Book Review: Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication date: January 2012
Pages: 288
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review
Series: Companion novel to Austenland

When Charlotte Kinder finds herself divorced and uncertain what do to next, she decides to take a vacation to Austenland - a place where she can become someone else and live in the world of Jane Austen. But when a mystery crops up during her time there, she is not sure all of it is pretend. Can she figure out the real from the fake before it is too late?

Things I Liked:
I am simply in love with Shannon Hale's writing.  She could make something beautiful or interesting or funny out of the most drab or boring topic (not that this book is drab or boring in plot).  I'd read a book on any topic written by her.  So, since I'm obviously a fan, I have to admit I truly enjoyed this book.  I loved the characters, particularly Charlotte as a woman trying to figure out her place in a world thrown upside down and backwards.  She was vulnerable, but strong and the parts where she starts to fight back were my favorites.  The mystery was fairly interesting and kept me wondering (though mystery fans probably had it figured out right away) and the whole Gothic feel and nod to Northanger Abbey made it so fun.  I laughed and shivered and then laughed again all the way through.  Delightful!

Things I Didn't Like:
I think it will be enjoyed more by people who may be experiencing some of the same issues that Charlotte and even Miss Charming did - a messy divorce or just feeling undesirable.  But it can be enjoyed by many other kinds of folks too, since I certainly did.  And the mystery wasn't exactly thrilling, but more just there to allow awesome character interactions.  Definitely not my favorite Shannon Hale book, but still pretty fun to read.

Read-alikes:
Can be enjoyed on its own, but don't skip the delight that is Austenland
I don't know, I don't read a lot of cozy mysteries or chick lit or even Austen-inspired stuff

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: ! 
a few here and there

mrg-factor: X 
implied, not on page

v-factor: -> 
a little bit, nothing gory

Overall rating: ****

What's your favorite Shannon Hale? Or your go-to-for-the-writing author?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: October 2011
Pages: 336
Source: Library
For: Fun (and then for Cybils)

Solveig and her siblings are sent for their own safety to a small frozen fjord while their father the king goes off to war.  But this isolated place may not be as safe as they first imagined as the small group of servants and warriors appears to be harboring a traitor.  Can they figure out who it is before it's too late?

Things I Liked:
I read this one at the very end of 2011 and you probably don't remember it was one of my favorites of the year.  The whole experience of reading this book blew me away (or more accurately entranced me).  The book is very atmospheric.  I loved how the characters are in this claustrophobic icy prison and the tension is slowly building to find out who among them is the traitor.  Every detail on every page seemed to draw you into this place of unimaginable cold and mounting fear and mistrust. I fell in love with Solveig and the things she learns and the ways she grows up.  Not your usual heroine, she is a plain middle child with no great purpose in life.  It is during this winter imprisonment that she begins to find a place and grow and accept who she is and what she can do.  I love her growth over the novel.  The whole story is constructed so carefully and it comes together so well that I almost never wanted them to leave their frozen prison.  An absolute gem for me!  Some good quotes:

Can your sword grant immortality?  Because my voice can.  You would defend the king's body, an honorable endeavor, but I would defend his legend.  Which do you think will outlast the other, Captain? p 19

A story is not a thing.  The question you must ask is what a story has the power to do.  The truth of something you do is very different from the truth of something you know.  p 64

Stories give you a way to see things.  A way to understand the events of your life.  Even if you don't realize it while you're hearing the tale. p173

The weeks are relentless.  The days are stretching, lengthening, as though someone is spinning the gray wool of winter-light into golden thread.  p 183

Things I Didn't Like:
I honestly can't remember anything I didn't like about this book.  I know some of my fellow Cybils panelists thought there were too many characters to keep track of, but it didn't bothered me.  It might move a bit slowly for some as well, but I didn't notice that either.  I just loved this one through and through!

Read-alikes:
The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none 

mrg-factor: X 
maybe a bit implied, nothing on page

v-factor: ->-> 
with berserkers, what do you expect?

Overall rating: ***** 

What book do you adore that seems to get very little attention?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Mini Reviews 5: (Mostly) Audio Fun

Here we are again! I'm starting to love these minis. They are lots of fun to write and I feel less pressure when I do write them. Three of the five were audiobooks, so I figured the title was (mostly) accurate. Enjoy!


In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce
Publisher: Various
Publication date: 1990
Pages: 256
Source: Audiobook from Library
For: Fun
Series: Song of the Lioness, Book 2

Alanna's further adventures, as squire to Prince Jonathan, become even more dangerous as she continues to masquerade as a boy.  A dangerous and powerful magician is out to get not only her but those she cares about.

