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.

Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter

by Liz Wiseman with Greg McKeown
Hennepin County Library hardcover 250 pages
genre: non-fiction leadership

I struggled with this book and wish I'd had time to finish it (due today and no renewals because of the waiting list). Our district leaders (administration) are reading this and I was curious.

On the one hand, I appreciate "multipliers" like Sue Kreuser (the best boss I *ever* had!). I worked harder for her than for any other principal and didn't resent it or feel used at all.

On the other hand, this comes across almost as a "how to get more out of your employees without spending more money" type of book. That doesn't sit well when I see how stretched everyone around me is feeling. We're not working hard enough already?

Like I said, I'm conflicted . . . but I think a lot depends on what I'm bringing to the reading of this book. I love working with good leaders and need to try to be a "multiplier" kind of teacher! This just didn't connect very strongly for me.

Amulet: The Stonekeeper (book one)

by Kazu Kibuishi
personal paperback 186 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, mystery & SciFi

Emily and Navin have dealt with the death of their dad and the frustration of moving to a new town, but when their mom is kidnapped by a bizarre tentacle creature in their "new" home, it's time for the kids to take charge. Emily finds an amulet which accepts her and gives her powers. A strange man with glowing tries to overpower them as they seek to rescue their mom, meet an elderly relative, and team up with some robots. I'm ready to read book two!

Ghost of Spirit Bear

by Ben Mikaelsen
Hennepin County Library audiobook 3:42
read by Jason Harris
genre: YA realistic fiction

The follow-up to Touching Spirit Bear, this story watches Cole and Peter return to their high school (Minneapolis Central) and try to live out their lives as changed individuals.

The mindless bullying and cruelty, indifference and ineptitude of the adults at the school, and Cole's recurrent bouts of anger got old fast. Not sure how many schools like this still exist, but it doesn't resemble anything I'm familiar with. The homeless guy was my favorite character, though we really don't get to know much about him. Keith's transformation was nice, but not very realistic.

Troubletwisters

by Garth Nix and Sean Williams
Hennepin COunty Library audioCDs 8:45
read by Miriam Margolyes
genre: YA fantasy, supernatural adventure & mystery

Liked:
the cats
good triumphs over evil
the blue room
the crocodile thing
reader's voice was very effective

Disliked:
adults keeping kids in the dark, even though the kids' lives were on the line
keeping major life secrets from mom
"Troubletwisters" never really explained
too many secrets and bizarre choices by the wardens

The Wedding Planner's Daughter

by Coleen Paratore
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 4.25 hours
read by Sina Nielsen
genre: YA realistic fiction

Cute little story about Willafred Havisham (her mother is Stella, and she has "Great Expectations" for her daughter) and her dream for getting a father. Her birth father perished the day after his perfect wedding to Stella. Stella goes into business planning perfect weddings for others, but refuses to ever fall in love again.

Willa is a nice character, but she seems very young (closer to sixth grade than eighth). The literary quotations are nice. It's just a sweet, simple story.

The Downside of Being Up

by Lawrence Sitomer
Hennepin County Library hardcover 210 pages
genre: YA male puberty, humor

Oh my. Very funny book, but more penis humor than I've ever encountered in my life before. I think I'll buy it for my collection. Recommended (?) by my peers who heard about it at a BER conference (except I don't think they plan to get it).

Not very realistic that he would be penalized for having an erection in school (as one character says, it would become an all-girl school pretty quickly if they expelled boys for that), this book has enough realistic elements to make it work. The nutty grandpa made me laugh the most. The dad's skewed life philosophy was a catalyst for Bobby to live his life differently. The brother-sister dynamic wasn't explored enough (and there was waaaaay too much of Finkelstein), but it was a delightful book.

Green Lantern: Secret Origin

by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, & Oclair Albert
PRMS paperback unpaged
genre: graphic novel, superhero

Interesting. Not my favorite superhero, but a nice parallel to recently having watched the movie. I like the integrity of the mentor green lantern in this comic book version. I also like the emphasis on the brothers' relationships.

