Something Blue

I'm going to give a brief explanation as to why I chose to read this. I'd been warned about Miss Giffin...her vulgarity in particular. But I felt compelled to try out one of her books, anyway. Why? Because I feel something of a kinship to her. She was an attorney who was very unhappy with her career choice. I once saw her in an interview (while I was in law school), and she said something akin to the following: "People who go to law school are people who are afraid to follow their real dreams." It hit a little too close to home, not just because I was afraid that what she said was true for me, but because I wanted to be doing what she does. Writing novels. Well, I I'm working on that...writing a novel that is. I think I was meant to see that interview. And even if I didn't love this book, I do appreciate Miss Giffin's honesty. I needed to hear that. So thank you Miss Giffin.

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Actually, at times I'd give this one star...and at times I'd give it three or even four. In the end, I'd give it 2.5 stars because it had its redeeming moments and I liked it some of the time. The truth is, I'd been warned* about Emily Giffin's books. However, for other reasons (long story about an interview with Giffin I once saw), I really wanted to try at least one of her novels.

So if you've read the first book (Something Borrowed...and I have not) or if you've seen the movie (and I have), you know that Darcy, the main character here, has just been "betrayed" by her best friend and fiance. Darcy has been doing some betraying of her own yet lacks any ability to recognize her own fault in what happened with both her best friend and her fiance.

In the beginning I really disliked Darcy. She was insufferable. Total self-absorption is not a likable characteristic. In fact, it is infuriating. And she's so over the top that I would call her a sociopath...almost. I'm pretty sure that was Giffin's intent. After setting the reader up with an awful heroine, you know what's coming. Darcy is going to hit upon some rough times. And then she'll be forced to examine her circumstances and her life and take some responsibility for what happened.

And that is where the story fell short. I felt that, in the end when she starts to change, it wasn't believable. I didn't fully buy it that someone who was so so so selfish could pull an actual 180.

I did, however, find her reactions to her pregnancy and motherhood believable and redemptive and touching, even. The truth is that I believe people in real life can and do change. I think that even Darcy was redeemable, but I would have liked to see a little more effort in the process. Someone as selfish as Darcy had a long way to go, and maybe she got there a little too easily for my taste.

*I'd been warned about sex and language, and I'll warn you all who read this. It might be a bit much for conservative readers. I won't read any more of her novels because of it.

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Thirteen Reasons Why

Overall, not a bad book...but not sure if I recommend it.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Have you ever read a book and thought, hmmm??? Did I like that? I honestly can't tell if I did or not. I'm giving it three stars because it gave me much to ponder, and that is always good. But it could have easily been a two star read or a four star read...I'm very confused!

I knew the premise of the book before I started reading, of course, but I was skeptical nonetheless. Hannah Baker, a girl who has just committed suicide (and no that is not a spoiler) sends out a set of tapes, all seven of which are to be passed on to the various people who played a role in her depression/suicide/teen angst.

Maybe I've read a little too much about teen suicide (I just read The Pact), but the minute the tapes started and I realized that this was going to be a blame game...and like I said, I just read The Pact...I was on my guard. Suicide is tragic, and it isn't something to take lightly, but I'm not so sure that I feel right about the way fingers were pointed in this book.

Really, I'm not sure if I believed that someone who had the level headed sense to talk her way through seven tapes and thirteen reasons for her suicide was really suicidal. Of course, I'm not a seventeen-year-old girl anymore, and I'm not sure that even with all my long since passed teenage angst that I ever felt as close to as hurt as Hannah quite obviously did. Still, it seems like she was completely capable of logic when it came to detailing the horrible behavior of her classmates, which would indicate to me an ability to see it for what it was. But maybe that is the adult in me, expecting someone who is still emotionally immature to understand that when other people act like jerks, it has nothing to do with me.

And then I guess I thought some of the reasons were not enough, or at least the connections between the people that she is "blaming" really mattered. Again, though, I don't know how I would have reacted to her reasons when I was a teenager. Maybe I would have totally felt her pain and thought about how awful those things were.

HOWEVER, living means that bad things will happen to you. It means that people will treat your poorly sometimes. It means that sometimes you will have to live with pain. And sometimes downright awful, horrible, terrible things will come into your life even if you did nothing to invite them in. And the other reality is this. Sometimes I have caused others pain. I hope I'm never one of the awful, horrible, terrible people, but I do know that I have done and said stupid, thoughtless, cruel things. I hope that they were never said or done on purpose.

Another awful reality: some people are going to commit suicide. Some people are going to get to a point where they are that hopeless. And it is important to think about the way that you treat others. But I guess what bothered me about this is that Hannah had to take responsibility at some point, but she didn't (at least not really, in my opinion). Instead, when Clay (the narrator here) or Mr. Porter (who apparently should "rot in hell") tried to talk through things with her, she walked away, not them. People were reaching out to her.

Okay, so a few people on this list of thirteen did some bad things, but some of those bad things weren't even done to Hannah. Rather, she seems to feel some guilt I guess for their bad behavior because she was around when it happened, and so I suppose that's why she decided in the end it was best to take her own life. I sort of felt like this was Asher's way of putting some of the blame for Hannah's suicide on her own shoulders, as if to say that Hannah wasn't entirely blaming others. I'm not sure, but I felt like in the end that all she was doing was "getting even" with some mean kids at school.

Again, I couldn't help but think about the times that I've been not so nice to people. I'm not proud of it, but would I want to get a message from beyond the grave from some poor soul who'd done this to himself, telling me that I might have played a role in his suicide? Certainly not. When someone commits suicide, it is about her depression. I don't think the people left behind should be forced to take the blame for that. The people who knew Hannah were going to feel guilty as it was; ironically, the tapes were just as cruel, in the end, as the things Hannah had done to her.

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Rearview Mirror

Light and easy...especially for listening purposes.

Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Since I've been giving LDS lit a new look, I thought I would try out an LDS author's take on the mystery-thriller genre. I was pleasantly surprised.

It wasn't all that different from any other story in the genre, really. It follows a certain formula, and that was fine. I actually think I read these books for the formula. What made me happy about it was the clean language. The crimes weren't described graphically, either. Because I love mysteries and sort of hate the language/graphic depictions of violence, I was very happy with this.

There was some cheeser stuff, a little bit related to being Mormon, but really if I'm going to be honest, all such novels have elements of cheesiness, usually related to two things: the romantic interest and the dramatic confessions of really horrible behavior, given by the villain, at the end when the conflict is being resolved. But this is sort of to be expected. How else will we all know what happened?

And it really did have me guessing, so I give Ms. Black bonus points. I would be convinced that I knew who "done it" and then she would throw something new at me, and I could not be sure. It wasn't until the final few paragraphs that I finally knew who was up to no good, and even then she threw me off a little bit. Overall, not too shabby. I'll be trying more of her books in the future.

