The Bronte Plot

by Katherine Reay
Personal paperback 330 pages
genre: contemporary Christian romance

Liked it, but didn't love it. Her Dear Mr. Knightley was more enjoyable. Still, I loved the literary allusions (though I've never read anything by Gaskell and now feel that I must) and the story was pleasant enough.

Lucy Alling works in a design shop with owner Sid McKenna. When James Carmichael walks into the shop, they go from the sale of a book to a first date to being inseparable in just a few pages. Lucy's "the ends justify the means" mentality becomes a problem and James' grandma's (Helen) agenda changes all their lives.

page 37 - James says to Lucy -  "I've never heard anyone talk about books like you do. It's like they're your friends."

page 130 - Helen says to Lucy - "You are your own person and I wouldn't worry about the stories. We all compare our lives to them. That's why we love them; they help us understand ourselves."

page 139 - Lucy's observations on eyes when trying to figure out why Dillon was questioning her. "His eyes were hazel and clear and it struck her how much one could see in another's eyes. They shadowed under the strains of lies; they drifted in dreams or peace; they widened in surprise and fear; they darkened in tension; and worst of all, they sharpened in manipulation. She knew that one, had seen it in others and felt it within herself. Dillon's eyes carried nothing beyond open interest and innocent curiosity." (Plus - I liked Dillon!)

page 148 - Lucy and Helen visit Westminster Abbey and have an intense experience. I love this scene! It made me want to visit London.

page 263 -  "Come further up, come further in!" "Our new battle cry?" "That's a wonderful thought and very appropriate. For both of us." I love Lucy and Helen having their adventure in England together.

page 266 - "If everyone got what they wanted, were pleased with the result and with her for accomplishing it, why should they pay attention to the process? To her? Why, in fact, did the process matter? She sank onto the wall. Because it does. It mattered just as James's regard mattered."

I ended up having to buy this book because the wait list at the library was so long. I don't think I'll keep it, though. Like I said - Liked, didn't love.

Paper Things

by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Hennepin County Library hardcover 376 pages
genre: upper elem realistic fiction

Linda Dierks recommended this book about an eleven-year-old girl Arianna and her eighteen-year-old brother Gage. Their father died in Afghanistan and their mother passed away from cancer (?) when Arianna was seven. When Gage is old enough, he moves himself and sister out of their guardian's home. Although Janna is suspicious, they do a good enough job of convincing her that they are okay . . . except that they're not. Homelessness begins to take its toll on both of them as they struggle to find a place to sleep, enough food to eat, and time to do all the things that need to be done. This is beautifully written and brought me to tears a few times. In so many ways, though, this is more a book for older elementary kids than for middle school. Arianna wants to be a patrol captain more than anything . . .

When her best friend Sasha (who doesn't know her truth) hears Arianna's "love letter from a fraction (her way of trying to help Sasha learn the math), Sasha lashes out. "I tuck the words show off and weird, which have the weight and sharpness of scissors, inside an invisible pocket, where I can take them out and examine them when I'm alone." Jacobson expresses things beautifully - Reggie's wishing planes, Gage's disappointment, Arianna's work at Head Start as a volunteer, etc.

When the homeless Reggie offers to let them stay in his storage unit, he says "But I'm luckier than a lot of folks, and you can be sure I'm grateful for all that I've got - like new friends." I love when people's positive attitude trumps their situation.

page 253-4: "That's the great thing about librarians; they'll help you find information without being too nosy." Love this!

Walking Papers: A True Story

[Subtitled: the Accident that Changed my Life, and the Business that got me Back on My Feet]
by Francesco Clark
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 discs
read by Kirby Heyborne

This is a fascinating story and Heyborne brings great expression to the reading of it - Clark's young life changed forever by a late-night dive into the shallow end of a pool at age 24. His broken neck, SCI, surgery, therapy, and everything that goes with a life-changing event made me both sad and hopeful.

