Fiction

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star (#readathon)

2011, Books in Bed, Chick Lit, Dewey's Readathon, Fiction /

Finally – finished another book for the #readathon – who knew it would take so darn long to finish 428 pages Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star? If I’d known, I probably would have NOT read it for the readathon for goodness sakes.

It was amusing – very amusing. Darcy & Elizabeth. Charles & Jane. Charlotte & Richard. Lots of fun and confusion – just like a re-write of Austen should be.

And now – 18 hours after I started the #readathon – I’m calling it a night.

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I Now Pronounce You Someone Else

1 Comment / 2011, Books in Bed, Cybil Challenge, Fiction, Young Adult /

I knew going in that I Now Pronounce You Someone Else was not going to be my favorite YA book on the shortlist. And as expected, I did not love it. But – I did not hate it nearly as much as I thought. There was good stuff in there. Some pretty funny parts. Some very sweet parts. Some sad parts. Some serious anger-inducing parts.

Not bad for a book about a teen girl who plans to get married in order to get the life and family she didn’t have.

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Three Cybils – One Yay! One Nay! One In Between!

2011, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Cybil Challenge, Fiction, Poetry, Young Adult /

I’m digging into the poetry category and back into the YA category from the Cybils shortlist. I’m nonplussed about both categories so far, which is troubling.

First, Split. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. Christian seemed wrong to me but not as wrong as both Miriam and Dakota seemed. The women in Jace’s new life seemed almost too perfect and too good, though the author tried to make sure that we understood neither was like Jace’s mom or like Lauren. Still. I don’t know. Miriam before she got to know about all of Jace’s problems seemed a little over the top, then once she found out the entire story, she seemed to willing to dig her heels in for the long haul. It just seemed – backwards and not as realistic as I’d hoped.  The most troubling thing here – this was the YA winner. Darn. Maybe it’s just me?

Then Ubiquitous – great title for a children’s poetry book. Nice pictures. Good idea. The poetry left me bored while I enjoyed the facts about all of the ubiquitous creatures. For a poetry book, the poetry shouldn’t leave you bored. Kids have a hard enough time getting in to poetry to start with.

Next comes Scarum Fair – loved it. Loved the artwork. Loved the poetry. Loved the idea. Not for kids who scare easily but for kids who like ghoulish make believe – fabulous. Love, love, love.

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Happyface

2011, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Comics & Graphic Novels, Favorites, Fiction, Young Adult /

A couple weeks ago, Elly asked me to reserve a book called Happyface… so I did. She read it and then she bugged me non-stop to finish whatever I was reading so I could read Happyface… so I did.

It’s a combination graphic novel/novel. It’s a bit about bullying. A bit about a dysfunctional family. It’s about alcoholism. Dating. Family relationships. Reinventing yourself only to find you’re still who you were, sort of, before the reinvention – because you haven’t dealt with who you were before the reinvention.

It’s a wee bit sad. It’s also funny in the right places. And thought-provoking in others, particularly if you’re a teenager who’s on the outside looking in. Or maybe on the inside wondering how to get out.  This could be a Cybils shortlister, I think.

I’m impressed that Elly liked this book so much.  Now I have to figure out when I can sit down and discuss it with her. We might have to video chat or something in order to have that conversation before I forget what the book was about. Heh.

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Harmonic Feedback

1 Comment / 2011, Books in Bed, Cybil Challenge, Fiction, Young Adult /

I was leery of Harmonic Feedback because I do not like the cover. Sassymonkey said it wasn’t a bad book so I kept reminding myself of that and she was right. It wasn’t a bad book. I ended up enjoying it, even though I didn’t particularly love the Asperger’s theme.  The weird part is that I don’t really know why it didn’t work for me. I liked Drea. I really did. I even believed she is on the spectrum somewhere. It all just felt a little… flat.  Like the cover… ?

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Two Cybils – One I Loved, One — Not So Much

2011, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Cybil Challenge, Favorites, Fiction, Young Adult /

First, Some Girls Are… Yes, I know. Some Girls Are… a lot of girls are. And some books make reading about some girls a painful, painful experience. It’s not that the book was badly written – it wasn’t. It’s not that it was a bad topic – it wasn’t. It was just a trouble book blown to smithereens by trouble. I kept picturing mean girls reading this book and victims of mean girls reading this book and none of the pictures popping into my head were good ones.

I do not think I can read another Courtney Summers book – so I hope she doesn’t make the Cybils shortlist again. I just… can’t do it. There’s no pay off for me when it’s over.

Now a book that I did love – Ninth Ward. That was a painful book, too. But not painful the way Some Girls Are was painful. It hurt to listen to Lenesha and Mama Yaya all the while knowing what was going to happen to them in the Ninth Ward. That helpless feeling… I remember that feeling. And I loved Lanesha and Mama Yaya and Tashon and even Spot.

When Mama Yaya said “how can it be mandatory when I don’t have a way to go…” yea, that right there… painful.

But the story was beautifully told. The characters wonderfully written. The hope… The universe shines with love….

My goodness I loved this book.

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Hex Hall and Demonglass

1 Comment / 2011, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Young Adult /

I could have sworn I read Hex Hall last year but apparently I only thought I read it – or maybe I started it and never finished it? Whatever – I’ve read it and Demonglass and I’m dying for the next book. I really hated the cliffhanger in Demonglass – what in the heck are they going to do NOW? And where is Jenna?? And… and… and… great series. I just need book three immediately!

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The Kitchen Daughter

2011, Books in Bed, Chick Lit, Favorites, Fiction, Women /

The Kitchen Daughter is about a young woman with Aspergers. She lived with her parents … until they died in a freak accident while on vacation. She’s left with a younger sister who doesn’t think she can live on her own… no friends… no job… she just cooks and when she cooks, sometimes ghosts come to visit. Real ghosts. I mean as real as ghosts can be?  You know what I mean, right?

It’s a good book – I wasn’t sure I was going to like it at first, but I definitely did. I even liked the ending. And the cover is fabulous.

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Bitter Bitch

2011, Books in Bed, Favorites, Feminism, Fiction, Women /

Who could pass up a book titled Bitter Bitch? Not me, that’s for sure – maybe because I am one? And I have good reason to be – so do you. So does the main character – a Swedish woman who rants about the patriarchy more than anyone I’ve ever read.

The book doesn’t always read like a novel – it reads more like a feminist rant that you might find on… well a blog. Or in a women’s studies class. It’s got just enough of novel in it that it doesn’t read like a textbook and that makes it just about perfect for anyone who feels like a good bitter bitch session about the patriarchy.

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