My thoughts: I loved watching Alanna grow into herself, accept herself as a woman, and learn to love.  She is still the same person, which I think is fabulous, but she has new parts to herself and has grown even more.  I thought it covered a lot of time in a very short book.  Which isn't bad, but it just seems like a lot happens and happens quickly.  I was also rather surprised at the direction it took. I figured the stuff that happened at the end would only come at the end of the entire series.  I'm happy to be wrong and look forward to seeing where the next books take me!  This was another audiobook and I still love the narrator.  She portrays Alanna so well and does a few accents to help me keep the characters separate.  I love the characters and the setting and just everything about this series.  This is my kind of story.  
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The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley, adapted by Yuri Rasovsky
Publisher: Zorro Productions and Blackstone Audio
Publication date: April 2011
Source: Audiobook won from Devourer of Books
For: Fun
Series: There are lots of Zorro books

Don Diego, a foolish and weak but rich young man, is being forced into taking a wife by his father.  He attempts to woo the smart and independent Lolita Pulido.  But her heart belongs to the dashing, daring, brave Zorro, a masked menace to the corrupt officials in the town. 

My thoughts: This was a good old fashioned, swashbuckling story.  I love Zorro stories (though I've never read one, so I'm basing it on the movie), but this one was just perfect, complete with do-gooder outlaw, beautiful lady, and corrupt leaders.  While the story is a bit simplistic, black and white, and just plain obvious, I think it is meant to be that way.  And it still is charming.  I really liked the full cast narration (Val Kilmer was not hard to listen to).  The accents and the voices and the sound effects made the story truly come to life. 
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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Publisher: Various
Publication date: 1962
Pages: 280
Source: audiobook from the library
For: Reread (for 50th Anniversary post)
Series: A Wrinkle in Time Quartet, Book 1

Meg does not fit in anywhere in her life, at school and even at home.  She's always fighting people and in trouble.  But when she gets a chance to find her father who's disappeared and to travel with some unusual new friends, she jumps at the chance.  And life will never be the same for her and her family.

My thoughts: I've already talked about much that I liked in my post about sharing this book.  But, I love the characters and the epic journey feel of the story.  I loved how broad and how huge its scope is - travel in space and how time and science play a huge part of it.  But I also love the religious aspects.  I know many people don't, but I am a religious person and found those parts added a layer and meaning to the book that resonated with me.  And yet, the book is still very strange, odd, and confusing even.  I wish I'd read it as a child.  My biggest complaint on this reread (er, relisten?) was that it was read by the author.  While this added another aspect of passion and meaning, I found her voice very annoying.  And I absolutely loathed Mrs. Which's voice, which had a strange echoing effect that bothered me to no end.  Definitely listen to one not narrated by the author.  She wrote interesting books, but she was not a good narrator.
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Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication date: October 2011
Pages: 272
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review

Izzie is content with her life, she has a sweet boyfriend and a great best friend.  But life gets turned upside down when an interesting new guy, Tristan, shows up and a mix up in magical potions leaves her feeling confused.  Even more distressing is the strange creatures that begin stalking Izzie.  Will she figure out her feelings for Mark and Tris or will she be destroyed by monsters before she gets the chance?

My thoughts:
To be honest, I've seen nothing but loathing surrounding this book. Perhaps it was best that I had low expectations.  I liked how Izzie fought the idea of being attracted to someone based only on some stupid potion.  She didn't want to have that choice taken from her, but she was also a huge jerk both to Mark and Tristan.  Izzie had some interesting things about her, but much of her was just annoying.  I was glad that she changed and grew in many ways over the course of the book, but I just didn't enjoy reading it.  None of the parts seemed to mix together well.  It felt disjointed like its parts didn't quite fit together.  And I was disappointed that it seemed to lack Harrison's unique style and writing.  I couldn't bring myself to care about the characters.  Tris and Mark were just not interesting.  The quick exchanging of affections that occurs is unreal (though possibly intentional).  The whole thing felt like it was unpolished (mind you, it was an ARC, but even for an ARC, it felt that way).  The bones of the original story were there and fairly interesting, but it just didn't play out well.
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Frost by Marianna Baer
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication date: September 2011
Pages: 400
Source: Library
For: Fun
Series:

When Leena finds out she has a new roommate foisted on her during senior year, she is anything but happy.  But when it turns out to be Celeste, she is livid.  Celeste is eccentric, loud, complaining.  And Leena was sure this year would be perfect, since she and her friends are staying in Frost House, an adorable little house set off by itself in the woods.  But when strange unnerving things begin to happen to Celeste, Leena may discover there is more going on at Frost House than she could have imagined.  Or did she imagine it?