Ghostopolis

by Doug TenNapel
PRMS paperback 266 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, supernatural

Glad I finally took the time to read this. Odd story, but a terminally ill child accidentally gets sent to the afterlife by a somewhat slacker ghost hunter. Wanting to fix his mistake, Frank Gallows enlists the help of his one-time love Claire Voyant (clever, huh?) to get to Ghostopolis to rescue Garth Hale. Meanwhile, Garth is discovering that he has tremendous powers in the afterlife, drawing the attention of the evil Vaugner. My favorite part of the story was Garth's connections to his grandfather and his future son. Worth a second read!

War Horse

by Michael Morpurgo
PRMS hardcover 165 pages
genre: historical fiction (WWI) & horse story

Didn't really work for me. I loved King of the Wind, Black Beauty, and Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion too much to enjoy this one. Choppy and not very compelling. I liked the scene in "no man's land" when Joey is rescued.

Finding It: and Satisfying my Hunger for Life without Opening the Fridge

by Valerie Bertinelli
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6.5 hours
narrated by the author
genre: self-help, autobiography

Liked: Tom (what an amazing boyfriend/husband=type person), learning about Wolf (her son with Eddie Van Halen, her mom, and her accomplishments in losing weight and getting in shape

Didn't like: her self-centeredness and shallowness. Get over yourself! Also, her pseudo-Christian philsophizing got old. And her attitude toward food - too extreme.

Somewhat inspiring in terms of her achievements in working out and getting her weight down. (with the help of Christopher, her personal trainer)

Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town

by Warren St. John
Hennepin County Library hardcover 300 pages
genre: non-fiction journalism

This book follows Luma Mufleh from Jordan to America, where she goes to college and decides to stay in America to exercise her independence and strength as an individual. Her parents essentially disown her and she struggles to support herself and forge a new life. Over the same chunk of time, many refugees are being resettled in Clarkston, Georgia (just outside of Atlanta). The influx of so many needy refugees into a predominantly white, small town environment has a tremendous impact on the town. Mufleh starts a free soccer team for boys who love to play the game.

The Fugees have their ups and downs as a team, with poverty and violence playing a role. St. John's reporting is wonderful, especially when he acknowledges how difficult it is to remain an impartial observer to the boys' lives and struggles.

Barb Green recommended this book to me. It's a wonderful story! There's a lot of food for thought here. . . .

The Invisible Bridge

by Julie Orringer
Hennepin County Library hardcover 597 pages
genre: historical fiction, WWII

Wow. I've stayed up way too late on a school night to finish this book. Amazing story about Andras Levi, a young Jew from Hungary with artistic talent and a desire to become an architect. France, Budapest, Ukraine, Italy, America . . . Klara, Tibor, Matyas, Polaner, Klein . . . so much in this powerful story. But I really need to go to bed. The author has created a memorable tale.

Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters

by Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, with Jeffrey Zaslow
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 9.25 hours
read by Michael McConnohie & Sully
genre: biography, philosophy

Liked: Specifics about flying experiences. His general attitude toward life and doing his personal best.

Disliked: He's kind of arrogant and very, very Type A. Not sure how his wife tolerates him. He got to be kind of a whiner about how much pilots miss out on at home and how poor their pay is.

The Deepest Waters

by Dan Walsh
Hennepin County Library paperback 293 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction, romance

This book is reminiscent of Titanic, with the young lovers Laura and John torn apart when the ship goes down. On their honeymoon and traveling from the west coast to the east to meet John's family, Laura is rescued with the other women. Thinking that all the men died with the ship, Laura struggles to figure out what's next for her as she befriends Micah, a slave on the rescue ship, and a dastardly villain named Ayden Maul. Meanwhile, John and some of the other men are alive but floating on flotsam in the ocean.

We discussed this book last night. Many of us liked it although it was a fairly fluffy and predictable read. I liked Micah's faithfulness especially, and John's efforts on the high seas. The reconciliation with John's family wasn't very believable, but it was much better than last month's book!

