Ship Breaker

by Paolo Bacigalupi
PRMS paperback 326 pages
genre: dystopian fiction, adventure

I didn't realize I hadn't blogged about this until I just blogged about the sequel! I really enjoyed this book a lot. It's dark, but powerfully written. I find it interesting that Cina really likes The Maze Runner (I don't) and she really dislikes this book . . . I wonder if there's an underlying political perspective that I'm not seeing. Or if the characters just "speak" differently to us. I was drawn to the protagonist - Nailer Lopez - and his struggles to avoid his father's dangerous wrath. I also liked how Nailer wanted more out of life than just surviving. His friend Pima and Pima's mother Sadna are wonderful characters. This is just such a wonderful book!

added 23 Jan 2014:
I marked this passage and wanted to record it here:

(from chapter 9, page 99)

Now though, the dark reek of the oil room filled his mind - the memory of being up to his neck in warm death staring up at Sloth high above him, her little LED paint mark glowing - salvation if only he could convince her, if only he could reach out and touch that part of her that cared for something other than herself, knowing that there was a lever inside her somewhere, and if only he could pull it, she would go for help and he would be saved and everything would be fine.

He'd been so desperate to get Sloth to care.

But he hadn't been able to find the lever. Or maybe the lever hadn't been there after all. Some people couldn't see any farther than themselves. 

I'm not sure exactly why this resonated so much for me. Partly because he is remembering a time of desperation, a time when his life hung in the balance and he was so desperate for salvation. Perhaps because of his realization that "some people" cannot "see any farther than themselves." I worry sometimes about being selfish and self-centered. I wonder, too, about finding the "lever" for some of my students in terms of getting them to care about their future and their education.

I had marked another passage, but the post-it flag got lost. This one could be a re-read someday, so I'll probably mark more then!

The Drowned Cities

by Paolo Bacigalupi
sequel to The Ship Breakers
PRMS paperback 434 pages
genre: dystopian fiction, adventure

Although this future Earth is extremely depressing and brutal, it's frighteningly believable. The disparity between rich and poor, the deterioration of society, and the desperation for power and survival all ring eerily true. His follow-up to Ship Breaker, I am eager to see what his next book will bring. This one opens with Tool escaping a cruel captivity. Out in the land outside the drowned cities, Mahlia and Mouse live with Doctor Mahfouz since no one else wants to associate with them. Mahlia is half Chinese (because of her peacekeeper father) and half drowned cities. Her right hand has been cut off by one of the paramilitary groups but she escaped them with Mouse's help. Mouse's family has all been executed by another group and Mahlia has helped him survive. The boy soldiers in this story remind me of the child soldiers written about in other books (based on events actually happening in various African countries).

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb
Hennepin County Library hardcover 327 pages
genre: non-fiction, biography

This is a fascinating book. It seems hard for me to believe that just over a year ago, this teenager was shot in the head and not killed. Her love for Swat valley in Pakistan is eye-opening to me. She grew up there and loves her homeland (and wishes she could go back), but to me, the presence of the Taliban and the dangers to people who live there is just too scary. This is a wonderful book, but the difficulty of helping people who have such unique challenges (military, Taliban, cultural differences, etc.) is daunting. What a unique girl (and what an amazing dad she has!). I wonder if she'll ever be able to go back to Pakistan.

The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child

by Donalyn Miller
Hennepin County Library paperback 211 pages

I read this over a year ago, but found hand-written notes while cleaning up and realized I had never blogged about it. Here goes:

pg. 86 - Bucking the Sarge (Curtis) / read-alouds / Tripping Over the Lunch Lady (stories?) / The Sixth Grade Nickname Game (Korman) . . . I think I wanted to read / buy these titles for PRMS . . .

pg. 93 Genres - Poetry, traditional literature (better name than "classics"), fantasy, science fiction, realistic, historical fiction, mystery, biography / autobiography, informational, true crime . . . then I added a post-it note that says "humor," "romance," "paranormal," "dystopian"

pg. 114 - Why you should read children's books as an adult (book by Jen Robinson) - blog by her???

pg. 116 - websites! sources - Books That Don't Bore 'Em (Blasingame) / www.goodreads.com / http://jkrbooks.typepad.com / teenreads * link on my page!

pg. 137 - do book commercials

pg 165 - Notion that one teacher cannot tell another what to do / not do

I recall being really excited by this book. She promotes reading and kids respond. Too often, teachers' efforts serve more to dampen students' enthusiasm for reading. It's so exciting to see kids "get it" and get excited about books. I wish all language arts teachers would read this!

Shrimp

by Rachel Cohn
PRMS hardcover 272 pages
genre: teen realistic fiction, coming-of-age

This book is the follow-up to Gingerbread. Cyd Charisse is determined to be near her "true love," Shrimp (surfer and artist). Like the first installment, I don't feel that drawn to this challenging teenager who defies her mother and pushes boundaries in so many different ways. It's pretty mature. (She has had an abortion after making mistakes with Justin and is sexually active with Shrimp. She also swears like a sailor and has a fairly negative attitude about most things in life.) I'm wondering if I even want to keep it in the middle school collection or if I should send it to the high school . . .

Mistakes Were Made

Timmy Failure (book one?)
by Stephan Pastis
Hennepin County Library hardcover 294 pages
genre: YA humor

I generally enjoy Pastis' sense of humor (in Pearls Before Swine, his comic) but this book seemed to drag on. There's an endorsement from Jeff Kinney, but I'm not sure the fans of the Wimpy Kid books would enjoy this book much more than I did.

Timmy Failure has a detective agency and a pet polar bear who is his business partner. He's really bad at noticing things, making logical connections, and following up on information. Besides being a terrible detective, he's fairly rude and self-centered (fits with Greg Heffley there!). It was mildly amusing, but I don't think I'll buy a copy for my collection.

Resistance (book 1)

by Carla Jablonski & Leland Purvis
PRMS paperback 121 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, history

Set in WWII France, Paul and his sister Marie are both friends with Henri, a Jewish boy. When Henri's parents are taken by the Nazis, the kids scheme to find them. Well-written, I would love to read book 2 (if it exists). The artwork is unusual, but it works with the story. History is brought to life in the sneers and smiles of the different characters. Paul's affinity for drawing plays a cool role in the story. This is one of five graphic novels for my sixth grade book club.

Heaven

by Angela Johnson
PRMS paperback 138 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction, coming-of-age, relationships

Marley lives with her parents and brother Butchy in Heaven, OH. Her best friend, Shoogy, comes from a perfect family but cuts herself. Bobby asks Marley to watch his baby, Feather. Marley has spent her life wiring money to her uncle Jack and receiving letters from him. Then a letter comes on behalf of Monna Floyd and everything Marley thought she knew comes into question.

I read this because it came back to the media center damaged. I wanted to know if it was worth replacing. Johnson is a wonderful author and this won a Coretta Scott King award . . . but I don't think it will "sell" well to my readers. Published in 1998, it's a bit on the old side, too. It's beautiful, but I probably won't replace it.

Obsidian

a Lux novel
by Jennifer L Armentrout
Hennepin County Library paperback 335 pages
genre: paranormal romance

This was highly recommended by a ninth grader who is near & dear to my heart. I requested it from the library, got it, and had to hurry and read it because there's a waiting list for it. It was cleaner than I anticipated (lots and lots of sexual tension and attraction, but not much activity). I'm glad that I didn't read the back before reading the book . . . and I don't want to spoil it here. Obviously, the incredibly gorgeous neighbor, Daemon, is not an ordinary person. But Katy's introduction to this supermodel hottie is a rude one. He is insulting and condescending. She throws his rudeness right back at him and decides she is better off not making friends in this new town in West Virginia. Until she meets Daemon's sister Dee. This was an exciting page-turner. I can see why my student recommended it ("Jennifer Armentrout is my *favorite* author!!!) but I don't plan to read more. Although it is less cloying than other books in this genre, it is basically a teen hormone book. One I would consider adding to my collection if I had a bigger budget . . . it has the sex appeal without the actual sex!

Snow Day

by Billy Coffey
Hennepin County Library hardcover 195 pages
genre: Christian fiction

Sweet, cute little book that made me frustrated by halfway through . . . it's more a collection of vignettes with morals than an actual novel. Thirty-something Peter Boyd takes a snow day when his kids have one. A day away from his factory job (that may not exist much longer) gives him a chance to reflect upon his life . . . and go to the Super Mart. For bread and milk and stocking stuffers and the first of many, many, many encounters with people who help him realize some deep truth about life.

I liked it okay. Some of the stories were cute (like the kid sledding down the hill despite his mother's concern). But it was too episodic and moralistic for me. Yes, the morals were good ones. And some of them even felt genuinely meaningful. But it just didn't work as a piece of fiction for me. More chicken soup for the soul, anyone?

Bone: Quest for the Spark

Book 2
by Tom Sniegoski
PRMS paperback 234 pages
genre: YA adventure

I'm not sure where I originally got this, but it's not as much fun as the graphic novels. I read it to see if I wanted to buy book one and continue it as a collection. No, I don't. I had to force myself to read it. It actually "feels" like the tone and mood of the graphic novels, but the cast of characters just didn't do it for me.

