Fiction

Everybody Sees the Ants

2012, Books in Bed, Cybil Challenge, Fiction, Young Adult /

I didn’t think I was going to like Everybody Sees the Ants. The whole Vietnam – POW/MIA – escapes to the Laos jungle thing just seemed… not my thing.

And at first, it wasn’t. The dreams were weird, through the whole book – but particularly at the beginning. Luckily, Lucky is a great character and the supporting cast – particularly the characters in Arizona, are excellent. (The Vagina Monologues pieces, hah. Totally amused. Not sure Lucky would really have reacted that way – but hey, it’s fiction. We can dream…)

A book I thought would take me a few days to read because I didn’t really love it – ended up causing me to stay up til midnight to finish it all one one sitting.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Everybody Sees the Ants Read More »

Bunheads

2012, Books in Bed, Cybil Challenge, Favorites, Fiction, Young Adult /

I’m finally getting back into the swing of reading from my TBR list and my Challenge lists. Bunheads, a Cybils shortlister, was the last of the URGENT MUST READ NOW books that was due back to the library this week. Thankfully it was a short, easy, fun read. A very fun read actually. Except I probably will never be able to watch The Nutcracker again. TW thinks this is perfectly fine since she does not like The Nutcracker. I, however, don’t mind going to the ballet every 10 Christmases or so. In fact I had just been thinking it was time to see The Nutcracker again. Darn.

I also think Bunheads will make a really fun TV series.  

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Bunheads Read More »

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

2012, Audiobooks, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Women /

Man I love the Ladies #1 Detective Agency series. I particularly love it on audio. When we finish listening to a book, it’s just no fun to ride in the car and it takes ages ‘til we get used to NOT listening to the stories of the Botswana gang.

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection was exceptionally good – because a visitor arrives. A visitor from far away. FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC storyline.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection Read More »

The Dreamer

2012, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Favorites, Fiction, Poetry /

I really liked The Dreamer. I liked the way the author inserted strong questions pulled from the story being told – very Neruda-like. Inclusion of some of Neruda’s poems at the end was a must – and greatly appreciated since I was wondering where I might find Neruda poetry on my shelf at 11pm when I finished this book, last night.

This is a very, very nice way to introduce young readers to Pablo Neruda.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

The Dreamer Read More »

Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy

2012, Books in Bed, Fiction, Queer, Young Adult /

Elly says Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy is a weird book. I think she’s a 13 year old girl who does not understand gay high school boys who like makeup.  I really enjoyed the book, even if it seemed like Carlos was really, really well-adjusted while his sister (who is straight) was not.  How many poor, Hispanic, gay, high school students in NYC are THAT well-adjusted ? He seemed almost too good to be true. His life too Cinderella perfect. (Except he doesn’t get the boy. Oops, spoiler.)

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy Read More »

I Hunt Killers

2012, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Young Adult /

Sassymonkey told me about I Hunt Killers and it sounded interesting so I added it to my TBR list. But just as I was about to close my list, I noticed the author’s name – Barry Lyga?  That changed things considerably. I took the book off of my TBR list and added it to my library hold list.

And then it sat on my library cart for awhile, ‘til TW read it.

She liked it. Like Dexter – but not – and also, YA.

So I expected to really like it – Dexterish YA written by Barry Lyga? What could go wrong?

It started slowly, that’s what. It started slowly and I was tired. Not a good mix. I almost put it down after 50 pages but –Barry Lyga. I couldn’t just give up on it. So I put it down for the night. And finally, last night, I barreled through it and I was very, very glad I hadn’t given up on it.

I started to really like Jazz (which was another small problem in the beginning, I just didn’t much care about him or not care about him.)  The murder of the waitress, that’s really when I started to settle into the story and the characters. By the time bad things happened at the apartment building, I was HOOKED.

And, I didn’t see that ending coming. I just didn’t. I thought about it briefly, a few chapters before the ending. But I really did not expect it.  Now all I need to know is – when is the sequel coming out?

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

I Hunt Killers Read More »

The Book of Lost Fragrances

2012, Books in Bed, Fiction /

I don’t read a lot of suspense novels any more, which seems weird since they’re so popular. I should read more of them. They’re fun and easy, even though The Book of Lost Fragrances kept trying to put me to sleep – and also give me a sympathetic scent headache (I am scent sensitive.)  Other than those two tiny problems, I really enjoyed it. (If you read this, flip to the back – there’s an interesting glossary hiding back there – you don’t need a glossary but it was interesting to have.)

I dunno if I believe in reincarnation or not. I don’t disbelieve, either though.  The whole Tibet/China mess makes me angry in general. So. Yep, I enjoyed this book – which covered it all, and covered it all pretty nicely too. And – I liked the ending.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

The Book of Lost Fragrances Read More »

#readation book #5 – October Obsession

2012, Books in Bed, Fiction, From the Stacks Challenge, Queer /

182 pages – another lesbian paranormal fiction from Naiad – October Obsession even weirder than the last one.  Ghost sex – I just don’t get it. I’m going to have to be more choosey about my lesbian fiction from now on. I don’t think I can deal with another one of those. However, great sex scenes… just sayin’.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

#readation book #5 – October Obsession Read More »

The Gilly Salt Sisters

1 Comment / 2012, Books in Bed, Fiction, Women /

I really, really liked The Little Giant of Aberdeen County and was really excited to start reading The Gilly Salt Sisters. But, it started off really slow. I tried not to let that get to me because I remember some slow points from Little Giant, too… but, The Gilly Salt Sisters had a few too many slow points and I found myself tempted to skim a lot more than I’d like.

I also did not love the end – as in the very, very, very end like the last chapter end. What was the point of that jumping so far forward? Take my advice and stop with chapter 30. Or, if you really need a tiny bit more – read a few pages into chapter 32 and then quit. That’s all you need. The rest was just a letdown and left me saying, “huh?”.

Now I want something salty. Or maybe salty-sweet.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

The Gilly Salt Sisters Read More »