Bedpan Commando: The Story of a Combat Nurse during World War II

by June Wandrey
Mayo Clinic Libraries via ILL, paperback 234 pages
genre: memoir

The author signed the title page, "You honor me when you read my book." I don't suppose she's still alive (22 in 1942), but what an amazing story she has shared. Put together from letters and other documentation (written in 1989), this reads almost like a diary from the war. The story could have used some stronger editing for flow, but it's visceral reality comes through powerfully. She seems to have been a dynamo who didn't necessarily like following the rules.

I'd like to write more, but I'll have to get back to it later. One impressive thing about Minnesota libraries - I asked my librarian at the Eden Prairie branch to get this for me. I had looked in Minitex and knew there were copies in the state, but it was so very nice to have her request it for me.

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak
Cina's, paperback, 550 pages
genre: Holocaust fiction

Told from death's point of view, this story is about Liesl, a little girl in the outskirts of Munich, Germany, during WWII. People recommended this to me for ages and I finally decided to get-r-done this summer. (Labor Day weekend still counts as summer, right?) It was powerful and painful. Liesl sees her little brother die right in front of her eyes as her mother is bringing them to be raised by foster parents. Rosa and Hans Hubermann have an odd mixture of love and abuse for the frightened little girl (mostly abuse from Rosa and gentle love from Hans). I didn't like when death's narration gave away key parts of the story (like Rudy's kiss). I will almost certainly re-read this book. It is quite good and has a lot to think about contained in it. But WWII books always make me so sad.

Moonlight on the Millpond

by Lori Wick
personal collection paperback 285 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction

Not so much. I'll hang on to The Princess for a light re-read, but this one just got on my nerves. Maddie gets forget-100%-of-what-happens after a few ounces of alcohol, though those around her see a woman who carries on conversations, flirts, walks, etc. in a normal manner. She forgets that she got married and slept with her crush? Right. Doesn't work for me. Plus, the hopping between multiple storylines to set things in place is disconcerting. Jace. Maddie. Woody. Eden. Cathy & Doyle. The Muldoons. The Nunleys. This book is heading for the donation bag.

I Suck at Girls

by Justin Halpern
Hennepin County Library hardcover 180 pages
genre: memoir, humor

Not as funny as his first book, this one has more heart. As he contemplates proposing to Amanda, his dad tells him to take a day to reflect. Justin spends the bulk of the book reminiscing about all his experiences with the opposite sex. Sometimes his recollections are funny, but more often they are poignant. He was not the man he hoped to be during his adolescence. An enjoyable read (and interesting for me to think about what my sons' stories might be if they wrote them down). Halpern is a talented author. How fun that his big break came through his Twitter feed!

Sh*t My Dad Says

by Justin Halpern
Hennepin County Library hardcover 158 pages
genre: NF memoir

Oh my. Though extremely profane, this made me laugh! Patty S first told me about Mr. Halpern. I checked it out online and laughed out loud. I don't really remember why I decided to request the book from the library, but it was a quick and enjoyable read. I read some of it out loud to Louise and Ann and was a bit shocked at the profanity coming out of my mouth . . . this will definitely not appeal to everyone.

But there's also a story of a father-son relationship that makes me curious for more. How did Justin become such a seemingly pleasant and creative individual with his dad being so rough all the time? (Though love shines through, too, and some of my favorite parts were when his dad just said "I love you.") It's also fascinating to read about how this book came to be. Halpern started using his dad's unusual sayings as his IM status, then as his Twitter feed. In a very short time, he went from a few followers to hundreds of thousands of followers and the media contacting him for interviews. Crazy!

House of Odd

written by Landry Q Walker and Dean Koontz
illustrated by Queenie Chan
Hennepin County Library paperback unpaged
genre: graphic novel paranormal mystery

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others. Ozzie's friend from Hollywood, Nedra, has bought a mansion near Pico Mundo. It seems to be haunted, so Ozzie sends Odd (and Stormy) to check it out. Nedra has called in a group of "ghostbusters" who do a tv show on hauntings. The three-person team (plus a cat) have interesting personality dynamics. Odd doesn't get his usual psychic magnetism "vibes" and Elvis can't seem to approach the house. Turns out there's a portal to hell and the demons are playing. Weird, but not one I'll re-read. (I usually kind of like weird stories.)

Sparks: an Urban Fairytale

by Lawrence Marvit
Rochester Public Library (ILL Hennepin County)
paperback 410 pages
genre: teen graphic novel, fantasy

Jo (Josephine) is a 20-year-old mechanic with an alcoholic, abusive, police officer father and a continually stupored mother. Jo longs to belong, connect with people, but doesn't fit in well with her peers. She creates a pretend friend with scraps from old cars at the garage where she works. Lightning brings her creation to life. She teaches him language and gets a See and Speak so he has a voice.
Ultimately, I found this to be a very sad - almost tragic - story. Jo's alienation is definitely rooted in her parents' dysfunction. Her attempts to "go out" and do the things other young adults do doesn't turn out very well. The story is brilliantly written and drawn, but too mature in content and language for my middle school.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and other clinical tales

by Oliver Sacks
Hennepin County Library hardcover 223 pages
genre: clinical psychology

- initially recommended to me about a decade ago by Jody West
- mentioned in Born on a Blue Day
- clinical case studies on many unusual neurological disorders
- lack of face recognition, synesthesia, autism, savants, etc.
- written in 1970s through early 80s, the writing often struck me as archaic (not that I've read LOTS of brain research info)
- interesting how he referenced others' research from the late 1800s through "modern" (early 80s) works
- remarkably NOT politically correct when he refers to morons, idiots, and defectives . . . kind of amusing in a way. One simply does not refer to people with disorders in this manner any more
- interesting to make connections between this book, the audiobook I'm listening to now (The Shallows), Born on a Blue Day, and You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know (10/11).
- many things I wanted to note while I was reading, but I can't think of any now

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

by Laurie Viera Rigler
Hennepin County audioCDs 6 discs
read by Orlagh Cassidy
genre: romance

Again, the legion of Austen fans and their tributes to her work leave me feeling disappointed and only wanting to read Austen's work. In this story, Courtney Stone time-travels to become Jane Mansfield. The out-of-time (a la Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court) fails to connect for me. One of her biggest hangups is not getting to wear makeup. Really? The conclusion was as odd and disappointing as the bulk of the story. Stick with the originals!

Born on a Blue Day

by Daniel Tammet
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 discs
read by Simon Vance
genre: memoir

Daniel is a savant - functioning very high on the autism spectrum. This story of his life is both fascinating and disturbing. His loving parents and his partner Neil seem to be extraordinary people. Not many children so severely affected by a disorder can manage so well. This book also reminded me of a title recommended many years ago - The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. That's on my reading shelf now. Daniel shares his personal story very effectively. Vance narrated wonderfully.

Odd Is On Our Side

by Dean Koontz
Hennepin County Library paperback 186 pages
genre: graphic novel, supernatural mystery

Odd Thomas is such a wonderful character! I love how the graphic novels are prequels to the first Odd book. In this one, the ghost of a small trick-or-treater is trying to get Odd's help during the annual Halloween celebration. Little Ozzie's editor is in town and along with Stormy, Elvis, and the rest of the Pico Mundo crew, they solve a mystery and save the town. Great stuff!

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
PRMS hardcover 273 pages
genre: autobiography, invention

For the first few chapters, I was taken aback by the superstitions and tall tales of William Kamkwamba's childhood in Wimbe, Malawi. But it really helped set the story and the culture as he grew up and confronted challenges. The hardest part of the story for me was during the nationwide famine, especially since the president and the greedy people didn't seem to care that their countrymen were suffering so badly.

This is an amazing story of determination and hope. Kamkwamba read books on physics, wondered how things worked (made me think of Alex!), took apart radios, and experimented. Once he built a windmill to generate electricity for his family, his personal story just got bigger and bigger! Great read!

Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls

by Mary Downing Hahn
Hennepin County Library hardcover 330 pages
genre: historical fiction, murder mystery

What an interesting book. I wanted to see justice done. I wanted to see the killer caught. (It reminded me of Lovely Bones in that regard.) I don't want to do any spoilers, but I will say that the author's afterword affected my perception of the story I'd just read. Most of my students seem put off by historical fiction (this is set in the 1950s) and yet it was a more innocent time. Some of Nora's and Ellie's dilemmas fit with what kids today deal with. I'd love to hear other people's perceptions of this story.

The Knife of Never Letting Go

by Patrick Ness
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 10 disks
read by Nick Podehl
genre: teen dystopian fiction

Oh. My. Word. This was so intense and different from other books I've read! I went onto Wikipedia to find out how the rest of the series goes. The suspense is too much! It was both horrifying and fascinating. When I first started listening to it (Podehl does an excellent job narrating), I wasn't sure of the setting - Earth or somewhere else? When? What the heck?