Tom Elm (young hero, identified by the Dreaming to lead the quest)
Percival Bone (flies the Queen of the Sky ship and tinkers with things)
Randolf Clearmeadow (Veni Yan who has lost his confidence and is helping with the quest)
Abbey & Barclay (twins, obnoxious, Percival's niece and nephew)
Roderick the raccoon
Stinky & Smelly - the two stupid rat creatures
Lorimar - tree spirit
Nacht (sheer evil being, determined to destroy the Dreaming)
the Constable (a human, taken over by an evil spirit to do the Nacht's bidding)
King Agak - leader of the rat creatures
Bears - Al, Bobby, & ?

If You Don't Feed the Teachers, They Eat the Students!

subtitled "Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers"
by Neila A. Connors
PRMS paperback 143 pages
genre: professional / morale

This was a re-read for me, and once again I was struck by how much it is geared toward *administrators* and makes me think of Sue Kreuser and all the amazing things she did as our building leader at PRMS. I miss her so much! It doesn't help much that my own morale is low - tiredness and stress can be overwhelming. There are many, many great ideas in this book.

These are the 14 strategies for S.A.N.E. (Self-disciplined And Nurturing Enthusiasts) people. I scanned them here to refer back to, though perhaps I should make cards and display them on my desktop as constant reminders. I certainly don't feel very sane these days . . .

At the end of the book, she lists 150 Fat-free D.E.S.S.E.R.T.S. (Defining Experiences Structured to Support, Encourage, and Reward Teachers' Spirit). I don't want to violate copyright law, but I wanted to make note of some of the ideas here (where I'll look at them again):

1. Faculty Birthday Party Celebrations
2. Secret Pal for the Year and/or Holidays
3. "You Need a Laugh" Awards
4. "Another Great Week" Get-Togethers with Coffee and Snacks
5. Organize Discussion Groups to Look for Solutions to Challenges
6. Suggestions / Questions / Concerns Box
7. T.G.I.T. Refreshments and Luncheons (Thank Goodness It's Today)
8. Spruce Up and Maintain a Pleasing Teachers' Lounge.
9. Monthly Wellness Sessions and Updates
10. "Take a Teacher to Lunch," "No Bus Duty," and "Release Time" Coupons
11. Swap Classrooms and/or Assignments for a Day or a Week
12. Shadow a Colleague for a Day

These titles don't include the blurbs of info. I'm too tired to do anything else with this. The book is on my Professional shelf at 371.2 Con.

From reviews on GoogleBooks:
(these made me laugh . . . )

Review: If You Don't Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students!: Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers

User Review - Goodreads

Great ideas and advice for administrators and teachers! I just wish it was research based.

Review: If You Don't Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students!: Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers

User Review - Goodreads

I can't even finish this book. There is absolutely no substance. And for the record, I did read all the way up to the desserts so I'm not basing my dislike of the book on just a chapter. It was so repetitive and made me feel brain-dead.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 CDs
read by Paul Boehmer, Susan Duerden, Roselyn Landor, John Lee, and Juliet Mills
genre: Historical fiction

This was a re-read for me, as I enjoyed the story so much the first time I encountered it. The cast does a marvelous job of bringing the many characters to life. This is one I could own and enjoy over and over again.

Set in 1946, author Juliet Ashton is ready to start a new book and move past the war. Receiving a letter from a stranger on the island of Guernsey, she begins corresponding with members of the literary society. But this group of readers is like no other she has ever encountered! What a delightful story of books, reading, and people. It is an amazing and beautiful story.

 

<Above posted 11.17.2013. Below posted 2009.>

 

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (her niece)
hardcover, mine, 278 pages

I'll have to blog later. I'm running out of time! Excellent book. Swept me up.

Later:
Told entirely in letters, this story of a young woman dealing with post-WWII emotions captivated me. Juliet Ashton is the central character who is drawn to the island of Guernsey, which was occupied by German forces during the war. Just a lovely, lovely book! There were times I almost made a "cheat sheet" of all the different characters, but I read it quickly enough (on the beach in Naples, Florida) that I was able to keep it all straight. The romance, the history, the characters - all made it a delightful read! This is our CMSW book club title for March. I look forward to the discussion!

 

<This below added 6.2.2023.>

 

I love this story so much! I think it's a love letter to books and reading as much as it is a love story between Juliet and Dawsey or between many of the characters and the island itself.  I did a re-listen to the audio version on the Libby app. 

I recently made the connection between Izzy Bickerstaff (Juliet's nom de plume during the war) and the fictitious Mrs. Miniver of British WWII morale building.

I should go back and check my print copy, but I'm pretty sure that we only read letters TO Sophie (Sidney's sister and Juliet's dear friend) but none FROM her. Interesting.

I noticed some of the book / movie differences rather glaringly. The movie came out in 2018 and I've watched it twice. (I really like this story!) I thought it was pretty faithful to the book, but there are things that are quite different. (Like the crabby and self-righteous Adelaide Addison. In the movie, Juliet initially stays in her house and she has a different name - I think. I like the letters / book version better, even though she remains a completely awful person either way.)

It was driving me crazy when they mentioned the "Todt workers" throughout. I tried googling "toad workers" and "tote workers" with the book title and go nowhere. I'm glad I had my print copy to check! They were basically forced labor who the Nazis used to further their engineering projects. They starved and beat them and used them until they died. They were typically men and boys taken from conquered lands.

The Secrets of Mary Bowser

by Lois Leveen
Carver County Library paperback 450 pages
genre: historical fiction

Great book club discussion Monday after school! We all liked the book. The author did a lot of research based on the real Mary Bowser (and Bet Van Lew). The story starts with young Mary as a slave girl in the Van Lew household and follows her through her education in Philadelphia, her return to Richmond to spy for the North, and into her later years. It's still so hard for me to think about people who felt justified in treating other human beings as possessions. Hard issues, but an excellent book!

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

by David Allen
Hennepin County Library
AudioCDs 7 discs
read by the author
genre: Non-fiction, organization, time management

This was worth waiting for! Not sure where I first heard about it, but I've been on the waiting list for over three months. His system makes a lot of sense to me, but I'm a little intimidated about getting going. I've blocked off the two days after Thanksgiving to "collect" all my "open loops" and do the collecting and processing at home to get my clutter (mental and physical) under control. I have already started on little pieces - like having an errands list and a projects list. The "next action" concept is something I'll have to practice more. I love the point he makes about to-do lists and calendar items. I'm excited to try this and I hope to make progress! I think for now, I'm only going to implement it at home. I really ought to try it at work, too, but I'm just not ready to go there yet.

Scaredy Squirrel & Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend

by Melanie Watt
PRMS hardcover picture books
genre: children's books

One of my colleagues uses Scaredy Squirrel in her classroom and I wondered what it was about. So I took these home yesterday to find out! Scaredy likes to stay in his tree, safe and in his predictable routine. Unexpected situations cause him to make some changes. Very cute books.

Gingerbread

by Rachel Cohn
PRMS hardcover 172 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction, coming-of-age

Cyd Charisse is an edgy teenager who is living with her mom and stepdad. They get tired of her "hellion" behavior and her time spent with "that boy" (aka Shrimp, her surfer boyfriend) so they send her to New York to spend three weeks with her bio-dad Frank. She has only met Frank once when she was five years old. He gave her a rag doll and some gingerbread, so she named the doll Gingerbread. She confides in her doll and still carries it around as a sixteen year old girl.

Cyd is a believable character with a painful secret. This is an odd, but engaging story. It is definitely for my more mature readers.

Mansfield Park

by Jane Austen
PRMS hardcover 408 pages
genre: historical fiction, romance

I forced myself to finish this book. It was the only Austen I had not read. I shall not read it again. Fanny is sent from her overcrowded home to live with her aunt and uncle at Mansfield Park. They are wealthy and egocentric. Fanny is a navel-gazer who can barely function with anyone other than her cousin Edmund. It takes these people forever and five conversations to say one sentiment.

Can you tell I hated it? I'm so glad I'm finally done reading this. It helped that it was on my iPad and I could finish on the drive home from Iowa. I have re-read Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, but I do not think I will ever open this book again. Goodbye, Fanny! Goodbye Crawfords! Goodbye, most awful Aunt Norris! (Not the aunt of Mansfield Park; just an odious sister of hers.)

Dakota Dream

by James Bennett
PRMS paperback 182 pages
genre: realistic fiction, coming-of-age

Floyd has been in foster homes, group homes, and left "hanging" while waiting for a new place to live. He wants a place to belong and sees himself as a Dakota Indian. He refers to it as his Destiny. Calling himself Charley Black Crow, he takes off one day to go to an Indian Reservation. This is where the story begins, then his back story is told while he is on a vision quest.

I read this to see if I should keep it in the collection or weed it. I don't think it has much "kid appeal" since it gets off to a very slow start. I thought about keeping it for the cultural aspect . . . except that he is a white kid who has a tremendous amount of respect for and knowledge about American Indians. I am glad I read it, but I'm not sure it will appeal to my readers.

Rules of Murder

by Julianna Deering
Hennepin County Library paperback 328 pages
genre: Christian historical mystery fiction

This was fun, but not terribly gripping. Drew Farthering is a dashing 1930s man of wealth who loves to read and solve mysteries. Two bodies are found at his family estate and the detective work begins. There's also a little romance with Madeline Parker.

