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Summer Reading 2013
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SUMMER READING 2013
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(last edited May 29, 2013 04:14PM)
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May 29, 2013 04:14PM
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2 Stars
If this book had either chosen to be a true parody, or a true spy story, then it might have worked. But combining the two really didn't work well. Both stories have their hits and misses (Hit: Martin (Matthew) and his "lawyering" talk; Miss: Pretty much anything to do with O'Malley (O'Brien), who didn't fit in anywhere). It's a good thing it was a graphic novel - had it been any longer and I would have given up. With so much rich material to choose for a send-up, I was disappointed that little was utilized.
Edge of Apocolypse by Tim Lahayne. 4 stars.
This is a christian/action series. Similar to clive cussler books but with more talk of God. I loved the story idea of the government trying to gain more control of peoples lives and a few good people trying to stand up for what is right. This book is a good clean read and is a series. Though at times I thought it was predictable, it turned out to be more intense then I thought.
Sabotaged (The Missing, #3) By Maragret Haddix4.0 stars
So far I have enjoyed this series. True it is young adult book, but that way I know they are clean. Haddix takes real mysteries in the past of people who faded away, and puts on twist on what has happened to them. These kids who were taken out of the past are trying to go back to their time and are trying to fix time. I would reccomend this series for a quick read and a clean book. I would think 8 and older due to the length of the book.
Mod
2 stars
I started reading this and about 30 pages in, I was bored. I wouldn't have finished it, if I didn't need to read it because I am in charge of book club this week. I decided to listen to it to see if it was any better. I could tolerate it a little better listening to it, but it still was torture to get through. This book won the Pulitzer Prize and I can see why because it is very descriptive and beautiful writing, I just wasn't that vested in the story.
The book is a letter from a father to his son telling him about his life and I believe there are no chapters in the book, which I found an interesting style.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald4 stars
I never read this book in high school (what were my teachers thinking?! Instead, they gave us crap like Nathanial Hawthorne), and I wish I had. Talking with people at the library, it's one of those books that you either love or hate, and I thought this book was fantastic. It text was a little choppy at times (the characters would switch topics very quickly), which sometimes left me a little lost but not enough for me to despise it. I usually like somewhat happy endings, which this doesn't have, but for this book, the ending was definitely fitting. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it!
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers4 stars
Although this was supposed to have taken place in a historic setting, it had more of a fantasy feel to it. That being said, I still greatly enjoyed the book. Ismae is a daughter to Death and finds a home in a convent that trains women to be assassins. Her first assignment is to help protect the young duchess of Brittany from several warring countries and also from her own advisers. I thought the characters were well done - Ismae, especially. She began as a character full of hubris, and she was able to better herself throughout the novel. It's a hefty read for an young adult novel (549 pages), but very good.
Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link4 stars
Wow, just wow. Creepy, haunting and original. Well-written with great characters. The kind of book that sticks with you long after you've finished it.
Mod
4 STARS
I love reading an account of something that has been unaccountably relegated to the dustbins of history. And I'm glad that Peter Carlson rummaged around and put this one together.
The book is well-written and historically authentic; readers can see how cautious Carlson is about remaining true to the source material. He provides just enough background to give context, and doesn't dilute the story with a ton of peripheral material. This keeps the focus, and the readers' interest, on Albert and Junius. Their tale is interesting enough on its own, and the stories of the people they interact with (on both sides) add to the unconventionality.
This is a book that would appeal to more than just Civil War buffs. I would recommend this to anyone who can appreciate a fish-out-of-water story, or someone wanting a look at wartime prisons (and escapes). Definitely a good read.
Mod
3 STARS
I enjoyed this one a little more than I thought I would, based on the description (though I did like Mills' The Information Officer, so I shouldn't be that surprised). The prologue was eventful, and so I expected that the main story would start off slower, but that was definitely not the case. The action was well-paced, and made sense. It is set just prior to WWII, and it had some Alan Furst-like elements, but the plot actually revolved around things that had happened in the past. The twists were also believable.
My only gripe was the inclusion of the developing "romance" between Tom and Lucy. He's almost twice her age, has known her since she was 4, and is her godfather. Yuck.
Mod
2 STARS
I'm still trying to decide whether I liked this novel or not - the reason for its 2 stars - but I reserve the right to change my mind.