My thoughts: This book was very, very creepy.  The atmosphere, the small details all building on one another, all these elements made the whole thing completely horrifying (as it was supposed to).  I also really liked the teenage-ness of the characters, especially, the slow building picture of what Leena really is like, what she does.  She isn't even sure who she is herself.  There is also a Gothic undertone to the whole story that made it even more spooky and thrilling.  I was sufficiently terrified into avoiding my closet for a time.  And I have to admit, it is definitely not my kind of book.  I don't like being freaked out, and I don't like disturbing stories.  It was just not the kind of book I usually enjoy and not one I recommend, unless this is your kind of story.  But, it's a great psychological thriller for those aching to be terrorized by the mind.

Any thoughts on these books?

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Book Review: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication date: April 2007
Pages: 560
Source: Library
For: Book Group

Nell was abandoned on a ship to Australia when she was only a little girl.  Found by the dockmaster with only some clothes and a book of fairy tales, she remains ignorant of her past until he tells her on her twenty-first birthday.  This launches Nell on a quest to find out about her real parents, a journey that lasts through decades and into her granddaughter's life after Nell's death.  Will they ever know the truth of their past?

Things I Liked:
This was one of those books that intrigues you with family mysteries.  I was really interested in the family history and the processes Nell and Cassandra took to find out about their family.  I must admit, though, that I was more interested in reading the first hand stories of Eliza and Rose than in Nell or Cassandra.  The historical details and the crazy family secrets drew me in more than the other stories.  I also really enjoyed the fairy tale aspect - several stories weaving in and out.  I thought the Frances Hodgson Burnett detail was fun too, what with a bit of secret garden going on.  A complex and interesting story from beginning to end.  I liked this detail:

He was a scribble of a man.  Frail and fine and stooped from a knot in the center of his knobbled back.  Beige slacks with grease spots clung to the marbles of his knees, twiglike ankles rose stoically from oversized shoes, and tufts of white floss sprouted from various fertile spots on an otherwise smooth scalp.  He looked like a character from a children's story.  A fairy story.  p 101

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit that about 1/3 of the way in, I had already figured Nell's history out.  Perhaps not to the precise details, but I knew a few of the key facts.  That made it slightly less interesting for me, not to mention I wanted to smack Nell and Cassandra for being so blind.  I did not like how much the story jumped around, what with flashbacks right in the middle of backstories during current stories.  I don't mind duel history viewpoints, but when they jump so much, I find it distracting.  There were only a few places in the book that made me want to stop reading because of it, though.  A good story, but not one of my favorites.

Read-alikes:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman
A little The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett tie-in too

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
scattered here and there, nothing too strong

mrg-factor: X
a bit of implied stuff, not much on page

v-factor: -> 
just a little bit

Overall rating: *** 

Do you find yourself liking fewer adult books if you usually read YA or does it still have a draw for you?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity by Kim Harrington
Publisher: Point
Publication date: March 2011
ISBN: 9780545230506
Source: Library

 

Clarity and her family have always been the freaks in town - a family of psychics or other strange abilities.  Clare's ability lets her see things other people don't, just by touching objects.  But when a murder in town points to her brother as the main suspect, she must use her ability to find out the truth and protect him.  But will she be able to?

Things I Liked:
This was a fun, somewhat unusual paranormal story!  I was rather happy that the main focus of the book was not the romance (though I love a good romance).  Instead, the mystery takes the front seat of the book and that made it more enjoyable to me.  There was less focus on the hot boys and how much she'd like to kiss them (there was some kissing though).  I liked that Clarity and her family were open about their abilities and even made a living off of them.  It was nice not to have the whole secretive paranormal stuff.  All of this is to say that it was unique enough to keep me reading despite the general distaste I have for paranormal lately.  Also, the mystery, while not complex or terribly hard to figure out, was still intriguing.  True mystery fans will probably be bored, but those who like a little bit here and there will enjoy it. 

Things I Didn't Like:
I guess I don't have anything really specific that I didn't like, just that it didn't wow me much.  I think the characters are a bit flat and forgettable, despite some of their quirks.  While I liked Justin for being both vulnerable and sweet, he was a little annoying as well.  The mystery was, as I mentioned, rather simplistic but I was entertained while reading.

Read-alikes:
Paranormalcy and Supernaturally by Kiersten White
The Mark by Jen Nadol

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
scattered throughout

mrg-factor: X
mentioned but not described

v-factor: ->->
some gruesome things

Overall rating: ***

What do you think of books that you wish you liked more, but just couldn't?