We read this for book club and as usual - I enjoyed the discussion! My favorite thing was Jodi saying she could picture the book's events happening as though in an old black and white film from this era.

I actually found the solution of the mystery a bit confusing. I won't do a spoiler here, but the pieces came together at the end in a way that I don't think the author had dropped enough clues about.

Parts I marked:
page 118 - contemplating one's life in light of eternity / also, Madeline's peace and certain hope
page 176 - hypocrites in the church and where they need to be - "It's not the healthy people who need the hospital, you know."
page 292 - Drew saying "God, what does she want from me?" and then turning it into an actual prayer of seeking to God.

The End Is Just the Beginning: How I Survived the Death of My Only Child

by Michela Duplechain
friend's copy paperback 111 pages
genre: memoir, Christian encouragement

I don't think the friend who wholeheartedly recommended this book has actually read it. Although it is definitely a faith-focused book filled with encouragement from Scripture, I didn't find it compelling. The spelling and grammar errors were very distracting; I'm not sure if anyone actually edited this before it went to press. The author's primary audience is women who have had a child die; her secondary audience is women suffering from domestic abuse. Neither of these "spoke" to me. As she relates her own experience, the storytelling is disjointed, vague, and confusing. Did her son's father actually parent with her? Or was he also an abuser like her second husband (who killed her son Anthony). There are so many unanswered questions (in my mind). It is a great testimony of her faith and what God did in her life. My favorite part was her grandma coming over to her house and banging on the door. I would rather read the Bible than the time I spent reading this book, though.

Thief of Time

by Terry Pratchett
PRMS paperback 357 pages
genre: fantasy

This Discworld novel has been sitting at my house for over two years. I had enough time on the flight home from New York to read almost the entire thing. There were parts of it that I found extremely clever and enjoyable. There were times I just thought it was silly and pointless. I think I would have loved this book as a teenager . . . in some ways, it made me think of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Lu-Tze is a sweeper. Jeremy a clockmaker. Lobsang a gifted foundling. Susan a teacher. The nature of time and humanity are questioned. Odd, but good. I'm not going to continue reading this series, but at least now I have a sense of what it's like.

The Light Between Oceans

by M.L. Stedman
personal hardcover 343 pages
genre: historical fiction, relationships

Where to begin? This was beautiful and painful. Tom Sherbourne has fought in WWI and come back alive to Australia. He becomes the lighthouse keeper out at remote Janus, a small island off the southwest coast. He falls in love with and marries Isabel, who suffers with three miscarriages. Then a boat comes to Janus with a dead man and a live baby. Tom wants to dutifully report it, but Izzy begs him to wait a day. The man is already dead and the baby needs to be cared for. Once the deception has begun, it leads places neither of them anticipate.

Jenifer gave this to me. I spilled coffee all over it. It dried, though it is brown and wrinkly. I cannot bear to get rid of it. It will live at the lake and be shared and re-read.

page 174 - After receiving a letter from his long-estranged father:
"It seemed a lifetime since Tom had spoken to this man. How it must have cost him, to write such a letter. That his father had made an attempt to contact him after their bitter separation was not just a surprise but a shock. Nothing seemed certain any more. Tom wondered whether his father's coldness protected a wound all along."   The phrase "nothing seemed certain any more" really resonated for me. Those of us who make up our minds too quickly sometimes have to stop and consider possibilities we've not allowed into our minds.

page 225 - When Tom is put in prison:
"He cannot reconcile the grief he feels at what he has done and the profound relief that runs through him. Two opposing physical forces, they create an inexplicable reaction . . . " The mix of grief and relief seems so artistic yet very, very real. Beautiful.

page 253 - After Bluey visits Tom in the prison and he thinks about Isabel and Lucy:
"Then he remembered Ralph's words - 'no point in fighting your war over and over until you get it right.' Instead, he sought comfort in perspective: in his mind's eye, he mapped out on the ceiling the exact position the stars would be in that night, starting with Sirius, always the brightest . . . The precision of it, the quiet orderliness of the stars, gave him a sense of freedom. There was nothing he was going through that the stars had not seen before, somewhere, some time on this earth." I think this struck me because I find it so easy to get caught up in life's dramas, yet there really isn't anything new under the stars. For me as a Christian, trusting that God is in charge and I just need to have faith makes the cares of this world fade away.

page 323 - Hannah remembers a conversation with Frank:
"You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things." What a great perspective!

Pop Princess

by Rachel Cohn
PRMS hardcover 311 pages
genre: YA romance, coming-of-age

I tried to get a middle schooler to read this and give me her opinion. She couldn't do more than a few chapters, deeming it "too girly." So I started it at lunch yesterday and finished it last night. Wonder Blake is 15 and working at Dairy Queen when her older sister's manager "discovers" her singing and dancing with a mop. Since Lucky was killed by a drunk driver two years earlier, the entire Blake family has been sleepwalking through life. Wonder's journey through life, including sudden pop princess stardom, is actually an interesting one. There are some romance readers who would definitely enjoy the relationships Wonder has in this book . . .

Love, Stargirl

by Jerry Spinelli
Hennepin County Library audioCDs, 6:20
read by Mandy Siegfried

This book bugged me . . . and I'm not sure why. Dootsie was a little brat, Stargirl was irritating, Perry was such a delinquent (though we finally find out what's up with him toward the end of the book). Spinelli definitely creates memorable characters, though. I found myself wanting to meet Arnold, Betty Lou, Alvina, and Charlie. The storyline of Stargirl writing a book-long letter to Leo back in Arizona just didn't work for me, though. I am not sure what kind of reader would most enjoy this book . . . and I kind of want to re-read Stargirl. I loved that book! Siegfried's voice work was nice, so I'm really not sure why this story bugged me so much.

Sigh. No idea when I wrote this . . . I probably read it at LEAST three years ago. I'm not very good at keeping track of things. That was the purpose of this blog. To keep track of the books I'm reading. That's why I don't want to use GoodReads. I want everything in one place so I can find it!

Banned Books Week

I read about this on: http://melissasbookreviews.blogspot.com/2008/09/banned-books-week-meme.html and thought I'd try it.

Look through this list of most banned books. If you have read the whole book, bold it. If you have read part of the book, italicize it. If you own it but haven't gotten around to reading it yet, *** it.

-->The fact that some of those books were banned surprises me - others, not so much :)
Jeanne's note:  Here's another blog entry that I started a long, long, long time ago, but didn't publish. Not sure when/why I thought I would make note of it.

1. The Bible
2. Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
4. The Koran
5. Arabian Nights
6. Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
7. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
8. Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
9. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
10. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
11. The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
12. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe ***
13. Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
14. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert ***
15. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
16. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
17. Dracula by Bram Stoker ***
18. Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin
19. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
20. Essays by Michel de Montaigne
21. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
22. History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
23. Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
24. Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
25. Ulysses by James Joyce
26. Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio
27. Animal Farm by George Orwell
28. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
29. Candide by Voltaire
30. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
31. Analects by Confucius
32. Dubliners by James Joyce
33. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
34. Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
35. Red and the Black by Stendhal
36. Das Capital by Karl Marx
37. Flowers of Evil by Charles Baudelaire
38. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
39. Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence
40. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 
41. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
42. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
43. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair ***
44. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque ***
45. Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx
46. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
47. Diary by Samuel Pepys
48. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway ***
49. Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
50. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
51. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak ***
52. Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant
53. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
54. Praise of Folly by Desiderius Erasmus
55. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller ***
56. Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
57. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
58. Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
59. Essay Concerning Human Understanding by John Locke
60. Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
61. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
62. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
63. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
64. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison ***
65. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
66. Confessions by Jean Jacques Rousseau
67. Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais
68. Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
69. The Talmud
70. Social Contract by Jean Jacques Rousseau
71. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
72. Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence
73. American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
74. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler
75. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
76. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
77. Red Pony by John Steinbeck
78. Popol Vuh
79. Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith
80. Satyricon by Petronius
81. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
82. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
83. Black Boy by Richard Wright
84. Spirit of the Laws by Charles de Secondat Baron de Montesquieu
85. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
86. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
87. Metaphysics by Aristotle
88. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
89. Institutes of the Christian Religion by Jean Calvin
90. Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
91. Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
92. Sanctuary by William Faulkner
93. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
94. Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
95. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
96. Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
97. General Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud
98. Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
99. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Alexander Brown ***
100. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
101. Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines
102. Émile Jean by Jacques Rousseau
103. Nana by Émile Zola
104. Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
105. Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
106. Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
107. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
108. Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck
109. Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark
110. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
111. Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
112. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
113. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
114. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
115. The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Keatly Snyder

The Pact

by Walter J. Roers
PRMS paperback 180 pages
genre: realistic historical fiction

I can't believe it took me so long to read this book! Erica uses it with our 8th grade LAX kids. It reads like a memoir - detailed, painfully real, relationships and events recounted so powerfully. I was sobbing by the end, even though I knew from reading students' assignments what happened. Michael is an average Minnesota kid growing up in the 1940s. His older brother Ron is always coming up with schemes for them to try. His baby sister Katy often needs comforting or watching. The new kid, Ricky, soon becomes his best friend. But his dad's drinking and rage dominates their lives even more than their mother's love. Powerful book! The power and pain of secrets runs strong in this first novel.