Settlers on New World have developed their own communities. Todd Hewitt has grown up as the youngest boy in Prentisstown, believing what he's been told. As he approaches his birthday (thirteen years of thirteen months each), he looks forward to becoming a man. On a random day in the swamp, though, he and his dog Manchee hear something unusual, and his life unravels into a crazy run from the evil men who want to take him.

Deadly

by Julie Chibbaro
Hennepin County Library paperback 293 pages
genre: historical fiction

Prudence Galewski is sixteen and interested in science. Her father left for the Spanish-American war in 1898 after her brother Benny died. She and her mother have been waiting for him to come back for eight years.

Interesting story (especially in connection with reading Yellow Death and Zeitoun the same weekend - the study of disease and an unjust imprisonment) but ultimately a bit too slow for me. I liked the journaling-style storytelling, but Prudence was too cautious a heroine for me. I can't picture my readers connecting with her. I enjoyed the author's notes at the end. An interesting task - to make Typhoid Mary seem more human and understandable. Again, I'm incredibly glad to live in an era of more advanced scientific understanding than the turn of that century!

Zeitoun

by Dave Eggers
Hennepin County Library paperback 325 pages
genre: NF, Hurricane Katrina, Muslim American

What a fascinating and awful story. I like how the author wove Abdulrahman Zeitoun's childhood and life story into this chronological tale of Hurricane Katrina. This honest, hardworking businessman stayed in New Orleans to protect his home and business. His wife Kathy took the children and left for safety. As he paddled around in his canoe helping people and feeding abandoned dogs, he began to realize the gravity of the situation and considered leaving. He waited a day too long, though, when National Guardsmen and police arrested him (without notifying him of his rights) and three other men in one of the properties Zeitoun owned. Never given a phone call, his wife assumed him dead. What an incredible story! And so very sad. It's hard to believe things like this actually happened here.

The Secret of the Yellow Death: A True Story of Medical Sleuthing

by Suzanne Jurmain
Hennepin County Library hardcover 90 pages
genre: NF children's

Interesting, very quick read. The author makes it as story-like as possible as she tracks the work of Dr. Walter Reed and other doctors in Cuba as they try to figure out how yellow fever is transmitted. One big breakthrough in medical history seems to be that Reed wanted to have the men's permission to use them as subjects in his study. It seems bizarre nowadays that people doubted mosquitoes' role in this disease!

Water's Edge

by Robert Whitlow
Hennepin County Library paperback 401 pages
genre: Christian fiction / legal thriller

This was a fun read! Legal thrillers aren't my favorite genre, but this had enough human drama and question-mark moments to keep me reading. I had never heard of this author before; I'll definitely look for more of his books.

Tom Crane is a young lawyer in Atlanta, hoping for a promotion. When he's fired instead, his girlfriend dumps him. From bad to worse, he heads back to his small hometown to close down his father's small legal office. His father died in a boating accident. But as he reads and closes files, a mystery comes to light.

Some of the pieces of the story seemed terribly unrealistic (especially the police work . . . ), but it was a good story.

Shine Coconut Moon

by Neesha Meminger
Hennepin County Library, hardcover 253 pages
genre: YA relationships, 9/11 fears

Samar (Sammy) is a normal teenager . . . except that it's just her and her mom. She spends a lot of time with her best friend Molly and Molly's huge extended family. Since I'm double-blogging the LitWits books this summer, here's a repeat of that post:

I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. Sammy is a fairly realistic character struggling with her identity, but the post 9/11 arrival of her uncle Sandeep opens her eyes to her Indian and Sikh heritage. I like how she and Molly have their fascination with lingerie and the "Real Deal" moment in their futures. Sammy's relationship with Mike was something teens would probably latch onto. The bullying and racism (and even Sammy's rejection of Bobbi) would make for some good discussion.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

by Mary E. Pearson
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6 discs
read by Jenna Lamia
genre: YA SciFi, relationships

Also set in the future (southern California has been devastated by massive earthquakes and medical technology has advanced dramatically), this story has a teen girl waking from a coma with no memory of her former life. As bits and pieces come to her, Jenna is faced with a moral dilemma of gigantic proportions.

This is a well-told story. The reader did a splendid job bringing the story to life. I thought there was a follow-up to this story, but perhaps I'm thinking of a different book with a girl's name in the title . . . this book kept me guessing up until the end. I enjoyed it and thought it had some very interesting points to make about life. The author interview at the end was also enlightening.

Birthmarked

by Caragh M. O'Brien
PRMS paperback 359 pages
genre: YA dystopian mystery/adventure/relationships

Set in the future (2390 and on), water is a scarce commodity and "unlake" Superior is a dry bed with boulders and some plant growth. The Enclave is full of the privileged people while Gaia and her family live outside the wall. She has learned the art of midwifery from her mother. Then things get crazy. Her parents are arrested, she is interrogated, and she decides to sneak inside to save her parents.

I didn't exactly enjoy reading this, but I found it fascinating. The author's questions at the end are amazing - I really want to do this as a book club with 8th graders! I am curious to read the next book in the trilogy, but simply have too many books on my reading list right now. I want to see Leon safe and back with Gaia.

Defending Jacob

by William Landay
Hennepin County Library hardcover 421 pages
genre: suspense, courtroom murder

I'm not generally a big fan of courtroom dramas, but this will be a fun one to discuss this fall (PRMS book club). I've been on hold for it quite a long time and need to get it back to the library for the next person waiting. Andy Barber is an assistant DA and handles most of the murder cases. But when one of his son's classmates is murdered, he sees the case through a father's eyes. As the case proceeds, we learn more and more about Andy and his son Jacob (as well as Andy's ancestors). Is there such a thing as a "murder gene"? This will be an interesting book to talk about with other educators!

Laurie - liking to talk about things
Ben Rifkin - bullying
power of social networks
Jacob's psychology
Duffy - detective friend
Father O'Leary - Barber ex-con "friend"
Leonard Patz - sex offender

Battle Royale

by 2 Japanese guys
Hennepin County Library paperback unpaged
genre: Teen graphic novel, dystopian, violent

Definitely not my cup of tea! This is a lot like The Hunger Games, only much nastier, illustrated, and I dislike reading from right to left. A group of ninth graders (who look much older) have lost / won the "lottery" putting them into the "Program." The man who tells them that they must kill or be killed is a sadistic pervert.

The Three Questions

written & illustrated by Jon J Muth, based on a story by Leo Tolstoy
Hennepin County Library, hardcover ~32 page picture book
genre: children's book, philosophy

I enjoyed this more than I anticipated. The main character, Nikolai, has three questions:
When is the best time to do things?
Who is the most important one?
What is the right thing to do?
His friends have different advice, so he goes to see wise old Leo. He already knows the answers to the questions, but needs Leo's guidance to figure it all out.
A wonderful story! I can definitely see this being used in 8th grade world history during the world religions unit. I should buy a copy for PRMS.

The Outside of a Horse

by Ginny Rorby
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7 discs
read by Emily Bauer
genre: YA coming-of-age, horses, war

This story was almost ruined for me by the reader. Her voice was too girlish and peppy (to fit the 13-year-old protagonist) for me, but she also varied her volume so much that I missed parts or had my ears blasted. I was constantly changing the volume as I listened in my car.

The title comes from an old English proverb (which I listened to three or four times before I heard it): ‘There's nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse.’ Hannah's mother died from cancer when she was nine, her dad is fighting in Iraq, and her stepmother wants her to help with baby Jeffy. Hannah escapes to the nearby ranch to watch the horses and ends up being an unpaid worker there.

Once I got into the story and got over the narrator's voice bugging me, I really enjoyed this story. The horses, her dad's recovery, her growth as an adolescent, . . . Very nice. I would have liked it better when I was young and in my own "horse" phase. Her dad's transformation was the best part of the story.

The Princess

by Lori Wick
personal paperback 294 pages
genre: Christian romance

I'm not sure who gave this to me, but I was trying to de-clutter and contemplating just getting rid of it. Then I decided to give it a look-see. Then I went from "contrived" to "I need to finish reading this." It's a very odd mix of romance and witnessing the power of Jesus Christ in people's lives. I think I'll bring it up to the lake for when I want to re-read it.

Shelby decides to marry the widowed prince Nicolai (because the county's law declares the heir to the throne must be married by his 26th birthday) based on her parents' encouragement and the king's and queen's kindness. Never having seen him face-to-face (and wearing a blushing veil on her Big Day), they are virtual strangers. Like I said, contrived. But somewhere along the way, I grew to care about the characters and the story. I'm glad I read it (and have a tiny bit less clutter in my bedroom).

"Doing School" How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students

by Denise Clark Pope
Hennepin County Library hardcover 205 pages
genre: non-fiction, educational reform

What an interesting book. She followed five students for a school year and conducted numerous interviews with them. They were all success-oriented students in a fairly success-oriented school. However, virtually all of them excelled more for the end goals of a good college and a good career rather than for the joy of learning. (Shocking, right?)