P.S. And may I say that I really liked the reader, and she was female. Usually female readers drive me nuts, but she didn't overdo the men. Generally, my beef with the women readers? They cannot do a convincing male voice. But this reader didn't try so hard to sound masculine, so it worked for me.

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The Pact

I am now swearing off Jodi Picoult, at least until someone convinces me that she's written something that doesn't rely on shock and awe, that is.

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think I'm pretty much done with Ms. Picoult. I think I want to read her because I like the way she writes, and I cannot say that her stories aren't compelling, save The Tenth Circle. I think the lure of her books is just that...that she's capable of telling a captivating story peopled with interesting characters.

However, and you knew the however was coming, she peppers her stories with too much sensationalism. And while this story didn't rise to level that it seemed she was determined to hit in The Tenth Circle, I still feel like she exercised too little restraint.

The central conflict in the story is enough: two teenagers, Chris and Emily, who may or may not have made a suicide pact. Chris and Emily have known each other since birth; they are best friends and have dated for about four years. Understandably, then, their relationship is much more than the typical teenage romance. But when the actual act goes down, only Emily is dead, and Chris has been told not to tell his story, the story of what actually happened that night, now that he's being prosecuted for her murder.

Pretty sensational, am I right?

But then Picoult goes ahead and adds insult to injury. There's the hint of a possible infidelity between two of the grieving parents, a murderously enraged mother mourning for her daughter and bent on revenge, prison conflicts caused by a homicidal inmate, a sister feeling the neglect caused by her brother's incarceration...none of which is developed enough. I would prefer to see more of Kate, for example, Chris's younger sister, and her pain and struggles as she watches her family go to pieces, rather than the possibility of infidelity or the fights in prison. I realized that Picoult wanted to give a fuller picture of all the things that might result from the suicide, including the strain it might cause on a marriage or they way that prison would scar an eighteen-year-old boy. By attempting to include it all, Picoult lost some of the depth that I think is necessary if you are going to tell a story as emotionally charged as this. That or the story needed to be slightly longer. You might think that is crazy since it is pretty long as it is, but I think Picoult is good enough that she could have explored the minor conflicts more. That and she could have left out the sex and focused on the people.

The other problem stems from this: Chris is the only fully fleshed out character. Emily comes close, but there wasn't enough for me to fully sympathize with her state of mind when she decides that she wants to take her life. Picoult comes close to getting me inside her mind. But it wasn't enough for me to say that I completely bought into her actions the night of her death. I will say that I fully sided with Chris at the end, and I DO think that was the point Picoult wanted to make. In any case, when the story was over, I found myself wishing I knew so much more about all of the main characters, the parents, Kate, Jordan (Chris's lawyer).

And then again, here she goes with the gimmicky ending, which is a spoiler so I won't tell you what happens. The problem with this "surprise gotcha" ending is that it wasn't really a surprise at all. I'm not sure if that was what Picoult had in mind because it fell so flat. Was she trying to shock the reader? I don't know. It wasn't shocking.

There was one thing, however, that I do think Picoult does well here. She paints a very ugly picture of what happens after someone commits suicide. I would never condemn someone for committing suicide. Depression and mental diseases are real, and I cannot judge someone who may make a poor choice in a moment of total despair. BUT what comes after is ugly and painful. These families were pulled apart because of what Emily chose to do, and while I've always been aware that suicide is harmful to those left behind, I never really gave the aftermath much thought. Emily hurt Chris, of course, and her parents, obviously. But she pulled those two families apart at the seams. She destroyed their trust in each other and their friendships. She put Chris's future in jeopardy. She put marriages in question. And this thread of the story is what, ironically enough, redeemed it for me. So that, and Picoult's writing ability, were enough to give it three stars. Otherwise, I would have given it two.

In the end would I recommend it? I really don't know. I'm just not sure that the good outweighs the bad. I would like to see if Picoult can tell a story without the surprise/shock ending.

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The Summons

One more Grisham and that is it, I swear, for the entire year! No more Grisham for a looooooong time!

The Summons by John Grisham

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It seems like lately I've been on these benders. So I pick an author, you see, and then I'm sort of stuck on that author for a while (i.e., the Stephanie Plum series, the Spellman series, Jodi Picolt, Kate Morton, John Grisham...obviously...and I could go on...). I'm not sure why. Perhaps it is an obsessive compulsive disorder where I feel I must read everything an author has written if I happen to like anything else by that particular author. Sort of like my OCD about reading series books in ORDER...which I haven't been doing with the Stephanie Plum series and it has sort of annoyed me. Have you ever noticed how much I can ramble? I know it. It's an issue.

But anyway, focusing now, I may need a break from Grisham for a while. This wasn't his best work, in my opinion.

It isn't that I didn't like the story, per se. It was an interesting premise. Two brothers come back home (one the wayward black sheep of the family, the other your typical saintly child) because their father is dying. But it turns out, when they get there, he's already dead. The "good" brother, Ray, has found something interesting in the house, however, and maybe he's not such a goody-goody after all. You'll have to read it if you want to know more.

The premise, then, was exciting enough, but the execution was slow. Too slow. Not enough action. I have said in previous reviews of Grisham's novels that I appreciate that he branches out. Not everything has to go as fast as books like The Runaway Jury (and man I've read far too many of this dude's novels, by the way). But still, I'd like to see a Runaway Jury again. Please Mr. Grisham, pretty please?!?!?

Oh, and by the way, so when did Grisham become Faulkner, anyway? He's creating this little Southern entourage in his novels, and characters keep reappearing in various books. Like Harry Rex. Grisham included him in A Time to Kill, I believe, and now he's shown up in this and The Last Juror...and maybe elsewhere. And like Patton French from King of Torts. I actually really like it/find it endearing and clever. I guess he is a Southern writer, after all.

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The Last Juror

John Grisham...back to his roots and at his finest.

The Last Juror by John Grisham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm going to get on my soap box for a moment here. And this little soap box really isn't about the story. Consider yourself warned. When one listens to an audio book, the reader really makes ALL the difference. Last year I listened to Juliet by Anne Fortier. I was a bit harsh in my review of certain aspects of the story, and I think a very big part of the harshness was related to the reader and the way she voiced the twin sister of the heroine. It grated on my nerves so so so much. Had I known it would bother me so much, I would have opted to read the book instead of listen to it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Jim Dale, the voice of the audio series for Harry Potter, who, in my opinion, is brilliant almost always (once in a while his Hermione is a bit much, but there are soooo many characters he must read with so many different accents and he does the voices so well). After having read that series more than once, I didn't think I would love listening to them the way that I did, but oh they were so good just because having Jim Dale tell me a story was perfect.

Very few readers match up to Mr. Dale's talents, but Michael Beck might come close. All that to say that I loved listening to him tell me this story. I've grown fond of listening to books while completing chores, and this was a great book to listen to.

Enough of that, however, and on to the review.