Here's another "draft" that I started many months ago . . . and I'm not sure why I didn't publish it. We had Roers come to visit last spring. Erica Penn's students had read The Pact. It was very interesting to visit with him and hear about his experiences growing up and how they shaped this book.

Pearl Buck in China

by Hilary Spurling
Hennepin County Library audioCds 9 discs
read by the author
genre: biography

Fascinating and enlightening. I have not read The Good Earth, but definitely want to now. I am amazed at how prolific Buck was as an author! Her personal story is interesting and sad to me. The author did a wonderful job of crafting a biography that is neither fawning nor overly critical. Her voice was odd, but it fit the story of Pearl Buck's life. I am interested in reading the stories she wrote about her parents - The Exile and ??? I don't remember. she had such an unusual childhood growing up in China and having a missionary father who seemed to care very little for his own family. Her divorce and marriage to her editor in the 1930s must have been very sensational indeed.

I started writing this many months ago and didn't realize I hadn't published it . . . on 10/13/13, I mostly remember this being very interesting while also quite sad. She was a very interesting person whose books had a huge impact on her audiences. I believe she truly loved China and wanted others to know what it was really like.

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

by Laura Hillenbrand
PRMS hardcover 406 pages plus notes
genre: biography

I have heard people rave about this book, but wasn't sure I'd really enjoy it that much. I did. I started listening to it as an audiobook, but had to return that to the public library. I checked out the print copy from my collection, but wasn't going to put it on the top of my reading pile. But I wanted to maintain the thread of the story I had been listening to, so I started reading a little bit before bed. Within a few days, I had finished the entire book. Amazing.

At the outset, I thought Louie Zamperini was a horrible miscreant. He was so naughty with stealing things, mouthing off, etc. Then as a runner, he had such incredible success! From his natural talent to his brother Pete's "training" him to push himself, what a great story. It's hard to think of what he could have become (as an athlete) if the war hadn't happened . . . but then, so many lives (millions of them!) were dramatically changed because of WWII. His experiences early in the war bugged me too - the cavalier way the men had toward safety boggles my mind. (Their behavior would NOT go over well in today's military, I think.)

His experiences as a Prisoner of War in Japan . . . sobering. I've never really known what that was like for our servicemen. It gives me a very different understanding of the Pacific Theatre and what our military was facing. It still doesn't make the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki "okay" in my mind, but I better understand the reasons.

Zamperini's personal story goes even beyond the incredible experiences through the end of the war. I am so glad that his wife convinced him to go! Praise God for getting his attention! What a cool and amazing book!

An Abundance of Katherines

by John Green
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 discs
read by Jeff Woodman
genre: YA realistic fiction, coming-of-age

This was not what I expected, but Green has again crafted a memorable story. Colin Singleton, child prodigy, has just been dumped by K-19 (the 19th girl named Katherine that he has dated) and he is pondering whether or not he matters. He and best friend (only friend, actually) Hassan Harbish convince their parents to let them take a road trip to help Colin through his anguish. They end up in Gutshot, Tennessee and get to know Lindsey Lee Wells. Colin's quirkiness (anagramming names and words on the fly) and Hassan's determination to be lazy make for an interesting friendship as Colin tries to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability. This probably won't appeal to my most ardent Green fans . . . but it's good for those bright kids who like something different.

Dinner with the Smileys: One Military Family, One Year of Heroes, and Lessons for a Lifetime

by Sarah Smiley
Hennepin County Library hardcover 359 pages
genre: Non-fiction memoir

What an amazing book! I had to mop up my tears more than once and the author was merely sharing honestly. It was not maudlin at all. She just shared her story of her husband being deployed for 13 months while she tried to maintain some normalcy for their three sons. The idea of inviting someone over for dinner each week to "sit in Dad's chair" while he was away started as almost a joke. But when it really came to fruition, it helped the family to mark the time with more focus on the here and now. The photos add so much to the story; it is only at the end of the book that we learn that her friend came to most of the dinners and took pictures. This is a wonderful read. I especially appreciate it as someone who doesn't have anyone near and dear to me in the military. What a difficult life! Her husband sounds like an amazing guy, and Sarah Smiley did an amazing job with her boys in his absence.

Racing the Past

by Sis Deans
PRMS hardcover 151 pages
genre: realistic fiction

Ricky Gordon is a wonderful character with strengths and struggles. His father died when he drove off a road while drunk, and most people (including Ricky) think it's the best thing he ever did for his family. Trying to recover from the abusive alcoholic's treatment of his family, Ricky tries to look out for his brother and baby sister.

I really like this book. There is a lot going on for Ricky and his family as well as within his community. His walking to and from school (to stay away from a bully and fights) turns into running. Running opens doors for him and his future. This will be a great one for me to booktalk to "edgy" sixth grade boys . . . it has some swearing and somewhat intense content, but is relatively positive and easy to read.

The Juvie Three

by Gordon Korman
Carver County Library audiobook 5 discs
read by Christopher Evan Welch
genre: YA realistic fiction

Gecko, RJ, and Terrence went to prison for different reasons, but Douglas Healy saw something in each of them worth redeeming. He fought for a special halfway house to help them get out of juvenile detention (and in RJ's case, adult prison). What happens to the "boys" when they are with Healy would give away the story. Suffice it to say, I really dislike Terrence and his propensity for selfish choices. Gecko was my favorite and I loved RJ! This was a thoroughly enjoyable story without being too goody-goody (yet doesn't have a lot of the ugliness that so many edgy YA books have). Delightful! Welch did excellent vocal work on this!

Skullcrack

by Ben Bo
PRMS hardcover 159 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction w/supernatural elements

A parent called last year to complain about her son reading this book. I talked to the student and found a different book for him to read. So now I have FINALLY read this, and I'm not sure what she was objecting to . . . did she think it was about drugs?

Jonah loves to surf. It's how he escapes his problems, and especially his alcoholic father. He has some weird visions and kids at school think he's crazy (like his dad). Megan tries to befriend him while her brother Billy taunts. His dad takes the money Jonah has earned working for Fergus on his boat and spends it all on alcohol. Worse, he tears up the only photo of his mother that Jonah had.

Sally
twins
The Bone Man
prophesying
Gaelic words, expressions
hurricane Edwin in Florida

Interesting book. Not especially well-written, but not horrible.

Sweet Mercy

by Ann Tatlock
Carver County Library paperback 311 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction

Set during the Great Depression, this is a story of a teenager who strives to be the "good girl" she thinks her parents want. Her older sister Cassandra was a wild child, drinking, partying, and hanging out with the boys.

Ugh. Can't write a synopsis. Loved the book! Tatlock is a wonderful writer. Even seemed almost too innocent and pure, but it was realistic for the era . . . and in response to trying to be unlike an older sibling who went astray. Eve's black and white view of everything was part of what made the lesson of mercy come home in this book.

Link, Marcus, Jones, Annie and Moses, bootlegging, bands, raids . . . It was very fun to go see The Belmont Hotel show right after reading this.


Added 4 Dec 2013:
I had made some notes on a card after our book club discussion. Not much came of it . . .
- Al Capone - end of life conversion to Christianity? I didn't find anything that indicated he had repented and turned to Jesus before he died. I am not willing to invest a lot of time and energy looking, but I spent some time searching online and didn't come up with anything. There was an interesting story about what happened with his body and publicity hounds, though.
- Five and Twenty Law? Doesn't seem as though this was a real phenomenon. In the book, it sounded completely legit, but I can't find evidence of a law like this anywhere. Again, I didn't search exhaustively, but it certainly doesn't show up in the many keyword searches I tried.
- MN History Center? They have a new exhibit on Prohibition and I really want to go! I wonder if I should try to get Louie to go with me, or get the book club ladies to go.
- Killer who repented to Chuck Colson? Again, couldn't find it. In his many years of prison ministry, he probably heard lots of criminals repent and turn their lives over to Jesus. But in my looking online, I couldn't find a story that stood out. I think someone at book club had mentioned this.

Lockdown (Escape from Furnace #1)

by Alexander Gordon Smith
PRMS paperback 290 pages
genre: YA horror

Alex Sawyer - thief, bully . . . NOT a killer, tried & convicted for the murder of his best friend Toby
Donovan - his cell mate, been in Furnace five years (for killing abusive father figure to prevent his mother's death)
Zee - went in with Alex, helped him once, planning with him to escape
Montgomery - went in with Alex and Zee, picked on by the Skulls
Gary - new "fish" - cruel, takes over the Skulls

After the horrible "Summer of Slaughter" when so many teenagers ran rampant and killed innocent people for no apparent reason, Furnace was built deep underground. "An underground hellhole. A place of pure evil with walls soaked in blood." The horrors of Furnace are part the reality of a really horrible prison and part the imagined horrors of supernatural creation. This book is intense (and part of me wants to keep reading the series . . . ). My favorite parts were when the guys talked about the importance of having hope. And the author interview at the end. What a fun individual!

