So Many BooksSo Little Time

An Unquenchable Thirstby Mary Johnson

2012-01-27T16:37:00.002-07:00

Subtitled Following Mother Teresa in Search
of Love, Service, and an Authentic Life.
Published in 2011. 526 pages.

I don't think I would have ever picked up this memoir of a former Catholic sister on my own, but I read it for the December meeting of my long-time book club - which we never held because of holiday scheduling difficulties. We did meet last night at Paradise Bakery, and over soup, sandwiches, salads, and chocolate chip cookies we talked about both this book and the pick for January.

Although the book is long, it is definitely readable. I think it's a meaningful read on three different levels: (1) as an example of the power of women telling their own stories, (2) as a critique of the structure and culture of the Missionaries of Charity organization, and (3) as a impetus for personal reflection on (and group discussion about) faith, love, and service.

For more information, check out Mary Johnson's website here.

2011.89

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

2012-01-27T12:36:00.008-07:00

Published in 2011 by HarperCollins Children's Books. 262 pages.
2011 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.
2012 Newbery Honor Book.

A beautifully-written, delightful and moving autobiographical story of a young Vietnamese girl who flees Saigon at the end of the war with her mother and brothers, relocating to the foreign world of Alabama. Well-deserving of its awards!

2012.2

By the NumbersFor the Year 2011

2012-01-02T17:00:00.002-07:00

Total books read: 93. (My goal for the year was 104 books. As late as Thanksgiving, I thought I might meet that goal. Alas. My goal for 2012 will again be 104 books.)

Fiction: 81.
Non-fiction: 11.
Poetry: 1.

Audiobooks: 24. (I'm amazed that one-fourth of my total "reading" happened via my ears!)

On the Kindle: 6. (Obviously, my Kindle - which I've had since May - isn't replacing traditional books, but it is a nice addition.)

Books by male authors: 31.
Books by female authors: 62.
Anthologies: 1.
(Note: These numbers don't add up because one book I read - The Future of Us - was a collaboration between a woman and a man.)

Published in 2011: 24.
Published prior to 1990: 6.

Re-reads: 1.

Historical fiction: 15.

Biography, autobiography, or memoir: 7.

Young adult: 46. (Wow! Almost half of my reading was YA.)
Juvenile: 8.

Read for my Teaching Through Literature class: 7.
Read with the "book lunch girls" (aka Natalie's Book Club): 10.
Read with my long-time book club: 7.

5-star rating: 5. (These were The Handmaid's Tale, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Okay for Now, Open, and Sisterhood Everlasting.)
4-star rating: 66.
3-star rating: 22.

What were your reading numbers for 2011? What are your goals for 2012?

Faith by Jennifer Haigh

2011-12-31T13:00:00.001-07:00

Published in 2011. 318 pages.

Excellent writing, with a story replete with thought and emotion: What is faith? What is family? What is love? How do humans, with their innate brokenness, become whole? Given that we all transgress, what role does forgiveness play in each of our lives?

Here is a favorite passage:

It was a thing I'd always known but until recently had forgotten: that faith is a decision. In its most basic form, it is a choice.

Faith was reminiscent of one of my favorite reads of 2010, Any Bitter Thing by Monica Wood. I was also reminded of some of Anne Tyler's characters, people with whom I have little or nothing in common but for whom I can feel a good deal of empathy, simply because of their real-ness, their humanity.

This is the second of Haigh's books that I've read. Mrs. Kimble was the first, back in 2004. When I really like one book by an author, I'm sometimes hesitant to read another one for fear of being disappointed. Faith did not disappoint at all! (I guess I now ought to read Baker Towers and The Condition.)

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The True Story of Hansel and Gretelby Louise Murphy

2011-12-30T13:00:00.001-07:00

Subtitled A Novel of War and Survival.
Published in 2003. 297 pages.

Louise Murphy has written a clever re-imagining of the classic fairy tale to illustrate the brutality of war, particularly in the lives of children. At the same time, the novel provides a message of hope and love.

The members of my long-time book club seem to favor novels about World War II. Among those we've enjoyed together are Sarah's Key, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, and Skeletons at the Feast. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel was another great read, with an excellent discussion over delicious food.

2011.84

Acceptable Loss by Anne Perry

2011-12-09T14:00:00.002-07:00

Published in 2011. 305 pages.

Acceptable Loss is the seventeenth of the acclaimed William Monk mystery novels, set in Victorian England. In addition to the murder mystery, several characters in this book consider what it means to love someone, to be loyal to them. Anne Perry is a great storyteller!

2011.74

Little Princes by Conor Grennan

2011-12-09T11:00:00.003-07:00

Subtitled One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal.
Published in 2011. 294 pages (including Index).

Melissa of my long-time book club raved about this book last spring - and then chose this for the group to read for our first meeting in the fall. I'm so very glad she did!

Conor Grennan's story is both a page-turner and an inspiration. It is a testament to what one person can do to make the world a better place - even if his decihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifsion to work at an orphanage in Nepal begin simply as a way to attract women. I love, love this line:

Despite myself, I had become a parent to these kids - not because I was qualified, but because I had showed up.

I also love something that Conor's friend Liz says, "Things that are broken can be made whole."

By the way, Joy of Thoughts of Joy - who gave Little Princes five stars - says that the audiobook version is "awesome." I totally believe that - as it is read by the author himself.

For more information about Conor and his work, see his website and the website of his non-profit organization Next Generation Nepal.

2011.72

The Sky is Everywhereby Jandy Nelson

2011-11-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

Published in 2010.
Audiobook performed by Julie Whelan.

Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie's struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.

YA author Gayle Forman picked The Sky is Everywhere as one of her five "The Year's Best Teen Reads" for NPR last December. I'm glad I finally found time to "read" (via audiobook) this lyrical, tender story of grief and loss. I loved that Lennie is a bookworm and a clarinetist (just like my older daughter), and I especially loved that the audiobook included clarinet music. I also think that the cover is fabulous!

Melissa at One Librarian's Book Reviews thought The Sky is Everywhere was "absolutely beautifully written" but that the love story aspect of the plot fell flat. Suey at It's All About Books raves, "How could I not love this book?"

2011.48

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

2011-11-26T15:30:00.003-07:00

Published in 2010. 235 pages.
2010 National Book Award.

(This is the cover of the paperback version, which I own.)

(This is the original cover.)

In Caitlin's world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That's the stuff Caitlin's older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon's dead and Dad
is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it,
but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger's,
she doesn't know how. When she reads the definition
of closure, she realizes that is what she needs.
In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not
everything is black and white. The world is full of colors - messy and beautiful.

Tender. Touching. Moving. Meaningful.
That's Mockingbird in four words.
I'm eager to read more by Kathryn Erskine!
2011.19

Moon Over Manifestby Clare Vanderpool

2011-11-26T14:00:00.002-07:00

Published in 2010. 351 pages.
2011 Newbery Medal.

Twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker is the daughter of a drifter who, in the summer of 1936, sends her to stay with an old friend in Manifest, Kansas, where he grew up, and where she hopes to find out some things about his past.

I loved this book! It is well deserving of its Newbery Medal, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys children's literature and/or historical fiction. "Vanderpool illustrates the importance of stories as a way for children to understand the past, inform the present, and provide hope for the future," said Newbery Medal Committee Chair Cynthia K. Richey.

Moon Over Manifest was the pick for the April meeting of Natalie's Book Club. As individuals we've enjoyed many of the Newbery winners, and this is the second we've read as a group, the first being the 2009 winner Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book.

Tricia at Library Queue says that Moon Over Manifest is "heartbreaking, heartwarming, witty, and well-written." Melissa at Gerbera Daisy Diaries - who adored the book - suggests, "This is a book that needs to be read in a day or two to fully embrace the richness of the narrative." The book's website is here.

2011.27

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

2011-11-25T23:00:00.002-07:00

Published in 2010. 339 pages.

Daisy Whitney's "Twitter version" of her debut novel (as revealed on Elana Johnson's blog) is as follows:

The Mockingbirds is the story of an underground student-run justice system at a prestigious boarding school and the date rape case they try.

Thought-provoking and highly readable, The Mockingbirds addresses an important concept for teens - girls and boys - to fully understand:

If a person does not say 'no,' that does not mean he or she said 'yes.' Silence does not equal consent. Silence could mean fear, confusion, inebriation. The only thing that means yes is yes. A lack of yes is a no.

The book includes resources in the back, and there is a Reading Group Guide here.

A sequel to The Mockingbirds, titled The Rivals, is due out next year. I'll definitely be visiting Themis Academy again!

2011.25

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

2011-11-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

Published in 2007. 295 pages.
Audiobook read by Polly Stone.

Sarah's Key is a historical fiction novel set in Paris. It alternates between 1942, during the Vel’ d’Hiv’ Round-up of Jews during the Nazi occupation of France, and 2002, during the sixtieth anniversary of the event.

I read Sarah's Key with my long-time book club. Overall, I think the group enjoyed the book. (I know I did!) But I think the consensus was that the historical sections were better than the contemporary ones.

The contemporary sections, however, did emphasize the importance of telling stories from the past. Here are two quotes I particularly liked:

"Oh Father, please," interrupted Laure. "What Julia did was pathetic. Bringing back the past is never a good idea, especially whatever happened during the war. No one wants to be reminded of that, no one wants to think about that."

William, the son of Sarah, said, "Chirac gave a speech. I did not understand it, of course. I looked it up later on the Internet and read the translation. A good speech. Urging people to remember France's responsibility during the Vel'd'Hiv' roundup and what followed. Chirac pronounced the same words my mother had written at the end of her letter. Zakhor, Al Tichkah. Remember. Never forget. In Hebrew."

2011.14

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

2011-11-25T15:30:00.001-07:00

Published in 2010. 307 pages.

This memoir-style novel was a great read! I enjoyed the voice of main character Kimberly, and I loved watching her grow from an 11-year-old immigrant child into a confident, successful woman. A phrase from the back cover blurb says it well:

In time, Kim learns to translate not just her language but herself, back and forth between two worlds, between hardship and triumph, heartbreak and love, and all that gets lost in translation.

Girl in Translation was the winner of the July-October 2011 Salt Lake County Reader's Choice. It also was one of the ten winners of the 2011 Alex Award (which is given to books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18); because my 15-year-old daughter liked Girl in Translation as much as I did, I think the award is well deserved.

2011.81

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

2011-11-25T11:00:00.002-07:00

Published in 2005. 288 pages.

I found Never Let Me Go to be a compelling read. Though it's actually quite slow moving, it is hard to put down. Ultimately it is an exploration of what makes us human.

At Library Queue, Tricia - who found the book "deliberate and thought-provoking" - asserts that the book should be read without knowing anything about it. Nymeth agrees but presents a quite detailed (yet relatively spoiler-free) review at Things Mean A Lot.

At the risk of creating a spoiler, I'm posting a quote from Ishiguro from the Reader's Guide at the back of the book:

There are things I am more interested in than the clone thing. How are they trying to find their place in the world and make sense of their lives? To what extent can they transcend their fate? ... Most of the things that concern them concern us all, but with them it is concertinaed into this relatively short period of time. These are things that really interest me and, having come to the realization that I probably have limited opportunities to explore these things, that's what I want to concentrate on." [Interview with Nicholas Wroe, The Guardian, February 2, 2005.]

A movie version of Never Let Me Go was released in 2010. I haven't seen it, but I'm curious. Have you seen it?

2011.21

Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky

2011-11-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

Published in 2010. 435 pages.
Audiobook read by Cassandra Campbell.

Barbara Delinsky is a new-to-me author. Perusing the audiobook shelves at the library, I recently happened upon Not My Daughter, one of two of Delinsky's books that I had previously put on my to-read list. (The other is Family Tree.) Reminded of the 2010 Lifetime movie The Pregnancy Pact (which featured the incredible Camryn Manheim), I decided that I was in the mood to listen to this book while providing "mom taxi" services. Within a day of beginning the audiobook, I was back at the library to pick up a paperback copy because I realized that I wasn't going to spend enough time in the car to move through the story quickly enough!

Not a knitter, I nevertheless loved the symbolism provided by this hobby of the characters of the book. The emotions connected to both "being knit together in love" and "coming unraveled" are depicted well in the story.

I found Not My Daughter extremely compelling, and ultimately thought-provoking on both a personal and a societal level. How does a mother deal with her unfilled expectations of her child? How much is a mother responsible for the (bad) choices of her child? What does it mean to love - and to forgive? What is a family? Are the changing definitions and configurations of "family" positive developments, or do they undermine what family is supposed to be?

I'd like to read another book by the prolific Delinsky, but which one should I read next? Have you read any of her books? If so, what do you recommend?

2011.80

The King of Attoliaby Megan Whalen Turner

2011-11-12T14:00:00.002-07:00

Published in 2006.
Audiobook performed by Jeff Woodman.

The King of Attolia is the third installment of Megan Whalen Turner's series The Queen's Thief. As I did with the two previous books, I listened to this one on CD - and Jeff Woodman is an exceptional narrator. (I reviewed The Thief here and The Queen of Attolia here.)