I wouldn't call The Last Juror a "thriller" in the traditional sense of the word, at least as it applies to Grisham and stories like A Time to Kill or The Firm. In fact, the main character isn't even a lawyer. Instead, he is a news man who owns the small town weekly newspaper in Ford County, Mississippi. Willie Traynor is an unlikely hero, but even with his Southern upbringing in a struggling post-segregation South, he is able to draw his weekly readers into a completely new type of newspaper than the one they are used to.

The novel has two plots, really: the story of a unique black family, the Ruffins, who adopt Willie as one of their own and the contrasting story of Danny Padgitt and the entire Padgitt clan who are all up to no good. Much of Mr. Traynor's paper is dedicated to the tales of both families, and I really like the way that the plot of the novel focuses on both threads through Traynor's news gathering.

This book is, in many ways, classically Grisham, even if it doesn't have the fast paced thrills of The Pelican Brief. I think that's because he's gone back to the South here. Grisham is a regional writer; it's one of his many strengths, and so generally I've really enjoyed those of his novels set in the South because he knows the people, the culture, the dialect. I always walk away feeling like I've somehow been in Mississippi or Alabama or Louisiana after I read one of his books.

That is why I especially liked this...because it reminded me of why I read Grisham so voraciously in the early days of his career. I appreciate that he has branched out, but it's always good to see an author come back home.

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The Curse of the Spellmans

Another delightful installment from the Spellman series.

Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So how can something be so good and coherent and yet be so random and rambling? I don't mean random in a negative way at all. In fact, I find the randomness quite charming, just as I find Isabel Spellman quite charming and funny. Izzy and the entire Spellman clan are a bunch of nut cases, but the stories work for me.

In this, the second installment of the Spellman series, Izzy finds herself busy surveilling the neighbor who is surely up to no good; her teenage sister Rae has run over her "best friend"...a forty-something-year-old inspector named Henry, and Henry, not surprisingly, is fed up; her practically perfect older brother David has lost his razor sharp edge; her mother is sneaking out of the house at all hours; and her father, well, he's secretly on a new found health kick. And there is more...but I'll spare you the run down.

Like I said...random.

What I love about Lutz's story is that everything seems to be happening all at once, and so the novel should feel chaotic. Yet somehow it doesn't. She shifts from subplot to subplot seamlessly, even though she is moving from one conflict to the next quite quickly. I would liken it to a professional race car driver, taking you out for a quick spin on the Autobahn in a Mercedes Benz. Even though you would inevitably be going so very fast, the ride would be perfectly smooth. I think I'd like to try that some day.

And then, of course, there are the "mysteries" that Izzy must solve. I'll go ahead and admit that the central conflict, Izzy's obsession with the man next door's private life, was fairly easy to figure out, but the others are a bit more puzzling, so there was enough tension in the waiting to see what would happen next that I didn't get bored or want to scream "DUH!" the entire time I was reading.

Moreover, these books really aren't about the mysteries and are more about the characters and their ridiculous antics, especially Izzy and Rae...or Rae and Henry, who make quite the comedic team, actually. I'm telling you, the characters here are a breath of fresh air, and so is the story, even if it isn't so mysterious. And this is mostly because of Lutz's wry sense of humor and excellent comedic timing. In fact, I like this one a little more than I liked the first, and I really enjoyed the first.

I'm thrilled to have found these little gems, and I can't wait to read the next in the series.

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The Tenth Circle

This was disappointing. It's really rare for me not to finish a novel and even more rare for me to not finish one when I've read and enjoyed other books from an author. Generally speaking, I like Jodi Picoult's writing, and I usually really feel compelled by her characters. Sadly, no so much with The Tenth Circle. I believe in being honest about what I like and don't like, and I did not like this and cannot recommend it.

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

I was listening to this today as I was painting and cleaning, and I got to the point where I had to turn it off because it was so blah. Nothing at all compelling about the characters, really. Instead, Picoult used outrageous teenage party antics to try to get the reader's attention, in my opinion, anyway. I've heard of teenage "sex" parties, but I think, like most things controversial and shocking, such events are rare, and I actually believe that including them in the novel was not only unoriginal, but silly sensationalism to "captivate" an audience. I just don't buy it. Obviously that bothered me, and it was probably the reason I chose to turn this off and listen to music instead.

However, there were other things, too, like a lot of pontificating without any real plot. And the pontificating was about extramarital affairs, past bad behavior, teenage cutting, first love/break ups. I'm fine with some drama, but all of it put together added up to, hmmmm, what's the word? Unauthentic. It felt forced, is what I am saying. All in all, just too much drama-rama without any heart or realism to make me feel connected in anyway to what the characters were experiencing.

I'm disappointed, to say the least. I've read other books by Picoult, and while I do think she tends to use manipulative tactics as a gimmick in general, those books were plot driven and the characters had something to offer. I won't rate this, but I would recommend you read something like My Sister's Keeper or Keeping Faith, both of which I really enjoyed. They were far better and more interesting than this. Picoult is a really good writer, stylistically speaking, but this story just isn't the best sample of her work.

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Blood Red Road

Post-apocalyptic literature might be my new favorite genre. It's books like this that remind me why I loved novels like 1984 in the first place.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is perhaps the best young adult, post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel I've read thus far. I'm really into these sorts of novels lately. It might be due to the fact that I loved The Passage, and now I can't seem to get enough of stories like it. I'm particularly impressed with this because it maintains a raw, gritty feel, like The Passage, without being too adult.

In this particular story, Saba, a young woman, has to watch as strangers come along to kidnap her beloved twin brother, Lugh, and kill her father. She goes out to find him, reluctantly hauling her nine-year-old sister Emmi along with her. They are kidnapped, Saba is forced to be a cage fighter, she is imprisoned, they fight horrible beasts and a crazy king. It's a long book, but it didn't feel long at all, and I was sort of sad to see it come to an end.

There are a lot of things about this book that really work for me. Most importantly, the action never stops. Never. It starts out on an exciting note and the tension continues to build throughout the story. I think that several YA novelists should take note. Moira Young doesn't tell us that things happen to her characters. She doesn't fill us in with a lot of back story. She shows us, and that only adds to the story's readability. It really is the kind of book you do not want to put down.

Then I loved the voice. Saba speaks in a colloquial dialect that reminded me of an Old West novel. And I'm not talking about prim and proper Mattie Ross in True Grit. It reminded me more of These is My Words. Not the story, of course, but the voice. As with These is My Words, at first I was worried that I would find the narrator's grammar distracting (along with the lack of quotation marks to indicate dialogue, in this case). However, her delivery gave her an authenticity that wasn't forced. It was simply a natural part of her character and made her more believable.

I'm also surprised at the way the violence in the story doesn't distract from the focus, Saba's quest to find Lugh. It reminded me of The Hunger Games in that the violence wasn't overly gratuitous. It only enhances the depraved nature of the post-apocalyptic world that they inhabit. The cage fighting, for example, is more about demonstrating what a horrible drug has done to the addicts of Hopetown than it is about the actual fighting, and Young doesn't spend too much time on the gory details of violence.