All the Broken Pieces

by Ann E. Burg
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 1:51
read by Tobias Christian Wong
genre: YA fiction, adoption, baseball, Vietnam War

Blurb from back: "Two years since he was evacuated out of Vietnam, twelve-year-old Matt Pin is struggling to suppress his memories of the deadly war that gripped his homeland. Circumstances beyond his control are about to make the memories come flooding back and reveal a horrid secret Matt thought he had left back in Vietnam."

Told in prose poetry, this book has a powerful message about love, forgiveness, and sorrow. The scene with Matt and the bully on the ball field, sharing their stories, is my favorite part.

Somewhere in Time

Hennepin County DVD
starring Christopher Reeve & Jane Seymour

I don't remember exactly what it was in the biography of Christopher & Dana Reeve that made me want to watch this. . . but I love Jane Seymour! This movie was based on a book titled Bid Love Return. In it, a man self-hypnotizes in order to time travel to 1912 because he has fallen in love with a woman's portrait. Jane Seymour portrays Elise McKenna, famous and beautiful stage actress. Predictably, the two fall in love. But then it goes from somewhat hokey to really hokey. Weird ending after slow cinematography.

Loved the character of Arthur, both young and old. Loved the gorgeous period costumes. Very attractive couple.

Into the Volcano

by Don Wood
mine, hardcover, 175 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, adventure

Sumo and Duffy are two brothers sent to visit their aunt on a Hawaiian-styled island. It's a bit odd that their mother is MIA, their dad sends them off with their cousin Come-and-Go, and they're headed to visit an aunt they don't even know. Then the story gets weirder when they are taken on an extremely dangerous mission. I liked Sumo's gain of confidence, though he was a whiny brat before he tried to save his brother. Interesting, but I don't love it the way I love the Bone books.

Little Nothings: My Shadow in the Distance

by Lewis Trondheim
Hennepin County Library paperback 127 pages
genre: graphic novel, musings

The main character travels a lot, makes observations, tries to keep a positive attitude, and has nose polyps removed. I liked the artwork, some of the humor, and the clear storyline.

Debt Free for Life

by David Bach
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7:19
read by Erik Davies
genre: self-help finance

Liked some of the recommendations and the fact that I'm already doing a lot of the "right" things.

Disliked: his arrogance (you've probably seen me on Oprah . . . / I've helped millions of people . . . / if you're one of the millions who've already read one of my books . . . ) I've never even heard of him before!!!
Disliked: constant reference to the many web tools (which I don't want to use)
Disliked: lack of advice on cutting spending! End part talked about "changing your mind set," but there wasn't much practical advice on how to do that!

Hahaha! I blogged the above on 10/30/2011 . . . and just now sat down to blog it again. Here's my today (4/1/2016) entry:

I couldn't even get past the first CD! His sales pitches for other products and his ego "You know me from my many appearances on television . . . " The vocal work by Davies is smarmy . . . is it the writing or the delivery or both? Who cares. I can't listen to any more. I like the "forget good debt / bad debt; all debt is bad" message. He mentioned www.debtwise.com and www. finishrich.com (and I thought, "Who cares about finishing rich? You don't need money for Heaven! Perhaps you need some in Hell, though.") He talks about "buying back your freedom" using his "revolutionary new system."

I dislike debt. I'm determined to get rid of it. But I'm not swamped in it and am fairly confident I can tackle it without torturing myself with this book. (Ironic, though, that I checked out the same thing five years ago!)

Books Mary recommended

Not sure when I'll get time, but I want to keep track of these titles (off FB). Mary gives the *best* recommendations:

Great books so far - State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy, Absolutely, Positively, NOT... ...gay by David Larochelle, The Coffins of Little Hope by Timothy Schaffert, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Mary Verbick 1:49pm Jul 13

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

by Donald Miller
Hennepin County Library paperback 240 pages
genre: theology

I would love to do this one for our SOLC book club! It was challenging and frustrating. I really enjoyed the first one hundred or so pages. Miller's take on faith and modern day Christianity interested me and made me think about my own faith. Then the author seemed to fall into a whiny, selfish, pathetic mode that just turned me off.

One part I liked: "That is the thing about giving yourself to God. Some people get really emotional about it, and some people don't feel much of anything except the peace they have after making an important decision." I love the feeling of peace. (But then, I also love the intense emotion that often comes with a move of the Holy Spirit.)