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Retro Friday Review & Classics Circuit Tour: The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

Doing double duty today with the Classics Circuit Tour of Gothic Lit and a Retro Friday review:

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Angie of Angieville and "focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc."

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
Publisher: Various
Publication date: 1794
ISBN: Various
Source: Library

Emily has lived an ideal life with her loving parents, until sorrow is thrust upon her when first one and then the other parent dies. Left alone in the care of an unfeeling aunt, she soon finds herself in the power of the merciless man her aunt marries. Shut away in the gloomy and haunted castle of Udolpho, she suffers afflictions of all kinds. Will she escape from her wicked uncle and the unwholesome company he keeps?

Things I Liked:
This is my first experience with a serious Gothic book (ok, I read Frankenstein and Northanger Abbey, but I'm excluding those).  I admit it was hard getting back into reading a classic, since I'm used to less archaic language.  What totally surprised me was just how creepy the story was!  When it finally got to the interesting stuff (see below for more on that) I was completely enthralled and creeped out!  No wonder young ladies read these with abandon.  All the dreadful and mysterious and unearthly things that could possibly happen to one heroine do.  I really wanted to read this in conjunction with Northanger Abbey, but ran out of time.  But I could see why if Cathy was reading all these Gothic romances she might start imagining and suspecting everyone around her.  It was lurid and disturbing and completely not what I expected.  Which made it quite an enjoyable Halloween read!

Things I Didn't Like:
As I mentioned above, the book really had a slow beginning.  If I hadn't been reading it for the Classics Tour, I'd have given up, which would have been a shame.  But it was about 150-200 pages in before I finally became interested in what was happening.  Enough with descriptions of pastoral scenes and natural beauty!  The story also kind of jumped around weirdly in places, randomly taking us to other characters very briefly to see what they did.  It is definitely a book to be enjoyed by those who aren't daunted by archaic phrasing and pages of description.  A nice abridged version would be great, or even a good movie version!

Read-alikes:

Definitely Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Anything else by Ann Radcliffe

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
perhaps one or two

mrg-factor: none
only some obliquely implied stuff

v-factor: ->
it has a touch of some disturbing stuff

Overall rating: ***

Thoughts on Gothic lit or this book in particular?

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Retro Friday Book Review: The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Angie of Angieville and "focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc." 

The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Publication date: 2006
ISBN: 9780743298032
Source: Library

 

When the mysterious Vida Winter, a famous but secretive author, sends Margaret Lea an invitation to write her biography, Lea is astounded.  Not only is Miss Winter a recluse, but she is also famous for her wild stories about her past, none of which are true.  But she accepts and enters a world where Miss Winter brings to life the horrible and twisted past of her family's secrets.  Piece by piece, Lea is given a view of a terrible childhood filled with dread and remorse.  Can Lea trust what Miss Winter is telling her or is she being led astray as others have before her?

Things I Liked:
I loved the feel of the book - the creepy and twisted and weird story line and how it unraveled oh so slowly.  I adored the bookish elements of it - how it was about a writer and how books seemed to play such an integral part of the story.  It felt a lot like some of my favorite classic books - Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Rebecca - with its Gothic feel and spooky, disturbing mystery.  It also kept reminding me of a Dickens novel with all the different characters whose lives are intertwined in unknown ways.  Definitely worth all of the time it takes to read and all of the praise people have given it (why ever didn't I read it sooner).  The characters are so interesting and you simply  have to know what they will do next.  And that ending really took me by surprise!

Things I Didn't Like:
I admit I was a bit tired of Miss Winters' hidden and oblique statements by the end.  I just wanted her to get it out.  Perhaps that is how the reader is supposed to feel, though.  Also, like some Gothic novels, the plot can be a little ridiculous and unbelievable at times.  That's part of their charm for me!  It definitely didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Read-alikes:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some, but not too many

mrg-factor: X
a very short section and some scattered references, but nothing explicit

v-factor: ->->
more of disturbing stuff than downright violence

Overall rating: *****

I've seen varying opinions on this one. What's yours?

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Book Review: The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: March 2010
ISBN: 9780385343459
Source: Library

 

Flavia de Luce is at it again.  This time, when a famous puppeteer and his assistant end up in Bishop's Lacey, she befriends the odd pair.  Rupert is a short but charismatic fellow with a limp and Nialla is his beaten down assistant.  When a tragedy strikes, Flavia is compelled to find out who could have wanted the person dead and how that death relates to one five years ago.  What she finds leads her to some strange and complex discoveries that might put her in danger.