I am still loving the thief Gen (short for Eugenides), even in his new profession and even though this installment is told from the perspective of the soldier Costis. I didn't like this book as much as The Queen of Attolia, but Megan Whalen Turner is a great storyteller! I will certainly be reading the next book in the series, A Conspiracy of Kings.

Turner has a discussion guide for the series (at least of the four books so far) here.

2011.68

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

2011-11-12T12:30:00.001-07:00

Published in 2007.
Audiobook performed by Carine Montbertrand.

Extras is a follow-up to Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Trilogy (which I reviewed here and here and here). Set in Japan several years after the "prettytime," the book's main character is fifteen-year-old Aya Fuse, who wants nothing more than to be famous.

Overall, this was worth the time I spent listening to the audiobook. I really liked the first half or so, with its excellent commentary on social media and fame. Toward the end, though, despite some commentary on war, I found myself mostly just wishing the book was over.

Despite the lag in my interest toward the end of this book, I have enjoyed the world of the "uglies." Westerfeld's website includes a summary of all four books (featuring awesome, new covers) and an interview he did about Uglies with Simon & Schuster. I am curious, too, about his reference book Bogus to Bubbly: An Insider's Guide to the World of Uglies, for when I want to return to that world.

2011.78

The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

2011-11-11T22:00:00.001-07:00

Published in 2010. 373 pages.

First sentence: Karena Jorge's birthday starts as a quiet affair, but she doesn't mind.

Plot summary: Karena and her bipolar twin brother Charles share a violent secret. After twenty years of estrangement, Karena receives a call that leads her - quite literally - into the eye of the storm, back into Charles' life and on the road toward love and redemption.

Why I read this book: The Stormchasers was a Salt Lake County Library Reader's Choice nominee for July-October 2011.

What I thought: Jenna Blum provides a fascinating look at storm chasers as well as a heart-breaking view of bipolar disorder. I couldn't help but think of the musical Next to Normal (which I recently saw) as I read. Storms are a great metaphor for the novel's themes. I'm eager to read Blum's first novel, the bestselling Those Who Save Us.

A favorite passage:

[The sun] appears first as a gray patch in the east, then shoots white rays over the buildings across the highway. Finally, when it casts a fine gold net over the Sandhills lawn, they get up to go back to their room. Karena is stiff from sitting, and chilled and damp with dew. But while they are crossing the grass their movement startles a flock of birds in the vacant lot next to the motel, and she stops to watch them rise as one and circle into the sky. It seems an omen of something. Karena just doesn't know what.

For more information: Discussion questions can be found here. Susan at Bloggin' 'bout Books interviewed Jenna Blum here. The Stormchasers page of Jenna Blum's website is here.

2011.82

Read-a-Thon End-of-Event Survey

2011-10-23T12:45:00.001-06:00

I ended up bailing from the read-a-thon with a little over four hours to go. I think I could have forced myself to stay awake, but I also know that I wouldn't have enjoyed this morning's church services near as much as I did if I hadn't gotten some sleep. (I'm still going to need a nap after I eat lunch.)

Here is my end-of-event survey:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

Hour 21, when I decided to call it good, was the hardest hour for me. I just wanted to lay on the sofa and "pretend" to read!

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

In general, I think young adult novels are the best read-a-thon picks.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

This was my ninth time participating in the Read-a-thon, and I thought it was great!

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

Although I wouldn't have forgotten, I enjoyed getting the reminder email the day before the read-a-thon.

5. How many books did you read?

One and a part.

6. What were the names of the books you read?

The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum. Part of The Death Cure by James Dashner.

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

Both books were/are great!

8. Which did you enjoy least?

Not applicable.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

Not applicable.

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

If at all possible, I will participate in the next read-a-thon! This is one of the few things I do that is just for me. I'd like to be a reader again - and I'm already thinking about going to the library for a part of the day, so I can separate myself from the household chaos around me.

Elapsed Time 19:00

2011-10-23T01:00:00.003-06:00

Progress Report
Time Read: 7:30

Pages Read: 342. (That's about 46 pages per hour.)

Books Finished: 1. (The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum, which I had started yesterday. Now I'm reading The Death Cure by James Dashner.)

Time Blogged and/or Tweeted: 4:00

Frame of Mind: I'm sleepy - despite (or maybe because of) a half-hour nap. I think I'm too old to stay up all night! My fifteen-year-old daughter is keeping me company right now, which is nice. I guess time will tell how much more read-a-thon I've got in me.

Cans of Diet Coke with Lime Consumed: 4.

Food Consumed: One bowl of Lucky Charms. One bacon and egg sandwich. Two German chocolate brownies. A plum. Some chocolate licorice. One-and-a-half tomato sandwiches on wheat bread. Some spinach-artichoke dip with tortilla chips. A Mediterranean vegie sandwich and a cup of Thai curry soup. Two more German chocolate brownies. A bowl of microwave popcorn. Some elf sandwich cookies.

Money Raised for Charity: $9.50 (Help me increase the donation by leaving a comment! I'm donating 50 cents for every comment on a read-a-thon post.)

Reading for Charity

2011-10-22T23:15:00.002-06:00

"Education is the key to opportunity."

I'm reading to raise money for the Perpetual Education Fund by donating 50 cents for every comment I receive on a read-a-thon post, up to a total of $100. You can help by leaving a comment here - or on any of my other read-a-thon posts. Maybe you ought to try to guess the title in my book puzzle post!

Read-a-Thon Mid-Event Survey

2011-10-22T18:25:00.002-06:00

Now that we're halfway through, we have a survey to complete:

1. What are you reading right now?

I'm ready to start something new, and I'm trying to decide between The Death Cure by James Dashner and Possession by Elana Johnson.

2. How many books have you read so far?

I have finished one: The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I've got so many to choose from, it's difficult to pick just one! My twelve-year-old son wants me to read Darth Paper Strikes Back. I'm also looking forward to reading This Lullaby - if I can stay awake that long.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Unfortunately, life goes on in spite of the read-a-thon ... so I'm just dealing. Maybe one day I'll sequester myself for the read-a-thon and see how that goes!

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Let's just say that I'm good at multi-tasking.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

I am amazed how quickly the time is passing!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Things seem to be running very well!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

It would be helpful to plan an early bedtime the night before!

9. Are you getting tired yet?

I'm not really tired yet. But I haven't been solely concentrating on the read-a-thon either, so I guess we'll see what the next few hours bring.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

In my experience, graphic novels can be good picks for the wee hours of the night.

Elapsed Time 12:00

2011-10-22T18:00:00.000-06:00

Progress Report
Time Read: 6:00

Pages Read: 280. (That's about 46 pages per hour.)

Books Finished: 1. (The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum, which I had started yesterday.)

Time Blogged and/or Tweeted: 2:30

Frame of Mind: It's hard to believe that the read-a-thon is half over! While I'd love to be reading more quickly, I'm doing a little multi-tasking and enjoying the day ...

Cans of Diet Coke with Lime Consumed: 3.

Food Consumed: One bowl of Lucky Charms. One bacon and egg sandwich. Two German chocolate brownies. A plum. Some chocolate licorice. One-and-a-half tomato sandwiches on wheat bread. Some spinach-artichoke dip with tortilla chips.

Elapsed Time 6:00

2011-10-22T12:00:00.002-06:00

Progress Report
Time Read: 2:15

Pages Read: 110. (I am reading The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum.)

Books Finished: None yet.

Time Blogged and/or Tweeted: 2:00

Frame of Mind: I feel like I'm moving slowly this morning - and I took an almost two-hour break to pick up my produce from the Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op. But I've been enjoying this opportunity to read guilt-free on this beautiful fall morning.

Cans of Diet Coke with Lime Consumed: 1 1/2.

Food Consumed: One bowl of Lucky Charms. One bacon and egg sandwich from the Sonic Drive-In. Two German chocolate brownies (which my daughter and I made yesterday).

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge

2011-10-22T10:40:00.005-06:00

"Book Puzzle"
Hosted by Melissa at One Librarian's Book Reviews
This is the title of one of the books in my read-a-thon pile. Can you figure out what it is?

Introduction Meme

2011-10-22T06:30:00.002-06:00

The traditional first activity of the read-a-thon is an introduction meme. Here goes:

Where are you reading from today?
The suburbs of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Three facts about me:

I learned to read with Dick and Jane when I was six years old, and I've not stopped since!

My reading goal for 2011 is 104 books (an average of two each week) - and I'm nearly on pace to achieve that goal.

I'm addicted to social media, and you can find me on Facebook, goodreads, and Twitter.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
I've got eighteen books picked out for the read-a-thon. If I finish those - just kidding! - or need something else to keep my attention, I've got plenty of others in the house. There is no chance I'll run out of reading material!

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (e.g., number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
My goals are to actively participate in at least twelve hours of the read-a-thon (while still fulfilling some other commitments of the day and not totally exhausting myself) and to raise some money for the Perpetual Education Fund (by donating 50 cents for every comment I receive on a read-a-thon post, up to a total of $100).

Any advice for people doing this for the first time?
I recommend that everyone just do what seems fun and enjoy! No stressing allowed!

Elapsed Time 0:00

2011-10-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here We Go!
I rarely get up on a Saturday morning before anyone else in the house and before the sun - but I am here for Dewey's Read-a-Thon for the ninth time, and I'm ready to read! Good luck to all the other read-a-thon participants, and a big thanks to the hosts, the cheerleaders, and all the other helpers!

If you're just stopping by and want to know more about what's happening, check out the read-a-thon blog or the Twitter feed.

What I'm Going to Be Doing on Saturday

2011-10-16T21:51:00.001-06:00

October 22

For more information,
check out the read-a-thon blog.

Saturday is the ninth occurrence of Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon! In the past I've often been able to clear my calendar for the day of the event, but this time I've got at least one other commitment that I need to fulfill. I'm also not sure, given my current health concerns, that I'm willing to go without sleep. Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to devoting a good part of my day to reading. I do hope that I'll be more successful than I was in April, when I ended up in the ER!

What about you? Are you read-a-thon-ing this week?

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

2011-10-11T08:55:00.001-06:00

Published in 2010. 269 pages.

Because of Mr. Terupt is a tender middle grade novel about the impact a good teacher can have on his students. Told from alternating viewpoints, it is also about growing up, making choices to become a better person, and learning to forgive.

It's probably not a good idea for me to read a book that makes me sob while lying in bed without any tissues nearby!

Author Rob Buyea's website is here. Because of Mr. Terupt was a 2010 Cybils Finalist and is a 2012 Beehive Award Nominee. I was thrilled to discover that a sequel, titled Mr. Terupt Falls Again, is to be released in the fall of 2012.

2011.71

Major Pettigrew's Last Standby Helen Simonson

2011-10-07T11:00:00.004-06:00

Published in 2010. 358 pages.

Delightful! A little slower reading than I had wished, but Major Pettigrew is such an endearing character, and he had so much wisdom for me to absorb. Here are some Pettigrew-isms I enjoyed:

Life isn't all about flashy parties and meeting rich people.

One really shouldn't have to bargain with one's family like a used-car salesman.

Life does often get in the way of one's reading.

There is nothing more corrosive to character than money.

We must refuse to imagine [that it's too late] and concentrate only on the next step and then the next. We do what we can do, and the rest is God's problem.

The solution is to make things right, or at least to work every day to do so.

And here's a quote from another character that I found quite thought-provoking:

If faith is worth no more than the price of a small shop in an ugly village, what is the purpose of my life - of any life?

For the context of all those statements, you just have to read the book yourself!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand was a Salt Lake County Reader's Choice Nominee last year, but, unfortunately, I didn't make the time to read it then. It was also the August pick for the "book lunch girls" (aka Natalie's Book Club). I wasn't able to attend the meeting due to another commitment, but I'm so glad I read the book.

2011.64

A Six-Word Review ofWhere She Went by Gayle Forman

2011-10-02T21:56:00.001-06:00

Published in 2011. 264 pages.
(Sequel to 2009's If I Stay, which I reviewed here.)

Beautiful writing.
Evocative storyline.
Tears flowed.
2011.69

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

2011-09-30T21:00:00.003-06:00

Published in 2008. 473 pages. Originally published in Australia in 2006 as The Shifting Fog.

This was the September pick for Natalie's Book Club, and I didn't know anything about it before I started reading. I was sucked in from the very first sentence!
Last November I had a nightmare.
Does that remind you of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca? It did me!

I really enjoyed the book club discussion, which we had over lunch at Blue Lemon. Mostly we talked about the ending of the book, about what was foreshadowed, about what was surprising, about how it fit together so well.

One short passage really struck me when I read it, and I've been thinking about it a lot.

While I wasn't certain how I felt about spiritualists, I was certain enough about the type of people who were drawn to them. Only people unhappy in the present seek to know the future.

I'd not read anything by Kate Morton before I read The House at Riverton, but I will certainly be looking for more of her novels!

2011.70

By the NumbersThree-Quarters of 2011

2011-09-30T09:15:00.006-06:00

Total books read year-to-date: 73. (My goal for the year is 104 books. Right now I'm only about 4 books behind the pace I need to reach that goal!)

Fiction: 63.
Non-fiction: 9.
Poetry: 1.

Audiobooks: 20.

On the Kindle: 5. (Obviously, my Kindle - which I've had since May - isn't replacing traditional books, but it is a nice addition.)

