Julia Karr: XVI

This book was more disturbing than I anticipated.  Teenagers in this dystopian society are highly sexualized, and girls are branded (tattooed) on their 16th birthdays so that the entire world knows they can have sex.  Men who are 18 are able to have their way with any "sex-teen" (of-age girl), and there are no ramifications.  The media controls everything, and incessant projections from every angle never relent.  Any instance of silence is suspicious, and the government is highly sensitive to ANY deviation (perceived or real).  

I'm not sure what books 2 or 3 will bring, and some of the situations that occur in this text are disgusting.  The writing isn't stellar, and the excessive acronym use (without explanation) is annoying.  Many inferences have to be made, so this book might not be a good fit for struggling readers (who would really like the love story/friendships/society depiction).  

Meh.  I'm not in love with this book, but I didn't totally hate it, and about mid-way through, I couldn't stop reading because I had to figure out what was going to happen next. 

Ann Aguirre: Enclave

Couldn't stop reading this one.  I started yesterday afternoon, and was done today at 11.  

Really enjoyed it, but the ending is nearly too much of a cliffhanger, and all I am reading about for book 2 doesn't sound any more fulfilling.  I am on a post-apocalyptic kick I guess, and this one is a combination of fighting, internal struggle, zombies, society's missteps, developing relationships, survival, that isn't too over-the-top or unbelievable.  

I  like Deuce, Fade, and the developing relationships they discover.  I love the inner strength Deuce has, and her capacity to fight, survive, yet be compassionate in a world that doesn't support her desire to act on that compassion.  

The societies that survived the plagues that destroyed the majority of the population are very interesting, yet extremely frightening. 

Well-written with only slightly irritating missteps along the way.  

"wicked fast" Really?!? C'mon man. ;)

Veronica Roth: Divergent

Best. Book. EVER.

I say that frequently, and in this post-last-page aura, I am aware that I have MULTITUDES of "Best.Book.Ever." books, and I just don't care.

This is right up there with The Hunger Games.  As good, if not, almost better.  No lie.

Beatrice/Tris, the society Roth created, the character development, the friendships, the relationship...all real, raw, and fascinating.  The factions that society had broken into and the method for selecting/accepting members was intriguing.

Are there problems? Yes.  There are some aspects of the text that really irked me, and unfortunately, they are all spoilers!

I am not excited that a movie deal has already been reached--even before book 2 is out--and not sure how some of the mental simulations will be replicated and conveyed to be meaningful for the viewer--because I really feel that one of Roth's strengths is her ability to make the reader experience powerful emotions as Tris does.

There are many questions I can't wait to see answered, yet the ending was actually quite satisfying without being too much of a cliffhanger.

Definitely. AWESOME!!!

Alice LaPlante: Turn of Mind

Caragh M. O'Brien: Prized

Wow.
Now THIS is what a book 2 should be.

I avoided reviews before reading this (thankfully), but just read this review and was slightly irked.  But then I saw her reading list, and that she rated The Perks of Being a Wallflower only ONE star, and I realized that a book that goes against traditional, super-religious thinking may not be received with open-minded love.

Are there issues with the book? Heck yes.  Does Gaia irritate me? Several times in the novel.
But is the journey worthwhile?

Super-Heck YES!

I love that O'Brien delved into controversial issues (assisted miscarriage, love triangles/quadrangles, matriarchal society, autopsies, genetic and reproductive issues, etc.), and I love the overall tone of this book. It is rife with agonizing decisions that Gaia is forced to make.  It is peppered with frustrations that the reader and the characters must grapple with.

If a book 3 never comes, I won't be sad.  This was a highly satisfying, very exciting, super intense, awesome read.  Done in one day.  Love, love, love, LOVED this book.

Anne Osterlund: Exile

I won't lie.  I have had this book all summer long.  I have been avoiding reading this, just like Harry Potter 6 & 7 and just like A Conspiracy of Kings.  It's what I seem to do when I find I don't want an awesome saga to end.  I haven't finished HP6 because I know book 7 is the end.  I know that there will be at least one more book from Whalen-Turner, but who knows when she'll get around to it.  And because I thought this was a sequel, I didn't want Aurelia's story to end.  And now I've discovered the little #2 in parenthesis on Goodreads, and who knows when/if another book will be on its way?! 

