Sunday, May 27, 2012
Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
Nastasya - or Nasty as she is known to her friends - isn’t exactly the type of character I generally enjoy. Think back to my love for Grace of Shiver and you’ll see why. Whereas Grace was intelligent, independent, and sensible, Nasty is a bit of a jerk. Well, more than a bit, actually.
Nasty is a hard drinking, party girl whose personality displays all the superficiality I usually hate in girls. But then I guess you’re bound to get bored after you’ve been alive for two or three or even four hundred years. Eventually, as Nasty has discovered, the good girl thing isn’t so interesting anymore.
With her band of equally empty friends, Nasty has spent the last several hundred years drinking her way through the decades, concerning herself only with filling up the hours which, I have to admit, must start to seem pretty long after awhile. Happily, though, Nasty isn't nearly as empty-headed as she first seems.
Having survived some horrendous tragedies over the centuries, including the loss of her family, Nasty has developed coping mechanisms that include drowning herself in alcohol and, generally, try not to think too deeply about anything.
And then it all catches up with her. Witnessing an incredible act of mindless cruelty on the part of one of her friends, Nasty has an “I-can’t-take-this-anymore,” moment and splits without letting anyone know where she is headed: River’s Edge, a sanctuary for immortals looking for guidance.
River’s Edge is a sort of home for lost immortals and is directed by the ever wise, River, herself an immortal who really seems to have her act together. At first, Nasty fluctuates back and forth between wanting to turn over a new leaf and wanting to return to a life where numbness covers up painful memories. I once again found her behavior a bit irritating, but I think that, in reality, her feelings would be fairly normal.
Among the perks of living at River’s Edge - you know, aside from things like not waking up and vomiting every morning - is the incredible Reyn, a Scandinavian god of a man who instantly has Nasty’s attention. He’s anything but charming, but what he lacks in manners, he seems to make up for in extraordinary good looks. Who needs talking anyway?
In the end, I found Immortal Beloved to be an extremely entertaining story with the added bonus of a good lesson about how to best live one’s life. It was such a good story, in fact, that I began the sequel, Darkness Falls, right away. Stay tuned for that one.
LAME FACTOR: I would give it a 1 out of 5 for Nasty’s often annoying behavior, but I suspect I’m the one who is lame. That said, it realistically deserves a 0 of 5. Summer reading book, anyone?
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: Well, they might, just a teensy bit. There are many references to bad behavior, but nothing too graphic, and the character does learn her lesson. There is also some paranormal mumbo-jumbo and violence. As long as you don’t use it as a “how to” book, everything will be fine.
BRAIN POWER: Immortal Beloved is very well-written, but nothing you can’t wrap your little head around.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Despite the lack of entries, rest assured that I have been reading – and reading and reading. I decided, however, that it might be good for my brain if I read some adult books and revisited the classics I like so much.
Then I read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It turned out to be one of the best books I’ve read all year (yes, I say that a lot). The Night Circus is an amazingly original story with a feel unlike almost anything I’ve ever read. The author creates a truly magical world inhabited by magical characters. The plot (that means the events of the stories, people) is interesting and intricate (I’m using my big girl words), the characters both loveable and detestable, but most of the all, the setting, an extraordinary circus spun from magic and decked out in black and white, is out of this world.
The Night Circus combines several stories running both simultaneously and at separate times. It’s not at all difficult to follow, however, and gives the reader the opportunity to find out what is going on with a variety of characters. This also gives you the opportunity to develop favorites among the characters. I’m sure, for example, that I should be most interested in the star-crossed lovers, Celia and Marco. They are truly magical people in the most literal sense (that’s my way of saying there is something really spooky about those two). Each one is a master illusionist capable of creating whole new worlds and destroying and rebuilding those that really exist. Pitted against one another by their “parents” at birth, Celia and Marco ruin the plan – the way kids often do – by falling in love.
Yeah, yeah. Blah, blah. That’s all very nice, but my favorite characters are Poppet, the female of a pair of red-headed twins born on the circus’ opening night, and Bailey, a young man living who finds relief from his boring life once he discovers the circus.
As much as I loved the characters and the story, however, I loved the hundreds of small details painstakingly added by the author to give The Night Circus its magical feel. In the end, this ensures that The Night Circus ends up being more of an experience than a book.
LAME FACTOR: Magic is not lame, my friends. Abracadabra! A zero for lameness.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: Only if they’re super weird.
BRAIN POWER: Get a dictionary; take your time. That said, it’s probably a good idea to try it if you’re already a pretty decent reader.
Then I read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It turned out to be one of the best books I’ve read all year (yes, I say that a lot). The Night Circus is an amazingly original story with a feel unlike almost anything I’ve ever read. The author creates a truly magical world inhabited by magical characters. The plot (that means the events of the stories, people) is interesting and intricate (I’m using my big girl words), the characters both loveable and detestable, but most of the all, the setting, an extraordinary circus spun from magic and decked out in black and white, is out of this world.