Books by male authors: 24.
Books by female authors: 48.
Anthologies: 1.

Published in 2011: 14.
Published prior to 1990: 4.

Historical fiction: 11.

Young adult: 40.
Juvenile: 7.

Read for my Teaching Through Literature class: 4.
Read with the "book lunch girls" (aka Natalie's Book Club): 8.
Read with my long-time book club: 5.

5-star rating: 5.
4-star rating: 50.
3-star rating: 18.

What are your reading numbers for 2011 to date? What are you going to read in the last quarter of the year?

Fall Into Reading 2011

2011-09-23T14:45:00.006-06:00

September 23 - December 21
Hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days

Fall is a marvelous time for curling up with a good book! My reading goal for 2011 (as it has been for several years running) is 104 books (an average of two books a week). This year (for the first time) I'm thinking that my goal is attainable. As of today I have read 71 books, so I've got only 33 left to go! With that goal in mind, I've chosen the following books for my Fall Into Reading list:

Salt Lake County Library Reader's Choice Nominees

Bliss Remembered by Frank Deford

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

Mothers and Other Liars by Amy Bourret

The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart

(Check out the "Reader's Choice" blog here.)

In Honor of Banned Books Week (September 24-October 1)

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Green

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Also on the "List Swap" Selections list.)

(Update: Check out the "Banned Books Challenge" blog here.)

Recent or Upcoming Releases (A mix of genres.)

Acceptable Loss by Anne Perry

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Faith: A Novel by Jennifer Haigh* (Also on the IRL Book Clubs list.)

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

The Place of Knowing: A Spiritual Autobiography by Emma Lou Warner Thayne

List Swap Selections

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Also on the Banned Books Week list.)

(For an explanation of the "list swap" project and my complete list, click here.)

Picks for My IRL Book Clubs

Faith by Jennifer Haigh* (Also on the Recent Releases list.)

Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan*

The Silent Gondoliers by William Goldman

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy

An Unquenchable Thirst: Following Mother Teresa in Search of Love, Service, and an Authentic Life by Mary Johnson

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

(Updated on September 30, following September's book club meetings, and again on November 21.)

Required Reading (For my "Teaching Through Literature Discussions" class.)

The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah Eden

Possession by Elana Johnson

A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull

Books Received for Review

Lost on Treasure Island: A Memoir of Longing, Love, and Lousy Choices in New York City by Steve Friedman

Muslim Women Reformers: Inspiring Voices Against Oppression by Ida Lichter*

Other Nonfiction Titles

His Final Hours by Jeffrey Marsh*

Lighten Up by Chieko Okazaki

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

The Year My Son and I Were Born: A Story of Down Syndrome, Motherhood, and Self-Discovery by Kathryn Lynard Soper

Other Fiction Titles (Mostly YA.)

Acceleration by Graham McNamee

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Extras by Scott Westerfeld*

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

*Started reading prior to September 23.

What are you reading this fall?

Three Cheers for Gary Schmidt!

2011-09-10T17:22:00.003-06:00

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
Published in 2004. 224 pages.
2005 Newbery Honor Book.
2005 Printz Honor Book.

My first exposure to Gary Schmidt came a year and a half ago when I read the young adult historical fiction novel Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy with my son and his fifth grade book club. The writing is beautiful, and we spent a couple of weeks in the book club looking at similes and metaphors, personification, and imagery. Set in 1912 and based on a real event, the story also teaches important lessons about racism and doing the right thing.

2010.26

The Wednesday Wars
Published in 2007. 264 pages.
2008 Newbery Honor Book.

This 2008 Newbery Honor Book (which is a prequel of sorts to Okay for Now) is a tender story of growing up and finding one's way in the world. The plot is centered around the main character's exploration of Shakespeare's plays under the direction of his seventh grade teacher. I'm a little too young to remember the Vietnam War, but that time period is used as an effective backdrop to the story.

2011.66

Okay for Now
Published in 2011. 360 pages.

What do Aububon's Birds of America, the Vietnam War, Jane Eyre, Apollo 11, and the New York Yankees have to do with one another? Each plays an important role in this fabulous exploration of "the transforming power of art over disaster," in a wonderful tale "about creativity and loss, love and recovery, and survival" (to borrow some phrases from the book jacket).

I simply cannot say enough good about this one! I will be surprised - and disappointed - if Okay for Now doesn't receive some awards of its own. By the way, I actually read it before I read The Wednesday Wars. (I don't think my reading enjoyment was diminished because of that, but I would have known a little about the main character of Okay for Now if I'd read The Wednesday Wars first.)

2011.55

Tales from Outer Suburbiaby Shaun Tan

2011-09-09T22:00:00.002-06:00

Published in 2009. 96 pages.

Tales from Outer Suburbia is an anthology of fifteen illustrated short stories set in the Australian suburbs. As with poetry, I'm not always sure I "get" short stories. But there are some in the collection that I loved, and the illustrations are glorious!

Some of the illustrations, as well as commentary on the stories, can be found on author Shaun Tan's website here. Tricia at Library Queue called Tales from Outer Suburbia "one of the most unique books [she's] ever read." (Her full review is here.) At Thoughts of Joy, Joy said that the book is "great for a short diversion." (Her full review is here.)

This was my first experience with Tan, and while I'm a little less than completely enthusiastic about this book, I've heard that his graphic novel The Arrival is amazing, so I'm sure I'll be checking out more of his work.

2011.58

The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

2011-08-26T11:11:00.007-06:00

Published in 2011. 368 pages.

The world is full of impossibilities - some beautiful, some terrible - but sometimes, when you least expect it, they can become possible.
~ Abby

The Forgotten Locket is a satisfying ending to The Hourglass Door trilogy. I was bothered by some of the same things as in the previous books, but overall - as before - my inner teenage geek had a good time with it! (My initial response to The Hourglass Door is here, with my thoughts on The Golden Spiral here.)

I re-read The Hourglass Door last fall for my Teaching Through Literature Discussions workshop. I found that I enjoyed the book more on the second read - perhaps partly because I wasn't trying so much to figure things out. I also found that I appreciated the book more having heard the author talk about it and the writing process. Among the interesting things she said are these:

The idea for the river in the novels came from the metaphor "time is a river" and the saying "you can never step in the same river twice."

The stage kiss scene in The Hourglass Door actually happened to her! (If you don't know what I'm taking about, it's probably worth reading The Hourglass Door just to contemplate the yuckiness of that experience!)

"Believe in your voice. Everyone has a story to tell."

One thing that bugged me while I was reading was looking at the beautiful gold locket on the cover and seeing in my mind's eye the beautiful silver locket described in the narrative. In the end, I understand the point of the cover picture - but for most of the book I was thinking that the cover designer hadn't even read it!

Here is a favorite passage from The Forgotten Locket, one that I think deserves some contemplation:

"What kinds of things did you wish for?

Orlando turned his attention to the fire, avoiding my gaze. "Oh, I never made a wish myself."

"Why not?"

"I don't know. Maybe it was because I didn't want to look at my life and see what was missing. Once you identify what you lack, then it's all you see anymore. Wanting something I couldn't have would only lead to unhappiness, so I tried to be content with what I had."

"That's terrible," I said. "It misses the whole point of wishing. It's not to focus on what you don't have; it's to show you what could be. Once you know what you want, then you know what to reach for, what to dream about. It's how you change things."

2011.62

Three Audiobooks I Enjoyed

2011-08-20T23:05:00.000-06:00

Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
Published in 2006.
Audiobook performed by Carol Monda.

I read a number of negative reviews of Rise and Shine shortly after I started listening to the audiobook. I'm glad I didn't respond to those by abandoning the book, as I ending up enjoying it a great deal.

There is a lot to ponder in this novel: the difference between who we are and what we do, the relationship between sisters, the importance of family, and an understanding of what really matters. I was listening through tears near the end of the book - probably not such a great idea when driving in rush hour traffic.

Anna Quindlen certainly has a way with words. It had been many years since I'd read one of her novels, and I'm happy to have made my re-acquaintance with her work!

2011.44

Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scottoline
Published in 2007.
Audiobook performed by Barbara Rosenblat.

It had been a number of years since I had read a book by Lisa Scottoline. It won't be as long before I read another!

Daddy's Girl was a great audiobook "read"! It is laugh-out-loud funny in places, with enough twists and turns in the mystery to keep me guessing to the end. The story also has a meaningful exploration of what "justice" means, with references to The Merchant of Venice and the Underground Railroad.

2011.46

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Originally published in 2000.
Audiobook performed by Jeff Woodman.

This is the second book of The Queen's Thief young adult fantasy series. (My review of the first book - The Thief - is here.)

With lots of adventure and a little bit of romance, this one is hard to resist. There are some fabulous theological insights near the end, as the thief Eugenides struggles to understand the path his life has taken. I thought the ending was perfect - and leads right into the third book of the series, The King of Attolia.

2011.53

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

2011-08-18T22:46:00.001-06:00

Published in 2009. 201 pages.

Summary of plot (from Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Data): While in a coma following an automobile accident that killed her parents and younger brother, seventeen-year-old Mia, a gifted cellist, weighs whether to live with her grief or join her family in death.

Personal response: If I Stay is a quick but powerful look at family, love, and what matters most. I hope no one was watching me cry while I read during lunch at the sandwich shop!

Thoughts of other bloggers: Natasha at Maw Books Blog said, "Gayle Forman is able to pack in a wallop of a storyline and character development in just a few short pages." For Suey at It's All About Books, the "bottom line" was "I loved it, even if it did make me quite weepy." Melissa at One Librarian's Book Reviews had some issues with the book, although she thought the ending was "beautifully done." At The Book Nest, Corinne said, "I liked the feel of love that just sort of radiated out from all the relationships in this book." Darren at Bart's Bookshelf called If I Stay a "powerful story about loss and love in all its meanings."

Up next: Where She Went is the recently published sequel. It's definitely on my to-read list!

2011.56

Back When You Were Easier to Loveby Emily Wing Smith

2011-07-31T10:30:00.002-06:00

Published in 2011. 296 pages.

Earlier this year I read Emily Wing Smith's first novel The Way He Lived. I wanted to love it - but, alas, I found it a little wanting. Perhaps my expectations were lower for Back When You Were Easier to Love - but I adored it. The plot is predictable, but the execution is so, so worth the read!

I enjoy explorations of the themes of conformity and being true to oneself, and Back When You Were Easier to Love does that well. I found the underpinnings of these words from protagonist Joy quite thought-provoking:

I didn't like any of the Soccer Lovin' Kids. I didn't like how easy it was for all of them, how they all were Haven. They knew the sport they were supposed to play, so they did. They knew what they were supposed to look like, so they did. They knew what they were supposed to believe, so they did. But none of them were real to me.

I did enjoy Smith's writing style in The Way He Lived - and I enjoyed it even more in Back When You Were Easier to Love. Here is a passage I liked for both its humor and its poignancy (again from Joy's perspective):

I eat. I eat and I eat and I eat and do not stop. I do not stop to talk to Noah. I do not stop to take proper breaths. If I stop I might realize I'm no longer hungry, and if I realize I'm no longer hungry, I'll have to admit to myself that all the buffets in Las Vegas won't fill the hole in my heart.

Emily Wing Smith is one of The Contemps, and author Lindsey Leavitt spotlighted Back When You Were Easier to Love here. Additional thoughts can be found at the blogs It's All About Books and Karen M. Krueger. Emily Wing Smith's blog is here.

By the way, I have to make mention that Back When You Were Easier to Love is set in Utah (near my home) and that Joy is a Mormon (as I am) - so in some ways I feel that Smith is writing about my people. (In response to Smith's - or Joy's - observations about the absurdities of Utah Mormon culture, my 15-year-old daughter exclaimed, "I think she's one of us!") I also have to confess that I love Barry Manilow's music and have had some of the songs mentioned in the book running through my mind since I finished reading. (I think my favorite song is "Weekend in New England," though, which isn't included in the book.)

2011.54

Library Loot in July - Part 2

2011-07-30T16:55:00.002-06:00

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Marg and Claire to encourage bloggers to share what they’ve checked out from the library.

I think that the library is a dangerous place. I will need more reading time over the next several weeks if I'm going to read all of the library loot I've been tempted into picking up!

All the Flowers are Dying by Lawrence Block
(It's been about a decade since
I've read a Matthew Scudder novel.
This one was published in 2005.)

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
(Joy called this one "outstanding."
I thought I should read it sooner than later.)

Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson
(I got this one to read
with my 12-year-old son.)

A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block
(This Matthew Scudder novel came
from the "new releases" display.)

I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark
(I think I've read every one of MHC's
mystery novels. This is the latest.)

The Last of the Little Blue Envelopes
by Maureen Johnson
(This is the sequel to 13 Little Blue Envelopes,
which I read last year. My review is here.)

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
(This is the August pick for Natalie's Book Club.)

Possession by Elana Johnson
(Written by a Utah author, this new release is
YA dystopian fiction, a favorite genre of mine.)

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
(This is one of The Contemps.)

The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum
(This is one of the Salt Lake County Library
Reader's Choice nominees.)

Then by Morris Gleitzman
(I chose this one off the "new releases" shelf.
I've since discovered that it is a sequel -
so I also need to get Once.)