GRRRRRRR....because, THIS ONE WAS AMAZING.  I finally started it last night, and finished it today at noon.  It was emotion-filled, heart-wrenching, and satisfying and mortifying and frustrating all at once.    Aurelia develops her strength through her journey in this book.  Initially, as I was reading, I was turned off by the heavy emphasis on the developing love story, but towards the end and looking back on the text, I know that there was strong reasons behind the focal points of the book.  

I won't lie, the writing is also what makes the lovey-dovey stuff more tolerable.  Osterlund is really adept at pulling the reader into the emotions of the situation with the skill of her craft.  I cried and teared up several times.  Though I don't think I smiled or laughed as much as I think I remember from the first book.  The slight shifts in perspectives (Aurelia's and Robert's) without the voices blurring together (unlike Crossed) add an interesting dimension to the text, and had I not been rushing to get through it, I think I would have been even more impressed with the technique.  

I will say that Osterlund is not on my "nice" list for some of the serious losses Aurelia endures, but I will not be too irked and will give her a chance to rectify things in the *potentially* culminating story.  :)

While I am glad I finally read it, I am NOT glad that I will have to wait to see if Aurelia and Robert's story will culminate in a truly satisfying ending or if this wide-open "use your imagination" is all readers will get!  Loved. This. Book!

Ally Condie: Crossed

Disappointed.  Book 2s aren't supposed to be the absolute best in the series, but this book really doesn't go anywhere.  The descriptions are mediocre, but I wondered why so much time was spent on descriptions that ultimately didn't matter.  The characters and the Society was what was intriguing in book 1, even if the writing was less than stellar.  I am still hooked by Ky and Cassia's stories, but am less eager to see what happens in book 3 because this book left me so irritated.

It's irritating that such a good premise (and cover art) is being wasted on mediocre writing and such amazing characters were lost in this attempt at a bridge book.  Ky's voice alternates with Cassia's, and neither of them say anything.  I felt empty after this book, not hungering for more as I did with Catching Fire.

Karen Mahoney: The Iron Witch

Grrrrr.  I should have known not to read this!! Another trilogy that won't be completed until 2013!! Book 2 won't even be done until next year!  And it isn't even that good! So many questions have been left unanswered. Again, great premise, but poorly executed within a teenage love story with some fantasy elements.

This could be easily sold to Twilight fans because the love story between Xan and Donna.  Her best friend Navin is also interesting, and he becomes the reason for the action. 

I will have to read the next book, but it if is anything like my experience with Twilight, I won't even finish it.

Lesley Hauge: Nomansland

Underwhelmed.
AWESOME premise, and an interesting heroine (Keller) with such promise, but overall, a let down at the conclusion, and the events leading to the climax were wishy-washy at best.  Post-apocalyptic and a culture where women are the only beings in their created society--Foundland.  
Even as I type this I am irritated at all the places that this book could have gone, but didn't.  I actually only gave it two stars on goodreads.  That is RARE for me!

Caragh M. O'Brien: Birthmarked

Wow.  I started this without knowing that it was a trilogy book.
This is book one, with books two and three not due for the next two years!

Post-apocalyptic but an interesting perspective--the controlling faction (and upper class) aren't as happy or satisfied as the outsiders are taught to believe.

This is a more thought-provoking text, one with action and good characters and a moving plot, but it isn't a typical no-thinking escape.  There will be a specific reader to recommend this book to, but I am just not sure who that would be.  There is a medical/scientific aspect, a possible romance, and I am interested to know if anything more will come to fruition with Gaia's brothers.  Namely, will the older brother be evil, will Leon find Gaia, and how the heck is Gaia going to keep Maya fed???

:) I don't think I gave too much away!