Things I Liked:
I still simply adore Flavia.  Her spunky and still quite innocent take on things is so refreshing that I plowed right through this book.  I especially love the ongoing battle she has with her older sisters - her plotting and planning are so entertaining.  The many odd and ridiculous characters Bradley creates just bring the book to life - a menagerie of strange people seem to populate Bishop's Lacey - but they make for lively and interesting characters.  The story is also quite intriguing with lots of clues, but I still had absolutely no idea what the ending would be or who dunnit (which could be from my inexperience with mysteries).  So entertaining and fun.  Favorite parts:

It was after all Cynthia, with her rodent features, who had once caught me teetering tiptoe on the altar of St. Tancred's, using one of Father's straight razors to scrape a sample of blue zafre from a medieval stained-glass window...I was simply dying to analyze the stuff in my laboratory to determine how successful its makers had been in the essential step of freeing it of iron.  Cynthia had seized me, upended me, and spanked me on the spot, making what I thought to be an unfair use of a nearby copy of Hymns Ancient and Modern (Standard Edition). p 31

Eleven-year-olds are supposed to be unreliable.  We're past the age of being poppets: the age where people bend over and poke us in the tum with their fingers and make idiotic noises that sound like "boof-boof" - just the thought of which is enough to make me bring up my Bovril.  And yet we're still not at the age where anyone ever mistakes us for a grown-up.  The fact is, we're invisible - except when we choose not to be. p 112

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever," the poet Keats had once written - or so Daffy had told me.  There couldn't be a shred of doubt that Keats had written the line while contemplating a Kipp's apparatus: a device used to extract the gas resulting from a chemical reaction. p 173

Things I Didn't Like:
I was more bothered by Flavia's occasional chemistry explanations this time around.  Sometimes they would be so technical and boring that I'd skip them (and I usually like a bit of science in my stories).  Still, they are never too long and easily skimmed or skipped if desired.  It didn't much detract from my overall enjoyment of the story and of Flavia.

Read-alikes:
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe one or two

mrg-factor: X
a bit implied

v-factor: ->->
there is, after all, a murder

Overall rating: *****

What do you think of adult books with child protagonists? Why do you think writers use them for adult books and not just write a kids book?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Publisher: Pantheon
Publication date: November 2005
ISBN: 9780307456625
Source: Library (book club)

Precious Ramotse is determined to open a detective agency with the money her father left her.  Once the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is open and running, she finds herself caught up with the lives and struggles of her people - men masquerading as fathers, wayward husbands, and especially one missing child.

Things I Liked:
We read this for one of my book groups, and the ladies fell in love with Precious and also Mr. Matekoni.  It was different reading for all of us, but we loved it.  What I thought was so interesting, was Precious' ideas about Africa - how much she loved her country and wanted some things to change, but some things to stay the same.  I feel that way about my hometown and country as well.  The mysteries were in episodes rather than the usual one main mystery plot.  They were also a lot gentler in nature than most mystery books I've read: no seriously violent crimes and dead bodies.  Maybe that's a reflection of her community.  It was a fun book with a lovable main character and some interesting stories to keep you reading.

Things I Didn't Like:
We all thought it was a bit slow.  In the beginning, it was a little hard to get into.  There was lots of information about Precious' father and her cousin who raised her.  We talked about why the information was included and decided it was probably to help us get a full picture of why Precious is the way she is.  Also, when she was solving mysteries it was interesting, but in between, many of us got a bit bored.  A unique and fun mystery series that I'd like to read more of.

Read-alikes:
She talks about Agatha Christie mysteries a lot
Reminded me of Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
very few

mrg-factor: X
nothing too descriptive

v-factor: ->
some domestic violence, mainly

Overall rating: ***

Have you read this series? What do you think?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Agency 2: The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee

The Agency 2: The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee
Publisher: Candlewick
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780763649685
Source: Library

When a body is found near a tower at a construction site, the Agency takes a hand in finding out what happened.  Mary goes deep undercover as Mark, an errand boy on the site.  She will find out just how difficult it is to hide who she is and what she is from the observant people at the site and at her makeshift housing.  Will she be able to find out what happened and still manage to maintain her disguise?

Things I Liked:
I still love Mary.  She's smart and spunky, but also still a woman, even if she is in disguise.  The relationship between her and James is really interesting - dynamic and changing and yet with so much potential.  I'm dying to read what happens next.  Really, the mystery kept me intrigued as well.  I wasn't entirely sure what was going on and who was doing what, but the suspense was good.  I'm quickly becoming a mystery fan because of this series.  Favorite quotes: 

But the most difficult part of Mark's life was not labor or filth or hunger.  What Mary found grueling was the sense that Mark would never get ahead, never gain a rest, never be at ease.  His meager wages bought him just enough food and sleep to survive.  There was no possibility of saving money and thus no hope for any sort of change or rest. p 132

It was an enormous, accidental tenement - a pair of houses that seemed to have fallen into each other and thus been prevented from collapsing.  One door was boarded over, and none of the ground-floor windows was intact. p 278

Things I Didn't Like:
Some of the ending was a little confusing - after all that build-up, I was hoping for a bit more explanation of people's motivations and involvement.  But, I wasn't disappointed in the overall story.