The Night Circus combines several stories running both simultaneously and at separate times. It’s not at all difficult to follow, however, and gives the reader the opportunity to find out what is going on with a variety of characters. This also gives you the opportunity to develop favorites among the characters. I’m sure, for example, that I should be most interested in the star-crossed lovers, Celia and Marco. They are truly magical people in the most literal sense (that’s my way of saying there is something really spooky about those two). Each one is a master illusionist capable of creating whole new worlds and destroying and rebuilding those that really exist. Pitted against one another by their “parents” at birth, Celia and Marco ruin the plan – the way kids often do – by falling in love.
Yeah, yeah. Blah, blah. That’s all very nice, but my favorite characters are Poppet, the female of a pair of red-headed twins born on the circus’ opening night, and Bailey, a young man living who finds relief from his boring life once he discovers the circus.
As much as I loved the characters and the story, however, I loved the hundreds of small details painstakingly added by the author to give The Night Circus its magical feel. In the end, this ensures that The Night Circus ends up being more of an experience than a book.
LAME FACTOR: Magic is not lame, my friends. Abracadabra! A zero for lameness.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: Only if they’re super weird.
BRAIN POWER: Get a dictionary; take your time. That said, it’s probably a good idea to try it if you’re already a pretty decent reader.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki
It’s late, but you can’t fall asleep. It seems like your parents are having an argument and then you hear a door slam. Hmm; that’s probably not good. Looking around the room, you notice the light in your closet is on - except it wasn’t on when you went to bed. Weird...
Getting up, you move to the door a little reluctantly. Sure; you might have left the light on and forgotten. I mean, there’s a lot of stuff going on in your life right now. Gripping the handle, you pull the door towards you - slowly - and find...
Oh, I’m not going to tell you. If you want to know what Timothy July finds in his closet, you’ll just have to read The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki. Let’s just say, though, that the author does a great job of coming up with page after page of really creepy images.
It seems that Timothy is seeing things. His history project partner, Abigail, a new student at school, seems to be seeing things as well - scary things, the kind of things that wait for you in the dark in the corner of your room when you try to sleep. Things Abigail calls, “The Nightmarys.”
Actually, quite a few of the people in Timothy’s life are seeing things. Could it have something to do with a mystery from a long time past or that freaky guy in the long trench coat who keeps showing up in weird places? Uh, I’m gonna’ have to say “yes.”
The Nightmarys is a really fun, creepy book. That said, it is also a story for students a bit younger than those for whom I usually write reviews. I’d say this is a very middle school book - although definitely entertaining for anyone. I liked it quite a lot, but I was aware of the lack of maturity in the characters. Everyone who’s twelve acts like he’s twelve - and that’s probably the way it should be.
LAME FACTOR: Just a small 1 out of 5 for the “kiddie” feel.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: I don’t think your parents will freak, but you might. It’s really pretty scary - which is awesome!
BRAIN POWER: This shouldn’t be a problem for anyone who can read a book with chapters - and that should be all of you.
Getting up, you move to the door a little reluctantly. Sure; you might have left the light on and forgotten. I mean, there’s a lot of stuff going on in your life right now. Gripping the handle, you pull the door towards you - slowly - and find...
Oh, I’m not going to tell you. If you want to know what Timothy July finds in his closet, you’ll just have to read The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki. Let’s just say, though, that the author does a great job of coming up with page after page of really creepy images.
It seems that Timothy is seeing things. His history project partner, Abigail, a new student at school, seems to be seeing things as well - scary things, the kind of things that wait for you in the dark in the corner of your room when you try to sleep. Things Abigail calls, “The Nightmarys.”
Actually, quite a few of the people in Timothy’s life are seeing things. Could it have something to do with a mystery from a long time past or that freaky guy in the long trench coat who keeps showing up in weird places? Uh, I’m gonna’ have to say “yes.”
The Nightmarys is a really fun, creepy book. That said, it is also a story for students a bit younger than those for whom I usually write reviews. I’d say this is a very middle school book - although definitely entertaining for anyone. I liked it quite a lot, but I was aware of the lack of maturity in the characters. Everyone who’s twelve acts like he’s twelve - and that’s probably the way it should be.
LAME FACTOR: Just a small 1 out of 5 for the “kiddie” feel.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: I don’t think your parents will freak, but you might. It’s really pretty scary - which is awesome!
BRAIN POWER: This shouldn’t be a problem for anyone who can read a book with chapters - and that should be all of you.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
What is wrong with me? Why didn’t I read this book sooner - like a year ago when another teacher told me it was great?
The Hunger Games is awesome. Its main character, Katniss Everdeen, is amazing: resourceful, intelligent, independent. What is there not to like?
Set in post-Apocalyptic North America - and let me just say, I hope I’m not around when that happens - The Hunger Games involves people struggling to survive in the worst of circumstances. Katniss Everdeen is just a kid when her father is killed in an explosion. Left with a mother who has fallen into a semi-catatonic state and a delicate little sister, Katniss needs to take control if her family is going to survive. Arming herself first with small traps and later with bows and arrows, Katniss sets off towards the woods, determined to keep her family from starving.