Lauren Oliver: Delirium

Liked this book.  It was candy, and flew by.  Not happy about the end, but hopefully book 2 clears things up.  Similar to Hunger Games and Matched in the post-apocalyptic, government-controlled higher-class vs. lower class, but different in the sense that Lena (and the rest of society) WANTS the control...well, sort of.  I wish more was done with Hana's friendship (again, I hope that it is addressed in book 2), but the romantic tryst of the two central characters will appeal to the teen factions who devour Twilight.

Marissa Doyle: Betraying Season

 This was a fun read. The characters were good, the story was good, and the resolution was VERY satisfying.  I'm not sure about the "risque" mentions of sex--considering the time period--but this might be because it was the first quasi-realistic portrayal of Victorian late-teenage life. While many claim that this is the sequel to Bewitching Season, I read this first, and while I didn't know Pen's sister Persy, I like the inside cover's claim that this book is a COMPANION to Bewitching Season.  I might pick it up at some point, but I'm not in a rush.  I loved the Irish magic elements, and I actually hope there is a final book with both magical sisters equally represented in one final adventure. We'll see.

Sarah MacLean: The Season

 

Part Nancy Drew, part Sweet Valley High (in so much as romance is concerned), part Emma, all wrapped into a neat Victorian setting results in The Season.   I love this time period, and this book, while fluffy in some aspects, was a fun read. The three female characters are strong, intelligent, witty, and entertaining.  The mystery is interesting, and ,the resolution is satisfying. 

Brian Doyle: Mink River

Heather Dixon: Entwined

Ally Condie: Matched

Megan Whalen Turner: The King of Attolia

Less than one day.  The book is 385 pages, AND my sister is visiting until next Tuesday, AND I had football practice.  Needless to say this is my FAVORITE. 

There are different characters, but familiar ones as well.  Gen is so awesomely smart and FUN to read!!

I LOVE the intimate moments (don't get the wrong idea--it IS a YA book), and they came at the perfect time in the book. 

Seriously.  Thank you to Sarah and Silvie for getting me hooked on this series.  Turner truly is a master of her craft. 

Now I have to wait for my hold for the next book--and even though Turner claims on Goodreads that there should "be two more" books following The Conspiracy of Kings, they haven't been titled or published, so I am not holding my breath.  I probably should slow down and enjoy these more, but they are just TOO good!!

Love the characters in this book.  Love the story line and ultimate "resolution" as well.  Though, with Gen, "resolution" is a tricky word!!!  :) 

AMAZING.

Megan Whalen Turner: The Queen of Attolia

I honestly can't explain how awesome this series is turning out to be.  I was reading this before my football game, in the locker room, rather than getting all psyched up for the game!!

Amazing. 

I was so excited about the next book, that I put a hold on it at the library.  I can't wait to see what Turner has up her sleeve for the next book!!

Seriously.  There is action, adventure, twists, turns, and surprise after surprise with this book.  I love Turner's style of switching character perspectives, because in the end it is such a giant reward when things fall in to place.  Awesome. Pure awesome.

Alexandra Bracken: Brightly Woven

I saw this on the shelf of the library--and was not expecting to totally fall in love with it.  I just needed to get through the initial 70 first pages or so, and then I was hooked.  Sydelle is an interesting heroine who has no clue what is in store for her when she meets North Wayward and is forced to journey with him to keep peace for her country. 

Little bit of magic, MUCH romance, and a good amount of action to keep things moving.  Excellent story, fun characters, an evil villain, and a rewarding resolution. 

Glad I picked this up.  It didn't feel like a 340+ page book.  But it is!  I am going to hope for a book two though!

Jessica Day George: Princess of Glass

Not super-amazing, but yet not-totally horrible either. 
Luckily I didn't have high expectations when I started it. 

The characters were fun, not very deep, but fun...
Princess Poppy (yes, one of the cursed dancing sisters from Princess of the Midnight Ball) is our heroine, and yet another curse comes within close proximity of someone she loves. 
Poppy's friend Marianne is just as brazen and fun as Poppy is.
Ellen-once Elenora--is now a maid and an easy target for The Corley. 
Prince Christian is handsome and fun and a good match for Poppy, but The Corley wants him for her purposes. 