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart
(This is another of the Reader's Choice nominees.)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2011-07-30T09:00:00.000-06:00

Published in 2011. 441 pages.

I love young adult dystopian fiction, and this one - by the author of another book I loved, Before I Fall - is terrific!

Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until ninety-five days before her eighteenth birthday and her treatment, when she falls in love. [Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data]

Delirium is definitely not your "same old" - and, like all good science fiction, it provides some thoughtful commentary on current society and the human condition. Consider, for example, the implications of these passages:

A little shock pulses through me. In all the seventeen years and eleven months of my life I have never, not once, thought of it that way. I've been so used to thinking of what the borders are keeping out that I haven't considered that they're also penning us in. [pages 228-229]

The branches above us form a canopy that reminds me of the vaulted ceiling of St. Paul's Cathedral, where I used to sit in Sunday school to hear lectures about atoms and probabilities and God's order. [page 284]

They say the cure is about happiness, but I understand now that is isn't, and it never was. It's about fear: fear of pain, fear of hurt, fear, fear, fear - a blind animal existence, bumping between walls, shuffling between ever-narrowing hallways, terrified and dull and stupid. ... I know that life isn't life if you just float through it. I know that the whole point - the only point - is to find the things that matter, and hold on to them, and fight for them, and refuse to let them go. [page 383]

I also found Oliver's writing to be beautiful as well as entertaining. Here are two passages I particularly liked:

Sometimes I feel like if you just watch things, just sit still and let the world exist in front of you - sometimes I swear that just for a second time freezes and the world pauses in its tilt. Just for a second. And if you somehow found a way to live in that second, then you would live forever. [page 153]

I feel like I'm playing some giant video game, or trying to solve a really complicated math equation. One girl is trying to avoid forty raiding parties of between fifteen to twenty people each, spread out across a radius of seven miles. If she has to make it 2.7 miles through the center, what is the probability she will wake up tomorrow morning in a jail cell? Please feel free to round pi to 3.14. [page 210]

Tricia of Library Queue called Delirium "fast-paced, thought-provoking, [with] a great romantic angle." "Alex looks just like Zac Efron to me!" she said. (Tricia's full review is here.)

Joy of Thoughts of Joy found the dialogue to be "very YA-like," which she didn't like. She also didn't like the statements or quotes at the beginning of each chapter - which is actually something I really liked, giving me insight into the world in which Lena lives. Joy concluded, "While I didn't find it to be stellar in writing or plot, I did enjoy reading it, and that's a good thing." (Her full review is here.)

Penelope of The Reading Fever gushed about Delirium - despite having three gripes - in her detailed review. In conclusion, she said, "Read this if ... you are a romantic at heart, you don't believe love is a disease, and you want to really feel what you read." (Her full review is here.)

A discussion guide can be downloaded here. The sequel Pandemonium has an expected publication date of March 2012. Delirium has been optioned for a film by Fox 2000.

I highly recommend this one! (By the way, up next in the YA dystopian genre for me is Elana Johnson's Possession.)

2011.47

Sisterhood Everlastingby Ann Brashares

2011-07-29T09:35:00.001-06:00

Published in 2011. 349 pages.

As a big fan of Ann Brashares' Traveling Pants series - the fourth book of which I reviewed here - I found this sequel wonderful!

Picking up about ten years after the series ended but following the same format of varying viewpoints interspersed with quotes, the book does a fabulous job of putting the reader back into the minds and lives of the members of the sisterhood. I laughed, I cried, I feared, I cheered. I'm so glad to have been able to visit Carmen, Bridget, Tibby, and Lena again!

Here is a passage I really love:

Maybe you think you'll be entitled to more happiness later by forgoing all of it now, but it doesn't work that way. Happiness takes as much practice as unhappiness does. It's by living that you live more. By waiting you wait more. Every waiting day makes your life a little less. Every lonely day makes you a little smaller. Every day you put off your life makes you less capable of living it. [pages 276-277]

I love, love the cover of the book too!

2011.49

The Lover's Dictionaryby David Levithan

2011-07-28T22:35:00.001-06:00

Published in 2011. 211 pages.

I'd previously read three of Levithan's collaborative efforts - two of my favorite reads from 2010, Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green and Dash & Lily's Book of Dares with Rachel Cohn, as well as Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist with Rachel Cohn - but not any of his other books. I just had to read this one, though, after I read raidergirl3's brilliant review.

By the way, this is more of an adult book than a young adult one, although my 15-year-old daughter read and enjoyed it.

From aberrant, adj., to zenith, n., this alphabetical tale of love is both compelling and charming. I read the book in one sitting, amazed by its uniqueness. The dictionary entries range from poignant to silly to mundane - just like life!

I do wish the book had been longer, because there are lots of things I still want to know about the characters. I'd love to see a second edition!

2011.51

Library Loot in July - Part 1

2011-07-13T18:30:00.016-06:00

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Marg and Claire to encourage bloggers to share what they’ve checked out from the library.

I already have quite a hefty to-read pile on my nightstand, but does that stop me from picking up some more books from the library? Uh, no.

Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith
(This is one of The Contemps. Isn't that cover adorable?)

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
(This is also one of The Contemps.)

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
(This is one of The Contemps too.)

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
(I read raidergirl3's review of this one and just had to get it!)

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
(Shelley at Book Clutter was raving about this one on Facebook!)

One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia-Williams
(This one is a 2011 Newbery Honor Book,
as well as the recipient of a number of other awards!)

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
(I am thrilled that this sequel to Saving Francesca
has recently been published in the U.S.)

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
(I'm so excited to visit Tibby, Carmen, Bridget, and Lena again!)

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
(YA author Gayle Forman picked this one as one of her five "The Year's Best Teen Reads" for NPR last December. I started "reading" the audiobook version during my commute this week.)

More Six-Word Reviews

2011-07-10T23:29:00.003-06:00

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows
by Ann Brashares
Published in 2009.
Audiobook read by Kimberly Farr.

The power of (younger) sisterhood redux!
2011.23

One Thousand White Women:
The Journals of May Dodd
by Jim Fergus
Published in 1998.
Audiobook narrated by Laura Hicks,
with introduction and epilogue by Erik Steele.

Intriguing premise but too much bodice-ripping.
2011.33

Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney
Published in 2005. 200 pages.

Nearly perfect for middle grade boys.
2011.43

By the NumbersOne-Half of 2011

2011-07-02T12:00:00.009-06:00

Total books read year-to-date: 44. (My goal for the year is 104 books. I'm 7 or 8 books behind right now, but I'm still hopeful that I'll reach the goal. I've got a weekend get-away and a week-long vacation coming up - during both of which I plan to do some serious reading. I'll also likely be working fewer hours during the next several months - which will free up some time for reading.)

Fiction: 37.
Non-fiction: 6.
Poetry: 1.

Audiobooks: 15.

On the Kindle: 2. (My Kindle was a Mother's Day gift. I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not, but I'm enjoying it very much!)

Books by male authors: 17.
Books by female authors: 26.
Anthologies: 1.

Published in 2011: 4.
Published prior to 1990: 1.

Historical fiction: 7.
Young adult: 24.
Juvenile: 4.

Read for my Teaching Through Literature class: 3.
Read with the "book lunch girls" (aka Natalie's Book Club): 4.
Read with my long-time book club: 4.

5-star rating: 1. (I adored The Invention of Hugo Cabret!)
4-star rating: 30.
3-star rating: 13.

What are your reading numbers for 2011 so far?

What's On Your Nightstand?

2011-06-28T22:00:00.000-06:00

Hosted by 5 Minutes for Books
I've got more on my nightstand than I'll ever be able to get to in July, but I do have high hopes for a productive month of reading! Among the books I hope to finish reading over the next several days are these:

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher - one of the titles from my list swap project.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - which is the pick for my "book lunch girls" meeting in July - downloaded to my Kindle.

Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scottoline - which I'm currently "reading" via audiobook during my commute.

After I finish those, I think I'll focus mainly on some juvenile and young adult novels on my to-read list. These should be fairly quick reads, which would help me make some progress toward my goal of reading 104 books this year:

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

Check out what other people have
on their nightstands here.

Spring Reading Thing 2011Wrapping It Up

2011-06-25T18:07:00.007-06:00

I had a list of twenty-one books I hoped to read (or finish reading) during the thirteen weeks of Spring Reading Thing 2011. In the end, I read nine of the books on my list:

Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

No Going Back by Jonathan Langford

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

In addition, I read 15 books that weren't on my list:

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares

The Art of Keeping Cool by Janet Taylor Lisle

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Dramarama by E. Lockhart

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith

Wrong Number by Rachelle Christensen

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty
by G. Neri

While I'm not surprised that I didn't finish my list, I am surprised that I read so many books that weren't on my list. Four of those were for books groups, and six of them (with one of those a book club pick) were audiobooks I "read" during my commute. Among the other six were some new releases that came available at the library as well as some books that had been on my to-read list for a while.

I have to admit that I'm not particularly good at pre-arranged reading. I'm more of an impulse or mood reader. I do like making reading lists, though, so if nothing else, that part of a reading challenge is fun for me. I'm happy to see that I did read an eclectic assortment, even if - as is typical of me - somewhat heavy on young adult novels.

My favorite read of the challenge was The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which I reviewed here. I highly recommend that everyone read this unique children's book!

I didn't read anything that I'd give less than three stars (out of five), but two of the others that I'd readily recommend are the 2011 Newbery Award winner Moon Over Manifest and The Space Between Us.

A big thank you to Katrina at Callapidder Days for continuing to host this challenge! Happy summer reading to everyone!

Five Reviews of Six Words (or Less)

2011-06-18T20:00:00.006-06:00

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Published in 2011. 359 pages.

Sequel even better than the first.
2011.31

Wrong Number by Rachelle Christensen
Published in 2010. 200 pages.

Clean suspenseful romance by Utah author.
(For my Teaching Through Literature Discussions workshop.)
2011.26

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson
Published in 2002.
Audiobook read by Samantha Mathis.

Without the power of Speak.
2011.28

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Published in 2010.
Audiobook read by Rebecca Lowman.

Chilling abusive relationship. "Second chance" love.
2011.39

Dramarama by E. Lockhart
Published in 2007.
Audiobook read by Kate Reinders.

Growth at summer drama camp. Delightful!
2011.42

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

2011-06-11T23:15:00.001-06:00

Published in 2010. 280 pages.

This 2010 finalist for a Cybils award reminded me at times of Marcelo in the Real World, a book I loved. They have similar plots - in both the main character has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and is trying to find his/her place in the world - and music plays a significant role in both books too. Additionally, I found them to have a similar "feel."

Harmonic Feedback was hard for me to put down. It deals realistically with some serious issues but isn't too "heavy." The central feature of the main character Drea is not that she has an ASD and ADHD but that she is a young woman trying to be true to who she is while navigating the outside world, and that's something to which everyone can relate in some way.

Harmonic Feedback was Tara Kelly's first published book, and I look forward to reading her second Amplified.

Tara Kelly's website is here, and the book's website is here.

2011.32

Summer Reading

2011-06-07T22:32:00.004-06:00

My friend Holly started her "Pay It Forward" meme so that bloggers can share the good things they see in the blogosphere. (Click on the button for more information.)

This week I want to share two posts about summer reading. The first - which is here - is from fabulous, fun Utah author Jessica Day George, who posted her personal summer reading list, including a photo of her nightstand. She's got some great reads there!

The second post - which is here - is from Katrina at Callapidder Days. She hosts the Fall into Reading and Spring Reading Thing challenges, but she also blogs about her faith and her family. Today I enjoyed reading about the lunchtime read-aloud she's doing with her 12-year-old and 5-year-old sons - and I'm feeling inspired to read with my own 12-year-old.

What summer reading plans do you have for yourself and/or your family?

Yummy by G. Neri

2011-05-29T22:10:00.003-06:00

Subtitled The Last Days of a Southside Shorty.
Illustrated by Randy DuBurke.
Published in 2010. 96 pages.
2010 Cybils Award Winner.

Summary from the author's website:

In August of 1994, 11-year-old Robert “Yummy” Sandifer—nicknamed for his love of sweets—fired a gun at a group of rival gangmembers, accidentally killing a neighborhood girl, Shavon Dean. Police searched Chicago’s southside for three days before finding Yummy dead in a railway tunnel, killed by members of the drug gang he’d sought to impress. The story made such an impact that Yummy appeared on the cover of Time magazine, drawing national attention to the problems of inner city youth in America.

Neri also talks about "How Yummy Came About." He concludes:

My hope is that Yummy will find its way into classrooms, libraries and into the hands of reluctant readers. This is a story that needs to be talked about and I hope that Yummy is just the starting point for a deeper, more meaningful discussion with young people all over this country.

Conclusion from the Cybils website:

Although you know the ending of the book from the beginning, Neri still packs a punch that leaves the reader thinking for days, once the book has been put down. Yummy is a historical story with a timeless sensibility that will take your breath away.

By the way, Yummy was nominated by fellow Utah book blogger Natasha of Maw Books Blog.

My personal response: Heart-breaking and thought-provoking, with a great message for young people, especially those in high-risk situations. Definitely worth a read!