If that were the worst Katniss had to face that would be - well, boring. Ha! Bring on the Hunger Games, a Roman coliseum inspired competition that pits child against child in a fight to the death. Now that’s cool.
Without letting you know what happens (because YOU should read it for yourself), let’s just say that Katniss rises to the occasion, becoming one of the truly kick-ass heroines of YA lit.
LAME FACTOR: A giant 0 out of 5. No one is lame in The Hunger Games.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: The Hunger Games is pretty violent, but nothing outrageous - you know, like a videogame.
BRAIN POWER: The Hunger Games is very well written - but you’ll manage, won’t you, Children?
The Hunger Games is awesome. Its main character, Katniss Everdeen, is amazing: resourceful, intelligent, independent. What is there not to like?
Set in post-Apocalyptic North America - and let me just say, I hope I’m not around when that happens - The Hunger Games involves people struggling to survive in the worst of circumstances. Katniss Everdeen is just a kid when her father is killed in an explosion. Left with a mother who has fallen into a semi-catatonic state and a delicate little sister, Katniss needs to take control if her family is going to survive. Arming herself first with small traps and later with bows and arrows, Katniss sets off towards the woods, determined to keep her family from starving.
If that were the worst Katniss had to face that would be - well, boring. Ha! Bring on the Hunger Games, a Roman coliseum inspired competition that pits child against child in a fight to the death. Now that’s cool.
Without letting you know what happens (because YOU should read it for yourself), let’s just say that Katniss rises to the occasion, becoming one of the truly kick-ass heroines of YA lit.
LAME FACTOR: A giant 0 out of 5. No one is lame in The Hunger Games.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: The Hunger Games is pretty violent, but nothing outrageous - you know, like a videogame.
BRAIN POWER: The Hunger Games is very well written - but you’ll manage, won’t you, Children?
Monday, September 5, 2011
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
This summer I went camping in Yellowstone National Park which, as it turns out, was the perfect place for finishing up the Shiver series with Forever. Perfect because Yellowstone is the home of many, many animals including - you guessed it - wolves. Awesome. Not only are there wolves there, but I actually got to see one, a black wolf who was being followed by a coyote. He didn’t look like anyone I know, so I assume he was just a wolf. How disappointing.
This, of course, caused me to launch into a very long explanation of all three books while I was hiking with my husband. He politely nodded and “uh-huhhed.” He then warned me that there were people behind me - as though I would be embarrassed to have other people hear my story. Ha! Never be embarrassed to be a dork, Children.
Anyway, each night after I settled down in my sleeping bag and four layers of blankets, I powered up the Kindle and entered Minnesota. I was not disappointed.
All of the characters are here again - although maybe not in the form you’d expect. Grace is a wolf now, of course, but remains the character I’ve loved all along: practical, intelligent, a girl who loves to study. Sam, now no longer a wolf, is as intense and as devoted to Grace as ever. Isabel and Cole are also back and are each more likable than in the earlier books. Unfortunately, Isabel’s dad is also back and plotting a surprise for the wolves of Mercy Falls.
So what’s a boy to do when a vengeance-seeking dad is bent on killing his wolf-girlfriend?
I’d love to tell you - but I’m not going to. You’ll have to read it for yourself. Suffice it to say, Maggie Stiefvater is an excellent writer and knows how to finish up a series in an intelligent, and very satisfying way. Go her.
LAME FACTOR: Have you actually been reading my reviews? A zero for lameness, of course.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: No they won’t.
BRAIN POWER: Maggie Stiefvater is an excellent writer, so you may actually learn something. School has started, after all.
This, of course, caused me to launch into a very long explanation of all three books while I was hiking with my husband. He politely nodded and “uh-huhhed.” He then warned me that there were people behind me - as though I would be embarrassed to have other people hear my story. Ha! Never be embarrassed to be a dork, Children.
Anyway, each night after I settled down in my sleeping bag and four layers of blankets, I powered up the Kindle and entered Minnesota. I was not disappointed.
All of the characters are here again - although maybe not in the form you’d expect. Grace is a wolf now, of course, but remains the character I’ve loved all along: practical, intelligent, a girl who loves to study. Sam, now no longer a wolf, is as intense and as devoted to Grace as ever. Isabel and Cole are also back and are each more likable than in the earlier books. Unfortunately, Isabel’s dad is also back and plotting a surprise for the wolves of Mercy Falls.
So what’s a boy to do when a vengeance-seeking dad is bent on killing his wolf-girlfriend?
I’d love to tell you - but I’m not going to. You’ll have to read it for yourself. Suffice it to say, Maggie Stiefvater is an excellent writer and knows how to finish up a series in an intelligent, and very satisfying way. Go her.
LAME FACTOR: Have you actually been reading my reviews? A zero for lameness, of course.
YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: No they won’t.
BRAIN POWER: Maggie Stiefvater is an excellent writer, so you may actually learn something. School has started, after all.
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