false 9 100 94 true 5907979 read 2 true 5462615 currently-reading 4 true 5462614 to-read <![CDATA[Ms. added 'The Last Olympian']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77198232 to: The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5) by Rick Riordan
I usually don't read books in a series back-to-back or even close together, because I like to space out books by the same author. I want to make sure that the similar writing style or the familiar characters don't diminish my enjoyment of the book or bore me. But, I made an exception in the case of THE LAST OLYMPIAN. I started it less than a week after finishing THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH. I just couldn't wait to find out how Percy's story concludes.

I wasn't disappointed either. This is another action-packed story that equals what I've come to expect from Riordan. The climactic battle between Kronos and the Olympian gods finally comes to fruition, and I was pleased with the attention paid it, given its importance to the story. Many characters introduced in earlier books make an appearance, so I would recommend the books be read in order. I think fans of the earlier Percy Jackson books will be pleased with the conclusion of the series. ]]> <![CDATA[Ms. added 'The Graveyard Book']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73655226 to: The Graveyard Book (Hardcover) by Neil Gaiman
I must have been hiding under a rock or something, because I'd never even heard of Neil Gaiman's THE GRAVEYARD BOOK until it won the Newbery Medal in January. Of course, after hearing about it, I had to get it. A variation of Kipling's JUNGLE BOOK, but the orphan boy is raised by ghosts in a graveyard instead.

The first time I read it, I just sat and read the book through in one sitting. It's a quick-paced, smooth-flowing story that makes for an ideal afternoon of escapism. I loved how each chapter was an episode in Bod's life, that would be ideal reading for reluctant readers. The second time I read THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, I began to appreciate the richness of the language and the vivid descriptions of scenery, characters, and action. It was even better the second time. ]]> <![CDATA[Ms. is on page 304 of The Lost Conspiracy ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77198167 Ms. is on page 304 of 576 of The Lost Conspiracy ]]> <![CDATA[Ms. added 'The Battle of the Labyrinth']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76195659 to: The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4) by Rick Riordan
I don't know why I put off reading this book for so long. Maybe I was just a bit tired of Percy and the gang, or, more likely, it just got lost in my TBR pile. Anyway, I FINALLY pulled out THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH this month to read. Once I got started, it was difficult to put it down. The action of one scene flows smoothly into the next one. Before you know it, you've read 100 pages!

Percy and the gang continue to look for ways to defeat Kronus and his plan to destroy the Olympian gods and take over the world. This time, the group must descend into the labyrinth (of the Minotaur fame) to ward off Kronus' army led by their former friend-turned-traitor, Luke.

I worried that the story would be one of those set-everything-up-for-the-last-book ones and while you'd have to read it, it wasn't that great of a story on its own. Not so here. Yes, it does set everything up for the last book, but it's a well-crafted story on its own. There's plenty edge-of-your-seat action that have you groaning when your reading time is interrupted. The reader is teased with more clues to some of the series-long questions, and I hope all is revealed with the conclusion of the series. I was sad to see the end of the book and I know I'll be turning to the next Percy Jackson book soon. I definitely won't be leaving it on my TBR shelves for another year!
]]> <![CDATA[Ms. added 'A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77992809 to: A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker (Hardcover) by Ryder Windham
]]> <![CDATA[Ms. added 'Operation Yes']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77309973 to: Operation Yes (Hardcover) by Sara Lewis Holmes
]]> <![CDATA[Ms. is on page 224 of Operation Yes ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77309973 Ms. is finished with Operation Yes ]]> <![CDATA[Ms. added 'Fat Cat']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77637300 Fat Cat (Hardcover) by Robin Brande
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> <![CDATA[Ms. added 'The Lost Conspiracy']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77198167 The Lost Conspiracy (Hardcover) by Frances Hardinge
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> <![CDATA[Ms. added 'The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76904349 to: The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum (Hardcover) by Candace Fleming
I usually shy away from reading children's biographies, because they tend to be either two simplistic or all style and no substance. I decided to read THE GREAT AND ONLY BARNUM because of all the wonderful reviews I'd read, plus I've always been a wee bit curious about Mr. Barnum.

Visually, I like this book. Its chapters begin with what look like advertisement cards for Mr. Barnum's attractions. Each chapter focuses on one event or part of Barnum's life, told succinctly with just enough descriptive language to keep it from being dry. Plenty of illustrations and photographs fill the pages, but not too many to take away from the words. The sidebars were distracting to me. It may just be a personal thing, but I hate to stop reading the text or finding a stopping point in the main text to go back and read the side bar. It takes me out of the story and I have to settle back in. I realize why they are there and they do have relevant and interesting information, though. The story is well-told, with plenty of facts used, but the text flows smoothly. The reader is caught up in the story of Barnum's life, rather than seeing the text as a list of facts tied together.

There's plenty to like about THE GREAT AND ONLY BARNUM and I know I'll be recommending it a lot this year. ]]>