2011.38

The Invention of Hugo Cabretby Brian Selznick

2011-05-07T15:14:00.004-06:00

Published in 2007. 534 pages.
2008 Caldecott Medal Winner.
2007 National Book Award Finalist.

I was blown away by this fabulous book, which was April's pick for my long-term book club and one of Holly's "list swap" books for me.

So unique! Gorgeous drawings that don't just illustrate the story but are in integral part of it. A touching story of two children. A tribute to early French filmmaker Georges Méliès. A statement of a profound life philosophy. All that in just one (albeit hefty) book!

"Did you ever notice that all machines are made for some reason?" [Hugo] asked Isabelle. "They are built to make you laugh, like the mouse here, or to tell the time, like clocks, or to fill you with wonder, like the automaton. Maybe that's why a broken machine always makes me a little sad, because it isn't able to do what it was meant to do."

Isabelle picked up the mouse, wound it again, and set it down.

"Maybe it's the same with people," Hugo continued. "If you lose your purpose ... it's like you're broken."

At 5 Minutes for Books, Dawn said, "There is a magical feeling that the characters are actually moving around among these pages." At onemorechapter, 3m said, "Absolutely wonderful. I cannot recommend this highly enough."

The book's website is here. The Wikipedia entry about Georges Méliès is here. The IMDb entry about the forthcoming film version is here.

2011.30

The Trouble with Poetry by Billy Collins

2011-04-13T22:05:00.006-06:00

Published in 2005. 88 pages.

I never would have picked up this book by the Poet Laureate of the United States from 2001 to 2004 if it hadn't been a pick for Natalie's Book Club. I don't read many poetry books, but I'm glad I read this one.

One of my favorite poems was "Special Glasses" - which I read to my heart-broken 15-year-old daughter the morning after I read it. I think it helped.

Two others I liked a lot were "Eastern Standard Time" - which I thought was brilliant for its ordinariness - and "Flock" - which I found to be a tender reference to Bible truths from a completely unexpected source.

"The Lanyard" seemed to be a consensus favorite when the group met for lunch. For me, finishing the poem resulted in a gasp for air, so poignant are the final words.

Watch the full episode. See more Poetry Everywhere.

2011.12

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

2011-04-12T10:00:00.000-06:00

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Book One.
Published in 2005.
Unabridged audiobook read by Jesse Bernstein.

My kids (ages 11, 15, and 20) had all read and enjoyed The Lightning Thief before we watched it on DVD. I liked the movie version so much - despite the differences from the book, most notably that the main characters appear to be several years older than they are described in the book - that I decided it was time I read it too!

Rick Riordan's imaginative placement of Greek mythology in our modern world makes for a great story! The last few chapters were somewhat anti-climatic, just setting up the sequel, but overall The Lightning Thief is a fun read.

I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook, although I understand what my friend Sue said about his women's characters being whiny. I will look for audiobook versions of the rest of series, as this one was a great accompaniment to my daily commute.

2011.20

Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart

2011-04-11T14:00:00.002-06:00

Subtitled yes, boyfriends, plural. if my life weren't complicated - I wouldn't be Ruby Oliver.
Published in 2010. 224 pages.

I just adore Ruby Oliver! (I previously blogged about the three other books in this series - The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, and The Treasure Map of Boys - and I recommend that you read those, in order, before you read Real Live Boyfriends.)

The neurotic, hyperverbal Ruby is now a senior at her Seattle prep school. She is in love with Noel - or thinks she is. As part of her college applications, she makes a documentary about love and friendship - and in the meantime learns some uncomfortable truths.

Of the four episodes of Ruby's complicated life, I liked this one the best. I (still) hear my fifteen-year-old daughter in Ruby's voice - which means that Ruby is "real." I feared I would be disappointed with the ending of the book (and, I understand, the series) - but my fear was unfounded. For a cute, quick read with an adorable teenage girl protagonist, I highly recommend the Ruby Oliver novels!

2011.13

Why Alison Has NotBeen Read-a-Thon-ing

2011-04-09T17:14:00.004-06:00

Hello, this is Sugar Plum, Alison's daughter. I just got back from the ER, where Alison still is. She's really disappointed that she missed out on the read-a-thon, and we all appreciate your concern! She'll be back soon!

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge

2011-04-09T12:07:00.005-06:00

"Oldies But Goodies"
Hosted by Allie at A Literary Odyssey
I consider myself to be somewhat "classics challenged." I particularly have a hard time with Victorian literature, but I worked through Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South during the winter, and I'm currently working (very slowly) on A Tale of Two Cities.

My all-time favorite classic, though, is To Kill a Mockingbird. I first read it as a high school senior, and it forever impacted my view of the world, giving me a strong sense of social justice. Last summer, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the book, I re-read it and found that I loved it even more.

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge

2011-04-09T08:13:00.003-06:00

"Where in the World Are You Reading?"
Hosted by I Heart Monster
I visited the Google Map and added my placemark - the third in Utah. The other two are Suey and Melissa, both of whom I've met at Utah book blogger socials and whose blogs I frequently visit I've always wanted to visit Australia, so I also headed over to see Mel at Just One Page at a Time.

Introduction Meme

2011-04-09T06:13:00.002-06:00

The first activity of the read-a-thon is a little introduction meme. Here goes:

Where are you reading from today?
Right now I'm on the love seat in my family room, wrapped in a favorite blanket, with my feet up on the ottoman. Later I'll be venturing out of the house, as I fulfill some other commitments for the day and also try to get a few tasks accomplished - while still getting in as much reading as possible.

Three facts about me:

Although I love words, in my professional life I work with numbers.

The "big four" for me are Diet Coke with Lime, libraries, chocolate, and sleep.

I'm addicted to social media, and you can find me on Facebook, goodreads, and Twitter.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
I don't have any organized pile this time, but I've got about 30 library books and at least a dozen other titles right at hand. There is no chance I'll run out of reading material!

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (e.g., number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
Because I wasn't able to clear my schedule today, and because I've just finished a busy week and need to catch up on some sleep, my goal is to actively participate in at least twelve hours of the read-a-thon. I'd also like to finish at least three books.

Any advice for people doing this for the first time?
This is my eighth read-a-thon, and I recommend that everyone just do what seems like fun and enjoy!

Elapsed Time 0:00

2011-04-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

Here We Go!
Getting up on a Saturday morning before anyone else in the house - and before the sun - goes against my personal code of conduct, but I am here for Dewey's Read-a-Thon for the eighth time, and I'm ready to read!

Good luck to all the other read-a-thon participants, and a big thanks to the hosts, the cheerleaders, and all the other helpers! (If you're just stopping by and want to know more about what's happening, check out the read-a-thon blog or the Twitter feed.)

By the NumbersOne-Quarter of 2011

2011-04-01T23:45:00.005-06:00

Total books read year-to-date: 21. (My goal for the year is 104 books. I think I'm going to have to work less and read more if I'm going to have any chance of meeting that goal! I do think I'll be able to exceed last year's total - which was 86 - without too much difficulty.)

Fiction: 16.
Non-fiction: 4.
Poetry: 1.

Audiobooks: 8. (Two of these were books - Sarah's Key and Before I Fall - that I started on CD but ended up finishing in the traditional fashion over a weekend because I couldn't wait until Monday's commute to resume!)

Books by male authors: 10.
Books by female authors: 10.
Anthologies: 1.

Published in 2011: 1.
Published prior to 1990: 1.

Historical fiction: 3.

Young adult: 11.
Juvenile: 1.

Read for my Teaching Through Literature class: 2.
Read with the "book lunch girls" (aka Natalie's Book Club): 3.
Read with my long-time book club: 2. (I'm still working on March's pick - A Tale of Two Cities.)

4-star rating: 14.
3-star rating: 7.

What are your reading numbers for 2011 so far?

Spring Reading Thing 2011

2011-03-20T12:00:00.004-06:00

March 20 - June 20
Hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days
Spring Reading Thing 2007 was my first ever reading challenge, and I'm excited to participate again this year! (The details of the challenge are here.) Here is my list of twenty-one books I hope to read (or finish reading) during the thirteen weeks of this challenge:

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney

Far from You by Lisa Schroeder

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Muslim Women Reformers: Inspiring Voices Against Oppression by Ida Lichter*

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

No Going Back by Jonathan Langford*

Of Pigs, Pearls, and Prodigals: A Fresh Look at the Parables of Jesus by John Bytheway

Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley

The Schwa Was Here by Neal Shusterman

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

*Already started reading.

So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld

2011-03-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

Published in 2004.
Audiobook read by Scott Brick.

Scott Westerfeld, author of the Uglies series, is a brilliant social commentator! On his website, he describes So Yesterday this way:

What if it was your job to say what was cool? What if clothes and electronics companies gave you cash for your opinion, and lots of free stuff on top of it? You wouldn't complain about that, would you?

Hunter Braque is a professional cool-hunter. No ads go on TV without his approval, no new shoes hit the stores unless he's down with them. It's a pretty sweet deal, until he meets Jen—a rare Innovator, one of the people who actually creates cool at street-level. Real cool, not the corporate kind. Suddenly, strange things start to happen.

First Hunter's boss Mandy disappears. When he enlists Jen to help find her, the two begin to uncover a plot to end consumerism as we know it! Will the world change forever, or can Hunter save the sacred bond between brands and buyers? Does he even want to?

I enjoyed the first two-thirds of this unique book more than the last third, but overall I found it to be a fun, satirical look at who decides what is cool.

Westerfeld's wife, author Justine Larbalestier, called So Yesterday "a love letter to New York City" in a blog post about the book. I particularly enjoyed the shout out to Becky Hammond of the WNBA (even though she's no longer with New York). There is a cool photoblog of So Yesterday celebrating New York City on Westerfeld's blog.

2011.9

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

2011-02-21T16:24:00.001-07:00

Published in 1996.
Audiobook performed by Jeff Woodman.
1997 Newbery Honor Book.

On the recommendation of my friend Sue, I listened to this young adult fantasy novel on CD. I enjoyed the whole book - the character Gen (short for Eugenides) is fabulous, the world in which he lives is interesting, the mythology of that world is intriguing - but it was the ending that totally blew me away. I'm definitely reading (or listening to) to the next book in the series, The Queen of Attolia.

Karen of Typing With My Toes said, "From the very beginning, Gen’s voice was what drew me in." Her full review is here.

Tricia of Library Queue said, "The ending made me want to read it all over again." Her full review is here.

Corinne of The Book Nest called The Thief "a gem." Her full review is here.

Megan Whalen Turner's website is here.

2010.86

The Strange Case of Origami Yodaby Tom Angleberger

2011-02-21T13:31:00.002-07:00

Published in 2010. 144 pages.
2010 Cybils Award Winner.

Summary of the book from goodreads:

In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwight’s classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, he assembles the case file that forms this novel.

My eleven-year-old son adores this book! After numerous encounters around the house with Origami Yoda (in various sizes and colors) - and because the book was a 2010 Cybils Award Finalist - I finally decided that I needed to read the book myself.

I thought it was a lot of fun. I highly recommend it to middle grade students, especially those that are fans of Star Wars and/or origami. (The book includes instructions for making an origami yoda.) Enjoy it you will!

Jennifer at 5 Minutes for Books called the book "a realistic age-appropriate look at 6th graders that won’t make a parent cringe." Read her full review here.

According to the Origami Yoda website, a sequel is forthcoming: Darth Paper Strikes Back. My son will be so excited to hear that news!

2011.7

The Five Love Languagesby Gary Chapman

2011-02-20T06:38:00.002-07:00

Subtitled How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate. First published in 1992. Audiobook read by the author.

I was already familiar with Gary Chapman's five love languages before I listened to this audiobook. I'd attended a few workshops on the subject, and I'd listened to The Five Love Languages of Children on CD. But I decided to read this one because my church women's group planned to discuss it at their February meeting. As it turned out, I attended an award ceremony with my daughter that night and missed the discussion - but I'm still glad I read the book.

The book itself is highly readable, with examples and anecdotes illustrating each of Chapman's theories. In some cases he shows how he developed the theories, and he also offers concrete suggestions for those who want to apply his teachings to their lives.

Here are a few of my responses to the concepts Chapman presents:

Similar to my belief that thinking about happiness makes me happier, I am convinced that thinking about love makes me more loving.

I am also convinced that love is spoken in more than one language. I identify strongly with the idea that my personal love language is "words of affirmation" - which is immeasurably more meaningful to me than the love language of "receiving gifts." I would assert that any one who is seeking to be more loving or caring - to his spouse, to her children, to his friends, even to her employees - can benefit from learning a "second" language (and a third, fourth, and fifth) - simply because the more ways one can express love, the more likely one is to effectively communicate those feelings.

In considering that premise, I was reminded of a Luann comic strip I once read on a terrific sex education pamphlet, one that was advocating abstinence for teens. In the comic strip, Luann is advised by T.J. that if she wants to say no to sexual activity (part of the "physical touch" language), then she needs to develop more creative ways of expressing her feelings for her boyfriend. In other words, she needs to know how to speak more than one love language.

