2008

Hole in My Life

1 Comment / 2008, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Non-Fiction, Printz Award Challenge /

I had no idea a book about prison life could be written without horrible gang rapes and bloody fight scenes. Hole in My Life was almost refreshing because of its lack of these types of scenes. Who knew it was possible? And who knew I’d appreciate it this much?

Good thing I do appreciate a “light touch” on a prison book because otherwise I’d have been pretty bored. I’m not sure most teens would sit through a non-fiction piece like this. I’m also not really sure why it was on the Printz short list. Because the ex con writer is the author of the Joey Pigza books? Whatever. I was pretty bored with it all.

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The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden

1 Comment / 2008, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Women /

The first book in what I hope will be a very long series, The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden was fantastic. It should not have taken me a week to read it. I wanted to read it all the way through, from the moment I picked it up. Maybe before I picked it up because TW loved it and I’ve read a lot of blog posts about other people loving it. I loved it.

But then again, I would.

I have a fondness for fairy tales and an even bigger fondness for creation stories.

Now I’m off to reserve the next book and hope it arrives before we move.

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My Heartbeat

2 Comments / 2008, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Fiction, Printz Award Challenge, Queer, Young Adult /

My Heartbeat is another YA book from the Printz Award Challenge and I picked it up on audio last week. When we started listening to it, I wasn’t impressed and pretty much quit listening after that first couple of chapters.

Yesterday, as we headed to south Florida for synchro, I turned it on again and pretty quickly got hooked. TW, not so much. She hated all of the characters accept “the Father”. I disliked the “Father” a lot and am troubled that he’s the only character that TW liked.

Anyway – I thought it was a good “gay” book. The whole “I’m not gay, I don’t know if I’m gay, but we’re a couple or maybe we aren’t a couple because that would mean we are gay” thing – awesome.

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The Miracle at Speedy Motors

2008, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Women /

The really good thing about listening to most of The #1 Ladies Detective Agency on audio is that on the rare occasion that we read one in print, we can still hear the book on audio voice. The Miracle at Speedy Motors was like that. But, I kept getting distracted – wondering about the movie version. I am worried about that.

Anyway, the book – it was good. I laughed and I was sad and I laughed some more.

Now excuse me please, I’m off to research African fruit cake.

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The Ropemaker

1 Comment / 2008, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Fiction, Printz Award Challenge, Sci Fi and Fantasy /

Look, another book that took me far too long to finish. This is more troubling than the week it took me to read Duma Key because Ropemaker is YA fantasy which should take two days MAX.

I’m not sure if the problem was that it started slowly or if I was just plain tired. But reading one or two chapters a day felt like “enough” until last night when I stayed up far too late just to get it finished.

It wasn’t a bad, slow reading YA fantasy – it just wasn’t great. And that’s too bad because once I realized what Tilja’s “power” was, I thought it was an awesome idea. And that awesome idea spurred some really good moments. I think, if there was a sequel that was focused on what happened next, with Tilja, I’d like it more than I liked The Ropemaker.

Also, I’d really like one of those special hair ties. That would be awesome.

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Duma Key

1 Comment / 2008, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Sci Fi and Fantasy /

I finally finished Duma Key, it feels like it took forever but really it was only a week with a lot of days that included almost NO reading time.

Stephen King writes a long ass novel. I’m glad it was good. I really hate long books that end up being not worth reading.

Loved the characters and the idea – the painting, fantastic. It did feel odd to read a King novel set in Florida, that was pretty odd. It also felt like Joe Hill could have written this… is it possible King read his son’s book and thought, I can do something like that….?

Now, I need to call my father to discuss the book since he’s the one who told me there was a new King novel in the first place.

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A Step From Heaven

1 Comment / 2008, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Fiction, Printz Award Challenge, Young Adult /

No, I’m not here to suggest that the Evanston area is a step from heaven. It is not. A Step From Heaven is a YA “problem” book that was up for a Printz Award.

We started listening to it on audio during our trip to Tampa last weekend and TW and I finished it up on the way to the airport yesterday.

It is a YA problem book or more to the point, a YA Korean immigrant problem book. The best type of problem book, according to those who nominate books for awards. Problem books – good … Immigrant problem books – better!

Or not.

How depressing. With a happy ending!

Ho hum.

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