Read-alikes:
The Agency 1: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee
The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Reeve

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few here and there

mrg-factor: X
mostly just "scandalous" talk

v-factor: ->
a few people get beaten and there is a body (of course)

Overall rating: **** 

What series changes your mind about a genre?

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Book Review: Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Publication date: June 2010
ISBN: 9781423128205
Source: Library

Cammie was not prepared to face the dangers of being a real-life spy in her junior year at school.  But, when a frightening incident in London reveals a trusted friend as a double agent, she must face the facts that she doesn't know who to trust anymore.  Being under constant surveillance takes its toll on her desire to hide, but she must find out just why she's being targeted, before its too late.

Things I Liked:
These books are always good for a little spy action mixed with teenage girl fun and a dash of humor.  I love reading them, essentially, because they are so fun and fluffy.  I have been really impressed, though, that Carter has managed to bring us around to serious issues in this book.  She developed a story line that came out in later books that I certainly didn't notice in the first seemingly-fluffy books.  They have a depth now that makes them even more interesting to me.  At the end of this one, I was begging for more action.  Here's a few of my favorite parts:

I wanted her to stop looking at me as a spy and start talking to me as a girl, but Gallagher Girls are only exceptional because we're both - all the time.  p 133

In the clandestine services, nothing ever happens quickly (except when it does).  Nothing is ever, ever easy (except when it is).  And, most of all, nothing ever goes perfectly according to plan (except in the movies). p 161

It is a little-known fact about covert operations that you will spend a lot of time with people you can't really trust.  They many be traitors and liars.  We call them assets or informants.  But mostly, in those days, I called him Zach. p 212

Things I Didn't Like:
If you manage to suspend your disbelief for the reading, it is really fun.  If you can't, it becomes ridiculously unbelievable.  Also, the spy/teenage girl jokes can wear a little thin.  I recommend reading only one of these books at a time.

Read-alikes:
Read the other books in the Gallagher Girls series first
Heist Society by Ally Carter is also similar in style, obviously

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none
just kissing

v-factor: ->
a few minor incidents, surprisingly, since they're in constant peril

Overall rating: ****

What do you read for fluffy fun?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: May 2008
ISBN: 9780316036733
Source: Library (audio download)

 

The Mysterious Benedict Society are all together for a fun reunion, but things don't turn out quite how they expected.  When the discover that Mr. Benedict has been kidnapped, they must follow his trail of clues to find out where he is.  But along the way, they will fight off ten men and the other goons who work for Mr. Curtain.  Will they find Mr. Benedict before it's too late for him and for themselves?

Things I Liked:
It is a complex, mysterious, and very exciting story.  I love how each of the characters is unique and has particular characteristics that make them all essential to their quest.  It had lots of twists and turns and plenty of action that kept me listening and wondering what these remarkable kids would do next.  A fun and smart adventure for kids not afraid of a longer and more complex story.

Things I Didn't Like:
I think it dragged on a little too long for me.  I listened to this one on audio, so that might have contributed to it, but it took me forever.  Not to mention, I did not really like the narrator.  He was a older man with a scratchy voice that wasn't particularly suited to the children in the story.  I'll definitely be reading the next one instead of listening.  I am not sure how much appeal this series will have for kids, but I think an older tween who can invest the time and effort into a chunky text will love them.

Read-alikes:
Read the first book, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
A bit like the Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some frightening things and a little violence

Overall rating: ***

Do you find it easier to stop listening to an audiobook or to stop reading a book when you aren't into it? (I tend to have a hard time with both, apparently.)

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: I So Don't Do Makeup by Barrie Summy

I So Don't Do Makeup by Barrie Summy
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication date: May 2010
ISBN: 9780385737883
Source: review copy provided by publicist

 

Sherlock Holmes Baldwin (aka Sherry) is becoming an old hand at solving mysteries.  When she and her friends discover a plot to put their new favorite makeup store out of business, she decides to use her new skills to find the culprit.  She even enlists the help of her ghost mother, who works for a ghost detective agency.  But, things don't run quite as smoothly as she'd like and she just might end up making a bigger mess of things than before. 

