Not all Vampire Series are created equal

Just finished Last Sacrifice, the final book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. Overall, I'm happy with how the series wrapped up. It was bittersweet to have the series end, but I love it when an author finishes strong, rather than dragging out a series for too long. So kudos to you Richelle Mead! That being said...I see the potential for several spin-off series, and I would not be upset if this were to happen. I really loved this series, I feel that they were well-written and seriously? Great cover art! I really cared about the characters and found myself enjoying each book. If you are on Vampire overload, I totally understand, but if you are willing to give Vamps another chance, this is the series to read.

Opening Day Fever!

It's official. I love Michael Lewis. Who, you might ask? Michael Lewis, the genius author of The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, Moneyball: the Art of Winning an Unfair Game and several other titles which I am sure are amazing. I finally read Moneyball, it had been on my "to-read" list since I read The Blind Side a few years ago and loved it. Now, I am a big sports fan, and loyal to my hometown teams, win or lose, but I'm nowhere near a sports fanatic or expert. I was a little apprehensive about reading The Blind Side, but Lewis made it painless to read and understand more about the game of football, without being didactic and boring. Moneyball did the same for baseball. It was fascinating to get a look at the back end of baseball. The scouting, coaching, wheeling & dealing, trading, even the statistics. There were a few times in the book where the sections on statistics almost got the better of me, but they were peppered with stories and anecdotes that kept me reading.

Moneyball focuses on the story of the Oakland A's and their GM Billy Beane. Love or hate him & his methods, they are fascinating to read about. The Oakland A's became one of the best teams in baseball with one of the lowest payrolls, and this book examines this phenomenon in great detail. Moneyball is also being made into a movie starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. If the pre-season isn't enough for you, pick up this book and read it while you're waiting for Opening Day. GO SOX!!!!

Love Those Gallagher Girls!

So, I finished Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter a few days ago. It's the fourth book in the Gallagher Girls series, and it does not disappoint! This one might actually be my favorite since the first book. It had a ton of action and a cliffhanger ending. If you're looking for a fun series with action, adventure, suspense and a little mystery, look no further. Check the Gallagher Girls out today!

The Last Wolf of Ireland...

...broke my heart. It was the Middle School Book Club selection for this month, and it was so sad. At first glance, it seems deceptively simple; a story about a boy and his friends trying to save the last wolf of Ireland. However, this was so much more. Some of the descriptions of what happened to the wolves were graphic and brutal, but not gratuitous, they were just very real and heartbreaking. This book makes me want to do more research about the wolves in Ireland, and see if it's true, that they were all driven out. The author, Elona Malterre also gives a realistic portrayal of what life was like when Ireland was under English rule (the setting of this book was in Northern Ireland in 1786). It was interesting to learn that the English didn't want children in Ireland to go to school, and Catholic services were banned. It was a very tough time for the people of Northern Ireland. While this book is Historical Fiction, it certainly has a ring of truth to it and should inspire readers to do more research on the history of both the people and wolves of Ireland.

Piece of My Heart

I just finished Janis Joplin: Rise up Singing by Ann Angel. I was really excited when I found this book because I have always loved Janis Joplin. It was a quick read, but jam-packed with facts, stories, pictures and more. This book is perfect whether you're a fan or just want to learn more about Janis or the music and culture of the 60's & 70's. Janis died much too young, luckily her legacy lives on in books like this one.

Reba gets Classy (kind of)

The February selection for one of my book clubs was Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, chosen in honor of Black History Month. I had never read this Classic of American Literature, and even though I just finished it in March, I feel like it was fitting, as March is Women's History Month, and this book ties into both themes. I enjoyed reading this novel, especially because of  the main character Janie. She was such an interesting and strong heroine, and it was fascinating to watch her character grow and develop throughout the novel.  

 

There were times when it was hard for me to read the dialect portions of the text. I almost needed to slow down and read them aloud, but they were such a fascinating contrast with the regular prose that it managed to keep my interest. I have to admit though, that I was also fascinated by the life of Zora Neale Hurston, and I encourage everyone to research a little bit about her life. In the 1930's, Hurston was a major literary figure in the Harlem Renaissance, and while many loved her works, just as many hated that she wrote in the style that she did. Richard Wright for one, felt that she was hurting black advancement and playing into stereotypes. However, today, most people view her writing as enlightening, powerful and real; they feel that she showed the world how life really was for black women. Many high schools read this book as part of the curriculum, but if your school doesn't, you should read it on your own and learn a little more about an important slice of American History.  