He made a lot of interesting points (on Unitarians, hippies, etc.) but I don't agree with him completely. This is a great food-for-thought book.

Angel Harp

by Michael Phillips
Hennepin County Library hardcover 440 pages
genre: Christian fiction

Fortyish widow goes to Scotland to find herself and play her harp. Gets involved with two men - a parson & a duke. Gains a saving faith.

Liked: her faith journey and coming to know the Lord.

Didn't like: the author's repetition and excessiveness in sharing all he knows about Scotland. This book needed an editor who owned a red pen and some courage! The tone of the book was just wrong, too. This is one male author who *cannot* successfully get into a woman's head.

Book Club discussion was good - largest group we've had yet!

Gwendolyn's illness was too mysterious (and convenient in a literary sense). The "romance" was just not there. The Scottish history was way too much!

Thirteen Reasons Why

by Jay Asher
Scott County Library, hardcover, 288 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age / suicide

I finally read this (from the public library, since my copy is *always* checked out) before meeting the author last Wednesday evening at Ridgedale Library. I didn't love the book, but think it would make a great discussion book. It was extremely interesting to meet the author. He is a wonderful presenter! I am also encouraged by the response this book is getting from its target audience. For me, Hannah was too hard to understand . . . the "reasons" didn't make sense to me. I think this would have resonated with me much more as a teenager. Very, very cool to meet the author.

You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know

by Heather Sellers
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 10.5 hours
read by Karen White
genre: memoir, dysfunction

Things I liked:
- relationship with parents evolving
- how wonderful Dave was
- writing style (for the most part)

Things I didn't like:
- repetition to the point of ad nauseum (?) boredom
- whiny, self-centered, . . .
- lack of info about her brother (though she explains why at the end)
- people's comments to her about being amazed that she survived her childhood. Hello? Anyone read other memoirs? Although she grew up with severe dysfunction, this is nothing compared to Peltzer's A Child Called It or Walls' Glass Castle.

Miscellany:
- very cool to realize that she teaches at Hope College! I wonder if Chris has had any of her classes.
- makes me realize that my family's issues are really not that bad!

Worthwhile read, but I liked the first half much better than the second half. I hope she gets over herself soon. The face blindness info was interesting until she gave the same spiel for the third, fourth, and fifth times.

Bossypants

by Tina Fey
mine, hardcover, 240 pages
genre: autobiographical humor

This is our school book club title for November and I'm on a loooong waiting list for it at the public library. So I bought a copy. Funny, especially the part on "becoming a woman" and the Teat Nazis. I'm going to share it with others at school - it's a very quick read. Tina Fey seems like a very smart, down-to-earth, extremely hard-working person.

Oh - this has *lots* of swearing . . . must be de rigeur for comedy? for television writers? I liked her chapter about her dad. I can only imagine what the family gatherings are like.

Walmart: the High Cost of Low Price

DVD by filmmaker Robert Greenwald
Hennepin County Library 98 minutes
genre: documentary

I've never been a Walmart / Sam's Club fan, but this movie really bothered me. I know so many people who love Walmart (because of the inexpensive items sold there) and just can't see why others (like me) think it's a "bad" choice for shopping. Free market is part of capitalism in America, but I see Walmart in a very negative light. I almost want to buy a copy of this DVD, especially for my friends in Chanhassen who are dreading the thought of a Walmart being located there. Well-done documentary. I'm so sad for the small town business people who were run out of business by the evil empire.

Elvis & Olive

by Stephanie Watson
PRMS hardcover 230 pages
genre: YA friendship

Written by a Minnesota author, Elvis & Olive reminded me of Harriet the Spy. Annie and Natalie take on their code names so they can spy on their neighbors one long boring summer. This would be a nice book for a sixth grade girl. Annie has a tough life and Natalie a "perfect" one. The contrast between these two kids is what makes the story engaging.