Things I Liked:
This was a fun, light, and fluffy read.  I enjoyed having something quick and entertaining to read between more dense matter.  It was fun to follow the fairly straight-forward plot of this mystery.  While there are plenty of red herrings and predictable points in the story, it is sure to entertain those tween girls looking for a new mystery series starring someone a little more up-to-date than Nancy Drew.  A cell-phone wielding, makeup wearing, purse shopping kind of girl they might even relate to.

Things I Didn't Like:
Again, pretty predictable in plot, and rather mindless in terms of anything deeper than what color of eyeshadow to wear.  But, pretty fun all the same.

Read-alikes:
Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden fans might like this series
I So Don't Do Mysteries and I So Don't Do Spooky by Barrie Summy

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none
light kissing and hand holding

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

What do you read for a little fluffy pleasure?

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley
Publisher: Bantam
Publication date: April 2009
ISBN: 9780385343497
Source: Library

 

Flavia de Luce is in a perpetual rivalry with her two older sisters, Ophelia and Daphne.  Fortunately, she has a passion for chemistry which makes revenge something delightfully sweet any time she wants to cook up a little poison.  But, when a body finds its way into her family's garden, mysteriously dead and unfortunately implicating her father, Flavia must use all her skills, not just chemistry-related, to solve the crime and protect her father. 

Today's BBAW topic is Unexpected Treasure, and I have to tell you, this is perfect.  My review today is proof that bloggers have influence (even bloggers that are not Angie).  I have never been a big fan of newly released adult titles, especially not mystery titles (let's be honest, most of what I review is young adult and non-mystery).  I always feel like I have to wait and wait until I've heard enough good about them before I'll pick them up.  But, even then, I don't remember any other adult mysteries I've read.  I'm not sure if I just avoided them altogether because I had so many other favorites, or because of some unconscious decision.  Either way, this book was not on my radar.  Until it kept showing up all over the place, with people adoring and praising it to the skies.  I do not even remember which review finally pushed me over the edge, but I am oh so glad I finally caved.

Things I Liked:
Flavia is an absolute gem!  I couldn't help but love her to pieces, even when I couldn't understand her chemistry delights (I'm from a whole family of chemists, but I never even took a class).  Bradley has created such a real character, this precocious (totally overused, but really can't think of another word for it) eleven-year-old with a sense of humor you wouldn't believe.  I wanted to keep reading more about her and with her.  I wanted to follow her around everwhere and find out what she'd do or say next.  I especially wanted more of her sisterly escapades - even with four older sisters, I never had much skill in the revenge department.  And the story itself was a delight to read!  Well written with an unforgettable character.  Here are just a few of my favorite parts:

Their two yellow brick annexes, postulantly Victorian, folded back like the pinioned wings of a bone yard angel which to my eyes, gave the tall windows and shutters of Buckshaw's Georgian front the prim and surprised look of an old maid whose bun is too tight. p 7

It occured to me that Heaven must be a place where the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
No...eight days a week. p 59

It's a fact of life that a girl can tell in a flash if another girl likes her.  Feely says that there is a broken telephone connection between men and women and we can never know which of us rang off.  With a boy you never know whether he's smitten or gagging, but with a girl you can tell in teh first three seconds.  Between girls there is a silent and unending flow of invisible signals... p85

It was downhill all the way, and I made good speed.  When I backpedaled, the Sturmey-Archer three-speed hub on Gladys's rear wheel gave off a noise like a den of enraged venom-dripping rattlesnakes.  I pretended they were right there behind me striking at my heels.  It was glorious!  I hadn't felt in such fine form since the day I first produced, by successive extraction and evaporation, a synthetic curare from the bog arum in the Vicar's lily pond. p156

Things I Didn't Like:
Not much to not like.  The mystery aspect was a bit simplistic, I thought.  Some parts of it were fairly easy to figure out, though others completely took me by surprise.  Definitely worth reading.

Read-alikes:
Apparently, there's already another Flavia de Luce mystery, with a third in the wings - get started already! 
The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee (though they are both more Victorian...)

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few, not a lot

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
some fairly scary stuff, also a bit of violence

Overall rating: *****

What is your Unexpected Treasure?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Agency 1: A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee

The Agency 1: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee
Publisher: Candlewick
Publication date: March 2010
ISBN: 9780763640675
Source: Library

 

Mary, a reformed thief who was saved from the gallows at age 12, has been brought up in a ladies' school.  Little does she know the school also stands as a front for a detective agency, banking on the fact that women are in general ignored and unnoticed.  Mary's first assignment leads her to the house of a suspected smuggler, where she is to safely gather information.  But, she's anxious to do more, and decides to take more risks.  When she is plunged into a deadly web of mystery and danger, she isn't sure who she should trust, even if her heart tells her otherwise.