Road Trip!

I think I may have already written this (maybe when I was discussing Amy & Roger's Epic Detour-loved that book BTW!), but I am such a huge fan of Road Trips. And, by extension, a huge fan of Road Trip books. So, I just finished The Miles Between by Mary Pearson, and I really liked it. The main character Destiny, has been shuffled from boarding school to boarding school since she was seven (she's now turning seventeen) and never lets herself get close to anyone. Then, on October 19th (normally a very bad day for Destiny) she makes a wish to have just "one fair day" where the good guys win and everything goes right. What follows is a beautifully written story about four teenagers who become friends (and maybe more!)during one very memorable road trip. This quick and fun read has touches of magical realism, and packs an emotional punch. I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried a little towards the end, I love it when I'm so vested in a book that it can make me cry. So bottom line-yes! I definitely recommend this book!  

At a Loss....

Finished The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World. And, I find that I am mystified. I really have no idea how to put all of my thoughts into words. My feelings about this book are not cohesive at all. Before I try to make sense of the, let me share a synopsis of the book, from the publisher;

Amedeo Kaplan dreams of discovering something -- some treasure no one realizes is there until he finds it. And he would like to discover a true friend to share this with. Improbably, he finds the friend in aloof, edgy William Wilcox. And even more improbably, he finds his treasure among the memorabilia in the house of his eccentric neighbor, Mrs. Zender. But Amedeo and William find more than treasure -- they find a story that links a sketch, a young boy's life, an old man's reminiscence, and a painful secret dating back to the outrages of Nazi Germany. And they discover unexpected truths about art, friendship, history, heroism, and the mysteries of the human heart. 

 OK, here we go. First of all, this is an E.L. Konigsburg book, so I was certain to like it. She is one of my all-time favorite writers, but this book kind of fell flat for me. I think that my biggest problem with this book was the targeted age group. This is a "Juvenile" book and the protagonists are two sixth-graders. But really? Not likely. I don't know any sixth graders who talk or act like Amedo (short for Amedeo) and William, never mind two in one small town. Both Amedo & William seemed more like little adults than adolescent boys. I know that in the past, E.L. Konigsburg has written other characters like this, very mature for their ages, but it really struck me this time as being contrived and artificial. I didn't feel like I could identify or empathize with either of these characters.

Then there was the subject matter and language. There was a good amount of suggestive talk and sexual innuendo, especially by Mrs. Zender, the former Opera star. Then there were the themes of Nazi persecution of not only the Jewish people, but homosexuals and "degenerate" art. Please don't get me wrong. I do not object to these topics being written about or discussed, I just wonder if the average middle-schooler would have the maturity to embrace and understand everything that is going on in this book. I feel that this should have been published as a Young Adult novel, rather than a Children's book. I would recommend this to older readers, who would like to know more about Modern Art, Opera and World War II.

Mysteriously Hunted

Alright, here we go. House of Night, Book 5; done. This series is slowly killing me. I really like the story & the plot, but I hate the way it's written. I almost never listen to the audio version of a book before reading it at least once, but in this case, I think I'll make the exception. There are three more books left in the series, and I don't think I want to waste valuable reading time on them, but I would like to see how it all wraps up.

Speaking of audibooks, I just finished listening to Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti. I had read it a few years ago, loved it, and I always recommend it to people. So, upon "rereading" it, do I still love it? I do. I still think it's a really good story, I especially love the multi-generational characters and their interactions with each other. I think that's the real heart and strength of the story. Ruby's relationship with Travis is portrayed very realistically, and she's definitely a character that you can identify with. The only real flaw is the possibility that parts of the book will quickly become dated, without the use of cellphones, texting and social networking. However, this can be quite refreshing. I still highly recommend this book!

 

And the mystery. I just started The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World by E.L. Konigsburg. I love, love, love E.L. Konigsburg, and I'm intrigued by the title, so I'm super-psyched to read this book.