Once again, the description of cities that have come apart, like in Ship Breaker, were perfect. I'm a city girl...as in I am in LOVE with New York...serious LOVE. So when I hear descriptions of cities in ruins, I'm fascinated. The idea of a place like New York with only the steel skeletons of skyscrapers remaining is haunting and beautiful.

Then there was the romance. Saba finds herself saving Jack, and he follows her on her mission to find Lugh. It was good...plenty of back and forth between the two. Young did a perfect job building the tension and then letting them get frustrated before finding each other again. And oh the kissing. Some good kissing here.

Finally, there is what Jami's review has to say about feminists themes. I completely agree with her and couldn't have said it better myself. You can read her review for yourself. Needless to say, Saba is a heroine that I can get on board with. I think this is another thing that other YA novelists ought to consider. You can create a really strong female character who is also allowed to fall in love. I can't wait to read more about how their relationship develops.

In the end, this reminded me of a lot of other books (if that wasn't obvious from my review), even if that wasn't Young's intention. But either way, it worked because the reminders were for all the right reasons...the reasons that I loved those other books. This is definitely going on my favorites list, and I can't wait to read further installments.

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Pretty Little Liars

All I have to say is...uh oh!

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Back in the day...WAY back in the day, I enjoyed reading the Sweet Valley Twins series. And then I graduated to the Sweet Valley High series. Only, I wasn't quite ready for Sweet Valley High back in the day, and I was sort of scandalized by it. I think I was pretty young, maybe twelve or thirteen...so I didn't read a whole lot in the series.

I think Pretty Little Liars is Sweet Valley High on speed. Oh it is scandalous.

Maybe you've seen that Jean Claude Van Damme movie that was so bad it was good. You know exactly what I am talking about. It's sort of a disaster of a movie and you are laughing, but probably for all the wrong reasons, and yet it was entertaining and you thoroughly enjoyed it.

That's sort of how I feel about Pretty Little Liars. Sort of. The writing is just fine - not great but whatever. It's more about the mystery. These four girls start getting mysterious texts, emails and notes from a mysterious "A" who knows all of their shameful secrets. It's the shameful secrets that remind me of the Van Damme movies...ridiculously over the top. As are the descriptions of what every character wears at any time ever in the book...think lots of designer brands and such and you get the idea. It's just a little (a lot) too much.

But anyway, who is this mysterious "A"? Is it their old friend Ali, the girl who went missing several years ago? Is it someone they hurt in the past, someone now seeking revenge? None of the four girls knows, and they are freaked out about it, of course...worried about who might tell everyone their secrets.

Oh, and by the way, not only do we not know who "A" is, we don't know exactly what happened several years ago when Alison disappeared, or, for that matter, some drama dealing with a girl named Jenna. I seriously HATE not knowing what comes next or what went on in the past!!!

I've been sucked in, and it is too late for me now. Curse you Jami Jensen...why did you have to recommend this?

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Ender's Game

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wish that Goodreads had a "listened to" option because I always feel like it is a little misleading to say that I read something when actually I listened to it. Just a little random note.

I am pretty sure that this is the first science fiction novel that I've ever been able to finish. Not that I've tried a whole lot of science fiction, mind you. But it really hasn't been a genre that I've been into. I have read one other Orson Scott Card novel, and I did not like it at all, and I wonder if I had read Ender's Game (as opposed to listening to it) I would have liked it as much. I don't know. I think dramatic readings can inform your opinion of a novel. As in some readers are better than others, and I liked the readers, mostly (the female reader was tooooooo much for me). I'm just saying that I wonder if the readers helped me enjoy the story more than if I had simply read it. Wow, I'm such a rambler.

In any case, I'm not going to say much more here because enough has been said about it already, and almost everyone I know has read this. I'm super behind in the game. But, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the story, especially the dystopian themes. In fact, I would say that I liked it more for its dystopian elements than I did for its sci-fi elements.

The ending was a bit odd, though. Perhaps I just had certain expectations because this is a series. Now I'm curious to read more because I do wonder where the rest of the story will go.


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Paranormalcy

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was sweet and funny, and I had a good chuckle or two while reading it. I wouldn't say it is ground breaking, but I did enjoy it for what it was...that is a paranormal fantasy with a lot of humor. And of course there is some good kissing, and I always like a good kiss.

I especially appreciate Evie because she doesn't seem to take herself all that seriously, and she has a pulse and a personality. I think lately that when I've read YA fiction with a fantasy/paranormal bent, I've been disappointed because the novel took itself too seriously, or the characters weren't likable. That's not a problem here.

I would have liked to see more development in the plot and less focus on trips to the mall. I think that's what kept me from giving this four stars. I wanted more back story for Evie. We get the bare bones of her history, and I felt a little shortchanged. I want to know more about her and the other main players...like Raquel, Lend and Lend's family, the faeries and other creatures.

I think it's a hard balance to strike, on the other hand, and sometimes you read something and feel like all the author is doing is explaining back stories and histories and that can be dull. But in this case, I think a little bit more would have helped me connect more to the story.

I also wanted more action/longer action sequences. Evie is a paranormal hunter. She goes out and finds werewolves, vampires, hags, etc., to "bag and tag" them. And I wanted to see more of her doing that. It seems like the scenes where she's capturing a paranormal pass by too quickly, and I wanted to see her really in the throws of the challenges one would face in such a situation. It's a development thing, I suppose. I just wanted more development.

I did really enjoy that Evie was a normal teenager and was excited about normal teenage things, like pink boots and prom dresses and getting excited about just being her age. Too many stories focus on kids growing up too fast, and Evie wants to be her age and do the things that kids her age do.

I am pretty sure if I had read this when I was a young adult, I would have wanted to be Evie. That's not a bad thing. She's a good character, in a good, clean story that is entirely appropriate for its intended audience.


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Not Going Away

This is just a little reminder to myself that I will blog regularly, if not daily.

And this is a little reminder for me...seen on a friend's FB page, an advert (aren't I just so British) for Nike right next to Penn Station in NYC (sigh for NYC a minute...okay). And it says:


So to my ever procrastinating self...Today is THE day!!!

The Piper's Son

This is it, folks. The year long experiment is up, and this is the end of the line. And I think this is a good way to say good-bye to the daily blogging gig.

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yet another Marchetta novel that somehow pulled me in just when I was thinking of giving it up for good. I don't know what it is about her stories or her writing, but I'm never convinced that I want to go down whatever road she's going to take me on until I'm well into the story.

Here's the thing. This is drama-rama folks. Plain and simple, and that is what Marchetta seems to do best. But she does it in a way that isn't overbearing, for the most part, and you feel like you connect to these characters, despite the drama...or maybe because of it. I'm not sure if I'm hooked because of the soap opera or if I'm hooked because I actually really like these people, but in the end, I suppose it doesn't matter a whole lot, anyway, because I kept reading until the end. And then at the end, she suddenly had me convinced that I wanted to read it all along.

There isn't a lot of plot to this story. It's more about people and every day life than it is about something. Of course, there are lots of little things going on, little conflicts. Now some might argue with me here and say that the conflicts are much more than that. They are much more than just little, that is; however, they aren't handled like serious climatic moments, and I don't know if that makes any sense whatsoever, but it's sort of like watching the way real life unfolds.

And yes, I did say it was sort of soap opera-esque. But that's more because there are lots and lots of feelings being expressed internally (and occasionally externally, too). But no one here is slapping faces and throwing martinis and screaming. It's dramatic because the internal dialogue makes it so. Tom and his Aunt Georgie are the central figures, and so mostly we see the story through their perspective. Tom's trying to reconcile with his old mates and his father, and Georgie is trying to decide if she wants to reunite with her old boyfriend and both of them are coming to terms with the deaths of family members. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, so you can imagine what I mean by drama.

But there is only one actual physical fight and most of the time, you could imagine similar problems in your own life. And you can probably see yourself having similar thoughts and feelings about how best to handle them. So yes there are lots of problems, and there is a lot of pondering. And you probably think now that the book sounds dull, but I assure that it isn't, especially if you like something that speaks to character. I always do. And Marchetta, if she does anything at all well (and you know I think she does), knows character.

P.S. But I guess all of this is just one really long winded way of saying that it's drama without the sappiness.

P.S.S. Oh...and I called this both young adult and adult fiction. It's certainly for the more mature reader.

P.S.S.S. And if you are going to read this, read Saving Francesca first. This isn't a sequel, necessarily, but it is a companion book, and it will make much more sense if read in order. You are welcome.


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And That's a Wrap (Almost)

Tomorrow my year mark is up. And that will make three-hundred and sixty-five!!! 365!!!!!!!!

Wow. And I'm going to have a book review for you tomorrow...as my last entry for this year-long experiment. Since that seems apropos.

But tonight I'm going to write about writing and why I love it.

I actually remember my first journal. I don't remember what it looked like, but I'm sure that it is somewhere in a box in my brother's attic. I know this; I wrote my first entry in red pen. And I committed the cardinal sin of journal writing. There were times I used pencil. GASP! I did not understand then that pencil was not permanent. Oops. And sometimes I wonder what I said in that early journal and if I'll be able to read it when I'm an old lady, and I want to reminisce about my youth.

Oh, but I do remember writing about McDonald's. That was my fave, and we probably went there for someone's birthday because that is what the birthday girl/boy requested, and my poor parents acquiesced to such desires as McDonald's, even though I am pretty sure they did not like it or want to.

So that is one reason that I love to write. I love to see what my ten year old self thought about life, and I love to see what I thought when I was eighteen, and I was just sure that I would live a certain life. Oh that life is far different from this life.

I also remember writing a short story for my ninth grade English teacher, and oh Mrs. Godfrey was just fancy. She dressed to the nines and conducted herself always the lady. When I got my short story back...a real nail biter about a babysitter and an earthquake...she had written the nicest note about how the story could become a book! A BOOK!!! (Can you imagine?) And wasn't that nice of her?

So that is what I learned next. I learned that I loved to write for an audience. And I love to tell a story.

But probably the best piece I ever did write (perhaps in my entire life, and I do not exaggerate) was a piece about my early childhood best friend. Our junior honors English class had to write character sketches on important people in our lives. It was probably the most personal thing I have ever written, and my teacher loved it because it was raw and real, and I discovered the importance of connection and passion. Writing is best when you know what you are talking about and you care about it. I wrote it because we had once been best friends, but then time went by and neither of us were prepared for the way things would change. I remember writing about how we were strangers now. And I must say, it was beautiful.

So the third thing I love about writing? I love honest connection. You can always sense that in a good writer.

I also remember writing a research paper on Langston Hughes. One of my professors allowed me to do an alternate writing project. I used poetry and letters and journal entries to tell the story, instead of the traditional sort of paper. Of course, trust a professor like Cutler to allow for it. I don't think most academecians would allow for such shenanigans. What a great guy for letting me. And I got an A...for awesome! He loved it, and I sort of hope that he encourages his students to write that way now.

Love number four: even research writing...ye olde academic staple...can be creative and exciting.

Another very kindly professor sat me down and explained to me how to organize my thoughts. He praised my ability to write, but he made it clear that I was all over the place. Like everywhere. And once I got it, I got.

My fifth love...writing is more than just a brain dump. It's a way to follow a logical thought pattern. There's no excuse for sloppiness. I learned to love taking pride not just in a well formed sentence but in the structure of the entire piece.

And now I'm learning something new about writing. I'm learning that writing a novel is much harder than I thought. I'm learning that I can write a mean essay of all types...personal, academic, etc. But I'm learning that writing a story is much more challenging and personal. I think I've shied away from it because I know it is hard, but maybe that is the very reason I should be writing it. Like it's the next step in the process as a developing writer.

I'm really glad that I did this, even though there were times I sighed and rolled my eyes and wished I had not committed myself to it. But I am glad I did it, most especially because I stuck to it. And I'm thinking now, that the next step is this. Now, instead of writing this particular blog on a daily basis, I should be writing my novel on a daily basis. I know, now, that I can commit myself to something for the long term.

In the end, there is this...I LOVE WRITING!!!

Two Year Crisis...

It's like a full blown existential crisis up in here.

Seriously.

Honestly, I really thought that the older I got, the more sure of myself I would become, but I feel like the exact opposite is happening. I feel like the older I am, the more UNSURE I am of myself. And that, my friends, is what rock bottom is. Rock bottom is having no clue what to do with oneself because one does not know who one is. (Say that last sentence with a British accent and pretend you are wearing a frock from Pride and Prejudice...because yes, I admit it. I am being rather dramatic about it.)

I really am serious when I say that I don't have a clue about an.y.thing. right now. I don't know who I am or what I am or what I am going to do with my life, and it isn't scary so much as it is bottomless. Endless. Like I really do not have any sort of clue whatsoever as to how I'm going to get a handle on myself. Or when that might even happen. Because I really do not know.

I find myself wondering if this is normal. I thought I would be over these crises of confidence a long time ago. I mean, that is what your twenties are for, right? That's the whole purpose of the invention of the twenties...college, first jobs, first loves and all that. You are supposed to have it down and be ready to roll come thirty. I think I had it figured out better when I was seventeen.

That's right. My teenage self gets it better than my thirty-six-year-old self.

Ugh. It isn't so much depression, although that is part of my life and I've come to accept it, but it isn't that so much. So much is wishing I could figure it all out and just get on with it already. So much of it is waiting to understand. So much of it is just wanting some sort of purpose. A drive. A goal. SOMETHING...ANYTHING!!!

But this is my thought. Long ago in a far away place, when I heard that woman talking about her husband looking for work near on two years (TWO YEARS!!!). I thought to myself, no way...no how. And maybe this little existential crisis of mine will be just that. Because I thought that and so now I need to understand what two years actually means. That's what I hope, anyway. Two years and I'll be able to get on with my life. Please...let it be.

Your Grandma Runs Faster Than Me

And some other musings...

I'm telling you, she does. So the last few days I've decided that since the temperatures are in the balmy 40s and that since the sun is out and shining with all its winter might, that I might as well take advantage. Taking advantage means running out of doors. And when I say running, what I mean is jogging. And when I say jogging, what I mean is that there are speed walkers who could outrace me. On their bad day. No, on their worst day.

I'm just not what you would call fast. My last three outdoor jaunts have averaged around an eleven minute and forty second mile. 11:49 today. That's just a little bit better than five miles an hour, and so I know I do not lie when I say that your grandma can run faster than me.

It was causing me some severe frustration.

I can run faster on a treadmill, and I try to take comfort in that. The other day I ran about three and a half miles and then walked off the last half mile, and I did it in less than forty-three minutes. If I push myself, I can run four miles in under forty minutes, meaning that my time is significantly better on that darned machine, like by seven or eight minutes better, but it just isn't the same, you know? And of course, the treadmill does some of the work for you, and blah blah blah.

But then I decided that I am going to accept it. At least I am out there making the effort, and there is something to be said for that. I can't worry that probably better than half the people I know who NEVER run could go out for a jog, including the old and infirm, and they would beat my time. Because the truth is, that isn't why I do it. I'm doing it for me, and for no one but me. And of course, I wish I could go a little faster, but then, I also wish I had a million dollars and a cute apartment in New York.

So I will have to accept it for what it is.

And then I'll have to go running tomorrow. And the next day. And maybe some day, I'll get faster. And that is just the way life goes, isn't it? You don't always get to choose how things will be. The only fatal thing, as C.S. Lewis would tell it, is to sit down and give up. And I refuse to do that.

Almost There

Oh, I am getting rather ready for this to be over, and in just a few short days...I won't have to worry about coming up with a fresh topic...or fail at coming up with a fresh topic, but whatever.

From today's funeral..."The atonement can heal your broken heart."

Lately, I've felt like my heart has been pretty broken. Broken over so many things, big and little, adding all up and just making me sad all the time. Sad to watch my friends who have fertility issues. Sad to watch my friends lose children. Sad to see other friends try to cope with the challenges of marriage and children and jobs. Sad to watch my own life as it spirals into a place so low...I mean, really low. I never thought it could be like this.

But then those words of wisdom, and suddenly, I feel like it will all be okay because I believe that is true. The atonement can heal my broken heart. And that is because of the unconditional love of my Savior. You know what's perfect? Christ's love. And why is that? Because it is given without strings. That is what Caleb and April have taught me. They have taught me an incalculably valuable lesson about how Christ loves. He loves with no expectation of us whatsoever. Me, sinful, prideful, unfocused, lost. Me, trying, working, making an effort. Me, succeeding, growing, becoming. All these stages of me, He loves. He loves me at my lowest and at my highest. And the atonement can heal my broken heart, whatever the cause.

The Spellman Files

Just a good time...I mean this was seriously a fun book to read.

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is plain quirky, and I have to say, it's seriously delightful. Isabel Spellman grew up in a family of spies. Her parents run private investigation firm, and they have trained their children to surveil strangers, pick locks, and tail marks. But Isabel is tired of the business and she wants out of it. Her parents agree, but only if she will take one more case. Izzy agrees and of course, hijinks ensue. The only problem? Soon no one wants Izzy on the case, including her parents, but she refuses to let it go.

So it isn't so much a study in a good mystery or even a thriller. It's more a study in character, especially in Izzy's character. Izzy is a strange duck. She was a rebellious and unpredictable teenager, but now, as an adult, she has let go of her more rebellious and irresponsible tendencies...except, perhaps, when it comes to men. She's serious about her job as a P.I. but perhaps the families' dysfunctional relationship prevents her from reaching her full potential.

I mean, this is a family full of distrust. People spying on each other, bugging rooms, monitoring phone calls, following each other around town. And Izzy cannot stop herself from doing the same to her own boyfriends. It isn't until her kid sister goes missing that Izzy and her parents realize they will have to put their differences aside and work together.

I feel like I've been hitting the jackpot lately at the library, especially with gems like this and the Stephanie Plum series. I've been looking for something in the thriller/mystery genre...something different, fresh, funny. And The Spellman Files does not disappoint. I am sooooooo very glad there are four more books after this in the series. This was just a light, fun read, and I look forward to more of Izzy's antics.


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Courage

The friends got together tonight for a little dinner, and then we headed over to April's house to give her a gift and to let her know that we are thinking of her. I know I keep talking about her and Cindy, but I cannot help myself. They are just amazing. And hearing April tell us of her boy's last moments here on earth was beautiful.

I was left with a feeling as we went away. That woman has courage. (Long aside here for a moment. Bear with me. It is strange to say "woman" because the whole time I was sitting there, I kept thinking how can this be happening? I mean, in my mind, we are all seventeen and carefree and how can she possibly be the mother of four boys??? It doesn't hurt that she looks just like the girl I knew then. She's so amazing. Did I say that already? Well, it is true. I cannot even tell you how much I hope I can be like her one day.)

Anyway, back to courage. It takes a lot of courage to let him go when she loves him so so much. And I don't think she would ever complain about a day, not a moment, of the sacrifice that went into raising him because she had such faith. In fact, I think it is pretty safe to say she wouldn't have called it a sacrifice at all. The blessing of his life is so much more. She is right! What a blessing to have a child, a spirit of God, a soul like Caleb in her home. I believe with all my heart that he is one of the valiant ones, chosen to come to April because she, too, is one of the valiant. She is one of the best...the best of the best, and it is a privilege to call her a friend.

I am learning, too, that I know little, if anything, of what it means to love unconditionally. We expect so much from those around us. And I think children like Caleb remind us that love should not ever come with the expectation of something in return...tit for tat as they say. It is something to be given freely, and that was what he was able to give to his family. He loved them without any strings attached, and they loved him back in just the same way.

I know Caleb was here for so much longer than anyone expected. But somehow his death is a little more painful because of the sweet, pure and unconditional love that he had for everyone. Words don't do justice to how much love I felt from April. I hope one day I get to experience that kind of love for my own child. I think it might be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, the love of a mother. Oh I hope to experience it for myself.

I Woke Up Today

And I wanted to feel sorry for myself. Not because it is Valentine's day but because I was just feeling sad about not having a job and not having a car. I really really really want to move forward with my life and...it's REALLY starting to get to me. And then I read this from my friend Cindy's blog:

"Would I LOVE to change our circumstances right now? YES YES and YES. But I can't. So I count my blessings. There have been times in my life where I chose not too. I regret it. No good comes from it. So this trial, though the hardest thing I will ever face, will not beat me down. I will count my blessings and try my darndest to always count my blessings even in my darkest hour."