On the other hand, I am not comfortable with the idea that I (or anyone) has one (or maybe two love languages) and that I will feel loved if my husband speaks to me primarily in that language. For example, though I do believe that "receiving gifts" is the love language that I enjoy least, I know that I would be saddened, maybe even angry, if my husband neglected to purchase and wrap some gifts for me at Christmas time and simply told me that he loved me, complimented me on my Christmas attire, and praised my cooking and decorating efforts. In other words, I believe that there is a time and place for each of the love languages - and therein lies my concern with Chapman's theory. One must be willing to express love multilingually, rather than putting a simple label on the object of one's love and limiting expressions of love to that language.

My brilliant and hilarious friend Karen expressed this problem well in her review on goodreads of The Five Love Languages of Children: "I'm Karen, a girl with lots of personality quirks, one of which is that I dislike pop psychology books that tell me I and everyone else fits into one of their created, fictitious descriptions. ... My issue is not with this book specifically, but with the idea in general. All this labeling, categorizing, pigeonholing, and simplifying people into tidy little groups. I know we all have similarities, but if you really want to love someone, get to know them. It takes time and effort, but that would be a better use of your time than reading this book."

Nonetheless, I recommend The Five Love Languages. It's a good start to learning to better love those in our circles. After all, thinking about love makes one more loving!

2011.6

The Witch Doctor's Wifeby Tamar Myers

2011-02-19T23:47:00.002-07:00

Published in 2009. 307 pages.

Set in the Belgian Congo in 1958 and based on the author's own experiences, The Witch Doctor's Wife was the January pick for my long-time book club. I enjoyed this exploration of African history - which I know almost nothing about - and its look at the concept of greed, set in a well-woven mystery. The book read a bit more slowly than I expected, but I ended up thinking about it well past the moment I turned the last page.

2011.4

Marcelo in the Real Worldby Francisco X. Stork

2011-02-19T12:45:00.007-07:00

Published in 2009.
Audiobook read by Lincoln Hoppe.

Marcelo in the Real World came onto my radar screen over a year ago. I'm so glad it finally made it to the top of my extremely long to-read list!

I was awed by this young adult coming-of-age novel. Marcelo is an incredible character. A seventeen-year-old with an autism-like condition and a "special interest" in religion, Marcelo is coerced by his father into taking a summer job in the mail room of his father's law firm to experience "the real world." There Marcelo learns a lot - but mostly about suffering, injustice, and what he can do about it. The novel contains a profound exploration of theology. It also prompted me to contemplate what "normal" and "real" mean. The book's cover is gorgeous, beautifully depicting the vastness of the world in which we each must find our way, hopefully with the help of a caring friend.

I listened to the book on CD and found Lincoln Hoppe to be a terrific reader. Books on Tape recommends the book "for listeners ages 14 to 18." While I am fond of young adult novels in general, I think this one is more than complex and insightful enough for any thinking adult. I do think that the book is more appropriate for older teens (at least fourteen) than for younger ones - both because of some forthright discussion of sexuality and also because of the maturity needed to understand the significance.

Tricia of Library Queue said, "This book is amazing in a quiet and thoughtful way." Read her full review here.

Becky of Becky's Book Reviews called Marcelo "a man with heart and soul, with substance." Read her full review here.

Francisco X. Stork's blog is here.

2011.3

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

2011-02-12T14:29:00.005-07:00

First published as a serial in 1854-1855. Penguin Classics edition published in 1995, with introduction and notes by Patricia Ingham. 451 pages.

It took me more than a month to read this December pick of the "book lunch girls." But I'm proud to say that I stuck with it to the end, despite my general struggle with Victorian literature. There's just something about the writing of that period that makes for slow reading for me! I did enjoy the character of Margaret Hale very much, and I liked the storyline too. I'm thinking that I just might love seeing this in its movie format!

My past record with Victorian novels isn't good. I started but never finished Jane Eyre (although I'd previously seen the musical, so I knew the storyline when I meet with my book club to discuss it). I started but never finished Emma (although I did watch the Gwyneth Paltrow film before my book club meeting). (I guess Jane Austen is technically pre-Victorian, but it's the same thing in my mind.) My first exposure to the Victorian period was as a high school freshman, when I struggled through Great Expectations in Mrs. Hainsworth's class. My long-term book club is reading A Tale of Two Cities for March's meeting, so I guess I'll be giving Victorian lit another try. I hope for another success!

For other responses to North and South, check out the following:

2011.2

Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield

2011-02-02T22:06:00.000-07:00

Subtitled Life and Loss, One Song at a Time.
Published in 2007.
Audiobook read by the author.

In the 1990s, a shy music geek named Rob Sheffield met a hell-raising Appalachian punk-rock girl named Renée, who was way too cool for him but fell in love with him anyway. They had nothing in common except that they both loved music. Music brought them together and kept them together. And it was music that would help Rob through a sudden, unfathomable loss.

In Love is a Mix Tape, Rob, now a writer for Rolling Stone, uses the songs on fifteen mix tapes to tell the story of his brief time with Renée. From Elvis to Missy Elliott, the Rolling Stones to Yo La Tengo, the songs on these tapes make up the soundtrack to their lives. This is Rob's tribute to music, to the decade that shaped him, but most of all to one unforgettable woman.

By turns heart-warming, heart-breaking, and laugh-out-loud funny, this memoir on audiobook provided me with several enjoyable commutes. I'm not familiar with a lot of the music that sets the background for each chapter, but that was okay. The emotions came through anyway - and I can totally relate to those.

I look forward to reading Sheffield's new book Talking to Girls About Duran Duran: One Young Man's Quest for True Love and a Cooler Haircut. I suspect that I'm more familiar with 80s music than I am with the music of the 90s.

If you were to make a mix tape, what would you put on it?

2011.1

Bumpy Landings by Donald J. Carey

2011-01-28T05:00:00.002-07:00

Published in 2011. 252 pages.

Author Don Carey provided me with a copy of
Bumpy Landings for review. Thanks, Don!
First sentence: Jordan MacDonald eased the rusty old van into a too-small parking space and quickly killed the engine.

Plot summary (from the Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data): Against his mother's wishes, a young Mormon in La'ie, Hawaii, earns his pilot's license in order to impress his girlfriend.

Why I read this book: Author Don Carey is the brother of my friend Karra, whom I met when we both served on a non-profit board a few years ago. I first learned about Bumpy Landings from Karra via Facebook - and I immediately knew I wanted to read it. Later, after I won some chocolate macadamias by posting and tweeting about the adorable book teaser, Don asked if I'd be interested in participating in a blog tour for the book. So here we are!

Some random thoughts:

One of the things that drew me to Bumpy Landings was my memory of wanting to learning to fly when I was the age of the main character Jordan. While that dream has faded over the years, it was nice to be reminded of that desire through this story.

I appreciated the subtle condemnation of racist attitudes amid the diversity of Hawaii. For example, "He [Jordan] assumed that by 'weirdos' Spencer [who is white and from the mainland] meant 'people who don't look like me.'"

The theme of self-discovery is a meaningful one. All of us - not just 21-year-old boys - should be on a continual quest to know ourselves and our place in the world.

The character Jordan - like both Don Carey and me - is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). Some of the culture of the religious community - particularly the common practice of young people (like Jordan) serving a mission - plays a prevalent role in the storyline. I don't think that the reader needs to be Mormon or even have any specific knowledge about the Church, however, to enjoy the story, just as the reader doesn't have to have lived or even visited Hawaii to appreciate the setting.

I look forward to reading more of Don's writing! (I saw something about YA sci-fi on Don's blog, and I'm already intrigued.)

From the peanut gallery: My book-loving 15-year-old daughter also read the book. She says, "Bumpy Landings is a cute romance with a refreshing religious context. The story carried me smoothly along. The ending, however, was a bit of a 'bumpy landing' for me, as I felt disappointment at one of the character's choices. I do recommend this book."

Relationship to real life: Many writers, especially debut novelists, draw upon their own experiences as the basis for their work. Don talks about "How Much of This is You?" on his blog. I was amused by his comment that "in earlier drafts, Jordan was a lot more like me, and I had to change that and make him just a little less pathetic." I laughed out loud when I saw the goodreads post of Don's sister Marri: "Although the book is fictitious, I know some of you may wonder how much is based on actual people and events. The sister of the main character may sometimes resemble me, but when she is whiny, annoying, or not nice, it is clearly fictitious or perhaps he was drawing from another sister."

For more information:

Visit Donald J. Carey's blog and the other blog tour stops, which include one of my favorite bloggers, Cranberry Fries, on February 1.

View the delightful and creative book trailer created using Legos.

2011.5

Favorite Reads of 2010

2011-01-08T23:02:00.003-07:00

In 2010 on goodreads, I gave five stars ("it was amazing") to eight books. I gave another 42 books a four-star rating ("really liked it"). The following are a few of my favorites of those 50 good reads:

Favorite short-but-powerful read: If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson

Favorite re-read: To Kill a Mockbird by Harper Lee

Favorite female character: Mattie Gokey in A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Favorite male character: Owen Birnbaum in Slob by Ellen Potter

Fondest memories revisited: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Best experience with a book I was offered for review: The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Favorite collaborative effort: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan (Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a close second.)

Favorite book to recommend to friends: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Most anticipated book: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Books with the biggest impact on my life: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and Bluebird: Women and the New Psychology of Happiness by Ariel Gore

Best beginning to a new trilogy: Matched by Ally Condie

Favorite recent releases by favorite authors: The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian, and House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Favorite "I'm glad I took a chance on a second book by the author of a book I loved" book: I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Favorite young adult novel exploring faith: Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr (Honorable mention to Losing Faith by Denise Jaden.)

Favorite adult novel exploring faith: Any Bitter Thing by Monica Wood

Favorite feminist novel for young adults: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Best not-his-usual-genre book: Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian

What were your favorite reads of 2010?

By the NumbersFor the Year 2010

2010-12-31T22:00:00.001-07:00

Total books read this year: 86.

Fiction: 77.
Non-fiction: 9.

Young adult: 46.
Juvenile: 7.

Historical fiction: 16.

Published in 2010: 21.
Published prior to 1990: 7.

Re-reads: 3.

Read with the fifth- or sixth-grade book group: 8.
Read with the "book lunch girls" (aka Natalie's Book Club): 9.
Read with my long-time book club: 7.
Read with the Book Buddies: 5.

5-star rating: 8.
(Those were Matched, If You Come Softly, The Happiness Project, Bluebird: Women and the New Psychology of Happiness, To Kill a Mockingbird, Slob, A Northern Light, and Harriet the Spy.)
4-star rating: 42.
3-star rating: 32.
2-star rating: 4.

How did your reading add up in 2010?

I Feel Bad About My Neckby Nora Ephron

2010-12-27T19:44:00.002-07:00

And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman.
Published in 2006. 137 pages.

This collection of personal essays is a quick read.

My favorite essay was "I Hate My Purse." I totally relate to Ephron's opening statement—

I hate my purse. I absolutely hate it. If you're one of those women who think there's something great about purses, don't even bother reading this because there will be nothing here for you. This is for women who hate their purses, who are bad at purses, who understand that their purses are reflections of negligent housekeeping, hopeless disorganization, a chronic inability to throw anything away, and an ongoing failure to handle the obligations of a demanding and difficult accessory (the obligation, for example, that it should in some way match what you're wearing).

The list of profundities in "What I Wish I'd Known" included one that made me literally laugh out loud—

When your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you.

Ephron addresses more serious issues too, albeit with humor. From the essay "Me and Bill: The End of Love"—

The way I saw it, if Bill had behaved, Al would have been elected, and thousands and thousands of people would be alive today who are instead dead.

And from "Considering the Alternative"—

But if the events of the last few years have taught me anything, it's that I'm going to feel like an idiot if I die tomorrow and I skimped on bath oil today. So I use quite a lot of bath oil. More than you could ever imagine.

2010.65

The Perks of Being a Wallflowerby Stephen Chbosky

2010-12-26T23:06:00.003-07:00

Published in 1999. 213 pages.

A coming-of-age story in epistolary form, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an important book. But it is not a feel-good book - though it does end on a hopeful note.

At times I was reminded of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and of This Is What I Did.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower made the top ten most frequently challenged books of 2009.

For more extensive reviews of the book, visit these book bloggers:

Nymeth (11.13.08)

Darren (11.24.08)

Alice (1.11.09)

Joy (3.5.09)

2010.84

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

2010-12-26T22:41:00.005-07:00

Originally published in 2000.
Audiobook narrated by Liz Morton.

When her older sister runs away, 16-year-old Caitlin O'Koren tries to fill the gaping void in her life with cheerleading. Yet after falling from a cheerleading pyramid, she struggles with choices that send her life into a downward spiral. Mesmerized by affluent bad boy Rogerson Biscoe, Caitlin abandons her parents and friends for the seductive lure of his dangerous yet exciting world. But the pain of Rogerson's controlling rage soon shatters the pleasure of their clandestine romance. Trapped in a dizzying maelstrom of abuse, Caitlin seeks the solace of a drug-induced dreamland.

Sarah Dessen talked about writing Dreamland here.

I liked the first three-quarters of the book better than the ending. There was too much wrapping everything up in neat packages for me - and in ways that seemed quite unrealistic. I do think that the topic of teen dating violence is an important one, and I applaud Dessen for taking it on.

A few other random thoughts:

I would have liked to understand the character Rogerson better, why he did what he did, who he really is.
Early in the book I identified quite a bit with Caitlin's mother - but by mid-way, I couldn't believe she could be so oblivious to Caitlin's problems ... but maybe that's more realistic than I - as the mother of teenagers - would like to believe.
I liked the use of photography as a plot devise as well as symbolism.

2010.82

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justiceby Phillip M. Hoose

2010-12-26T21:07:00.003-07:00

Published in 2009. 133 pages (including Author's Note, Bibliography, Notes, and Index).

Claudette Colvin received the 2009 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and was also designated a Newbery Honor Book in 2010.

Phillip Hoose wrote in the "Author's Note" at the end of the book:

More than any other story I know, Claudette Colvin's life story shows how history is made up of objective facts and personal truths, braided together. In her case, a girl raised in poverty by a strong, loving family twice risked her life to gain a measure of justice for her people. Hers is the story of a wise and brave woman who, when she was a smart, angry teenager in Jim Crow Alabama, made contributions to human rights far too important to be forgotten.

Like Chris Crowe's Getting Away with Murder, this is a good introduction to a lesser-known aspect of the Civil Rights Movement. Claudette Colvin was a very brave young woman!

2010.72

Holiday Swap Fun!

2010-12-11T16:57:00.010-07:00

I participated in the Book Blogger Holiday Swap this year, and it was so much fun!
Do you want to watch me unwrap my packages?
Two packages in the mailing envelope ...

Bigger one first.
*Squeal* It's Twilight!
The new graphic novel version!
And a journal too!

Now the smaller package. What fun!

It's so true. Books do make good friends!

A big 'thank you' to Erin O'Riordan
of Pagan Spirits!
Happy Holidays!

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

2010-12-04T21:19:00.002-07:00

Published in 2009. 507 pages.

I have been a fan of Barbara Kingsolver for twenty or so years, since I first fell in love with Taylor and Turtle in The Bean Trees. I have read all five of her previous novels, although I've yet to read her short stories or non-fiction books. And I had been wanting to read The Lacuna since its publication a year ago, but I was a little hesitant to jump right into it because of the length. (I've been feeling more reading satisfaction lately with short, quick reads.)

Because The Lacuna was the November pick for the Book Buddies, I started reading it in mid-November. It did prove to be a slow read for me - mostly because I was working on several non-reading projects during parts of November, but also, I'll assert, because it's a book that requires thought and time to process. I finished the book yesterday, after devoting a fairly large block of time on Thursday to it. In the end, I have to say that it's an amazing book!

la·cu·na

The Lacuna takes the reader on an epic journey from the Mexico City of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo to the America of FDR and J. Edgar Hoover as it relates the poignant story of Harrison Shepherd, a man pulled between two nations as they invent their modern identities.

I think much of the overarching theme of the book - and certainly a partial explanation of the title - is illustrated by this passage:

I didn't say what Frida would have. That you can't really know the person standing before you, because always there is some missing piece: the birthday like an invisible piñata hanging great and silent over his head, as he stands in his slippers boiling the water for coffee. The scarred, shrunken leg hidden under a green silk dress. A wife and son back in France. Something you never knew. That is the heart of the story. [page 325]

I got a good sense of place from the novel, particularly the sections set in Mexico. I have only visited Mexico once, but I could vividly picture some of what I saw there as I read about Harrison and Frida visiting an archeological dig and about Harrison and Violet visiting Chichén Itzá.

In a hearing before the Committee on Un-American Activities, Harrison Shepherd comments, "Art takes its meaning in the eye of the beholder" [page 488]. In that spirit, I took away many political messages from Kingsolver's tale. In my opinion, there are, sadly and frighteningly, so many similarities between the fear- and hate-filled atmosphere of the anti-Communist McCarthy era and the fear- and hate-filled rhetoric I hear in many places today. I recently read the following in an essay about faith:

There is nothing that will tear the fabric of society more quickly in a crisis than fear and panic.

That was followed, appropriately, by this quote from Franklin Delano Roosevelt:

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror which paralyzed needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

It's too bad that the country didn't remember FDR's statement long past his death!

I've read two other works of historical fiction recently, one I loved and one I didn't. As with The Day the Falls Stood Still, I learned a lot from The Lacuna - both about history and about myself. I guess I found The Lacuna to be the kind of historical novel that I had wanted The Postmistress to be - multi-layered but cohesive, meaningful, beautiful, and satisfying!

2010.80

Thankfully Reading Part 3

2010-11-28T19:29:00.007-07:00

I haven't had much time to read today. I am thankful for several reading communities, though, so I wanted to respond to today's mini-challenge question.

First, I'm thankful for my original reading community - my mom! When I was young, she took me and my sisters to the library frequently, and she always made sure we had books in our home, even when money was very limited. I've borrowed a lot of books from her over the years. Even now, she always gives books to me and to my kids for Christmas.

Second, I'm thankful for the book blogging community. When I started this blog in January 2007, my primary objective was to keep track of the books I was reading. At that point I had no idea that such a great book blogging community existed out there! Visiting book blogs, participating in reading challenges, reading along with online book clubs, being part of book blogging events (like this one), and even meeting some of the book bloggers in Utah - I have a lot of fun being part of the book blogging community.

Finally, I'm thankful for my in-real-life book clubs. I've been reading with one group since June 2002. The composition of the group has changed over time - my sister Carrie and I are the only remaining original members - but we're still meeting about eight times a year, enjoying good books and good food. I've been meeting with another group for almost two years. I call them "my book lunch girls" - although officially it is Natalie's Book Club. I blogged about my gratitude for them earlier this month on my "regular" blog.

Thankfully Reading Part 2

2010-11-27T15:45:00.005-07:00

After reading some more of The Lacuna, I ventured out of the house for a little while this morning. While I was in the car, I listened to some of Sarah Dessen's Dreamland. Now I'm back in the house, watching BYU football and reading the blogs of other participants in the Thankfully Reading Weekend!

Among the many library books that I've currently got on my to-read pile are these:

Happy reading!

Thankfully Reading Part 1

2010-11-26T12:00:00.004-07:00

I can't think of anything I'd enjoy less than spending Black Friday at the mall. Neither am I part of the decorate-for-Christmas-right-after-Thanksgiving camp. My typical Thanksgiving weekend is one of rest and relaxation - which makes the Thankfully Reading Weekend perfect for me!

I slept until about eight o'clock this morning, when I was awakened by the sounds of two eleven-year-old boys (my son and his cousin) across the hall. I decided to read for a while, and then I sent them downstairs and fell back to sleep for a couple more hours.

Now I'm going to get some leftovers and resume my reading of The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. I've been working on it for almost two weeks, but because I've been quite tired and busy, my progress has been slow. Today is the day, I hope!

That is, unless I get distracted by movies and television shows on Netflix - which is my other "big plan" for this weekend.

What are you doing for the next three days? What book(s) are you reading?

Books I'm Thankful For

2010-11-25T08:24:00.011-07:00

In the United States, today is Thanksgiving. This afternoon my family and I are celebrating by going under the overpass and down the interstate to Grandmother's house (that is, my kids' grandmother, aka my mom). Another twenty-five or so members of the family will be joining us, and we'll be eating a traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, rolls, salads, vegetables, and pies and other desserts.

Beginning tomorrow, I'll start dieting (just kidding!) while I am Thankfully Reading for a few days.

For today, I'm going to borrow an idea from Suey and list some books that I am thankful for.

B is for Betsy by Carolyn Haywood. This is the first book I remember loving. As I recall it, I was in the second grade and home sick, lying in my parents' bed, when my mother brought me a book she'd picked up at the library. First published in 1939, B is for Betsy is still in print. I loved the entire Betsy series - and that likely helped form my love of book series today.

Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Gift from the Sea is one of the few books that I have read over and over. This classic non-fiction book was given to me by my mother after I had graduated from college and taken a job in another state. The issues Lindbergh explores are just as pertinent to women today as they were when it was first published in 1955. My copy is filled with highlighting and notes.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Reading The Happiness Project this year has been a truly life-changing experience for me. I've been thinking about happiness for several years, and this book has provided me with a perfect way to more seriously consider what I can do to be more happy. As Gretchen Rubin says, "Each person's happiness project will be unique, but it's the rare person who can't benefit from starting one." I'll be working on my own happiness project for years to come!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I first read this classic as a senior in high school, and I re-read it this year for its fiftieth anniversary. I was afraid that I wouldn't love it as much this time as I remembered loving it then - but I think that, with some life experience, it was even better this time! I credit To Kill a Mockingbird with helping solidify my strong sense of social justice.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I first read - and fell in love with - this celebration of nonconformity when it was required reading for my older daughter's middle school language arts class. I want to be Stargirl when I grow up! I also think that Stargirl introduced me to the concept that I could enjoy young adult novels - a genre that has become a favorite.

I'm also thankful for all-time favorites such as The Princess Bride, The Joy Luck Club, A Simple Plan, The Giver, The Hiding Place, Small Change: The Secret Life of Penny Burford, The Doomsday Book, and The Secret Life of Bees, books which have changed me or my view of the world in some way and which also illustrate my eclectic taste.

Finally, I'm thankful for The Chosen, Dinner at Homesick Restaurant, Midwives, The Bean Trees, and My Sister's Keeper, books which introduced me to the work of their respective authors, who became favorites of mine.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh, To Be Young

2010-11-24T12:31:00.003-07:00

Back in 2008, I wrote a post in which I claimed that I am "Not Too Old" for young adult literature. Today I'm gratified to hear that NPR supports me in that claim!

Like I do, young adult author Gayle Forman, author of If I Stay, reads a lot of young adult novels, and she has identified five favorites of 2010 in article entitled "Oh, To Be Young" "because really," she says, "at the end of the day, don't we all have a 17-year-old somewhere inside of us?"

The five titles she picked are as follows:

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I've not read any of these yet - although four of the five have been on my to-read list for a while, with The Sky is Everywhere currently on my nightstand. I'm looking forward to some good YA reading for the holidays!

What's On Your Nightstand?

2010-11-23T17:57:00.003-07:00

Hosted by 5 Minutes for Books
I haven't done as much reading in the past few weeks as I expected I would, so right now I still have many of the same books as my nightstand as I did at the end of October, including North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, which is the pick for my "book lunch girls" meeting in December.

I'll be wrapping up my reading for the Fall into Reading challenge by December 20. As of today, I've read only seven of the 26 books on my list - with two more in process - so lots of those books are on my nightstand.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa is the Book Buddies choice for December, so I need to get it on my nightstand soon.

Matched by Ally Condie will be released on November 30, and I'm looking forward to having it on my nightstand shortly thereafter! (Matched is the book for my January "Teaching Through Literature Discussions" class, and I'm eager to hear Condie speak.)

Check out what other people have
on their nightstands here.

Fly On the Wall by E. Lockhart

2010-11-20T12:20:00.002-07:00

Subtitled How One Girl Saw Everything.
Published in 2006. Audiobook read by Caitlin Greer.

At the Manhattan High School for the Arts, where everyone is "different" and everyone is "special," Gretchen Yee feels ordinary. She's the kind of girl who sits alone at lunch, drawing pictures of Spider-Man, so that she won't have to talk to anyone; who has a crush on Titus but won't do anything about it; who has no one to hang out with when her best (and only real) friend, Katya, is busy.

One day, Gretchen wishes that she could be a fly on the wall in the boys' locker room - just to learn more about guys. What are they really like? What do they really talk about? Are they really cretins most of the time?

Fly on the Wall is the story of how that wish comes true.

There were parts of this young adult novel I really liked. I think E. Lockhart does a great job with the voice of her protaganist Gretchen Yee - just like she does with Ruby Oliver and Frankie Landau-Banks. I think, too, that there are some important messages in the book about personal identity, about understanding the "opposite" sex, and about homophobia.

I also enjoyed the clever use of Spider-Man and Kafka's The Metamorphosis in conjunction with the telling of Gretchen's own transformation (literal and figurative), and I adore the paperback cover that illustrates part of that connection.

However, there was way too much unnecessary profanity and way too much discussion of "gherkins" and "biscuits" for me to really love this one. Especially once Gretchen literally becomes a "fly on the wall," the plot slows way down and I felt like I was being simply subjected to seeming endless descriptions of male anatomy.

I guess, all things considered, Fly On the Wall averages out to an average book for me. (But that doesn't diminish my overall love for E. Lockhart!)

2010.64

The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck

2010-11-19T10:29:00.003-07:00

With Kevin Balfe and Jason Wright.
Published in 2008. 284 pages.

This "feel good" Christmas tale wasn't as awful as I expected it to be - which is probably the highest praise I can give!

When it was announced that The Christmas Sweater would be the next pick for my long-time book club, I told the group that I'd vowed to never to read a book by Glenn Beck. One group member promptly reminded me that I always said that the best thing about book clubs was that they get me to read things I wouldn't choose on my own. Caught in this reading dilemma, I held out for a while (somewhat bolstered by the knowledge that another non-Beck fan in the group was boycotting the meeting altogether) and then decided that I really ought to read the book if I was to have any credibility in the group discussion. I finally read it the very afternoon of the book club meeting.