Things I Liked:
I love a good mystery with a Victorian feel.  The setting and the time period in this book simply glowed!  Not to mention, I really like Mary, a tough heroine who made the transition from street thief to educated woman beautifully.  While the mystery itself is not as amazing as I could have desired, I found myself entranced with Mary, her romantic interest (who may or may not be trustworthy), and the lovely details and unfolding of the story.  Definitely looking forward to more in the series.  Some delights from the book:

The house itself was a tall slice of Georgian wedding cake.  Being so close to the Thames - it was right across the street from the embankment - its whitewashed facade was an uneven gray, frescoed with lumps of bird guano and soot. p 30

Sunlight glowed round the edges of the curtains.  Mary lifted one eyelid. Why did she feel so...?  Even before she could frame the question, the events of yesterday came back. They didn't rush or ebb so much as cudgel her brain." p 241

Things I Didn't Like:
As I noted above, the mystery was not that amazing.  But, I really loved pretty much everything else, so it didn't bother me much.

Read-alikes:
The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few here and there

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some minor incidents

Overall rating: ****

So, I'm fairly new to the mystery-historical fiction combo, but I'd love more suggestions!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk

*Comments on this post will go toward my Library Week challenge*

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin begin when he decides to leave the deaf school he attended to enter a mainstream high school.  Things aren't as easy for him as he hoped they would be.  But, when the star football player, Pat Chambers, is killed during a field trip to the local mine, he and another classmate will team up to solve the mystery of his death.  Combining their unique skills (sorta) they hope to find out who murdered Pat.

Things I Liked:
This book was pretty unique to other things I've read.  It has the humor and irony of an overweight (and deaf) kid story told in first person.  It also has a mystery plot with several side mysteries that appear.  Despite being mainly humorous and spoofing Hardy Boys mysteries, it also has some more difficult topics it tackles.  These things surprised me with their serious and still humorous views.  I really liked Will as the main character.  I loved his way of finding things out about people by observation and lip reading and the humorous nicknames.  Here is some of the good:

"Huzzah.  The day of the field trip to Happy Memory Coal Mine has finally arrived.  I am so excited that I put on my best outfit, lovingly sculpt my hair, and skip out the front door.  Who would not be excited to stand in a dark coal mine with the cretins who make up my history class?" p 101 

"Devon's reasoning behind parking the car a few hundred yards from Porkrind's shady chateau is to "secure our cover," a move he probably learned in The Hardy Boys in The Case of the Two Dorks Spying on Their Bus Driver." p152

Things I Didn't Like:
I don't know that I can put my finger on things I didn't like about it (most of it was very likable), but I kinda came away feeling just a little meh about it.  It was fun while I was reading and the mystery kept me guessing, but I was not super thrilled by it.  It's what I call a good read, not fabulous.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
pretty common, but not very strong

mrg-factor: XXX
the minds of teenage boys, also some incidents

v-factor: ->
nothing on page, but some abuse mentioned

Overall rating: ***

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Prophecy of the Sisters is a dark tale of twin sisters, born to fulfill a prophecy that pits them against one another.  When Lia and Alice's father dies, Lia finds a disturbing new mark on her wrist, pointing to an old prophecy about twins.  As she learns more about this prophecy and her part in it, she comes to realize the danger she faces - a danger that centers around her sister.

 Things I Liked:
From the first paragraph, this story sucked me in.  The mysterious and disturbing prophecy, not to mention the dark and morbid setting, this book will thrill any fan of paranormal mystery.  I loved the feeling of chills and spookiness that pervades the whole thing.  The writing also happens to be just as rich and enticing as the plot:

Stepping into the cavernous main hall, I find the library is more than quiet, it is deserted.  Indeed, I don't see a single person as we make our way across the scuffed marble floor.  Its emptiness is more than the lack of living, breathing beings.  It is the unread pages of the many books that reside on the shelves throughout the room.  I should not have though one could tell when books have gone unread, but after the company of Birchwood's well-loved library it is as if I can hear these books whispering, their pages grasping and reaching for an audience. p 155

Things I Didn't Like:
I found myself somewhat disappointed with the lack of character given to Alice.  All throughout the book, Lia talks about her and their childhood and things she's done, but I feel like I have no idea what her true character is.  Also, I was a little let down with the ending.  With the urgency Lia felt about her part in the prophecy, I almost felt like it should have been concluded in this book.  However, I am looking forward to more books in the series.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray
It felt like Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier with its spooky atmosphere

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
not violence in the traditional sense, but some frightening things

Overall rating: ****

Are you a fan of all out scary books or those that have more subtle creepy details?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage