Nerd Camp

2012, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Cybil Challenge, Fiction /

I’ve probably checked Nerd Camp out from the library three times this year and have never had a chance to read it. Or, more accurately, I always put off reading it. It just seemed like other books would be more interesting or more fun. Hah. Silly me. When I finally started reading it late last night, I couldn’t put it down.

I laughed out loud. I sighed deeply as Gabe tried to figure out just how cool he’d need to be in order to have his new step brother like him. I laughed out loud some more. And the happy ending made me smile, too.

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Behind On Book Blogging

2012, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Women /

Ouch. I’ve fallen way behind on book blogging. How did that happen?

Let’s see…

Last night I finished Letters to Kurt. Oy. That was depressing. Not that I expected it to not be depressing. Writing letters about suicide and the aftermath to your, errr, friend who committed suicide – particularly when you’re Eric Erlandson – makes for depressing business.

Before that, I read Always Coca-Cola. Interesting. Translated from the original, (Lebanese? Arabic? I’ve forgotten.), I liked it. I liked the three women featured. I liked the contrast between them. I liked the cynical look at branding and identity.

And before that, a book that doesn’t really fit with the other two but hey, I’ve fallen behind and I’ve got to get caught up somehow.  A Street Through Time – children’s nonfiction. I have no idea how this ended up in our library bag. I probably snagged it from the featured non-fiction in the new release area, I do that a lot. Interesting but not quite as interesting as I’d hoped. I don’t know why it didn’t catch me as much as I thought it would. Elly must not have loved it either since she didn’t say anything about it at all when she put it back on the shelf.  Kind of ho-hum.

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Diary of a Submissive

2012, Books in Bed, Non-Fiction /

When I heard the BlogHer Bookclub would be reading Diary of a Submissive, I chuckled and then didn’t think about it again because I don’t generally read along with the bookclub. Oops. Turns out I did read along after all. And I’m darn glad I didn’t read 50 Shades of Grey last week like I’d originally planned. A girl can only read so much BDSM before it makes her a little frazzled. OK THIS girl can only read so much BDSM before it makes her frazzled. And Diary of a Submissive packs a really strong BDSM punch (no pun intended.)

Sophie Morgan is a good writer. Maybe too good. It was, at points, a little too well written. A little too polished. A little too sterile. Subject matter this emotional, particularly when framed as “Diary of…” should have brought a little of the author’s emotion along with it. The journalist in her came through loud and clear, the real woman part — maybe not so much. Telling, considering just how much of Morgan’s life she did share.

I’ve read a good bit of erotica. And a good bit of it has been BDSM. I don’t think I’ve ever read one quite so… painful. Physically painful. The D/s relationship becomes overshadowed by the sadomasochism. It was tough to read, in places. A lot of places. And, I hated the way the cover felt so I found myself just wanting to get to the end so I could put it down and never think of it again.

I probably will think of it again, though. It left a mark. Words will do that and so will paddles.

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The Notorious Benedict Arnold

2012, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Cybil Challenge, Favorites, Non-Fiction /

I like non-fiction books about the American Revolution – you can blame my father for that. I’m also a huge fan of Benedict Arnold, which you can also blame on my father. So, I was pretty sure I was going to enjoy The Notorious Benedict Arnold and I did. I really did. Poor guy. I mean I know, I know but really. The guy did some really great things in battle and without him, it’s hard to say for sure that we would have defeated the British at all. Gates was USELESS (or close to it) without Arnold, well, let’s not even think about what would have happened.

Also, how many guys decide to invade Canada and then DO IT? Not nearly enough, that’s how many (sorry Sassymonkey and the rest of you nice Canadians, but it was true. Very true.)

Too bad it turned out the way it did, for Arnold. It’s just a darn shame.

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Angelfall

2012, Books in Bed, Cybil Challenge, Favorites, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Young Adult /

The End of Days! Angels destroy the world, or much of it, in Angelfall – and I loved it. Well I didn’t love the destruction of the world but I loved the story of Penryn and Raffe (and the supporting cast of characters, evil and not evil – and what is evil, anyway.) What happened to Penryn’s sister… OMG. A wheelchair bound, vegetarian, seven year old became… gah!

Must. Have. Book. Two. ASAP.

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Two Cybils Non-fiction

2012, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Cybil Challenge, Favorites, Non-Fiction /

I love all of the Cybils books but I think I really love the non-fiction short lists. The books selected are always so darn good.  Here’s two examples:

The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon  was super interesting. Learning how (and why) three realistic life sized models of Washington, at three different times of his life, were made – when we don’t REALLY know what Washington looked like.  Technology is amazing. It just is.

Speaking of technology, Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way By Land, Sea and Air.  What I liked best is that this book features explorers kids don’t always hear about. Pytheas, Zheng He, Mary Kingsley, and the Piccards are included along with the typical favorites like Marco Polo, Columbus, Cook, and Livingstone.  The pull-outs are excellent.

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Middle Grade Fiction, YA Fiction — One Cybil, One Not

2012, Audiobooks, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Cybil Challenge, Fiction, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Young Adult /

How the heck did The Encyclopedia of Me end up on my bookshelf if it’s not a Cybil? This is really not the kind of book I’d just pick up and nothing about the cover screams “must read” to me. So weird.  It’s not a bad book, just not my thing and I’m so far behind on my reading lists that taking time to read this one wasn’t smart. Oops. I liked bits and pieces of it but I found the encyclopedia idea a bit tedious. I’d have rather just had the story of Tink/Isadora and her family/friends without the encyclopedia entries because that part was good. (If you’re looking for a book about autism and families, this one is interesting.)

A YA scifi/fantasy that is on the Cybils list and was good, was The Shattering. It’s written by the same author who wrote Guardian of the Dead that we listened to earlier in the year? Last year? Recently. So we had some ideas about what it would be like – and it was, though less Maori mythology than I expected there to be. And, the same thing happened in this book that happened in the last one – it runs just a little long.

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The Inquisitor’s Apprentice

2012, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Cybil Challenge, Sci Fi and Fantasy /

Alternate reality fun! NYC in the early 1900s – magic is everywhere, so is anti-semitism. Houdini & Edison + J.P. Morgaunt + Teddy Roosevelt = fabulous. Throw in a nice Jewish boy who has a whole lot of magical power that he doesn’t know about and some awesome visits to Coney Island and you’ve got The Inquisitor’s Apprentice plus a really great book.

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