or paperback for $8.99. If you check out her website, http://amandahocking.blogspot.com, you can also find other outlets for purchasing her books.
So, once I started reading Amanda Hocking's books, I just couldn't stop. This book is a stand-alone (though I've seen on her website that there may be a sequel coming and I'd love to read that!) book about what happens when the world is infested with - wait for it - zombies.
19-year-old Remy is one of the few humans left. She was living in a government-run quarantine and her brother Max was in the medical unit. But the zombies are getting smarter and managing to work together in their attacks. When Remy learns her brother has been moved, she sets out across America to find him, with a young girl, a former rock star, an almost doctor and a lion.
But Remy has a secret about her brother that the others don't know. And that secret might apply to her too.
Again, Hocking creates a strong, kick butt girl character cast into a world full of mythology creatures who are out to destroy her. I really liked Remy and her ragtag gang of zombie fighters. They meet a few other groups of survivors on their journey, both those who help and those who try to harm them.
I didn't expect the story to end where it did, which is probably why Hocking is writing a sequel. But really, it could end right there and the reader would know that Remy did what she had to do.
Another good read by Hocking. This one is also available on Amazon for Kindle for 99 cents or paperback for $8.99. If you check out her website, http://amandahocking.blogspot.com, you can also find other outlets for purchasing her books.
Trylle Trilogy
by Amanda Hocking
Books: Switched, Torn, and Ascend
I'm going to cheat a little bit here and review all three at once. I read them all within 2 weeks, so it would hard for me to separate them anyway. And to be fair, I had to wait for "Ascend" to be released, so it took me a little longer than it normally would have to finish these.
These are young adult fantasy books. The basic storyline is this: At 16, Wendy discovers that she is actually a changeling, a child left in the place of another child. Who left her? Well, I won't ruin it, but believe me when I say it's not a world you're familiar with. :)
When Wendy returns to her rightful home, she finds that she is bestowed with many responsibilities and honors. And a bodyguard, of sorts, Finn. And then there's the "boy next door" Tove. Yep. But then another man comes into the picture. Who will she end up with? Who is strong enough to be with her? It's not the main story, but it does keep you wondering.
Through the series, Wendy learns more and more of who and what she really is. She learns that sometimes you have to do what is right for the world instead of what your heart wants. And then she learns what her heart really wants and who she wants to be.
These are NOT "Twilight" books. There are no vampires or werewolves or simpering female characters who need someone else to tell them what to do. Wendy is strong and smart and funny. She is what you had hoped you were in high school when you sometimes felt you didn't fit in, but couldn't figure out why. This is more "Lord of the Rings" (movie only since I never read the books) meets "The Hunger Games".
You can download these books on Amazon relatively inexpensively. The first one is 99 cents and the others are $2.99. They are also available in paperback from Amazon for about $9. Hocking also has another series, called "My Blood Approves" that I haven't read yet, but her fan base seems to really enjoy that one too.
If you're looking for a fast, entertaining read, check out the Trylle Trilogy.
Books: Switched, Torn, and Ascend
I'm going to cheat a little bit here and review all three at once. I read them all within 2 weeks, so it would hard for me to separate them anyway. And to be fair, I had to wait for "Ascend" to be released, so it took me a little longer than it normally would have to finish these.
These are young adult fantasy books. The basic storyline is this: At 16, Wendy discovers that she is actually a changeling, a child left in the place of another child. Who left her? Well, I won't ruin it, but believe me when I say it's not a world you're familiar with. :)
When Wendy returns to her rightful home, she finds that she is bestowed with many responsibilities and honors. And a bodyguard, of sorts, Finn. And then there's the "boy next door" Tove. Yep. But then another man comes into the picture. Who will she end up with? Who is strong enough to be with her? It's not the main story, but it does keep you wondering.
Through the series, Wendy learns more and more of who and what she really is. She learns that sometimes you have to do what is right for the world instead of what your heart wants. And then she learns what her heart really wants and who she wants to be.
These are NOT "Twilight" books. There are no vampires or werewolves or simpering female characters who need someone else to tell them what to do. Wendy is strong and smart and funny. She is what you had hoped you were in high school when you sometimes felt you didn't fit in, but couldn't figure out why. This is more "Lord of the Rings" (movie only since I never read the books) meets "The Hunger Games".
You can download these books on Amazon relatively inexpensively. The first one is 99 cents and the others are $2.99. They are also available in paperback from Amazon for about $9. Hocking also has another series, called "My Blood Approves" that I haven't read yet, but her fan base seems to really enjoy that one too.
If you're looking for a fast, entertaining read, check out the Trylle Trilogy.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Other Daughter
by Lisa Gardner
Twenty years ago, nine-year-old Melanie Stokes was found abandoned in a Boston hospital. She soon found a family with a wealthy couple who lost their own daughter years earlier to murder. Now Melanie and her family are receiving strange messages and Melanie is forced to re-examine the circumstances of her abandonment and the death of the Stokes' first daughter.
I had heard a lot about this author from my friend Maryann, who also reviews books over at her site Kickin It With My Kindle so I was excited to pick this one up. It's a stand-alone book, whereas Gardner also has two ongoing series. I really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of twists and turns that kept the reader on the edge of their seat.
One thing I especially liked was that early on in the book, Melanie gets a pretty good idea of what's going on. But does she? Ha ha, I won't ruin it for you, but I will say this: the second you think you have this book figured out, Gardner pulls a fast one and keeps you guessing. But don't worry, everything ties together in the end and makes sense.
I look forward to reading more by Lisa Gardner.
Twenty years ago, nine-year-old Melanie Stokes was found abandoned in a Boston hospital. She soon found a family with a wealthy couple who lost their own daughter years earlier to murder. Now Melanie and her family are receiving strange messages and Melanie is forced to re-examine the circumstances of her abandonment and the death of the Stokes' first daughter.
I had heard a lot about this author from my friend Maryann, who also reviews books over at her site Kickin It With My Kindle so I was excited to pick this one up. It's a stand-alone book, whereas Gardner also has two ongoing series. I really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of twists and turns that kept the reader on the edge of their seat.
One thing I especially liked was that early on in the book, Melanie gets a pretty good idea of what's going on. But does she? Ha ha, I won't ruin it for you, but I will say this: the second you think you have this book figured out, Gardner pulls a fast one and keeps you guessing. But don't worry, everything ties together in the end and makes sense.
I look forward to reading more by Lisa Gardner.
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