Cause: Reconstruction America, 1863-1877

by Tonya Bolden
PRMS hardcover 121 pages
genre: non-fiction, history

I feel so ignorant of history! This was an interesting book about the period just after the Civil War. It is a bit disconcerting to think of what the Republicans and Democrats stood for at that point in U.S. history. It was also a very stark reminder that our country had some very serious problems (and that our modern view of things getting really bad is perhaps a bit skewed). It makes me sad to read about some of the ugly things done and to imagine what it would have been like to live (especially in the south) during that era. "Andrew Johnson" has never been a very key president in my mind, but his leadership definitely impacted our country in a powerful way. I can't help but wonder how things would have been different had Lincoln remained in office.

Beastly

by Alex Flinn
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 discs
read by Chris Patton
genre: YA romance, fantasy

Basically, it's the Beauty and the Beast story in modern NYC.

Liked: interesting enough to listen to, great narrator, happy-ever-after, literary allusions and references

Disliked: the "chat room" stuff with other creatures who've had transformations, generally a shallow story, Kyle's jerk personality dominating so much of the book

Now I know what kind of reader to recommend it to!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

by John Boyne
PRMS hardcover 212 pages
genre: YA Holocaust fiction

I'm glad I *finally* read this book! Kids seem to love it a lot. It's often gone from my shelves.

Bruno is a nine-year-old boy who really doesn't understand a lot of things. Mistaking "Fuhrer" for "Fury" and "Auschwitz" for "Out-with," he can only relate to the fact that he and his family have had to leave their lovely home in Berlin so that his father can wear a fancy new uniform and be a Commandant. He doesn't understand the large fence next to his new home or why all the people living inside the fence are so skinny and wearing striped pajamas.

I feel silly saying this, but the ending took me a bit by surprise. I wonder if kids reading this book understand the true horrors of the Holocaust, or if Bruno's naive view somehow softens the reality. This would be interesting to do for book club.

Smiles to Go

by Jerry Spinelli
Hennepin County Library audiobook 4 discs
read by Conor Donovan
genre: YA realistic fiction, relationships, family

Although there were some things that were very likable about this book, the irritating behavior of five-year-old Tabby made me not able to appreciate them. She is absolutely horrid in her behavior and her parents are benign figures who just take everything in stride. Protagonist Will Tuppence is definitely a bit too rigid in how he deals with everything in his life (including his little sister), but this story fell flat for me. Will and his best friends Mi-Su and BT are navigating the waters of teenage life, but the friendship dynamic is an odd one with these personalities.

My favorite part: Will getting advice from five-year-old neighbor Korbet.

Bigfoot Boy: Into the Woods

by J. Torres and Faith Erin Hicks
PRMS paperback 100 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, fantasy adventure

Quick. Fun. Rufus is left at his grandma's house, where he escapes her soap operas by following neighbor girl Penny into the woods. He finds a totem necklace and when he says the word on it, Sasquatch, he turns into one. A "younger" more innocent graphic novel.

Creed's Honor

by Linda Lael Miller
Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 CDs
read by: Jack Garrett
genre: romance

Speaking of romance, WHY do I continue to sample them? The protagonist, Tricia McCall, is too wishy-washy. The relationship progression goes: attraction, first kiss, hot sex, first date. What?! Conner Creed is gorgeous, smart, etc. and yet is available. His twin brother Brody has recently returned home, but they have bad history between them.

Redeeming qualities? Not as trashy as some other romance writing. But I know why some people refer to romance novels as "pornography for women." The storytelling was weak. What happened between Brody & what's-her-face to make Conner think his brother betrayed him and caused the two to not talk for over a decade? Why did Tricia stay in a "relationship" for a year and a half with a guy she almost never communicated with? Because he's "safe"? Really? Her great-grandmother vacates her house within a few days once she has decided to move to Denver. Really?

This just didn't work for me. And the romance wasn't. Romantic, I mean. Tricia was just too pathetic for me.

The Moon and More

by Sara Dessen
Hennepin County Library hardcover 435 pages
genre: YA romance, coming-of-age

Better than the Colasanti stuff, but still not my cup of tea! Emaline has been dating the gorgeous Luke since the two were freshman. Ready to enjoy her last summer before college, Emaline gets caught up in a wave of emotions surrounding her relationship with her biological father, ambitious Theo, and her friends and family members.

My favorite parts involved Clyde, the mysterious artist about whom Theo and his obnoxious film-making boss are pursuing a story.

Predictable, but definitely a better story than other YA romances.

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a man who would cure the world

by Tracy Kidder
Hennepin County Library audiobook 9 discs
read by Paul Michael
genre: non-fiction

later!

I finished this a week ago, but the impact it left on me is strong. I had never heard of Dr. Paul Farmer before this story. He is undoubtedly an exceptional person who has not allowed barriers to stop his work in improving health care for Haitians and others. His methodology and philosophy are not acceptable to everyone, however. He can come across as arrogant and self-important. He certainly doesn't hesitate to criticize anyone who disagrees with him.

Yet . . . who of us has worked so tirelessly to help others? His compassion for the poor and frustration with the disparities of rich vs. poor access to health care is very real. He has truly made a difference.

I think this author did an amazing job of capturing and relating the different facets of Farmer's personality, philosophy, and work. I would love to read more of Kidder's work; I think he's a gifted author.

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

sub-sub titled "Supercharge your mental circuits to beat stress, sharpen your thinking, lift your mood, boost your memory and much more."

by John J. Ratey, M.D. with Eric Hagerman
Hennepin County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by  ??? The author, I believe
genre: non-fiction self-help

Must blog later - just realized how late I am!

Later (8/30/13) - started several days ago . . . and am now finishing.

This book was very interesting. The author cited a lot of research that correlates aerobic exercise with mental wellness. He covered the impact of exercise on depression, dementia, addiction, stress, ADHD, etc. My favorite parts were the school-related findings and how exercise can decrease the negative impacts of stress. Now if only I could get it in gear and start moving!

The Raft

by S.A. Bodeen
PRMS hardcover 231 pages
genre: YA survival story

This is a good one for kids who like quick reads. Robie is flying from her aunt's home in Honolulu to her parents on Midway Island when the plane goes down. A lot of the story is about this relatively shallow (IMO) teenager and how she reacts to situations. But there are some neat undercurrents that result in a fun ending. I enjoyed it and can easily recommend it to middle schoolers who like suspense. As Carol Scheffler said, "There are so few survival stories with female protagonists."

Eleanor and Park

by Rainbow Rowell
Hennepin County Library hardcover 325 pages
genre: YA relationships

Leslie Geissler told me "You HAVE to read this book!" I'm so glad she did. It was a bit hard to get past the use of the F-word (for me), but it was such an incredible story of two people who find friendship, then love, after being misfits for a long time. Eleanor is a very poor girl who wears strange clothing and has flaming red hair. She's not petite. Park is an Asian American who is quite attractive, but not typically masculine. They are wonderful characters to get to know. I need to buy this one for my collection.

Blue Moon Bay

by Lisa Wingate
Hennepin County Library paperback 377 pages
genre: Christian fiction

"For Seattle architect Heather Hampton, a trip back to tiny Moses Lake, Texas, is hardly in the plan. Yet because a promotion hinges on the sale of the family farmland, Heather heads to the last place she ever watned to go. She's determined to return home, signed contract in hand, the next day."

This was a wonderful book! Maddening at times - I actually had to set it aside for a bit - the relationships and characters were engaging. I empathized with Heather while I thought she should work on her communication skills. There was some mystery at the end, and of course everything works out. Some of these people wasted 16 years not resolving issues, though.

I hadn't heard of this author before. Book Club should be fun!

9/1/13
Book club WAS fun! It's always a joy to hear other people's opinions. I already took my post-it flags out of the book, but I marked sections where Heather expressed her love for her brother Clay, where she compared Clay's attitude to having faith, where she remembers her father talking about accepting Jesus and the way he loved unconditionally . . . there were a lot of good parts in this book. I mostly didn't like how her family kept secrets from her. We also had a good conversation about parents being partial to one child over another. How can people do that?

Spinal Cord Injury and the Family

by Dr. Michelle J. Alpert and Saul Wisnia
Hennepin County Library paperback 329 pages
genre: non-fiction

This is an amazing book - so much so that I'm ordering my own copy off Amazon. It is informative, positive, and has lots of examples from different people's lives. It covers an incredible range of issues for SCI individuals and their families.

I also liked (but not nearly as much) - Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury. I didn't read a lot of it, but it was definitely informative and had helpful graphics.

I absolutely could not get much out of a third book I got at the same time. I've already returned it and don't remember the title, but it was written by two doctors who are apparently unaware that lay people do not have their medical knowledge.

Added 2/6/14
I finished reading all of SCI and the Family. What an incredibly well-written book. The authors are compassionate, helpful, realistic, and encouraging. They talk about physical issues, parenting, sexuality, dating, and different types of relationships. I'm glad I read this. I hope that it reaches a large audience of people who have been affected by SCI.

Deeply Odd

by Dean Koontz
Hennepin County Library audiobook 8 discs
read by David Aaron Baker
genre: paranormal adventure, mystery

This one actually had me wondering what would happen to Odd. It was so very dark in places . . . I still like the very first Odd Thomas book the best. This one was hard to listen to in places with the demons and the evil. I liked Edie Fischer, though thought her unusual addition to Odd's life to be a bit too coincidental. I liked the interactions with Alfred Hitchcock's ghost, though I still prefer Elvis Presley - again, the first story is best! This is a new release, but I'm already anticipating the next installment. I haven't ever read any other Koontz books, but I love this character. As always, Baker does an excellent job voicing it.