The story is slightly lacking; part-Cinderella and part more of Princess of the Midnight Ball--multitudes of perspectives, a curse, magic, and an unsatisfying resolution.

Eh.

Megan Whalen Turner: The Thief

I hadn't ever expected to read this book.  But when two of your former students show up to your football game with wrapped presents and strict instructions as to which order to unwrap/read the presents, and to avoid looking for the third book at all costs until the second book was finished, I couldn't NOT read it!!

And to be honest, I wasn't totally thrilled with this book until about page 200.  And then I couldn't put it down.  And then the end hit me like I had just ran into a brick wall and because it didn't hurt enough the first time, I went back and repeated the action. 

I can't say much about the book.  The twist at the end should not be revealed until the reader gets to that page and experiences it with the other characters. 

I am amazed at Turner's ability to suck a reader in, and totally mess with the reader. 

Let's just say that Gen is the best thief ever.  We experience the story through his eyes/voice, and while I didn't love him, he did grow on me. 

I need to read the next book to get more of a grasp on the big picture, so I apologize for the very vague and unhelpful "review."  I liked the characters, when the action got underway, and the mythology throughout the book.  Some of the names/places/backstory are frustrating and confusing, but at the end everything becomes worthwhile!!

On to The Queen of Attolia!!

John Kroger: Convictions

A 500-page read is daunting.  This book read much faster than I anticipated. 
This was our April Book Club selection, and the woman who chose it DIDN'T MAKE IT to book club.  And only 3 of the 5 of us who showed up read it!!  Needless to say, there wasn't a large amount of talking about the book.  And I even had questions I wanted to discuss!!! :)

I wasn't ever interested in the law, and then I got put on a Grand Jury at the end of February, and I got to see the legal system in action for five weeks.  I became enthralled with the way our justice system functions, and then I started to read Kroger's book, and there is a little piece of me that wishes I would have gone into the law.  I think the research would be fascinating, but I am pretty sure they don't just have jobs for researching--and if they do, I am sure it isn't a good-paying job (or stable).  So, I will just have to live with my brief dabble in the land of legal matters, and be glad I do not have any criminal association with the legal system (I am knocking on wood!).

I liked this book.  I didn't like the Enron chapter, but the other chapters make up for the last portion of the book that is dedicated to white-collar criminals (who were not interesting at all--more infuriating than anything).. 
One of my friends in Book Club really hated this book at the beginning, but then Kroger's style grew on her.  For me, it was the opposite.  I enjoyed it right away.  Kroger's voice is not too pretentious (and that's saying something for a lawyer!), and I didn't get the sense that I was being talked down to.

A great deal of power lies in the hands of District Attorneys, more than I would have ever thought.  And for people who are ignorant, there is a good chance that the wrong kind of person could hold office. 

Kroger grapples with his conscious more than I was anticipating (realizing a lawyer has a conscious is a new perspective for me), and the reader experiences the moral struggles and frustrations that Kroger describes. 

I have more research to do about Kroger and the questions I wrote down for Book Club, but another friend has my copy with all my notes/questions, so I will have to wait. 

Overall, the sections of the book about the Mafia are amazing, and the read is worth the brief glimpse into a life of an Assistant United States District Attorney.

I am hoping that Kroger someday writes a book about his cross-country bicycle trip.  The BRIEF mention of some of the individuals he encountered was enthralling.

Robin McKinley: Pegasus

I really wanted to like this book. I LOVE the cover.  I LOVE the idea. 

But then the first 59 pages were daunting and frustrating.  And then it got AWESOME.  I fell in love with the main character Sylvi and her bound Pegasus Ebon.  But then there were so many jumpy moments, where you were with Sylvi in the moment and then the story would venture to a flashback--so I would have to sort out where I was, where the story was, before I could progress. 