Sean Griswold's Head

by Lindsey Leavitt
Angie Tuma's book hardcover 274 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction, romance

Lovely book! Payton seems pretty OCD to me, but she is definitely struggling with the accidental discovery of her dad's MS and her family's decision to try to hide it from her. She quits the basketball team, stops talking to her parents, and starts seeing the school counselor under duress. Her best friend Jac makes things more complicated and Payton needs to cope with everything. When told to find a focus object, she selects the head of the boy she has sat behind for many years in school. Focusing on Sean Griswold's head draws her into his world . . . sweet romance.

Hush, Hush

by Becca Fitzpatrick
Angie Tuma's copy, paperback, 391 pages
genre: supernatural romance

Interesting. Sensual - this keys into the female desire. Theology . . . so, so sad and off-base (but that's not the author's intent). Patch is a fallen angel. There's a convoluted logic of how he can become human and why he does not. This is a perfect fit for fans of the Twilight series. I suppose I should read #2 before deciding whether or not to buy the series . . . or maybe I can find trustworthy reviews.

Listening Is an Act of Love

subtitled: A Celebration of American Life from the Storycorps Project
Told by StoryCorps Participants
Hennepin County Library audioCD 1 hour
genre: life stories

This is amazing! People shared their stories in an interview environment. The stories are funny, heart-warming, beautiful. I loved this so much, I put it on my computer so I can listen to it again. Dave Isay founded StoryCorps and has been collecting regular people's stories and archiving them at the Library of Congress.

Quiet Strength

by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker
PRMS paperback & Hennepin County audioCDs
read by Peter Jay Fernandez
genre: sports / autobiography / character

Even though I'm not a sports fan, I really enjoyed this book. Dungy's career, family, and personal character and faith come to life in this book. Fernandez' reading was flawless. I'm so glad Dungy and the Colts won the Superbowl! Made me want to learn more.

Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians

by Brandon Sanderson
PRMS hard cover 308 pages
genre: humor / mystery / fantasy

April raved about this book, so I had to read it. Alcatraz is a wonderful protagonist, but the technique of self-aware storyteller got old. Alcatraz has a talent for breaking things. On his thirteenth birthday, things go worse than usual when he sets his foster parents' kitchen on fire, has his inheritance stolen, and gets a gun drawn on him.

Filled with talking dinosaurs (politely British), special lenses, and evil librarians, this is a quirky book. There were *so* many great lines in it that I wanted to jot some of them down. Fun, odd title.

Les Miserables

1935 movie
based on the book by Victor Hugo
starring Fredric March, Charles Laughton, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke
Hennepin County Library 110 minutes long

I sort of knew the story of Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert, but hadn't ever actually read Hugo's book or seen any of the many theatrical interpretations. I enjoyed this old black & white film, but am not sure how faithful it was to the original story. The only thing that really creeped me out was the relationship between Valjean and Cosette. He took care of her from the time she was a little girl and was a father figure, but acted as though he wanted to jump her bones.

I started to watch the 1952 version on the flip side of the disk, but I just wasn't up for another telling of the tale. I'll need to read the novel, but at least now I have a better understanding of the story. Now when I hear a reference to it, I'll have a connection to the text.

Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve

by Christopher P. Andersen
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6 hours
read by Edward Herrmann
genre: biography

From the back "When a 1995 equestrian accident paralyzes Chris from the neck down, the star of four Superman films battles back to become an inspiring symbol for millions. His wife Dana, no less heroic, stands steadfastly by her husband's side until his unexpected death in 2004. . . . " Then Dana's mom dies, then Dana herself, from lung cancer (though she was a non-smoker). Though there were times when I teared up a bit (mostly thinking of poor little Will), this story did not make me overflow with compassion. Mr. Reeve was wealthy and privileged in many, many ways. Though what happened was tragic, many non-famous, non-wealthy people have horrible accidents and are left paralyzed. I struggled at times with my attitude while listening to the book. They really do sound as though they were wonderful people who positively impacted many other people's lives. The author was extremely positive in his portrayal of the Reeves. It just didn't move me the way other people's struggles have. Am I anti-rich? Not consciously. I'm glad that his accident led him to improve research for others with spinal cord injuries. I'm so sorry for all three of his children that they lost their dad (and Will his mom as well) while still so young.