Bugged me: repetitions. I understand Koontz including info from other stories to "catch" readers up if they haven't read the other Odd Thomas books, but he repeated within this book. For example, Odd explaining Stormy's interpretation of the afterlife to Mrs. Fisher and then again to Alfred Hitchcock. It gets old! It was fun to read some of the reviews on Amazon. I should pay more attention to my writing! But as always, this blog is just my spot to record my reactions. I liked this book a lot.

Ask the Passengers

by A.S. King
Hennepin County Library hardcover 293 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age, GLBTQ

Astrid Jones isn't sure of a lot of things. Feeling unloved (by her parents, friends, etc.), she sends her love to the airplanes that pass overhead as she lies on the picnic table in her back yard. Her "best friend" Kristina is popular and cute in the small town culture of Unity Valley. Her dad gets stoned. Her mom is a perfection / control freak. Her little sister Ellis just wants to fit in. Her co-worker Dee is sometimes too aggressive, but Astrid loves kissing her. Her philosophy class is really challenging her to think about truth, life, and her paradox: Nobody's perfect.

My favorite scene: when Astrid and Ellis finally talk to one another about life toward the end of the book.

I didn't like this one quite as much as Everybody Sees the Ants, but King is an amazing writer who captures the thoughts and moods of teenagers. The small-mindedness and gossip of this small town will resonate with lots of kids.

Pendragon: the Lost City of Faar

by D.J. MacHale
personal copy paperback 386 pages
genre: YA fantasy adventure

Like: Cloral, Spader, Faar, reading it rather than listening to it as an audiobook
Dislike: ponderous storytelling style, Mark being a wuss about Andy Mitchell the bully and not telling Courtney about the problems with him and the journals until the end, the author's use of outdated slang terms . . .

I don't think I'll continue with this series. I just don't enjoy his writing style (especially compared with Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series which are super-quick and engaging reads).

Mrs. Pollifax books

by Dorothy Gilman
personal paperbacks

I know it is pretty weird to re-read spy novels . . . since I know how they turn out! But I really enjoy these and sometimes up at the lake it's nice to just relax with a familiar comfortable story. Sigh. It's R&R reading.

The Racketeer

by John Grisham
Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 CDs
genre: crime, intrigue
read by J.D. Jackson

Jackson's vocal work was excellent and I appreciate that the story wasn't overboard with swearing. I didn't like the second half where Nathan Cooley was being yanked around, but it made sense when I got to the end. Not sure why Jeff recommended it to me . . . I'll have to ask him. I like how clever Malcolm / Max was. I don't like the fictional look at the insides of our country's FBI, judicial, and other systems which can be so corrupt and wasteful. I know Grisham made up the story, but a lot of this nasty stuff really happens and I find it discouraging.

That Certain Summer

by Irene Hannon
Lake Agassiz Regional Library paperback ~300 pages
genre: Christian realistic fiction

I really enjoyed this book! Parts of it resonated with me very strongly.

Karen - cares for negative mother who has had a stroke. Husband left her for a younger woman. Struggling to raise teen daughter mostly alone. Doormat for everyone.

Val - the sister who left for an acting career. Teaches high school theatre in Chicago. Has avoided home and family for a long time.

Scott - talented musician in a horrible accident that killed his three best friends and damaged his hand.

David - newly moved to small town with young daughter. Widower. Physical therapist.

Favorite parts - the growing friendship between the two sisters, Karen learning to stand up for herself, Scott's transformation.

There are a lot of themes running throughout this book, primarily dealing with relationships. I really enjoyed this story and would love to find more of this author's work!

Anya's Ghost

by Vera Brosgol
PRMS paperback 221 pages
genre: YA graphic novel ghost story, coming-of-age

This was so weird and good! My favorite part was when Anya realized what a scumbag Sean was and when she said, "I don't think murder is an appropriate reaction to disappointment." Drawn in black and white, it has an appealing style. The ghost Emily's transformation is especially creepy.

Drama

by Raina Telgemeier
PRMS paperback 233 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, realistic fiction

Callie is a seventh grader who loves theatre, but tends to stay backstage. She and her friend Liz are designing sets and costumes (respectively) for their middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi. The drama is both offstage and on. It includes romance, broken hearts, unrequited love, and coming-out stories. It is well-written and drawn.

Divergent

by Veronica Roth
PRMS paperback 487 pages
genre: YA dystopian adventure romance

I'm so glad I read this! I like it a lot better than some of the other dystopian stuff I've read lately. Tris (Beatrice) has been raised in the Abnegation faction, but doesn't feel that she belongs there. She struggles too much with serving others and being selfless. When she goes to be tested, she learns that she is Divergent and can choose her faction. But she is also warned not to let anyone know; it is very dangerous to be Divergent. She chooses Dauntless (after watching her brother Caleb choose Erudite). Amity and Candor are the other factions. Four (Tobias) is one of her trainers in Dauntless, but he becomes her friend and then her love interest as the story progresses. I'm intrigued enough to want to read the second book, Insurgent!

Also Peter, Eric (nasties), Christina, Al (friends) and the evil mastermind of Erudite. At the end of this story, our heroes are safely tucked away in Amity, but aware that the temporary refuge will not last.

added 2/24/14:
Notes that I had on a piece of paper at the lake -
Tris (Beatrice)
Four (Tobias)

5 Factions - Dauntless / Abnegation / Amity / Erudite / Candor

Peter
Eric
Christina
Al
brother - Caleb

4 stars out of 5

Interesting that the movie is out next month and this is a super popular book right now. All three of my school copies are out and I have a waiting list! I haven't yet had time to read book #2 (which is probably also checked out). Good stuff!



The audiobook was narrated by Emma Galvin. Her vocal work was fantastic! I remember really disliking book two . . . and have never read book three. After listening to this, I kind of want to watch the movie again. Not sure what it is about this story that I like so much.

Bitter Is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-ass, or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office: A Memoir

by Jen Lancaster
Hennepin County Library paperback 400 pages
genre: memoir, humor

I'm not sure where I saw a review of this, but it piqued my interest. I didn't find it super-funny, but Lancaster is very witty. I couldn't relate to her high-powered executive days (or her fashionista shopping habits), but she tells the story so well that I liked her and wanted to know more. After 9/11 and losing her job, Lancaster and Fletch (her boyfriend, then husband) had to move to a less-expensive rental. Her job search and subsequent selling off of her former (expensive) possessions led her to some soul-searching. I enjoyed this book a lot, but will probably not read the others she's written (though they definitely have fun titles!)

Split

by Swati Avasthi
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 discs
read by Joshua Swanson
genre: realistic fiction, abuse

I can't believe it has taken me so long to read this! I met the author at an event a year and a half ago and love to support local authors. Sixteen-year-old Jace Witherspoon drives cross-country after a major fight with his dad and shows up at his older brother's door. After not having seen one another in five years, a lot of painful ground needs to be covered. This story is very believably written and has different layers of conflict and emotion going on. Jace is a very likeable character. Swanson's vocal work is excellent.

The Merchant of Death: Pendragon #1

by D.J. MacHale
Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 discs
read by William Dufris
genre: YA fantasy adventure

This is one of those books that I am extremely confident I would have enjoyed better in a print version. Dufis' vocal work made the kid characters sound like clueless idiots. Judging by how much readers enjoy this (including Louie and Alex) and the contrast with my irritation listening to it, the challenge here is in the listening experience. I'll have to read #2 in print up at the lake and see.

Bobby Pendragon learns he is a "traveler" when his uncle whisks him away to Denduron. Without really having much of anything explained to him, he must help save a planet and the entire universe. Eh. We'll see. . . .

All I Need

by Susane Colasanti
Hennepin County Library hardcover 212 pages
genre: teen romance

I wonder if all Colasanti books are like this . . . it was actually boring to read. Skye and Seth fall in love at first sight. After two days together, they both know they are soul mates who are destined to be together. Through a misunderstanding, they don't get one another's contact info. So Skye heads back to her junior year of high school and Seth goes for his freshman year of college. And they spend the entire year pining for one another. Yeah. Whatever. Not sure why my eighth grade girls are crazy about these books . . . there is a lot of kissing, but no real story.

The Monsters' Monster

by Patrick McDonnell
Hennepin County Library hardcover 32 pages
genre: children's book, monsters, kindness / behavior

I love this book! Three terrible little monsters build a huge monster, hoping it will be the biggest and the worst of them all. But the creature who comes out is sweet and kind. They are horrified, but watch him and learn.

172 Hours on the Moon

by Johan Harstad
Hennepin County Library hardcover 353 pages
genre: SciFi horror

I shouldn't have read this so soon after The Dumbest Generation. The teens in this book were selfish, vapid, and kind of idiotic. The premise of the story was not even remotely realistic. Three teenagers (none of them Americans) are selected by lottery to go to the moon on the next NASA mission. None of these teens actually wants to go. NASA is doing this for PR and to get more funding (from Norway, France, and Japan? Well, that's where the kids are from). Sigh. I really couldn't enjoy it because it bugged me so much. I think there are some students who would enjoy it. There was definitely some suspense in the "will anyone make it out alive?" sense. Not a book I'll rave about, that's for sure.