It's slightly slower-paced, which normally doesn't bother me as long as the end result is worth it (I'm not sure it is). The premise is initially interesting - someone is not just killing young men, but draining them of their blood - but, by the time Morris gets around to revealing the killer, I was no longer in the mood to care. The main detective is not hapless and not too intelligent, but he probably wouldn't have pieced it together without significant help from other sources (I only wished the secondary characters had been drawn with more depth). I suppose I didn't get why Quinn was considered so good at his job.
Still, the look at Victorian/Edwardian police detective work is appreciated (though I've been enjoying Lynn Shepherd and Alex Grecian a bit more). I may give the second in the series a look - I've heard good reviews - but I won't feel obligated to finish if it's too much like this one.
Mod
3 STARS
I'm torn with this book. On one hand, this one was much better than New York. The characters were more 3-dimensional, and their stories interconnected in ingenious and interesting ways. Rutherfurd also knew which stories in his timeline were more fascinating; he spends a lot of time in the Belle Epoque and into the 1920s and it is definitely worth it.
On the other hand, he jettisons his chronological depiction for a non-linear timeline approach, which isn't necessarily confusing, but often kept me turning back to the family trees in the front. I don't think all the skipping around was needed - the stories worked well on their own - and it resulted in my rushing through some of the shorter sections.
I especially enjoyed the look at the construction of the Eiffel Tower (and the subsequent dismantling of the elevator systems to prevent Hitler's ease of ascent). While it was a little long, overall it was a good read.
Black Wings by Christina Henry.3 stars
Madeline Black is an Agent of Death, but she soon realizes that her life is about to get more complicated. Turns out that she is descended from a fallen angel, and for some reason, demons are out to get her.
I like stories about grim reaper type characters, but this one involved angels, which I'm not as keen on (I know, it's weird). When the fallen angels were introduced, I almost gave up on it, but I powered through because I liked the main character as she had the right combination of snary and feisty. The whole story just left me with a "meh" feeling - although I did eventually find it interesting, I'm not sure I care enough to finish the series.
Torn (the missing book 4) By By Maragret Haddix4 stars
I think this series is well done for a young middle school readers. I guess that shows my intelligence level. I was disappointed that there was not another child figuring out who they were. The main character spent the time being someone else. This book seemed to drag a little for me as compared to the others in the series. I was disappointed in the ending though...poor Jonah (you will have to see why). I will keep reading this series though.
Signs Enough: Man's Search for Godby Dr. James Lyman
1 star
I skimmed most of the book. Dr. Lyman who is very intelligent writes a book that is over most people's heads. I think he is trying to have a C.S. Lewis feel, but the writing is hard to follow and very boring. Dr. Lyman tries to prove there is a God through scripture, prophets and science. I found his arguments lacking real proof. He seems to mix as many words as he can to confuse the reader more than lead them to answers.
Star by Star by Troy Denning3 Stars
This is a book halfway through the New Jedi Order series. As part of the series it is a good edition, moving events forward and heightening the drama. As a stand alone book it has too many battle scenes that are overly descriptive which bring the narrative to a screeching halt. This is one of the longest, if not the longest, Star Wars novels I've read and I think it was unnecessarily long. It could have easily been shortened.
Rebirth by Greg Keyes4 Stars
Part of the New Jedi Order series, this was a good quick read and enjoyable for someone who likes Star Wars and doesn't mind the Yuzhan Vong.
A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. MartinThe fifth installment of "A Song of Fire and Ice" more commonly called the Game of Thrones series. I read it several months after reading the book previously. Since many of the events happen concurrently with the previous book I think this book is best read immediately after finishing that book. It would probably be more enjoyable that way, if you don't get burned out. The book was slow reading at first and I found myself having a hard time getting into the book, despite its focus on some of my favorite characters. It did end well however and I am eagerly anticipating the sequel.
Mod
4 STARS
I don't often pick up books on science, though a well-written book (read: for dummies) on popular science can draw me in. Mary Roach is one of those science authors who can be relied on to present a subject in an interesting light, so I will pretty much read anything she writes. The fact that she can write with such humor, while respecting (and explaining) the subject is a complete bonus.