I enjoyed reading this book and thinking about my students, my children, myself. She is effective at identifying the problem (to a certain degree), but does not really suggest how to effect reform the system. It reminded me of watching a Michael Moore movie . . . after I saw Bowling at Columbine, I was SO frustrated that he did not really have any solutions or suggestions at all. He never even adequately explained WHY the U.S. has so much more of a gun culture than European countries or Canada. This book felt the same way. The author railed about the situation, but didn't suggest a way out of it.

I enjoyed the students' personal stories, especially Roberto's. What an incredible young man!

A Weekend with Mr. Darcy

by Victoria Connelly
Hennepin County Library paperback 343 pages
genre: romance

Enjoyable romance novel about an English professor (Dr. Katherine Roberts) and a shy young woman (Robyn Love) who attend a Jane Austen conference. Each woman connects with a dashing young man (Warwick Lawton, aka Lorna Warwick for Katherine and Dan Harcourt for Robyn).

I saw book two in this series at Kathy Giesen's house and it made me curious. But it's not the best romance I've ever read and I'm not enough of a Jane Austen nut to feel as drawn as these characters are to "Jane" stories. I must admit, though, I'm curious to re-read Persuasion based on what some of the characters in this book said.

Eldest

by Christopher Paolini
personal copy, hardcover, 668 pages
genre: fantasy

I've been working on re-reading this for quite a while . . . my goal is to have the storyline fresh in my mind when I finally read Inheritance. This was a lot slower and less interesting than I remembered. Roran's story is my favorite part. Eragon's time with the dwarves and the elves should have been edited a LOT more. I'm glad to finally move on. The fight and Murtagh revelation at the end were too quick of a climax to a long, drawn-out story.

Feathers

by Jacqueline Woodson
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 3 discs
narrated by Sisi Aisha Johnson
genre: realistic fiction, relationships

Woodson is one of my favorite authors, but I may need to re-read this short book. Frannie is a sixth grader during the 1970s. Her older brother Shawn is deaf. Her mother is pregnant again after suffering multiple miscarriages. Hope is the thread running throughout the story. Feathers are an analogy for hope. Samantha, the Jesus Boy, Trevor, Ray-Ray . . . all the children's lives have themes that bring them together. Lyrically beautiful . . . not sure how I would "sell" it to middle schoolers.

The Death Cure

by James Dashner
PRMS hardcover 324 pages
book three in The Maze Runner series
genre: dystopian adventure

So glad to have it over with . . . violent, pointless, nasty series. Thomas refuses to get his memories back. Denver turns into Crank Central (non-dead zombie-like humans who have gone crazy and kill to eat other humans). Whatever. I just read this so I could find out how it ended. Newt wasn't immune. Thomas finally decided to trust his gut instincts. Chancellor Page ended up saving the day. The Gladers were reunited with Gally. Humanity radically changed forever.

The Scorch Trials

by James Dashner
PRMS hardcover 360 pages
genre: dystopian adventure
book two in The Maze Runner series

How can I keep reading books I don't like? Because I really, really want to understand what's going on in this series. Who is Thomas really? What is the point of what he's going through?

Violent, nasty, brutal. WICKED does more icky stuff to these kids. They are sent across a searing hot wasteland (The Scorch) and have to walk 100 miles north in two weeks to get to The Safe Haven. Cranks will try to kill and eat them, violent lightning storms fry some of them, etc. etc.

Aris, Brenda, and Jorge are introduced. I suspect everyone's motives.

 

<Above published 6.28.2012. Below added 12.13.2025.>

 

WICKED is an acronym for World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department

We learn that in book one: Maze Runner. 

When Teresa comes into the Glade, she has written "WICKED is good" on her arm. 

Are they?

The Serpent's Shadow

by Rick Riordan
PRMS hardcover 401 pages
genre: fantasy adventure, Egyptian mythology

The final part of the trilogy. Wonderful conclusion, though I really wanted them to find an actual cure for Walt (Akhenaton's curse). Enjoyed the story and the two wonderful young narrators.

The Throne of Fire

by Rick Riordan
PRMS hardcover 447 pages
book two in the Kane Chronicles
genre: fantasy, Egyptian mythology

Sadie and Carter are at it again - saving the world while having bizarre experiences as Egyptian magicians. I LOVE the voices of these two young people - Riordan can embody the voice and attitude of a 13-year-old British girl - simply amazing. They need to find three pieces of a scroll so they can awaken Ra and prevent Apophis from rising. They have been busy training initiates, but Carter is obsessing about finding Zia and Sadie is trying to figure out her personal love triangle with Anubis and Walt.
Reading these makes me curious about Egyptian mythology, something I know little about. I'm not sure why students don't seem to like this series as well as the Percy Jackson books . . . are they more challenging to read? Do the two narrators throw them off? Is Egyptian mythology less accessible than Greek? I'm appreciative of Riordan's talent. I like that there is humor in with the action and adventure.

Slathbog's Gold

by M.L. Forman
book one of Adventurer's Wanted series
Hennepin County Library hardcover 382 pages

Alex enters a book shop to ask about the strange sign in the front window, but finds himself signed on to be an adventurer. He travels to a place whose name I forgot and embarks upon a trip to vanquish a dragon. Everything about this book sounded perfect for our grade 6 LAX, which is why I requested it. I found it had positive values and a good tone, lots of traditional elements (dwarves, elves, trolls, etc.), and a somewhat reluctant hero. Ultimately, I thought it was slow, with too many descriptions of meals and travels. The fight with the dragon was extremely short and anticlimactic. I honestly don't know if middle school boys would like it, but I found it to be a disappointing fantasy title. The only innovative piece was the geebs - odd little messenger creatures who can only make yes and no sounds. I have no idea why 15-year-old Alex would be so reluctant to learn and use magic. I'm not planning to read book two to find out.

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

by James Patterson
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs, 4 discs

Glad I finally read it. Odd story of an alien boy whose parents are murdered when he is three years old. At 15, he is on his own as an alien hunter. Lots of violence and improbable scenarios, but an entertaining story in some ways. I dislike the super-short chapters (but that's perhaps what some reluctant readers like) but enjoyed the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Not a very well-developed story, but an appealing fantasy / action tale for some middle school readers.

Traveler's Rest

by Ann Tatlock
Hennepin County Library paperback 342 pages
genre: Christian fiction

Nice story. I like this author. Jane is engaged to Seth, but when he returns from Iraq a paraplegic, everything changes for the young couple. He tells her to go away and find someone else. She still loves him and is committed to marrying him and caring for him. Truman is a wonderful older man who lives at the VA home and befriends both Jane and Seth. Wonderful characters, engaging story, somewhat predictable ending. My favorite scene is when Eugene shows Truman the video interview he did with Maggie before she died.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare

by Michael Macrone
Hennepin County Library, hard cover, 225 pages
genre: Literary non-fiction

I want to OWN this! Subtitled "A delightfully entertaining guide to the most famous and quotable expressions from the Bard," the author did an amazing job researching Shakespeare quotations. Interestingly enough, some that we consider his were published elsewhere first (like "it's Greek to me") and the author carefully explains that some others attributed to Shakespeare may have originated elsewhere. If he couldn't find earlier documentation, he gave credit to the play or sonnet in which WS used it first.

I stumbled upon this title when I was trying to find the source of the readers' theatre piece we use during the Medieval banquet at school. Fun for word nuts like me!

The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls

by Julie Schumacher
Hennepin County Library, hardcover, 230 pages
genre: teen fiction

I had read a review of this book somewhere (connected with an author event) and I knew I wouldn't be able to go to the event, but was curious about the book. I put my name on the reserve list and by the time I got the book, I thought it was non-fiction. Since it was due at the library, I thought I'd skim it and return it (still a waiting list on it). Wow! I'm so glad I had time on a long car ride to read the whole thing. What a wonderful story!

CeeCee, Adrienne, Jill, and Wallis are very unlikely friends. When two of the moms come up with the idea of a mother-daughter book club, CeeCee and Adrienne are appalled. They are going into their junior (or senior) year of high school and do NOT want to have to do a book club. Jill takes her SAT-prep very seriously and thinks discussing the summer reading titles before AP English is a good idea. Wallis is the wild card . . . we never really learn her story, but the bits and pieces are intriguing. Adrienne's identity crisis is well developed and resolved throughout the story. (And I LOVE the "essay" and chapter headings!)

Schumacher is the director (?) of the creative writing program at the U of M. She can definitely walk the talk! This book is wonderful and one I'll add to the collection at PRMS.

Raising Dragons

by Bryan Davis
Hennepin County LIbrary hardcover ? pages
genre: Christian YA fantasy

I initially requested this as a possibility for a 6th grade LAX fantasy title, then wanted to read it just because I love to read, but finally decided to just peruse it and return it because I just don't have enough time! I only read the first two chapters before we got to the library, but I was really enjoying it. The protagonist doesn't realize that he has dragon blood, but he knows that his breath has been getting hotter and stronger. He also has strange dreams in which he's a dragon. Then a weird guy in a Cadillac is following him. The writing is very clean (not surprising from a Christian author) and appealing. This would work with upper elementary / young middle school kids. I wish I had time to finish reading it, because it's a delightful book from the outset.