I found the story to be poorly written, repetitious, wordy, with plot holes and a lack of attention to details. A bad writing gimmick introduced at the beginning of chapter 16 made me want to scream. And despite receiving an assurance from the book club friend who'd selected the book that there was nothing political about it, I found the judgmental commentary on "government handouts" in the form of food stamps on pages 9 and 10 (yes, that early in the book!) to be offensive.

The thing is. I agree with most of the themes and concepts Beck presents in the book. Happiness is found not in material goods but in relationships and within ourselves. The principle of atonement is powerful and can indeed transform lives, giving us the second - and third and fourth - chances we need. God is mindful of us and "when life's perils thick confound [us, we can, indeed] put His arms unfailing round [us]." Those are truths that lie at the center of my life.

But. And this is big. Those messages run contrary to the messages of hate and fear and anger that I hear from Beck in other forums. That makes it hard for me to "feel good" about this book.

I did tell my book club friends that I probably would have been less critical of the book if it had been written by someone else. And I am glad I read it - so the true-ism about book clubs getting the members to read things they wouldn't have otherwise read is validated.

2010.76

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

2010-11-18T11:03:00.002-07:00

Published in 2008. 248 pages.

This 2011 Beehive Award nominee is a very compelling read! I basically read it in less than 24 hours.

Eli's father has feared a nuclear holocaust for years. Now it has finally come, and Eli and his family now must live in the protective compound that his father had built.

I feel like I know the characters of this post-apocalyptic-dystopian novel, and I was sobbing toward the end of the book. I highly recommend it to middle school students - both boys and girls - and to adults who enjoy this genre. I'm eager to read Bodeen's 2010 young adult sci-fi novel The Gardener.

Having completed this book, I qualify for
Level 2 of YA-D2!

From the peanut gallery: My 14-year-old book-loving daughter said, "Interesting and suspenseful. But it was kinda' disappointing because it wasn't what I expected it to be."

2010.79

The Declaration by Gemma Malley

2010-11-16T22:55:00.001-07:00

Published in 2007. 301 pages.

My book-loving 14-year-old daughter had to read two dystopian novels over the summer for her freshman language arts class. Of the dozen titles on the list (which included Uglies, The Giver, and The Hunger Games), there were only three that she hadn't already read: Brave New World, 1984, and The Declaration. I recommended that she pick one of the two classics (both of which I read in high school or college) and then also read the young adult novel. That's what she did.

When I picked up The Declaration from the library for her, I read the first few pages and I was sucked right into the story. It took me a while to get back to the book, but I'm sure glad I did!

Surplus Anna committed an unforgivable crime.
She was born.

The year is 2140, and longevity drugs provide a fountain of youth for those who sign the Declaration and agree to not have children. Children, like Anna, born outside the Declaration are a worthless burden who must pay back society for their very existence. But when Anna meets Peter, who tells her that nobody should be considered a surplus, she starts to wonder what is true, what is right - and what she should do about it.

I love this passage:

Surplus meant unnecessary. Not required.

You couldn't be a Surplus if you were needed by someone else. You couldn't be a Surplus if you were loved.

This is my first book for YA-D2 and also on my Fall into Reading list. I'm eager to read the sequels to The Declaration: The Resistance and The Legacy.

From the peanut gallery: Because my daughter was required to keep a response journal during her reading to examine common themes, characters, plot elements, and quotes and then write a three- to five-page essay comparing the two novels, I think she was "burned out" on both books by the time school started at the end of August. Last night when I asked her what she thought of The Declaration, she told me that it is "not the most exciting book, but easier to read than Brave New World." In looking over her response journal, though, I see some good insights into what it means to be human, the power of love, and the value of family.

2010.69

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

2010-11-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

Published in 2010. 323 pages.

From the book jacket:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father - and elusive European warlock - only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

Fun and imaginative! I nominated Hex Hall for a 2010 Cybils Award in Teen Fantasy/Science Fiction. The finalists will be announced on January 1.

The ending was abrupt, I thought, and I'm not sure what I think about what's going to have to come in the sequel Demonglass. But I'll definitely be reading it, so I guess I'm spellbound.

From the peanut gallery: My 14-year-old book-loving daughter says, "It was good. Not that original though. The historical aspect of it was interesting. The ending was abrupt."

2010.66

Featuring Legos and Leis

2010-11-15T09:54:00.005-07:00

Bumpy Landings is the debut novel of the brother of a friend. For more information, visit Donald J. Carey's website. For a contest - which involves chocolate - to promote Bumpy Landings, check out this post.

Celebrating the Holidays

2010-11-14T10:05:00.002-07:00

I've signed up to participate in this year's Holiday Swap.

The deadline is today - November 14 -
so if you'd like to play, go sign up now!

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

2010-11-13T16:39:00.002-07:00

Published in 2009.
Audiobook read by Ellen Grafton.

I've had young adult writer Elizabeth Scott on my to-read list since July 2008. I've finally read one of her novels - via audiobook!

Hannah's life isn't exactly that of a normal teenage girl. Her estranged father is a Hugh Hefner-type. Once one of his "special girls" and then a short-term sitcom star, her mother now tries to make a living via a pay-for-view website. Hannah doesn't want that kind of attention.

I wonder what it would be like to do high school things. To go out on the weekends. To kiss a guy.
To have a normal life. A real one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, fun teen romance. The interactions between Hannah, her parents, her best friend, and not one but two potential boyfriends were, by turns, humorous and heart-breaking. I found myself looking for reasons to be in my car so that I could hear more of Hannah's story. I'll definitely be reading more of Elizabeth Scott!

2010.70

Gunnerkrigg Court by Thomas Siddell

2010-11-11T22:40:00.000-07:00

Volume 1: Orientation
Published in 2009. 296 pages.

This is the first collection of Tom Siddell's popular and award-winning webcomic (www.gunnerkrigg.com). It received a 2009 Cybils Award for Young Adult Graphic Novel.

My 11-year-old son is a big fan of Gunnerkrigg Court - both the graphic novels and on the web. He tells me that he loves the combination of sci-fi and fantasy, and also that he likes the characters and the connections. ("Even if the main characters are girls," he says, "I still like the books.")

An entry on Wikipedia describes the webcomic as follows:

The comic tells the story of Antimony Carver, a young girl who has just started attending a strange and mysterious school called Gunnerkrigg Court, and the events that unfold around her as she becomes embroiled in political intrigues between Gunnerkrigg Court and the inhabitants of the Gillitie Wood, a forest outside the school. The comic's style and themes include elements from science, fantasy creatures, mythology from a variety of traditions, and alchemical symbols and theories; the literary style is heavily influenced by mystery and manga comics.

I've finally read the first volume. The illustrations are beautiful, but I have to admit that I'm not sure I "get it." But now, my son says, I have to read the second one!

2010.74

Authors Who Have Influenced Me

2010-11-08T10:02:00.006-07:00

My friend Katie posted a note on Facebook of the fifteen authors who have influenced her the most. She tagged me to post my own list, which I did on Facebook. I decided that it'd be fun to post it here as well, along with a few of the reasons why these authors are important to me:

(in alphabetical order)

Chris Bohjalian Midwives was the first of Bohjalian's books that I read. Before You Know Kindness is an all-time favorite. I love how he writes about issues and situations and makes me think in new ways.

Ray Bradbury Two of the books I read in high school that have really stuck with me are both by Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 and Dandelion Wine.

"Carolyn Keene" I adored Nancy Drew as a child! I consider her to be one of my early role models.

Barbara Kingsolver Kingsolver's novels have changed the way I view the world. I especially loved Animal Dreams . I'll be reading her latest novel, The Lacuna, this month with the Book Buddies.

E.L. Konigsburg My favorite novel in third grade was Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth. I also will never forget reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, which gave me my first urgings to someday visit New York City. As an adult, I still love Konigsburg's work - and I'm currently listening to the audiobook of The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place.

Harold Kushner I've read most of Kushner's books, and although he is a Jewish rabbi and I am a lifelong Christian, I've gained great insights into God and His workings with His children from Kushner. I especially loved When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough.

Madeleine L'Engle L'Engle is another author whose work has influenced me throughout my life. As a young person, I loved reading A Wrinkle in Time and A Ring of Endless Light, getting to know the Murrays and the Austins. (I'd love to re-read all of those books some day!) Now L'Engle's adult novel A Live Coal in the Sea is an all-time favorite.

Harper Lee I think that To Kill a Mockingbird, which I first read as a high school senior, was a direct influence in the development of my world view, my sense of social justice.

C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an all-time favorite of mine from childhood, and I'm also influenced by much of Lewis' non-fiction work on Christianity.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh Gift from the Sea is one of the few books that I have read over and over. This classic non-fiction book was given to me by my mother after I had graduated from college and taken a job in another state. The issues Lindbergh explores are just as pertinent to women today as they were when it was first published in 1955. My copy is filled with highlighting and notes.

Chaim Potok I first fell in love with Potok when I read The Chosen. I also was able to hear him speak while I was at BYU. Some of my love of the Jewish culture comes from Potok's work.

William Shakespeare It probably goes without saying that Shakespeare is a major influence on the world. I particularly have enjoyed seeing his work performed at the Utah Shakespeare Festival every year since 1998, the first year I attended.

Jerry Spinelli I adore Stargirl. I want to be Stargirl when I grow up. Spinelli has also written some other pretty good books.

Anne Tyler I've read every one of Tyler's novels, beginning with Dinner at Homesick Restaurant. Her characters are quirky and lovable.

E.B. White I have vivid memories of listening to my third-grade teacher read The Trumpet of the Swan. And who didn't use The Elements of Style as a reference in college?

Which authors have influenced you the most?

If You Come Softlyby Jacqueline Woodson

2010-11-07T22:26:00.007-07:00

Published in 1998. 181 pages.

First line: My mother calls to me from the bottom of the stairs, and I pull myself slowly from a deep sleep.

Plot summary (from the Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data): After meeting at their private school in New York, fifteen-year-old Jeremiah, who is black and whose parents are separated, and Ellie, who is white and whose mother has twice abandoned her, fall in love and then try to cope with people's reactions.

Epigraph (taken from the poem by Audre Lorde):

Why I read this book: Almost a year ago, I read Alexa's review of If You Come Softly and knew that I wanted to read it. In August, the book came back into my consciousness when I saw on Facebook that Alice was reading it. I put it on my Fall into Reading list in September, and now I've finally read it.

A few random thoughts: If You Come Softly is both a sweet and tender love story and a poignant look at race relations in America. It is a quick read. There aren't a lot of excess words. In its brevity and its sparseness lies its power.

This is the first of Jacqueline Woodson's books that I've read, although I've had her on my radar for a while. I will definitely be reading more of this prolific writer - beginning with the sequel to If You Come Softly, Behind You.

2010.75

Fall into Reading 2010Status Report

2010-10-30T21:13:00.002-06:00

About five weeks into the challenge, I've read five of the 26 books on my Fall into Reading list:

Any Bitter Thing by Monica Wood

The Declaration by Gemma Malley

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

Host Katrina has posted some reading questions for challenge participants to answer. I offer a few of my thoughts:

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to your reading? What prevents you from reading as much as you’d like?

"Not enough time" is certainly the simple, though not complete answer. Time is indeed a significant factor, as illustrated by the fact that I read 30 books this year from January through June (an average of five per month) but since completing a five-year work commitment on June 30, I've read another 43 books (almost 11 per month). I know that I could read more, however, if I spent less time on Facebook. I also struggle with what I call "the book blogger's dilemma" - that is, finding the proper balance between reading books and blogging about them.

Do you eat/drink while reading? If so, do you have some favorite reading snacks?

Although I don't always eat or drink while reading, I do enjoy combining food and books. My favorite reading snack is microwave popcorn. I also enjoy reading while I eat a meal. In the last several months - since I have more time mid-day than I used to have - I've been having lunch every few weeks at Cafe Zupas or Paradise Bakery with a book.

When you read a book, do you read everything? In other words, do you read the dedication, the acknowledgements, the foreword, the afterword, the prologue, the epilogue, the appendix, etc.? Or do you just read the "meat" of the book? Or is your approach somewhere in between?

I read everything! Two recent reads with lots of "extras" were the non-fiction young adult history Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice and the novel The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

2010-10-29T23:11:00.000-06:00

Published in 2010. 326 pages.

I wanted to love this book. A historical fiction novel. Set during World War II. With not just one but three female protagonists. Each revealing part of the story from her own perspective. The Postmistress had all the elements of a great read! Alas ...

The book started slow for me, but I kept going because it was both a Book Buddies pick and a Salt Lake County Reader's Choice nominee. I kept hoping that something would happen that would captivate me - or at least let me see what the author was trying to tell her readers. Unfortunately, that never happened - even as I neared the end and just "knew" that I would finally be happy with the tale. The more I hoped for the book to come together in a way that I'd find satisfying, the more irritated I got ... and then I just got crabby.

If I had read "he leaned in to light her cigarette" one more time, I would have screamed.

What was with the weird, unrelated scenes of sexuality and discussions of women's reproductive health issues?

The plot was not cohesive. There were several "short stories" that I quite enjoyed, but as a novel it just didn't come together.

Even the title misrepresents the content, as "the postmistress" is only one of three female protagonists.

For a more thoughtful and positive review, check out Dawn's thoughts at She Is Too Food of Books.