Extra Yarn

by Mac Barnett & illustrated by Jon Klassen
Hennepin County Library hardcover 32 pages
genre: children's book, fantasy

Annabelle finds a box with yarn on a dreary cold day. She knits a scarf for herself and for her dog. She knits more scarves until the town is blanketed by her colorful creations, but the yarn doesn't run out. So she knits for cars, houses, trees . . . until a horrible archduke steals the box from her. (She had refused to sell it to him, even for millions of dollars.) A lovely book and definitely fun to look at!

The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future*

* Or, Don't Trust Anyone Under 30
by Mark Bauerlein
Hennepin County Library hardcover 236 pages
genre: non-fiction, commentary, society

I'm not sure I'm ready to write a response to this book. There were times I thought, "You may say you're not a curmudgeon, sir, but you sure sound like one." Other times, I thought, "This is so very sad. The proliferation of self-centered, shallow young people may well ruin our society." I often thought of the many young people I know who are intelligent, curious, well-read, problem-solvers.

Here are some of the notes I made.

page 16 - After sharing some of the scary statistics on how little the Millennials read and know, the author says, "Most young Americans possess little of the knowledge that makes for an informed citizen, and too few of them master the skills needed to negotiate an information-heavy, communication-based society and economy. Furthermore, they avoid the resources and media that might enlighten them and boost their talents. An anti-intellectual outlook prevails in their leisure lives, squashing the lessons of school, and instead of producing a knowledgeable and querulous young mind, the youth culture of American society yields an adolescent consumer enmeshed in juvenile matters and secluded from adult realities."

page 52 - "But these discrepancies indicate that leisure reading does have substantial influence on school performance, much more than one would assume after listening to public and professional discourse about reading scores, which tend to focus on the classroom and the curriculum, not on the leisure lives of teens."

page 68 - He identifies some troubling paradoxes about Millennials, who have so many resources and yet are declining in most measures of knowledge. "If the young have acquired so much digital proficiency, and if digital technology exercises their intellectual faculties so well, then why haven't knowledge and skill levels increased accordingly? As we've seen, wealth, cultural access, and education levels have climbed, but not intellectual outcomes. If the Information Age solicits quicker and savvier literacies, why do so many new entrants into college and work end up in remediation? . . . If their digital talents bring the universe of knowledge into their bedrooms, why don't they handle knowledge questions better?"

page 101 - He identifies the transition from print books to digital media with an observation about history and civilization. "In 50 years, as Boomers and X-ers pass away, digital natives grow up, and technology proceeds apace, civilization will look different." In a way, it seems that he's being too dramatic. Yet isn't it true that as the years pass, society changes? The world I live in now is different from the world of my childhood. In some ways, that's a good thing.

page 126 - "Digital natives are a restless group, and like all teens and young adults they are self-assertive and insecure, living in the moment but worrying about their future, crafting elaborate e-profiles but stumbling through class assignments, absorbing the minutiae of youth culture and ignoring works of high culture, heeding this season's movie and game releases as monumental events while blinking at the mention of the Holocaust, the Cold War, or the War on Terror." This one troubles me because it rings pretty true. For many students (especially in middle school), their personal ups and downs are far more insignificant than the experiences of others throughout history. I will never forget seeing the news about the tsunami that destroyed so much in 2004. A student's comment was, "Cool!" All I could think of was the suffering, the loss, the pain of survivors. Certainly NOT cool.''

page 127 - I won't quote this section, but he talks about the importance of language acquisition and practice at HOME! It is so very, very true that students show up in kindergarten with the "achievement gap" already in place! Children who grow up in homes with conversation, reading, etc. do far better in school than children who grow up in a vocabulary-poor environment. "Everything depends on the oral and written language the infant-toddler-child-teen hears and reads throughout the day, for the amount of vocabulary learned inside the fifth-grade classroom alone doesn't come close to the amount needed to understand fifth-grade textbooks."

page 136 - "That's the pull of immaturity, and technology has granted young Americans ever more opportunities to go with it, not outgrow it."   "Instead of opening adolescents and young adults to worldly realities, acquainting them with the global village, inducting them into the course of civilization, or at least the Knowledge Economy, digital communications have opened them to one another - which is to say, have enclosed them in a parochial cosmos of youth matters and concerns."

page 158 - "The Web universe licenses young Americans to indulge their youth, and the ubiquitous rhetoric of personalization and empowerment - MySpace, YouTube, etc. - disguises the problem and implants false expectations well into adulthood. They don't realize that success in popular online youthworlds breeds incompetence in school and in the workplace." Certainly, students seem to thrive on peer approval and have little sense of true quality work and creativity . . .

page 199 - He writes about the double-dose of youth culture that students get during their leisure time and during their academic time. With educators striving to make lessons "relevant" to kids, tradition gets pushed aside. "In slighting the worth of tradition, in allowing teenagers to set their own concerns before the civilization of their forebears, mentors have only opened more minutes to youth contact and youth media."

page 221 - He writes about the struggles between traditionalists (think Bloom, Bennett, Bellow)  and the complacency of professors and others entrusted with educating the young.

page 225-228 - In this section, he talks about the changing dynamics within the youth culture. It was fascinating, but also more anecdotal than his citing of studies. Were there intellectual slackers in the late 1930s? I'm confident there were. Are there young people today who are aware and concerned about politics, society, and change? I'm confident there are. Yes, the overarching society is different. The world is different! But I don't think that it is fair to write off the Millennials.

page 234 - He compares the current youth generation to Rip Van Winkle, sleeping through major historical changes but being unaware and unconcerned.

page 232 - I like how he calls for an intellectual "minor leagues" - where students can be encouraged, coached, and trained in intellectual thought and discussion so that ten or more years hence, they will be prepared to lead.

A worthwhile book, but I'm still pondering a lot of his material. I would love to have my sons read it and discuss it with them!

Martin the Warrior

by Brian Jacques
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 9 discs
read by the author
genre: fantasy adventure

I hadn't read / heard this one before! The story opens in "modern" times with travelers coming to Redwall. They share the history of Martin the Warrior, who founded Redwall. Martin was a feisty mouse enslaved by the evil stoat Badrang at his fort called Marshank. Martin, Rose, a troop of actors, and other freed slaves go to battle against Badrang. The thing that really stood out for me was the elaborate descriptions of meals . . . I think that's part of why Nick liked these stories so much when he was young. Epic battles and epic food.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

by John Green & David Levithan
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7 discs
read by MacLeod Andrews and Nick Podehl
genre: teen romance, friendship, GLBTQ acceptance

Will Grayson is friends with flamboyant and huge Tiny Cooper, who tries to set him up with Jane.
The other Will Grayson is an angry in-the-closet gay teen who's on anti-depressants. His "friend" Maura takes goth and darkness to new levels.
What I like about this story: the characters' growth as individuals, the compelling story.
What I didn't like: extreme profanity, the second Will Grayson's depression and anger.

Z is for Moose (That's Me!)

by Kelly Bingham
Hennepin County Library hardcover 32 pages
genre: picture book

This is on our 2013 Litwits list. A very cute book! Zebra is conducting a show of the alphabet, but his friend moose can hardly wait his turn. When M ends up as "mouse," moose has a tantrum. A funny story, an alphabet story, and a story of friendship as zebra makes sure that moose feels included.

The Time Traveler's Wife

by Audrey Niffenegger
PRMS paperback 536 pages
genre: romance, relationships, time travel

What an unusual book! I wonder how the author conceived of it. Henry DeTamble has a genetic disorder which causes him to time travel. He has no control over it, though, and ends up nude in a different time and place. The author weaves together his story with that of Clare, a girl he meets when she is only six and he is an adult. It is a strange friendship, with him knowing that they eventually get married and she curious about her own future. Odd, disturbing, beautiful, curious, interesting . . . this took me a while to read, but it was worth it! I love how Henry's personal story unfolded throughout the book.

Duma Key

by Stephen King
loaned by Jeff Beaudoin audioCDs 18 discs
read by Joe Slattery
genre: paranormal mystery

I usually don't like King's work that much; it tends to be too creepy. This one, though still full of the F-word and a bit scary, had some really interesting components. Edgar Freemantle is horribly injured in a construction accident. Though his life has been spared, his right arm is amputated, his right hip has major reconstruction, and his marriage is in a shambles. Struggling to regain his ability to do things and articulate his thoughts, he takes a year to go to the Florida Keys to begin his "next life." Duma Key has some very strange effects on Edgar, particularly in enhancing his artistic ability. His neighbors, Jerome Weyrman and Elizabeth Eastlake, make a tremendous difference in Edgar's life. "Perse" is sheer destructive evil. Intriguing story and not as violent as other King books I've read.

Riding the Bus with my Sister

by Rachel Simon
PRMS paperback 293 pages
genre: memoir

I finally read it! This was a Chaska community read a few years ago.After having read Simon's beautiful book this fall (The Story of Beautiful Girl), I really wanted to read her memoir. It's wonderfully written, with honesty and insight. She organized the book into the twelve months of the year, sharing childhood reflections along with insight gained from riding the buses with her mentally handicapped sister, Beth. The story is both complex and simple, with family dynamics, personal feelings of failure, and striving for a better life. A truly worthwhile read!