McLibel: The story of two people who wouldn't say McSorry

a film by Franny Armstrong
Hennepin Public Library 85 minutes long & extras
genre: documentary

I don't usually review films, but this one was very interesting. I found myself vacillating between complete agreement and "you've got to be kidding me - this is how the world works." They state that they were not fighting McDonalds so much as multinational companies. I don't think most people really consider how McDonalds, Wal-Mart, and other companies affect this planet and all the people on it. At the same time, some of the arguments seemed a bit much. Interesting, because I despise Wal-Mart and the impact of WM on the world. . . . But I kind of like McDonalds. (Perhaps I'm just an innocent victim of their insidious advertising to small children. My McDonalds connection goes waaaay back.)

In any case, thought-provoking and worth my time. I appreciate food for thought. And I appreciate something that makes me think about my choices.

It truly was stupid of the company to demand apologies for libel based on a leaflet.

Get Real: What Kind of World Are You Buying?

by Mara Rockliff
Hennepin County Library paperback 99 pages
genre: non-fiction consumerism

Finally finished putting the websites mentioned throughout the book into my delicious account! Very interesting book. Very appropos for middle school. Heavily into careful consumerism and green living.

HP #5 & #7

You know I'm feeling stressed when I read cover-to-cover something that I've already read multiple times . . . at least I didn't start with #1 and read all seven . . .

Ten Things I Love About You

by Julia Quinn
Hennepin County Library audioCDs ~10 hours
ready by Rosalyn Landor
genre: historical romance

Enjoyable. Sebastian Grey is the dashing hero - an author of gothic novels in secret. His uncle is the Earl of Newbury, desperate for an heir after his son's death. Annabel Winslow is the poor, beautiful, well-endowed young woman whose grandfather "sells" her to the Earl by pointing out the likelihood that she'll breed well.

An accidental kiss and society's disproving morals get annoying, but it's overall an enjoyable romance story. Landor's reading is good, but it's always a bit disconcerting to hear the male hero's voice through a woman's interp.

Losing Mum and Pup

by Christopher Buckley
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6.5 hours
read by the author

Although I don't know a lot about William F. Buckley, Jr., I knew that his name was strongly connected to "conservative." The title is what caught my eye, and I'm so very glad I listened. Buckley's experiences dealing with aging, ailing parents really resonates with me right now. He writes wonderfully (making me want to read some of his other work and perhaps some of his dad's, too).

At times I thought, "What arrogant, overprivileged jerks." But most of the time, I enjoyed the memoir and the intensity of the parent / child relationships. I'm also very thankful for siblings who help to share the burdens. This was an excellent memoir.

Honor in the Dust

by Gilbert Morris
given by Penny Reynolds to me two book club meetings ago
paperback 303 pages
genre: Christian romance / hist fic

This was just not well-written at all. It lacked flow, clarity of narrative, and general interest. The thing I liked was the steadfast faith of Grace, Leah, etc. Not a particularly engaging or worthwhile story. A bit taken aback when I read about the author in the back. An older fellow who was a pastor before he was a writer, Morris says, " . . . I sometimes think I've written too many books. . . . Sometimes I think I've written the same book 221 times!" Um. Yeah. Stop already.

Thought it was funny to see Penny's red-pen English teacher marks on the use of then & than incorrectly (pages 180 & 262).

Candle in the Darkness

by Lynn Austin
Hennepin County Library paperback 420 pages
genre: Christian romance, hist fic

Sigh. I like Austin's writing, but I was really, really, really NOT in the mood for another Civil War book. Told from Caroline Fletcher's perspective from 1853 until shortly after the war, this felt too long and drawn-out. I loved Eli's faith and strength. In fact, I liked all the slaves. Caroline's spying seemed too far-fetched. Austin obviously did lots of research.

I don't remember who in book club recommended this one . . . not sure if I even bring it up at our next meeting. I just wasn't in the mood for this book.