Battle Dress

by Amy Efaw
loaned to me by a student, paperback, 290 pages
genre: YA fiction

Andi (Andrea) Davis is going to West Point. Her family is more doubtful than supportive that she can make it there. The toughness of Beast (basic training) and the challenges - both physical and mental - make her question herself over and over again.

Interesting book. Now that I've read it, I'm curious to hear why the student who loaned it to me liked it so much. The military part? Her personal struggle to succeed? There wasn't really any romance and not much in the way of subplots, but it was a worthwhile read.

Sarah's Key

by Tatiana DeRosnay
Hennepin County Library audioCDs (8 discs)
read by Polly Stone
genre: WWII fiction / modern day relationships

What I loved about this story: the balance between the events of 1942 and Julia learning about it sixty years later, the children (historical & modern), the unfolding of characters' lives.
What I disliked: the relationship between Julia and Bertrand, Julia's insecurities and dramas, Julia in general . . .

I learned a lot. I had no idea that the French police had complied so willingly with the Nazis during the occupation. I'm surprised and saddened that more people didn't try to help.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs
PRMS hardcover 348 pages
genre: supernatural

What an unusual story! Jacob and his grandfather are close, but Jacob isn't quite sure what to believe about the stories he hears. When his grandfather is killed, no one believes Jacob's tale about the creature he saw. When Jacob and his father go to Cairnholm Island (the location of some of his grandfather's stories), strange things happen. Peculiar children, a time loop, hollowgasts, wights, . . . a very strange and captivating story! I love that the photographs in the book are actual vintage photos. Odd, scary, fascinating.

The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 11 discs
narrated by Jim Dale
genre: historical fantasy

What an unusual, but very captivating story! Two young people, Celia and Marco, are bound by two older magicians when they are mere children. They don't fully understand what the "challenge" even is as they are training to undertake it. The Night Circus is created to be the venue for the challenge and it is filled with unusual people and attractions.

Amanda Wermerskirchen recommended this to me. I'll have to let her know how much I enjoyed it. Absolutely captivating and extraordinary! (It was also interesting to be listening to this intermixed with my reading of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.)

The Search Committee

by Tim Owens
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 389 pages
genre: Christian relationship fiction

First-time author. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. I hope this isn't what the Presbyterian church is really like . . . not many of the characters seemed to have much of a personal relationship with the Lord. Great character study - I enjoyed Frankie's and Travis' narratives the most.

We had a wonderful discussion about it at Fish Tale last night (and yes, the cheesecake was wonderful).

An Invisible Thread

subtitled: The true story of an 11-year-old panhandler, a busy sales executive, and an unlikely meeting with destiny

by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski
Hennepin County Library, hardcover, 238 pages
genre: memoir

Maurice and Laura. Child and adult. Black and white. Shockingly poor and extremely sucessful. This is a wonderful narrative of the two people, how they met and mattered to one another, and how their histories shaped their lives. Amazing story. I'm glad I read it. Similar in ways to Same Kind of Different as Me, but basically secular.

Frank: The Voice

by James Kaplan
Hennepin County Library audioCDs (18 discs)
read by Rob Shapiro
genre: biography

This was a fascinating but also disturbing story. I didn't know much about Frank Sinatra, but he certainly wasn't someone I'll ever hold in very high regard. Despite the impact his mother Dolly had on his psyche, he was an arrogant, shallow, selfish person. He cheated on his wife horribly and treated his friends like dirt.

Listening to so much detail about his life made it hard to have the narrative stop when he won his Academy award for From Here to Eternity. He had another lifetime (and two more wives, I believe) after that! The author went into great detail about recording sessions, conversations, etc.

My favorites: asking my father-in-law if he had ever heard Sinatra sing live (he had) and getting curious about some of the songs and movies mentioned. I just got FHTE from the public library - I've never seen it before. I found myself Googling Montgomery Clift, Ava Gardner, etc. A small part of me wants to read a biography that goes from 1954 to the end of his life. I also got curious about his first wife and his children. But what a skunk of a man!

6/9/12 - Louie and I watched From Here to Eternity last night . . . how sad that the romantic relationships were so messed up! Interesting that this was the Academy Award winner in 1953.

The Orchid Affair

by Lauren Willig Hennepin County Library audioCDs 13 discs read by Kate Reading genre: historical romance Decent story, but also frustrating. Why do I listen to romance stories?! Interesting look at France just after the revolution. Didn't care for the juxtaposition of the modern day characters against the historical backdrop. Laura's characterization was bizarre - confident or unsure? Spy or neophyte? Sultry or uptight? Andre Jaouen worked well as a hero. Good enough story to keep me reading. Not good enough for me to recommend to others.

Tintin in America

by Herge PRMS 62 pages YA graphic novel adventure This is not my favorite Tintin book, but it’s the only one in this collection. I love Snowy and his resourcefulness! This is an interesting historical view of Europeans’ opinions of the U.S. in the 1930s. Weird mix of Chicago gangsters and wild west Indians. Enjoyable, but not the most engaging of the Tintin stories. (I actually missed Thompson and Thompson and Captain Haddock.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

by Trenton Lee Stewart
PRMS hardcover 485 pages
genre: mystery adventure

What an interesting story! This would be a wonderful title for LAX 6, but not the fantasy title we were seeking. Four children "pass" a strange series of tests that bring them to Mr. Benedict. Full of clever wordplay and strange situations, this book is absolutely delightful! I love how it is smart, but not too mature in content. It can be so hard to find books for excellent young readers. Stewart has a hit here. I may have to read books 2 and 3 now . . .

The Magician of Hoad

by Margaret Mahy Hennepin County Library paperback 411 pages genre: fantasy In trying to find a good title for LAX 6 in the fantasy genre, I've been previewing a lot of books. This one has many assets, but is overall too odd and uneven. I enjoyed it enough to finish it, but not enough to recommend it. Heriot, Cayley, Dysart, Linnet . . . none of them really engaged me. The King of Hoad, Betony, Carlyon, . . . . magic. peace. heroes. mumbo-jumbo trying to sound important. I'll pass on this one.

The Disappearing Spoon

by Sam Kean Hennepin County Library audioCDs 13 hours genre: science read by Sean Runnette Although I didn't enjoy chemistry in high school, I LOVED this book about the periodic table. From the jacket: "THe periodic table is one of our crowning scientific achievements, but it's also a treasure trove of passion, adventure, betrayal, and obsession." The author presents the stories behind the discovery of elements in such a fascinating manner that I found myself wanting to look at a periodic table. This story was absolutely wonderful! (And I don't really like chemistry much - the author is a very good storyteller indeed!)

The Cloud Searchers

Amulet: Book Three
by Kazu Kibuishi
PRMS hardcover 198 pages
genre: YA fantasy adventure graphic novel

I am really enjoying this series! I love the scene in the bar (reminiscent of the Star Wars cantina scene) and the new aspects of Prince Trellis. Looking forward to book four.

The Tale of Despereaux

by Kate DiCamillo
PRMS paperback 280 pages
genre: children's fantasy

I thought I had read this before, but I was just mixing it up with Edward Tulane. Lovely story of a small mouse with big ears who falls in love with a princess.

A student had donated a book and I was looking forward to collecting more copies for the sixth grade book / movie unit. When I looked at the donated copy, though, I noticed the words "junior novelization." Sure enough, after DiCamillo's book was made into a movie, someone else made a book of the movie . . . and changed the story too much for me. Instead of opening with Despereaux, the novelization opens with The Rat (Roscuro) and a sailor named Pietro. Sigh. This is one GONE book!

The original tale is quaint and sweet. It's a bit on the young side, but that makes sense. Her intended audience was not my middle school kids.

Dewey the Small-town Library Cat Who Touched the World

by Vicki Myron & Bret Witter
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7 discs
read by Suzanne Toren
genre: memoir, animals

I finally broke down and got the audio version, even though I own the paperback. I spend too much time in my car to not use that time to get more "reading" done. Overall, I really enjoyed this book by Vicki Myron. She intertwines her life story with that of Dewey Readmore Books, who was left in the book return on a frigid night.

I guess I'm just a library nerd. This appeals to me in that I love books and libraries, too.

The Red Pyramid

by Rick Riordan
Kane Chronicles 1
PRMS paperback 516 pages
genre: fantasy / mythology adventure

Carter and Sadie are siblings being raised apart. Egyptian mythology, good vs. evil, Sadie is younger but also bolder. Their uncle Amos. Goddess Bast. Lots of fighting and travel portals.

Good, but I'm too tired to blog.

Amulet:: The Stonekeeper's Curse (book two)

by Kazu Kibuishi
PRMS hardcover 217 pages
genre: YA graphic novel fantasy

I am really enjoying this series! Not sure why it has taken me so long to read more of it. The surprising thing in this volume is that the elves are the bad guys! I didn't realize in book one that they were elves. Now I'm very curious about the elven prince and his role in the story. I love the fox character and am glad that Emily's mom is okay.

Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck
CMSE hardcover 107 pages
genre: classic American literature, historical fiction, relationships

I hadn't read this in over twenty years and had recommended it to David C. (who had to read a classic American work and does NOT like to read). I think he ended up going with Fahrenheit 451. I had forgotten how much swearing and slang was in this short little book (more like a novella than a true novel). Perhaps its length is what made so many English teachers choose it for high school students to read - at least it's short!

I loved seeing the way the different men communicate with one another. George and Lennie have such a simple yet profound relationship. Slim is my absolute favorite. I wish Lennie had been able to have a stuffed animal or a fur coat to fulfill his desire to pet something soft . . .

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by Brian Selznick
PRMS hardcover 530 pages
genre: YA historical fiction

This was a re-read so that I had the story fresh in my mind when I watched Hugo. Lovely story. I actually liked the movie a lot, although it deviated from Selznick's book a fair amount. I loved learning about Georges Melies (the first time I read this) and seeing how his life story came to life. Wonderful. Glad I could share it with Louie!

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen

by Eric Berlin
Carver County Library kit book paperback 209 pages plus answers
genre: YA mystery

Loved it! Most of the mysteries were pretty easy to figure out. I wonder if the kids saw the note at the front of the book that you could go online to print out the puzzles. This will be fun to talk about. The wooden puzzle pieces, the town's history, the hidden treasure . . . all added up to a wonderful book in the same vein as The Westing Game. Good stuff!

Melonhead

by Katy Kelly
Carver County book-club-in-a-kit paperback 210 pages
genre: children's humor

It will be interesting to hear the kids' opinions (6th grade book club). I thought it was too "young" and not terribly funny. I liked how very "boy" Melonhead was - not really thinking about the consequences of his actions. I also liked that he and his friends weren't malicious (or even mischievous in a Dennis the Menace sense) but they were definitely getting into a lot of trouble. I marked a few spots to bring up at our discussion. Their rhyming name game was also kind of cute.

Hunger Games (US magazine)

Editors of US magazine
PRMS paperback 72 pages
genre: movie fandom

Lots of pics, interviews, etc. Interesting.

Odd Hours

by Dean Koontz
read by David Aaron Baker
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7 discs
genre: paranormal mystery

Another wonderful Odd Thomas story! Odd is drawn to a coastal town, but he isn't sure why. Now that Elvis has moved on, Frank Sinatra is showing up regularly in Odd's life (as is Boo, one of the rare dog ghosts). Odd thwarts a nuclear terror plot, but encounters many interesting characters along the way. And he uses a gun! Anna Maria is strange, but since she leaves the town with Odd at the end of the story, I'm sure we'll get to know more about her in the next story.

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel

by Siena Cherson Siegel
artwork by Mark Siegel
PRMS hardcover unpaged
genre: graphic novel memoir

Wonderful! I have tried ordering this many times, but it has not shipped to me until now. (Thank you, Amazon!) Siena shares her lifelong love of dance, her parents' divorce, and her decision to move in a different direction as an adult. Her husband illustrates her story beautifully. Dance lovers will definitely enjoy this well-told story.

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

by Lynne Jonell
art by Jonathan Bean
Carver County Library hardcover 346 pages
genre: YA fantasy, mystery

A sixth grader recommended this book for book club, but I don't have access to many copies. I enjoyed it, but am not sure how it would appeal to boys. Emmy is a nice girl, but no one seems to notice her except her evil nanny Miss Barmy. Emmy can hear the class rat talk, though no one else seems to until one day when Joe says something to her about it.

Full of adventure and rodents who have amazing powers, this was a delightful book. I believe I've met the author before. It might be fun to have her come and visit someday.

Brain Camp

by Susan Kim, Laurence Klavan, Faith Erin Hicks
PRMS paperback 151 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, SciFi

Subtitled "A summer at Camp Fielding will really change you," I'm glad I finally read this book. Weird, fun, interesting. Jenna is unusual in her family of overachievers. Lucas is on his way to being just like his father - a criminal in jail. When they are sent to Camp Fielding they quickly realize that something strange is going on.

Creepy, fun, and a little bit romantic (though Lucas' wet dream is a bit TMI . . . not sure middle school readers will "get" it), this is a good read. The storyline and artwork work well together to communicate a middle school mystery.

Same Kind of Different as Me

by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent 

Hennepin County Library hardcover 235 pages 

genre: true life story 

subtitled: a modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together 

 

Amazing. Absolutely incredible story told in alternating chapters between Ron Hall (the art dealer) and Denver Moore (the black homeless man). This book had SO much going on that I want to own a copy. I love the life lessons that Ron learned. I cried. It is a beautiful book. Everyone in book club today enjoyed it. Excellent read!

 

<Above posted 3.26.2012. Below added 12.08.2020.>

 

I thought about buying a copy of this to own, but decided to re-read a library copy instead. (I've been trying to decrease my possessions . . . ) This is truly an amazing story. 

 

The pieces of Denver's story told in his youth in Louisiana really struck me. The time three white teenagers roped him and dragged him because he was helping a white woman change the tire on her car. Why didn't she speak up?! And seeing the house burn with his grandma inside, not being able to wake her up. How awful!

 

There are so many times that Ron's attitude and language bug me, but I appreciate that he is honest about his own skewed perspective. And I love the truth of what believers can do - share their own story. Amen! On page 61, I loved this observation:

Looking back now, I mourn the mutual wounds inflicted in verbal battles with the "unsaved." In fact, I have chosen to delete that particular term from my vocabulary as I have learned that even with my $500 European-designer bifocals, I cannot see into a person's heart to know his spiritual condition. All I can do is tell the jagged tale of my own spiritual journey and declare that my life has been the better for having followed Christ.

 

 All of Debbie's cancer journey was so very hard to read . . . the pain, the faith, the prayers, and the challenges. I loved how God spoke to and through Denver throughout this journey.

Page 143 has an example of Deborah's faithfulness. What an amazing woman!

"Let's praise God," she said.

"For what?" I thought without saying it.

"Let's forget what he (the doctor) said about only living one year, and let's just trust God," she told me. "Dr. Goldstein is just a doctor. We serve the living God, who knows our number of days. I intend to fulfill each one of mine."

There was some humor mixed in, mostly from Denver's perspective. At a fancy dinner honoring their work with the homeless, Denver made this observation (page 200-1).

When the food come, I took my cloth napkin and put it on my lap. And I kept a eye on Mr. Ron to make sure I was usin the right fork. I had learned by then that rich white folks got a lotta rules 'bout forks. I still ain't figured out why they got to use three or four different ones and make a lotta extra work for the folks in the kitchen.

Page 211 at Deborah's funeral from Denver's perspective (my bolding):

Then I felt like the Lord had given me a word for the people that was gathered there. And when the Lord say "speak," ain't much you can do but get up, open your mouth, and see what comes out.

Here's what come out that day: "Miss Debbie was a close enough friend a' mine that I prayed and prayed for her, day and night - even to the point of offerin God life for life. 'Let me go in,' I said to Him. 'Let her stay here, 'cause she more worthy than me to stay here on this earth, and I would be better off to go on up to heaven 'cause I ain't had no kinda luck down here.'"

Finally, on page 230, Ron's humble honesty resonates with me.

The pain of losing Deborah still brings tears. And I cannot mask my profound disappointment that God did not answer yes to our prayers for healing. I think He's okay with that. One of the phrases we evangelicals like to throw around is that Christianity is "not a religion; it's a relationship." I believe that, which is why I know that when my faith was shattered and I raged against Him, He still accepted me. And even though I have penciled a black mark in His column, I can be honest about it. That's what a relationship is about.

After re-reading this, I went online to "catch up" with these people. Ron Hall has remarried. Denver died in 2012. Ron's and Debbie's kids have families and careers of their own. Life goes on. God is good.

 

 

A Sound Among the Trees

by Susan Meissner
Hennepin County Library paperback 324 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction

Marielle marries Carson knowing about his dead wife, two wonderful children, and the historic home in Fredericksburg where his grandmother-in-law Adelaide resides. But she has no idea the stories that have become engrained in people's minds about the house, Adelaide's great-grandmother Susannah, and the potential for ghosts and spirits to continue wreaking havoc on the lives of those who live at Holly Oak.

I enjoyed this story and look forward to tonight's book club discussion. My favorites were the old letters Susannah wrote during the Civil War and Caroline's impact on modern-day events. I didn't like the eerie house-is-haunted nonsense. Some people!

The Upstairs Room

By Johanna Reiss
PRMS paperback 179 pages
genre: autobiographical, WWII

The author wrote down her story for her children to understand and ended up publishing a Newbery Honor book. Johanna "Annie" is only ten ("almost eleven!") when the Nazis are rounding up Jews. Her father wants to leave for America, but her mother suffers from headaches and wants to stay. Thinking they are safe in Denmark, it is too late to truly escape when the dangers grow. The family goes into hiding in three different places - the mother dies in the hospital.