And on that happy note, I am going to say a few things about counting my blessings by way of saying this. I have lots of things to love.

I love Virginia. And I love Alexandria. This particular house is on my "dream house" list. I mean honestly. Just seriously.


Okay, so I love clothes. It's no secret that shopping is one of my faves.


You knew I would have to say baseball...and yes, this is Yankee Stadium. But you can't deny it. that is one amazing stadium.


Chocolate. Enough said.


Snow falling...winter!!! Oh how I wish I was skiing right now. Do you know what the mountains look like right now?


Running on this trail in the fall is, well, spectacular. Fall is my favorite season.


Can you believe how beautiful Black Hawk is? It is my favorite spot on earth. I love it.


Trees...and vacations in Alaska. You have no idea.


These two guys. I do have the most adorable nieces and nephews. Aren't they sweet?


She's a princess firefighter. I just can't stand how cute it all is.


Um, what can we say? The girl loves a bathing suit. She lives in them. And you can't beat the socks and crocs. They complete the ensemble.


She's pretty much the most perfect ballerina. Ever.


All I can say is, shut up, how cute is that? I love watching little kids run! They look like they are certain that they are the fastest thing on the planet.


More cuteness. These two sisters adore each other. And they love their cousin!


Cousins!!!! Aren't cousins your favorite?


I think it's the cowlick in the back. He's delightful!



So that is it. I wish I had pictures of all my friends and all my family, every niece and nephew, every brother, sister, in-law...But I don't have pictures of them all.

Anyway, as Cindy said, feeling sorry for yourself is just a waste of time. Being sad is a waste of time. I'm grateful for what I have. And I am lucky and have so much good in my life.

The Vow

I am a girl, through and through. I have been since I was four years old, and I discovered that I did not, in fact, want to be a boy. Up to that point, I thought that it was more fun to play in the dirt and run around without a shirt because that is what the boys did.

And then one day that stopped, and I discovered that I liked Barbie dolls better than Tonka trucks. I figured out that I wanted to play with my baby dolls. And, probably most importantly, I figured out that I had better keep my shirt on.

And so I went to see this show, and you could say that it is a sappy love fest Valentine's movie because it is. BUT...you know what, you guys? It was better than any chick flick I've seen in a long time. It wasn't unrealistic, you know? That's what I liked about it. A lot of chick flicks are silly and fun, and I like them, but they are unrealistic, and you can only take so much of that nonsense. Only so much, you know?

I'm not going to review it. I'm just saying, I liked this. I actually loved it. And that is that.

A Little Bit of Winter

Do you love snow? I love snow. I think it's the MOST beautiful thing.






I've been wanting a snow storm, and FINALLY!!!! I got one. How can you not love a good snow storm?

More Things I Love

Valentine's Day is almost upon us, and some sad things have happened lately. My friend Cindy Hansen's son has been diagnosed with a brain tumor that is essentially inoperable. You can read about her sweet Atticus here. And then my friend April's son, a little boy who was essential born without a brain, has now died. You can read about little Caleb here.

So probably a title such as the one above is confusing if these sad things have been happening. But you know what I love? I love the way these families have dealt with very hard things.

April, mother to Caleb, has selflessly served her son for seven years. She has done so without complaint and without expectation of praise or honor for her hard work and dedication. She has served him with a happy heart, grateful for the miracle that he was for their family, even when the doctors urged her to abort her pregnancy. She chose to see her son, no matter how he was delivered to her, as a perfect gift for her wonderful family. And indeed he was. He was a blessing to her and to her children, and I think he is a reminder that what we think of as perfect does not even come close to how beautiful perfect really is. I love April's faith in God rather than in man. There is no doubt that for everyone who knows her, her husband, or her family has seen that sort of faith in action. I'm sure her only regret is that they didn't get more time together.

I also love Cindy's example of strength as she watches her sweet boy suffer. She is so strong for him, and she loves him so so much. She does not lay blame on God for his suffering. She has faith that whatever must come will come, and she is grateful for the time they have together now. Her faith in the face of the most trying of circumstances helps me to see that I can overcome my trials and that I can do hard things. I've always known that others had difficult trials, but this particular situation, a mother losing her son, has touched my heart in a way that nothing else has. And because she is maintaining a faithful heart, I know I can, too. The truth? I cannot imagine a trial more difficult than watching your own child die.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love that I know...I KNOW...that Caleb is whole and well now, and that when the time comes, April will have the opportunity to raise him. I know that when Atticus' time comes, if it be too soon, that Cindy will have the same chance to raise her boy and to be with him again, without the pain of radiation and chemo therapy. Both boys will be whole and well.

What a great blessing to know such amazing women. I love them both very very much. Thanks ladies, for showing me what it means to be a faithful, gracious woman of God.

The House at Riverton

Ah, Kate Morton, you are a divine writer. But I am glad to be taking a break from you for a little while.

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, now that I've read all of Morton's novels published to date, I have to say that this was my favorite. I loved all of them, but I think this one was the best thus far.

I suppose that came as a bit of a surprise to me. Usually writers get better with time, although I am not saying that I like her other two novels any less now that I've read her first. I'm not saying that her perfect prose has suffered any at all because it has not. The woman can write, period. In fact, she's probably my favorite modern author now, and that is not so much because she writes a good story (she does, in my opinion) but more because her voice sings off the page. The woman is a poet, pure and simple.

However, I liked this book most because it was less gimmicky and more authentic. The story is told by Grace Bradley, lady's maid to Hannah Hartford. Grace has reached the end of her life, and at ninety-eight she is ready to tell the story of Hannah's secret past, and of course, her own because the two are tangled together. This has all the trappings of The Distant Hours and The Forgotten Garden...a modern protagonist telling the story of an age that has passed. A mystery ensues and things end tragically. I am not really giving anything away here. Morton leaves enough clues, and if you've read her other novels, you know what is coming.

So what do I mean..."less gimmicky, more authentic" anyway? Just this. There are far fewer of the obvious allusions to Gothic romantic literature. The Hartford family story is tragic, but the tragedy is not so, so, SO melodramatic as it is in Morton's subsequent work. For example, insanity seems to be one of Morton's favorite ways to create drama. But here there is no insanity. Rather, the tragedy feels more organic, related to the accepted social mores and events of the time period, such as class separation and World War I, and the loss these families experienced as a result. So that is the first reason I liked this more.

On a side note, It isn't that I don't like Gothic literature because I do. I love it. But at times Gothic conventions can be heavy handed and rather theatrical, and there are aspects of such that I sometimes don't think translate well when written by current authors. Maybe it isn't fair to say that only Charlotte Bronte or Wilkie Collins should be using those conventions? I digress...

Oh, so I also fell in love with the narrator. Grace was the perfect foil for Hannah. Not only that, she felt more a part of the story than the narrators of Morton's other two books. But mostly, I loved Grace's story. Even though she is supposed to be telling us what Hannah did, I liked hearing about her life more. It was her story that left me feeling really sad because she was the one who made the real sacrifices for Hannah. She's a lovely character and the perfect narrator. I think that is because as a narrator, Grace is very staid. And that just served to make the story more believable on the whole.