A Knight in Shining Armor

by Jude Devereaux
Hennepin County Library paperback 464 pages
genre: romance / hist fic & time travel

This was Ann's book club title and I was curious. I've only read one other Devereaux novel (the one with a mention of my friend Lisa Middag in it). It was an enjoyable story so far as she actually includes plot and character development (unlike "pulp" romance). The story bothered me, though. The logistics of time travel are always awkward. Dougless was too wimpy of a heroine for me. I like my protagonists to have a happy ever after. 'Nuff said. Her writing reminds me of Laveryle (?) Spencer, the only romance novelist whose books I would ever read more than once.

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.

by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Hennepin County Library hardcover 150 pages

Well-researched and well-written, I didn't enjoy this book. The author did a good job of providing the background for the start of the KKK. The engravings and photographs added a lot of texture. I just don't enjoy reading about such cruelty and hatred. At times, the author seemed to be making such an effort to provide unbiased, factual information that she seemed almost sympathetic to the KKK. Poor white landowners who were land rich and cash poor. The sheer brutality and horror of the KKK's reign were understated, in my opinion. Still, I learned a lot from this book. I had never before known where the name Ku Klux Klan came from. I also didn't realize that the original group were more pranksters than terrorists.

Bleak Expectations

by Mark Evans (?)
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 3 hours
genre: British humor

BBC-produced, this was a radio program that felt like it should be watched. The audience laughed at things that had to be facial expressions on the cast of actors. (I envision a Prairie-Home Companion kind of thing. Produced for radio, but with performers in front of an audience.)

Funny twist on Dickens' Great Expectations, this had a Monty Pythonesque feel to it. Funny, odd, and just a bit dark. It had me laughing in my car while I listened.

Dirty Little Secrets

by Cynthia Omololu
Hennepin County Library paperback 210 pages
genre: YA fiction, troubled youth, hoarding

This book was incredibly difficult for me to read and I'm not sure why. Once Lucy decided not to call for help or tell the truth, it felt like a train wreck waiting to happen. The truth always comes out (except at the end of this story . . . ). In many ways, this story reminded me of MacCready's Buried. Buried was a much more powerful book, but it was not about hoarding. Perhaps this is the main thing I "got" from the book - how hoarding impacts the children. Never having watched any of the tv shows about this, I guess I'm just unaware. In comparison, my family's tendency toward packrat-ism seems pretty mild.

Hurricanes in Paradise

by Denise Hildreth
Hennepin County Library paperback 365 pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

Book club title for August - lovely! Riley Sinclair is working in hospitality on Paradise Island. Recovering from wounds in her past, this Southern belle is doing her best to stay on track. But an eventful week brings difficult bestselling author Laine Fulton, frightened Tamyra, and widow Winnie into her life. These four women all experience breakthroughs and bonding. Wonderful storytelling. (Except for Mitch's plane trip . . . pointless.)

Makes me want to go to the Caribbean!

Mindblind

by Jennifer Roy
Hennepin County Library hardcover 249 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction, aspbergers

Loved it! Nathaniel Clark is a memorable character who works very hard at functioning in the "normal" world. His mother is extraordinary, his dad is a clueless jerk. His friends are the real deal. Great story.

Trickster: Native American Tales

a graphic collection
edited by Matt Dembicki
Hennepin County Library paperback 231 pages

What an interesting collection . . . Native American storytellers and a wide range of artists. There were specific things that I liked and disliked about the many stories in this collection. It's definitely worth having in my collection. One of my favorites (story-wise) is "How the Alligator Got His Brown Scaly Skin." I like this type of story, where the overbearing character gets his/her comeupance. In many of the trickster tales, I do not like how the trickster character triumphs. The artwork in some of the stories was very jarring. It was interesting to read the bios at the end.

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous

by Georgia Bragg
illustrated by Kevin O'Malley
Hennepin County Library hardcover 163 pages

Interesting, informative, well-designed. Not as gruesome as the warnings describe, but gross enough that most middle schoolers will be caught up in it. Some of these deaths I knew about, but I definitely learned some new things. And yes, I do appreciate modern hygiene, medical knowledge, etc.

Caesar, Cleopatra, Beethoven, Einstein, Curie, etc.