I hadn't read this before giving it to my sixth grade book club and was concerned when a student said they had to stop reading because of all the swear words. The family that Annie and her older sister Sini stay with for over two years are simple farm folks. Johan has a penchant for rough language, Dientje is afraid of her own shadow, and Opoe (grandma) has a soft spot for the girls.

Good story. Much less disturbing than most Holocaust fiction. Discussion today. It will be interesting to see what the kids say.

Beauty

by Robin McKinley
PRMS paperback 325 pages
genre: fantasy, romance

For 8th grade book club, as a counterpoint to Beast (read earlier this year). Fun basic retelling of the classic story. I enjoyed it but the ending was surprisingly quick.

This Book Is Overdue! How LIbrarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All

by Marilyn Johnson
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 discs
read by Hillary Huber
genre: non-fiction librarianship

I had read a review of this book and jumped when I saw it on the shelf. The author does a great job of sharing her impressions (mostly positive) of the many librarians she interviewed during research for this book. Especially when I experience that mix of old-fashioned sensibilities and techie newness . . . it was an interesting book. Made me wonder if anyone actually spends time on Second Life anymore, though . . . enjoyable book overall.

Eragon

by Christopher Paolini
home copy hardcover 497 pages
genre: fantasy

I can't read Inheritance until I re-read the first three books. This took me a few chapters to get into (again), but then I enjoyed the ride. Yes, Paolini borrowed heavily from Tolkien and other great fantasy writers, but he was only a teenager when he wrote this. Eragon is a delightful innocent, Saphira is magical, and Brom remains my favorite. One of my sixth grade book clubs read and discussed this, but I don't think they all *finished* it. Too bad, since it's a story worth reading. Not sure if I find the Ra'zac or the Shade to be creepier . . .

Brother Odd

by Dean Koontz
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 8 discs
read by David Aaron Baker
genre: supernatural mystery

The third Odd Thomas book, this one has Odd staying at a monastery as a guest so he can get a break from the ghosts of Pico Mundo. Then a new danger and mystery arises. I definitely liked this one better than the second one, though I missed Little Ozzie (only in this at the end) and some of the other characters of Pico Mundo. I'm really enjoying this quirky series. Part of the appeal is Odd's personal qualities. He's very unassuming. I especially like how he calls himself innocuous and the Russian stridently disagrees. Nice!

Forever Odd

by Dean Koontz
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7 discs
read by David Aaron Baker

This one was much creepier than the first Odd Thomas book I read. Doctor Jessup's ghost leads Odd into a new situation, one that feels "wrong." Danny (Jessup's stepson & Odd's friend) has disappeared and Odd knows that he alone must find him. The evil people in this story are truly disturbing and scary.

Liked: Odd's communication with Elvis and the ghosts in the casino
Disliked: too much repetitive info (for those who haven't read Odd Thomas, I assume)

Overall, enjoyed it, but not as much as the first book.

Crossing Oceans

by Gina Holmes
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

Right after blogging about our (tonight) book club title, I looked to see what I had written about this author's first book. Nothing! I'm not a super-efficient (or effective) blogger . . . but I like having this repository of my responses to what I've been reading.

We read this title in September 2010 for the Spirit of Life book club. It was about a woman who was estranged from her family. She left home pregnant and lived her own life for a while. She returned home after being diagnosed with terminal cancer so that her daughter could be cared for by her father and grandmother when she is gone.

Her ex-boyfriend (and father of her child) is now married and since they are unable to conceive, they want the child.

Legal, emotional, ethical issues ensue. Very interesting and engaging book. I *loved* the grandma!

Dry as Rain

by Gina Holmes
Hennepin County Library paperback 373 pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

I had to force myself to read this one. I just couldn't empathize with the protagonist (Eric) who cheats on his wife but blames her for the distance in their marriage while also feeling deep love for her and intense guilt about his infidelity.

Kyra has suffered amnesia (but no other damage) in a car accident and doesn't remember that they're separated.

I spent the first half of the book just saying "TELL HER THE TRUTH!!!" and the second half saying, "Is this over yet?" Needless to say, I didn't like this nearly as much as Holmes' first book and I'm not super-eager to read more from her.

Alanna: the first adventure

by Tamora Pierce
PRMS paperback 274 pages
genre: fantasy adventure

Alanna and her twin brother want to trade places - she wants to train to become a knight and he wants to continue his education (albeit as a sorcerer, not as a lady). Their distracted father doesn't know the switch has been made and Alanna becomes Alan of Tremond. She makes friends and one enemy with the other pages, squires, thieves, etc. in the city.

Dashes of coming-of-age, magic, and a portent of romance to come. Interesting, but it didn't blow me away. It will be fun to hear what the 7th grade book club girls thought of it.

The Appeal

by John Grisham
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 10 discs
read by Michael Beck
genre: legal thriller

This book had a profound impact on me. I thought about it a LOT over the week or so that I listened to it. I really struggled with the realization that although this is fiction, much of the content is extremely true-to-life.

Basically, it is the 1% vs. the rest of us. Carl Trudeau, obscenely wealthy New York businessman, rejects the court ruling that his chemical company polluted, poisoned, and killed people in Beaumore, Mississippi. He connects with other powerful and corrupt people to "buy" a seat on the state Supreme Court so that the ruling will be rejected and he doesn't have to pay for the damage done by Crane Chemical.

Ugh. This was really hard for me to read, especially the conservative Christians overwhelmingly (and unthinkingly) supporting newcomer Ron Fisk for a judge seat he isn't qualified to occupy. The tactics and politics ring far too true.

Favorite character: Denny Ott! (Pastor who "gets it" and yet truly cares for his congregation as a genuine Christian.) The ending stunned me, yet makes perfect sense. Six billion. Of course.

The Lost Years of Merlin

by T.A. Barron
PRMS hardcover 326 pages
genre: fantasy

This took me f-o-r-e-v-e-r to read. I started it via audiobook while working on the elliptical. Then I finally finished with the book. I just didn't get into it that much. Not the right book at the right time? I usually enjoy Merlin legends.

A boy washes up on a beach with no memory of who he is or where he belongs. A woman is also there. She claims to be his mother, but won't answer his questions. He has powers, leaves town, gets to the mythical Fincayra, meets Rhia, befriends a merlin he names Trouble, . . . yeah. It had a lot going on.

I'm not giving up on this author, but I'll definitely just grab a physical copy of the next title of his that I try.

Made to Crave: Satisfying your deepest desire with God, not food

by Lysa TerKeurst
Hennepin County Library paperback 217 pgs
genre: Christian self-improvement ?

Interesting to claim a genre for this . . . I almost put "self-help," but she's recommending reliance upon God not self. I almost wrote "dieting," but that's not her stated focus either.

Another interesting note: the cover image is IDENTICAL to the one on the Valerie Bertinelli book I read a little while ago. I knew that publishers did this . . . and read a cool blog entry last year about the phenomenon. I just don't understand WHY. It's an eye-catching image, yes, but I see lots & lots of photographs that are expressive. I think there are enough photos they could use without duplicating.

Anyhow, I liked the Scriptures she used. I wish I'd had time to read the whole thing, but someone's waiting for it so I need to return it today. Some of her "can't eat" food makes me wonder how it is part of God's will for her. No bread, rice, potatoes, etc.? Really? I know I need to pray more, but I don't think He's asking me to give up all the foods that she has decided to do without.

It would have been smart of me to just grab the list of Scripture verses at the end and skip the chapters on her struggles. I can't relate to her very much. Or perhaps this just isn't the right book at the right time for me.

Things Not Seen

by Andrew Clements
Carver County Library paperback 252 pages
genre: YA SciFi, relationships

Bobby Phillips wakes up invisible one day and embarks on an identity crisis that helps him to mature. His parents tell him to stay home and not let anyone know, but he goes out (fully clothed head to toe) just for something to do. Once indoors at the library, he removes all his clothing in the men's room so he doesn't look suspicious. His naked invisible self bumps into a blind girl and a friendship with the beautiful Alicia changes his world.

Cute story. Okay book club discussion with the eighth graders yesterday . . . too many had not read it or had read it a few years ago.

Around the World in Eighty Days

by Jules Verne
Carver County Library audioCDs
read by Patrick Tull
genre: hist fic, adventure

I enjoy this story, though Phileas Fogg's "cold" responses and logical approach to everything gets a bit old. I hadn't remembered the story being so incredibly racist and stereotypical (especially in America, where the Indians are encountered). Still, I like Verne's story and the characters who travel with Fogg - Passepartout, Detective Fix, and Aouda.

One thing that makes me CRAZY, though, is how many versions of this story show a hot air balloon on the cover. And this audio version has on the back: " . . . must use every means of transportation known to 19th century humans - including a hot-air balloon, a locomotive, and an elephant . . . " NO!!!! There is NO hot-air balloon used in this story! Verne mentions one as a possibility to get across the Atlantic, but Fogg NEVER gets on one in this journey.

There. I feel better now.