And then the last 83! pages were a nightmare--truly a NIGHTMARE.  Don't even get me started on the end of the book.  Or NON-ENDING as many have said before me. 

I will be honest. I probably wouldn't have read this book had I known there were more that were to follow.  This is hardcover, therefore, the sequel won't be out for at least a year.  NOT UNTIL 2012!!!
While Catching Fire ended with so many questions and the reader feels like it is a non-ending, the reader EXPECTS this type of ending in the second book of a trilogy!  I might have peeked ahead to the end of the book mid-way (a bad habit I know!), and in my confusion did some research and THEN found out that this will probably be a trilogy as well.

McKinley is a good writer.  But as a YA book, this is extremely wordy, it is frustrating to sort out all the names (that are very foreign and some are superfluous), the new language and landscape, and overall, the perfect match must be made between reader and book for this to be a true page turner. 

I LOVED when Sylvi was in the Pegasi homeland--Rhiandomeer--I loved the conversations between Sylvi and Ebon, and Sylvi and the other Pegasi.  But I skimmed Fthoom (the evil magician) and his speech about the dream he had about the Roc which basically set up the worst "ending" ever. 

So now I have a bitter taste in my mouth, so I am going to reread when Ebon and Sylvi first were bound and their conversations.  That makes me happy and fulfilled!

Esther Friesner: Sphinx's Queen

Loved this.  I was worried that I wouldn't like it as much as book 1, but it is actually written well enough that it could even function as a stand-alone book.
I really appreciated that this WAS Nefertiti's story--while there were elements of love and other plot lines, this was about her and her coming to power within herself. 
I really enjoyed it. It is lengthy, and would need true passion for a thick story, but once a student became invested in Nefertiti's story, satisfaction would follow.
I am not sure how I feel about the conversations about gods/religion that took place throughout this book especially, but I appreciate the choice to grapple with the complex way humans choose to surrender their faiths.

Nicole Krauss: Great House

This wins the award for "least talked about book at book club." 
Which sucks because I did want to talk about it--because I disliked it so much. I wanted to hear from those who did like it.  But there were other things to talk about and maybe next month's book will be more conversation-inducing.  :)

On to the book.

As I read in one review putting a bunch of short stories in a thick text, doesn't make a novel...And as some of my book club ladies pointed out--Krauss spells out E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. for the reader, rather than allowing readers and readers' intelligences to make some connections and ideas for themselves. 

This book is 8 total chapters.  Each story connects to the others, but the connection is revealed so painfully slowly that it isn't worth the effort getting to the connection.  For example, the first narrator's name isn't even revealed until page 38.  Her name isn't that important, but still...I have a hard time caring about a character whose name I am not even aware of.  This initial irritation led to more and more bitterness during my reading--especially with pages upon pages of meaningless blather and name-dropping of locations-- like Krauss thinks she is so much better than everyone because she knows all these foreign locations and connections to them.
It was annoying.  The book was annoying.  The best parts included connections to the Jewish faith and the unspeaking father who desperately needs a relationship with his estranged son.  Even though his son's estrangement is never fully explained in a satisfying way.  Much like the entire book.

YUCK.

Rebecca Skloot: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

This is our book club book this month--we meet on the 29th, so I will write more following our discussion.  I will say this--I CAN'T WAIT TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK!!!!

Esther Friesner: Sphinx's Princess

Had to finish this one today so I can start the next one!  I liked this one almost as much as Nobody's Princess, but I am hoping that the second isn't as disappointing as Nobody's Prize was as a follow-up to the awesome first book.

I appreciate the historical component Friesner includes in her books, and I don't feel like it is a pretentious history book of a read, but rather a fun and exciting story.  Friesner also writes some strong heroines and I really appreciate Nefertti's inner dialogue and struggles to be herself.  I love Egyptian history--especially their spiritual beliefs and multitudes of Gods, but towards the end of the text, the "One" references (impending impact of Christianity) became obvious and tacky--but that might just be me.  Overall, total candy read--fast-paced, and I am hoping that mean-king bites the big one in book 2!