The ending came, and some of those more dramatic tendencies came out, and of course, there is the twist that you didn't quite see coming, or you did because you are uber smart like that. Either way...a lot less "surprise...gotcha!" in this. Mostly, Morton sets the reader up for the ending, and I think I prefer that method. Moreover, some parts of the story were left a little bit ambiguous in the end, and personally I like some ambiguity. Every last detail doesn't need to be tied up in neat packages with ribbons and bows.

So her next novel is supposed to come out at the end of this year? (Don't quote me on that.) And that's perfect. I've read three of her novels in the past five or six months, and so that is a lot of Kate Morton. Trust me. While her books are very very readable, they aren't light, either. That will give me enough time to cleanse my palate and anticipate something new from her.


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First Time Up

I've often thought of the first day I taught in my own class as a full time teacher. I remember thinking how afraid I would be, but when I got up and started talking, it was a match. I don't get the jitters when I teach. I didn't the first day, and I still don't now.

So some things you know are just a match for you, you know?

And so I've been reading The House at Riverton by Kate Morton. I'm almost finished, and I am really excited to review it. It is her first published novel. I have now read all three of her books...published to date, that is because I think she has another coming out this year...and guess what folks? Her first time up? I think it's her best.

I LOVE it. It's less sensational, a bit quieter. She uses her same formula - the current story of one character learning about or telling the story of a former era. But she uses less of the gimmicks, and so the story feels more believable. I'll go into more detail for the review.

And I guess it just goes to show you that some people are a natural the first time out at certain things. I don't know that I am a Kate Morton when it comes to writing fiction, but reading this gives me hope that I can write something really good the first time out, if I am willing to give everything I have to it.

And I am telling you...this book is sensational.

Oh Sweet and Blessed Spin Class

So I head out to spin class tonight. Just an FYI. Everyone says that spin is so great and such a good work out, and I've been a few times and said to myself. "Meh. Whateves. It was alright, but it wasn't that hard."

Um, I stand corrected. Because tonight was another story. I mean, I was sweating like a dog and working really hard, and at one point the instructor said, "Just go as hard as you can. You can rest when you get home." And so that is what I had to keep telling myself the ENTIRE time. "Go hard. You can rest later. You can rest later. You can rest later." And I was, indeed going as hard and as fast as I could.

So I guess it depends on a few things. One, I think I had the tension thing figured out on my bike, and I was cranking it up high enough to get a work out. But I also think it depends on the instructor, and this particular instructor, he was legit. For real, you guys. He was legit.

Paper Towns

Thought provoking book, if at times frustrating. Still, I do recommend it.

Paper Towns by John Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really can't decide what I think of Paper Towns because I cannot decide what I think of one character - and that particular character is central to the story.

I'll start by saying that I can see why people get on board with John Green. Not only is he an excellent writer, style wise, he knows how to keep a story going, and I have to admit that the plot was pretty compelling, and I read it in about three sittings, so obviously I was into it. Anyway, I would give the writing five stars. It's really good, and my only real beef, aside from some excessive vulgarity, was what came after the climax and during the denouement, which I will come to in a moment.

So here is the rundown. Basically these two kids grow up next to each other. Quentin is your basic boy next door. Sort of nerdy, really nice...an over all good kid. Margo is the popular queen bee, and she rules the social strata of the high school. Then one night, just after midnight, she shows up at Quentin's window, ready to have an adventure. Hijinks ensue. And then the next day, Margo is missing. But she's left some clues behind, and Quentin is determined to follow her trail of crumbs.

Now the story is captivating. But here is my beef. I do not like Margo. The other characters are fine. I'm not sure I love them, but I do like them. However, because I don't like Margo and I ABSOLUTELY. DO. NOT. GET. HER. APPEAL., I was a little put off. Why chase after a girl who does not care one iota, by all clues given, about anyone but herself? We are supposed to believe that her parents are selfish and unconcerned with her well being, but there is just too little evidence of this. A few explanations and one or two actions don't prove to me that they are horrible people.

And then Margo is supposed to be this deep, complicated girl, who cleverly gets revenge on her little minions...the other popular people who inhabit her social realm. But tell me this. Why does a smart, complicated girl surround herself with bimbos and meat heads? And why, most importantly, is she surprised by their bad behavior when she knows perfectly well what sorts of people she has decided to befriend? Smart people know that when they take the risk and pick up the snake, they run the risk of being bitten by the snake. Then...ugh...she acts like it is impossible to extract herself from this toxic environment and the ONLY solution is to run away. She must run away from her horrid parents and her horrid friends and her horrid life. Is she suicidal? Will they find her somewhere dead because she just couldn't take her poor, tortured existence anymore? Oh brother. I'm not making light of suicide, but I almost feel like here, Green isn't quite taking the topic seriously enough because Margo isn't developed adequately for me to buy ANY of this.

Instead, she becomes an egomaniac...no a megalomaniac. And these four really nice kids go chasing after her even though she isn't close to any one of them except, maybe, for Lacey, but it sounds like that relationship is pretty strained. And just FYI, Lacey is supposed to be this really mean girl, but she ends up falling for one of Quentin's nerd compatriots, and she seems really thoughtful, her one flaw being that she always points out Margo's "curves". In the end, I liked Lacey more than I liked Margo...by a long shot. And I really do not think that was Green's intention.

I will also say that it requires some suspension of disbelief because either all the teenagers in this book are stealth ninjas, expert at avoiding any and all adult supervision/consequences when they are off on their exploits or the adults here are just entirely oblivious. I think all teens know how to get away with some shenanigans, but this is a bit much for me.

But here is my real issue with the story. The ending. At the end, the didactic explanation of the outcome through a series of metaphors as expounded upon by two teenagers was...??? You know? I mean, come on. Teenagers are often much more thoughtful and smart that we give them credit for, but this was just a bit too much. Grown adults don't talk this way, let alone know how to cope with a situation as extreme as an eighteen year old running away from home and all that follows. And then to sum up all reasons for such complicated behavior in a few metaphors? Sorry, once again, I don't buy it. Don't get me wrong. The metaphors were beautifully written. They just seemed rather heavy handed.

So why, then, the four stars? It isn't a bad story. It's a great story, if we only look at the way the plot develops. It is a great piece of writing, if we are talking about style alone. Mr. Green does indeed have a way with words. And for those reasons, I really did enjoy the book. I liked it quite a lot. But if you ask me about the characters, they fall short of real enough for me to buy their actions, most especially Margo. And even though this story is told through the eyes of Quentin, it is ultimately her story. I did not like her at all.

I will say this. It made me think...a lot. And I'm still thinking about it. A lot. So I do recommend it. And maybe you will like Margo or feel like you understand her. Me...not so much.


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