The Pelican Brief

by John Grisham
PRMS paperback 436 pages
genre: mystery, suspense

This was a re-read, but it's been such a long time that I honestly didn't remember the story. I just finished it last night, so wasn't able to share at our Monday book club meeting ("any" Grisham book). Darby Shaw is a bright & beautiful law student who unravels some threads tying a wealthy businessman to the murders of two Supreme Court justices.

Fletcher Coal is the powerful man behind the president.
Khamel is the expensive and talented assassin.
Thomas Callahan is Darby's professor and lover.
Gray Grantham is the intrepid reporter.

I like the suspense so much more than any lawyer stuff . . .

Some of my Bets Friends Are Books: Guiding Gifted Readers

by Judith Wynn Halstad
Hennepin County Library paperback
genre: NF reading guidance

Kate Martens recommended this. I wasn't able to do more than skim it, since I'm at my limit in the Hennepin County system. It looks valuable, but my time management skills are poor and I don't have much in the way of budget. I'm blogging just so I can easily find it again.

In Odd We Trust

by Dean Koontz
illustrated by Queenie Chan
Hennepin County Library paperback
genre: YA graphic novel, paranormal mystery

Interesting little graphic novel - the psycho killer is targeting Stormy's friend, but brutally murders a little boy who's in her care. Nicely done both storywise & artwise.

Odd Thomas

by Dean Koontz
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 9 discs
read by David Aaron Baker
genre: paranormal mystery

I'm surprised I haven't already blogged about this book. I listened to it a year or so ago and was impressed. Odd Thomas can see the dead, but few people know about his "gift." The love of his life, Stormy Llewellen(?), and he are unusual people and perfectly compatible.

Interesting story. I re-listened so that I can continue with the other Odd Thomas books (one in my car already and one on hold at the library). Baker voices Odd Thomas well.

 

<Above published 2.2.12. Below added 1.1.24.>

 

I listened to this story again. I don't love the author's / main characters' perception of life after death (with Stormy's description of this life being "boot camp" . . . ) but this is a very creative work of fiction. The "bodocks" (sp?) as evil spirits is very realistic from a Christian perspective! The theological issues I have with the story don't really detract from all the things I like about it.

 

Little Ozzie, Chester his cat, Odd's own sweet strange self . . . I stopped to write down (pausing, going back, etc.) one quotation that jumped out at me.

 

"Guilt and shame have until now kept me silent on this issue. I am old enough even if just twenty to know that I have no logical reason to feel either guilt or shame, that I was the victim, not the victimizer. Yet I've been so long marinated in both emotions that they will forever flavor me."

 

The language here really struck me. Being marinated in guilt and shame . . . made me think of the household I grew up in. I'm not sure my parents even realized how much these tools were used. Of course, Odd's mother was really mentally ill. My parents were just raising us the way they had been raised.

 

I don't plan on continuing with the Odd Thomas series this time. In fact, I may weed out the Odd Thomas books I own (at the lake). There are so very many other books I want to read!

 

Cooking with Hot Flashes

by Martha Bolton
Hennepin County Library paperback 192 pgs
genre: humor, Christian perspective on aging

Funny, but a lot of it was still too "old" for me. I like her writing style - funny but not unkind. This was a nice book to have around for a few short chapters here & there.

My FB status is a quote from the book: "Laughter is healthy. It has the power to make you forget your problems, even if only temporarily. A hearty laugh can even burn thirty-five calories! How's that for a diet plan? Do without white bread if you want; I'd rather laugh."

Wonderland Creek

by Lynn Austin
Hennepin County Library hardcover
genre: Christian historical fiction

Fun, but very predictable. The young woman was much too namby-pamby for me, but it did make her transformation more effective. Mack was clearly going to end up with her, so Ike was a pleasant diversion. Light fun.

Young librarian loses her job during the Depression, then she loses her undertaker boyfriend because her head's in the clouds. (Or was it vice-versa - loses Gordon, then job?) Anyhow, she takes a road trip with her aunt and uncle to deliver some books in the Appalachians and ends up staying. She is drawn into the poverty, feuds, and lives of the people in the little town and along the trails.

Some of the library / book stuff was delightful. Good discussion at book club!

Just saw an old unpublished post of this book:
by Lynn Austin
Hennepin COunty LIbrary hardcover 385 pages
genre: historical Christian fiction

No time!

Librarian / Great Depression / goes to Appalachia w/ bks she collected
Mack. Lillie. packhorses. coal scandal book
Ike
love

Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer

by John Grisham
PRMS hardcover 263 pages
genre: YA detective

Disappointing. After hearing so many rave reviews, I decided to read it myself (and be ready for our Monday staff book club - ANY Grisham novel). To be safe, I'm trying to get through Pelican Brief before tomorrow afternoon. Much better writing!

I'm not sure which middle schoolers Grisham hangs around, or who his target audience was, but I can't see many of my eighth graders buying into Teddy's reality. The courtroom stuff just doesn't hold that much interest, and Teddy's personal life reads more like fifth grade.

Ah well. Now I know how (and to whom) to booktalk this one.

Savvy

by Ingrid Law
PRMS hardcover 342 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age, fantasy

Mibs (Mississippi) Beaumont is eager for her 13th birthday. Besides becoming a teenager, she will learn what her savvy (special magical gift) is. Her older brothers Rocket and Fish have powers affecting electricity and water, respectively. But when their father is in a serious car accident just two days before her birthday, Mibs, Fish, and younger brother Samson end up in the clutches of Miss Rosemary, the preacher's wife.

A student implored me to read this book and I finally gave in. I'm so glad I did! Though it didn't catch my interest in the first few chapters, Law has done a wonderful job of looking at the intricacies of people and their relationships. And she has done it in a way that will attract many young readers. This book was delightful and I look forward to booktalking it with kids!

Shipwrecked!

by Rhoda Blumberg
PRMS hardcover 77 pages
genre: NF, biography

Mary Verbick recommended this book, subtitled "The true adventures of a Japanese boy." Fascinating story of Manjiro and the closed culture of 1850s Japan. He was fishing with some other villagers when a storm blew up and stranded them on an island. After months of surviving on seaweed and albatross, they were rescued by a Dutch ship and brought to Hawaii. Manjiro's personal story from poor fisherman to Samurai is amazing! (And this story made me realize how little I know about other countries' history.)

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead
PRMS paperback 197 pages
genre: YA time travel, relationships

Set in 1979 New York, Miranda's story confused me a bit the first half of the book. I wasn't sure who she was addressing the story to, who the letters were from, etc. When I read a review that said this story dealt with time travel, it clicked. It helps that I've read A Wrinkle in Time, which is heavily referenced in this book.

My sixth grade Quest club will be reading this next, so I'm going to try to "set" the story for them.

Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

by Jamie Ford
Hennepin County Library paperback 285 pages
genre: historical fiction

Alternating between 1942 and 1986, we learn about Chinese American Henry and his life in Seattle during the evacuation of Japanese Americans to internment camps. Henry has befriended Keiko, although his father is super-nationalistic and perceives all Japanese as the enemy. In the 1980s, Henry is recently widowed and trying to be a different father to his son Marty than his own father was for him. Communication is tough!

This was a beautiful book, full of lovely and interesting characters. Black saxophonist Sydney and tough cook Mrs. Beatty were both integral to Henry's story. The relationship between him and Keiko developed so beautifully and innocently . . . his father's treachery broke my heart. The jazz music scene was also painted well. Wonderful story!

Lola and the Boy Next Door

by Stephanie Perkins
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7 discs
read by Shannon McManus
genre: YA romance, relationships

Delores prefers to be called Lola, has two dads (Nathan and Andy) for parents, dresses outlandishly, and has a 22-year-old rocker boyfriend named Max. Into this mix, her next door neighbors move back in after two years away. Calliope Bell is a world-class figure skater and snob. Her twin brother Cricket broke Lola's heart and she has spent two years hating him. But hatred is not the feeling he evokes . . .

I enjoyed this book a lot. Lola is too immature in terms of communication and relationships, but the attraction between her and Cricket builds slowly and powerfully. Her relationship with Max seems unlikely and the breakup scene was less horrible than I anticipated. Overall, a very interesting story.

The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It

by Lisa Shanahan
PRMS hardcover 295 pages
genre: YA contemporary fiction with some romance, problems, and humor

Liked: Raven, Gemma Stone's growing self-awareness, "chucking a birkett," and so many parts of this delightful story!

Disliked: not much . . . . The author didn't include a glossary (as in the Louise Rennison books about Georgia Nicholson - almost as funny as the books themselves!). Some of her Australian slang left me really confused. I still don't know what the "tip" was . . . a dump?

A Whole Nother Story

"As told by (the one and only) Dr. Cuthbert Soup
April's copy, paperback, 264 pages
genre: YA humor, adventure, mystery

Liked: some of the clever wordplay (like Jough Psmythe for "Joe Smith"), the nuttiness of some of the characters

Disliked: the "talking directly to the audience" writing style (though April must LOVE this; this is the second book she's recommended in this style), the stupidity of the villains, the ridiculousness of Mr. Cheeseman's plan to get the time travel machine working and to get his wife back, etc.