I remember when Christopher Reeve broke his neck and I scoffed at all the attention and money that went to help a superstar. What about ordinary people? Louie pointed out that ordinary people would benefit from the research and advances *because* of Reeve's celebrity. Yeah. Didn't think about that. Hearing the author's admiration of Reeve reminded me of this long-ago conversation.

Listening to this was hard for me because of everything that happened with Sam. At times, I thought that Clark was a little too whiny . . . but I get whiny too without as much cause. And I'm sure for all of Sam's incredibly positive attitude, there are times she asks the hard questions too. I wish I could talk with her.

This is a fascinating story about SCI and recovery. It's also about the human spirit. Clark recognizes that his family and their incredible support made a huge difference to him. How maddening to have insurance companies dictating the level of therapy, supplies, etc. What transformations in his life! Pre-accident, soon after, and years later continuing to "get better" (his words). I'm glad I "read" this book.

The Fate of Ten

Lorien Legacies #6
by Pittacus Lore
PRMS hardcover 399 pages
genre: YA action, SciFi

I love these books! They're just fun page-turners. It still bugs me that you have to read a page or two of each chapter to know who's talking. The fonts are different for four, six, and Marina, but not significantly enough for me to just jump in and know whose "voice" I'm hearing. Once again, Setrakas Ra is on the move and doing his evil deeds . . . I can hardly wait for the next book!

The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy

by Julia Quinn
Hennepin County Library audiobook, 8 discs
read by Rosalyn Landor
genre: historical romance

I like Quinn's writing well enough, but this one didn't do much for me.
The secret was not what I expected - better than I thought it would be.
The resolution was blatantly obvious.
The "romance" was disappointing . . . I think because most of the descriptions were about Iris' appearance instead of Richard's. Other than him constantly running his hands through his hair and his dark eyes, we don't get enough of his presence as a romantic figure.
Not sure why I keep investing time in books like this . . . a little escapism, I guess.

Soul Eater

by Atsushi Ohkubo
Hennepin County Library paperback 200 pages
genre: YA manga, adventure

I read this based on a student's recommendation. I only read a portion of it . . .same old, same old. Fighting with loud exclamations, a child-like babydoll character, a busty and shapely (and nude) adult woman, . . . I don't really understand why some of my students read so much of this. I am happy to provide as many graphic novels (and even manga) as my budget will afford, but I simply don't have the money to start a new series. (And if I did, I wouldn't choose to spend it on this.)

From the back "Maka is a weapon meister, determined to turn her partner, a living scythe named Soul Eater, into a powerful death scythe - the ultimate weapon of Death himself!" The story prologue opens with Soul Eater eating his 99th human soul and needing only to eat the soul of a witch to become a death scythe. It doesn't get better after that . . .

A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog

by Dean Koontz
Hennepin County Library hardcover 271 pages
genre: non-fiction, pet memoir

Koontz' writing style draws me in. I love his love of language, and while I'm not a fan of golden retrievers, I understand perfectly how one can adore the pet "child" of the household. I'm tempted to buy a copy (or two) of this book . . . for myself to re-read, to give as a gift when others' pets die, . . . and just because I love his way with language. Some of this felt over-the-top (Trixie as otherworldly, almost holy) but he put his prose into context. And it's personal. He tells about the transformation Trixie caused in his own life and in his wife's life. Beautiful book!

90 Miles to Havana

by Enrique Flores-Galbis
Hennepin County Library paperback 292 pages
genre: YA historical, coming of age

Opening on the eve of the Cuban revolution, this story follows Julian ("Who-li-an") from a New Year's fishing expedition with his family and beloved Bebo to a new life in Connecticut. His relationship to his older brothers, friend Pepe, and others carry the story along. I was reading this one along the theme of civil rights, but it is a very different kind of story. It is a wonderful story regarding multiculturalism. In a relocation camp (and in Miami), the Cubans, Mexicans, and other Spanish-speakers have their own culture clashes. Julian loves to draw and is good at figuring things out by using his wits and his hands. This is a delightful story, but it didn't resonate for me as much as Paperboy did.