I need to photocopy the discussion of words and names on pages 99-100 . . . excellent to use with students!

I marked pages 228-229 when the author loses her cool with Beth for constantly turning the conversation to her own complaints. This resonated with me far too much! When I get frustrated with my dad, I just want to scream. I try to tell myself, "this is just how he is, Jeanne. He doesn't want dialog or discussion; he just wants to complain and go over the same things he continues to drone on about." But it doesn't change how I FEEL. These pages jumped out at me.

10/7/13 - Finally added the pages with words & names. I made marks to show the section in context, rather than cropping out all the extra.

In the Garden of Iden

by Kage Baker
subtitled "A novel of the company"
PRMS hardcover 329 pages
genre: ? fantasy / historical sci-fi?

A weird book, this one caught my attention when I was looking for mystery titles. It has immortal cyborgs and time-travel. It starts in the 2300s with Dr. Zeus and his brilliant plans. Then it moves to 1500s and Spain, with a little red-haired girl and the Inquisition. The girl becomes Mendoza, an operative with the company. She's a botanist who despises humans and is sent to England for her first mission.

Weird, smart, and full of history, theology, and science, I'm still not sure what kind of reader to recommend this book to. I'm also not sure if I will read on in the series.

The First Gardener

by Denise Hildreth Jones
Hennepin County Library paperback 414 pages
genre: Christian fiction

This was our May book club title. I didn't get into it immediately, but I'm so glad I read it! Mackenzie is wife to Governor Gray London of Tennessee. They are a loving couple with a wonderful daughter named Maddie. Tragedy and grief knock Mack off her axis. Her mom, Eugenia Quinn, is a nutcase. Jeremiah, the gardener for the mansion, is a gem. What a beautiful story worth reading. We had a good discussion at book club. I may have to find more of this author's books.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel

by Jeff Kinney
PRMS paperback 217 pages
genre: YA humor

I don't know why I keep reading these. Greg Heffley is such an egocentric jerk. But in some weird way, it's entertaining. Greg tries to get a date to the dance. He ends up going with Rowley and a girl, trying to leave Rowley out of it.

The Last Investigation

by Gaeton Fonzi
Hennepin County Library hardcover 400+ pages
genre: non-fiction Kennedy assassination

I couldn't finish this. There's just too much going on in my life right now. After the sensationalized Bill O'Reilly book, I really wanted a more academic and scholarly take on the Kennedy assassination. It is definitely more dense reading than the O'Reilly book, but also much more enlightening. I'll have to pick this one up at a later date. I don't think I even got to page 100. Had an infuriating conversation with my father-in-law, though.

The Book of Three

The Prydain Chronicles, book 1
by Lloyd Alexander
Hennepin County Library audiobook 4 discs
genre: children's fantasy adventure

Taran is the Assistant Pig-Keeper at Caer Dallben along with enchanter Dallben and retired soldier Coll. When Hen Wen, the prophesying pig escapes, Taran follows her and embarks upon a grand adventure. The Horned King is scary and on the move. Gwydion, the crown prince; Gurgi, Eilonwy, and others people Taran's world as he grows up (a little) and struggles with his choices.

Interesting, but I'm not sure I want to continue reading this series. It was a fine way to pass time on our drive through Iowa.

We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda

By Philip Gourevitch
Hennepin County Library paperback
genre: non-fiction genocide

I only got through chapter four. The book was due back, on hold for someone else, and I'm too busy right now anyhow. It is a chapter of recent history about which I am woefully ignorant. (I was taking care of little children in 1994 and not aware of much outside my home.) I am horrified by the murders, and fascinated by the history of the Hutus and Tutsis. I need to learn more and may get this book again later.

Throne of Glass

by Sarah J. Maas
Hennepin County Library hardcover 404 pages
genre: fantasy adventure romance

Ceaena Sardothien is an 18-year-old deadly assassin who has been in the prison hell-hole of Endovier. Crown Prince Dorian and Captain of the Guard Chaol come there to invite her to compete to be the king's Champion. The king - who has murdered her people, sent her to prison, and has the power of life and death over her.

At times, this book bugged me with its amateurish feel. I finished it in two days, however, because I wanted to know which guy she would end up with, who was the source of the evil, what Princess Nehemia was up to . . .

Again, I'm not in the mood to blog tonight. I enjoyed the book and am curious about what the author is working on for a sequel. Not going to be a highly recommended by me, though. It just wasn't stunning enough.

Hope Was Here

by Joan Bauer
PRMS paperback ? pages
genre: realistic fiction, coming-of-age

Hmmm. This was a re-read and I was just going to add some notes to my original post. But I cannot find an original post. Darn! I don't really feel like blogging.

Synopsis: Hope Yancey was left by her mother with her aunt Addie as an infant. She's never known a father and her mother drifts into her life sporadically, calling her "Tulip," a name given her at birth but which she shed on her twelfth birthday. Hope is an excellent waitress (like her mother) and makes a great duo with her aunt who is a marvelous cook. Their lives have moved them across the country, but Hope loves Brooklyn and her friends. Until they are double-crossed by a "friend" who takes their money and runs off with the night waitress and their trust. And so they move to a small town in Wisconsin to help G.T. run his restaurant. Dealing with leukemia, G.T. needs them. And the more they get to know him and others in town, the more they need him.

Eddie Braverman - young cook who didn't go to college because he's supporting his mother and sisters.
Deputy ??? - I can't remember her name. Tough cop from Minneapolis who isn't afraid of the crime in town.
Mayor Millhouse(?) - lying lowdown skunk
Sheriff - also a dirty dog

Some nice romance, great civics lessons, wonderful story. Won a Newbery Honor award.

Killing Kennedy: the end of Camelot

by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
Hennepin County Library hardcover 302 pages
genre: historical / biography

I don't really feel like writing this right now. I wish I had read it *before* book club. It was interesting, a little too much (how do these men know what Oswald was feeling and thinking in the last two hours before he was caught?) but I'm glad I've read it. Unfortunately, some people now think this book is "it" even though the authors state that we'll never know what really happened. I should have made notes as I read, because there were some things that caught my attention. I didn't realize that Marilyn Monroe's death was possibly NOT a suicide . . . . I am saddened by how rude the Kennedys were to LBJ after they used him to help win Texas in the election. I wonder about Marina and her children and how their lives have turned out. (Oswald's Russian wife) And I wish I had more time to read other books from other perspectives.

I made a note of this review quite a while ago . . . (adding it 7/2/13):
http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Kennedy-The-End-Camelot/product-reviews/0805096663
I find this intellectually stimulating, but have so many more things to attend to right now.

The Girl in the Glass

by Susan Meissner
Hennepin County Library paperback 325 pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

Basic story: young woman named Meg (Marguerite) has always wanted to go to Florence, Italy. Grandma promised to take her for high school graduation, but died when Meg was only 12. Dad promises to take her, but keeps flaking out. Meg called off an engagement when she realized she didn't love him as much as he loved her. She works at a publishing house and dates Gabe . . . on and off. Intermingled story line is the manuscript sent to her by Sophia, a native of Florence who lives across from a brother and sister team of photographer and author. Sophia's story is part memoir, part travelog for the beauties of Florence. Intertwined with these two stories is a narrative from Nora, a Medici who lived in the early Renaissance.

It was enjoyable, but not gripping. Meg's attraction to Devon (mom's younger boyfriend) was the most interesting part to me. I wish I could go to Italy. I'm a bit surprised at who Meg ends up with at the end of the book. The stuff with her dad was a bit much.

Her Last Death: a memoir

by Susanna Sonnenberg
Hennepin County Library audio 7 CDs
read by the author
genre: memoir, dysfunctional families

This was disturbing (as in, why did I listen all the way to the end?) but well-written. Sonnenberg is a gifted writer, but this story is either more fiction than fact, or she grew up in one of the most dysfunctional families I've ever read about. Her mother told her about orgasms when she was eight years old, offered her cocaine when she was twelve, and encouraged her to lose her virginity when she turned sixteen. Really?

Yet I was compelled by her story and her love-hate relationship with her mother. There were parts of her story that actually resonated for me with my own childhood! She is a very gifted writer, but her choice to use pseudonyms for everyone other than herself made me curious. So of course, I went online and did a little research.

Mom (Daphne in book) is Wendy Adler
Maternal Grandma (Patsy) is Eileen Walser, model
Maternal Grandpa (?) was Larry Adler, famous harmonica player
Eileen Walser's second marriage was to Arnold Maremont
Dad (Nat) is Ben Sonnenberg,editor / publisher of literary magazine
Stepmom (Isabelle) is Susan de Verges Snodgrass (marriage #2)
Dorothy Gallagher is Ben's wife #3

Paternal Grandpa is Benjamin Sonnenberg (?-1978), Russian immigrant
Sister (Penelope) is Emma Sonnenberg-Snowden-Jones

Half-sister (?) is Saidee Brown Sonnenberg
Stepbrother (Joe) is Stephen Verges

Husband (Christopher)
Sons (Daniel & Jack)

For a truly awesome review, read this: http://headbutler.com/books/memoir/her-last-death
Wow.

Her dad's autobiography is title Lost Property: Memoirs and Confessions of a Bad Boy