I just didn't care for this and have no desire to read the second book.

I Am Number Four

by Pittacus Lore (pseudonym for the two co-authors . . . )
PRMS hardcover 440 pages
genre: SciFi adventure

I finally read this! Wonderful book - I can watch the movie now. And get my hands on the second book. Alex read it, too. This one might be worth purchasing a personal copy of . . .

Number Four is from the planet Lorien. Fifteen children and their guardians left the planet before it was completely destroyed by the Mogadorians. The children are being killed one at a time, and "John" knows he is next.

I can't adequately blog about this right now - distracted and not feeling the writing "thing." This book is very engaging! It is one of those titles that works for both teens and adults. Looking forward to reading the next one!

Beast

by Donna Jo Napoli
PRMS paperback 260 pages
genre: fairy tale redux

Beauty and the Beast as told by the Beast's perspective. Interesting take on the tale, but I found the first half to be too slow. It will be interesting to see how many of my 8th grade book club kids can get through it. Prince Orasmyn (through language professor Napoli's lens) spends many chapters teaching us about Islam and Persian culture. His reason for becoming a lion is unusual . . . it didn't seem to fit with the traditional tale I'm familiar with. What was he supposed to do about the camel sacrifice? It's not quite the same as the arrogant youth situation.

Anyhow, I put lots of post-its in with talking points. Overall, this didn't do much for me. I liked Chou Chou, the pet fox.

Added 1/17/12 upon post-it removal:
pg. 5 "So many new words! Author's purpose?"
pg. 21 in response to "Fasting is difficult. But that's what makes it worth doing. Discipline, self-restraint, generosity toward those who truly lack the necessities of life - that's what fasting is about." I wrote "For me, it's about obedience to God."
pg. 65 - "Sex." (I'm assuming this scene is why it wasn't being used with sixth graders. My 8th graders didn't think it was "that bad," though. Orasmyn as a lion has sex with two lionesses.)
pg. 69 - "lions feeding. Gross" extremely graphic and disgusting. Visceral.
pg. 99 - "What else could he have done to communicate?" As Orasmyn leaves his parents sleeping in his room.
pg. 115 - "Learning by observation." as he watches the other lions to figure things out.
pg. 140 - "Closer to traditional tale" he has found an abandoned castle to stay in."
pg. 146 - "love of books & language (heart)" Orasmyn as a lion is using the castle's library to explore ideas and retain the vestiges of his humanity
pg. 150 - "color blindness. knowing what's lost."
pg. 164 - "My favorite chapter so far! (Because of familiarity?)" at the end of ch. 14
pg. 198 - "What?! Why does she say this?" in response to the woman saying "I am neither thief, nor seductress." . . . why did she say this to a lion who just attacked the little fox she was caring for?
pg. 216 - "religious teachings"
pg. 239 - "A Muslim lion converting a Christian woman?"
pg. 248 - "Chou Chou is a wonderful character! Light, positive"
pg. 251 - "Book is almost over & Belle isn't even back yet."
pg. 255 - "Seriously? That's how it ends? Is he naked or clothed?"
pg. 260 - "Interesting recommednation. Benefits of studying languages." on author's note afterword. I hadn't realized that she was a linguistics professor, but it makes sense.

Only two of my eighth graders finished the book! The discussion was pretty limited.

Slumdog Millionaire (multiple entries)

by Vikas Swarup
(originally published as Q&A)
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 10:45
read by Christopher Simpson
genre: realistic fiction, India

Oh my. This book was amazing and horrifying. Each time I read a book set in India, I'm taken aback by the commonplace cruelty, greed, lying, etc. Police brutality and government corruption seem to be the norm. Mary Verbick said she wishes she hadn't seen the movie because it was so disturbingly graphic. I'm very glad to have read the book, but I have no desire to see the movie.

Ram Mohammad Thomas has won the top prize (a billion rupees) on a quiz show. He is pulled from his bed, taken to prison, and tortured to confess that he cheated. The show's producers do not have the money to pay him and they do not understand how an uneducated man could have answered all the questions correctly. Just in the nick of time, a female lawyer shows up and takes Ram to find out the truth. As he shares his personal story in the order that illuminates his correct answers on the show, we get to know this extraordinary young man.

Not only was the story amazing, but this reader is the BEST I've EVER listened to!!! He created a huge cast of characters in an extremely believable manner - male and female, many different Indians, Australians, British, etc. This is the first time I've thought I ought to search out books by the reader (rather than author or theme). Absolutely delightful!

new entry
on 12.26.12 after re-listening. I'm adding the below after my third time listening to this story! What a well-woven story within a story. It's still intense and somewhat dark, but just amazing to listen to. ***Spoiler alerts below!*** And I've probably misspelled the character names horribly!>
 Themes - mother (his recurring dream / image / mother with baby), homosexuality (Armand Ali, Father John, and Gupta at the juvenile home), alcohol (Chantaram, Black Label, whiskey, tending bar, drunkards telling truth, . . . ).

Smita - I love her!
"lahk" = 100,000

Q and A:
1. Betrayal - the movie with Armand Ali
2. INRI - Father Tim, no clue what FBI stood for
3. Pluto - Chantaram, his daughter, the kitten astronomy
4. blind poet / Krishna
5. PNG (persona non grata) - Australian spy
6. Haiti / voodoo - drunkard's story - Port Louis, Port Arthur, Port au Prince, Port Adelaide
7. Colt - revolver, train rider / bandit
8. (500K) highest honor in Indian military - time in the bunker, their local hero
9. (1 million) cricket /contract . . . time with assassin / substitution of Bollywood producer for Mammon
10. (10 million) Nilima Kumari - Tragedy Queen, national award 1985
11. (100 million) Shakespeare - "lifeboat" - called the guy whose son had rabies / Shankar - cerebral palsy? Swapna Davie / Nita - prostitute / Agra - tour guide
12. (1 billion) question on father of princess of Taj Mahal fame . . . since he knew it, new question on ??? (I don't remember!)

Timeline (rough):
infancy to age 8? / Father Tim
childhood / juvenile home, Saleem
12ish - Mammon, beggars, evil
Nilima Kumari (actress) - worked as house servant until she died
Chole with Saleem next? Chantaram / the bunker ???
ran from chole after Chantaram went through the railing - to Taylors?
Taylors / Australian family - got paid!
train ride / robbery / dead Dakote
Agra - tour guide - Shankar / Nita
back to Mumbai - the assassin? or maybe this was earlier
working as a waiter / bartender at Jimmy's

 

<Above posted on 1.2.2012. Below from blog entry in December 2012.>

 

This was a re-listen. What an incredible story! Mr. Simpson voices it very effectively. The tale of Ram Mohammed Thomas and his unlikely success winning a billion rupees amazes me in its intricacy and beauty amidst the horrors. In searching online to find out how to spell his unusual name (to satisfy the expectations of three different faith leaders), I'm horrified that his name is different in the movie version. Yet another reason NOT to watch the movie! The story of his name is one of my favorites in this wonderful book of storytelling.

 

<Above a copy / paste from December 2012 blog entry. Below added 6.29.2025>

 

I listened to the story again on Libby. I was so tempted to stop and make a chronological story order . . . and see now that I already did! There are probably better examples online, but I was curious about the author choosing to tell the story this way - in the order that the questions on the quiz show happened instead of chronologically. What an incredibly woven story. What a sad ending for Nilima Kumari. (Yes, I know I've probably misspelled the names in this horribly!)

Jane Austen Ruined My Life

by Beth Patillo
Hennepin County Library paperback 270 pages
genre: contemporary fiction

I can't in good conscience call this a "romance," though main character Emma is most definitely a romantic person!

Since I'm blogging quite a few weeks after having actually read this book, here's what I grabbed off Amazon: "English professor Emma Grant has always done everything just the way her minister father told her she should -- a respectable marriage, a teaching job at a good college, and plans for the requisite two children. Life was prodigiously good, as her favorite author Jane Austen might say, until the day Emma finds her husband in bed with another woman. Suddenly, all her romantic notions a la Austen are exposed for the foolish dreams they are.Denied tenure in the wake of the scandal and left penniless by the ensuing divorce, Emma packs up what few worldly possessions she has left and heads to England on a quest to find the missing letters of Jane Austen. Locating the elusive letters, however, isn't as straightforward as Emma hoped. The owner of the letters proves coy about her prize possessions, sending Emma on a series of Austen-related tasks that bring her closer and closer to the truth, but the sudden reappearance of Emma's first love makes everything more complicated."

I liked it a lot. Jodi Prip recommended it to me. Emma, Adam, Mrs. Parrot, Edward, and of course, Jane Austen's "secret" letters made this a wonderful book for someone who enjoys Austen's work. In fact, this made me want to re-read Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. It also made me curious to know more about Austen and her family, especially sister Cassandra.