Gulp is a great example of her expert ability. Here, she offers a fascinating look at some of the more disgusting (at least, culturally) aspects of the human body. I laughed along with her escapades, but I came away from this book with actual knowledge. I especially enjoyed the chapters on saliva and digestion (pythons are still gross). My scientific education is increased, and I had an enjoyable time increasing it - which I cannot say for my high school AP Bio class.
A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan3 stars
"Digit" is the nickname of Farrah (seriously, FARRAH), a 17 year old math wiz. She is able to crack a terrorist cell's code, and thus becomes in danger.
This book works really well if you're a 17 year old girl. Alas, I have not been 17 for some time, and there were several plot elements that really drove me nuts. Here be spoilers, so you are forewarned:
(view spoiler)
It was still a cute read - I just wish I was younger when I read it, so I wouldn't nitpick it as much.
Mod
3 stars
Second book in The Selection series. America tries to figure out if she would be able to be queen someday. I was a little bugged on how whiny America could be when trying to decide between Maxon and Aspen, but then she is 17, so it was probably a good depiction. Not sure who I am rooting for Maxon or Aspen.
The Radleys by Matt Haig4 stars
Wow. Could be the best vampire book I've ever read. But, that's probably because it's not really about vampires. It's about what it means to be an adult, to be part of a family, to live in a small town. It's about first love and staying in love after years of marriage. It's about being a parent, a child, a spouse. The characters just happen to be vampires, too.
Mod
3 stars
I love the Harry Potter series and I am listening to them on audiobook again. Harry is forced to be a participant in the tri-wizard tournament. He competes with other contestants from other magical schools in a competition on who is the best wizard. Many things are amiss and Harry finds out that he is better in the tournament than he thought.
Star Wars: The Approaching Storm by Alan Dean Foster1 Star
While not poorly written, I found this story lacked anything to draw the reader in and soon found myself skimming through the book just to catch the important details. I would not recommend this book unless (like me) you've got to read all the Star Wars novels.
Mod
Though I don't consider myself a punctuation martyr, I enjoyed this book. As one who definitely mourns the loss of good grammar due the influx of the internet into our daily lives, I found the history of punctuation that is related here fascinating.
Mod
4 STARS
While I didn't quite love this one as much as The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns, it is still a well-crafted, heart-felt, exceptional book.
I liked that Hosseini played with form in this one. Rather than focus on a long narrative switching between one or two main characters, this one was more of a collection of interconnected short stories. Each related by a different person (with differing POVs), the action in this book is seen through the development of the relationship of the characters. And though every story is different in some way, they are almost all focused around the theme of love, disappointment, and betrayal (especially that between parents and children). And, as I read, I found that I enjoyed each story on its own, as well as for its role in the entire novel.
I also love the ways that Hosseini interconnects the stories - sometimes it's as small as an object that is commented on in one story and then explained in full (Markos' photograph), but often it's a character. My only quibble was that sometimes the stories were hurried (I think Hosseini could have written a 1000 page book and I wouldn't have noticed); I wanted to spend more time with some of the characters. This was definitely the case with Nabi's story, Idris/Roshi's stories, and Markos's.
Overall, a great story in the hands of a great storyteller.
Mod
3 STARS
I read this one based on a recommendation Nancy Pearl gave on NPR last week. It was cute - with some subtle and some not so subtle humor - and it was definitely written with an ear toward Austen. Nothing objectionable about it, though the main character can come across as a bit of a mercenary (which isn't necessarily a fault, given her circumstances). Possibly a good choice for a tween who may not yet be ready for Austen. Cotton candy for adults.
The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes4 stars
Original and compelling. I started this afternoon and could not put it down until I finished it. Detective novel, thriller, time travel all mashed together in a way that worked for me. One warning, it does have all the sex and violence you'd expect in a novel about a time traveling serial killer.
Mod
3 STARS
First, I have to say that I generally don't read the Spellman books for the mysteries (though the mysteries are just fine). I read them for the characterization and humor, especially that of Izzy.
This one does not disappoint on that end. At the end of the last novel, Izzy has staged a coup and is now in charge of Spellman Investigations. But nothing is ever simple or easy with this family, and there are plenty of veiled threats, covert operations, and genuine misdirections - and that's just the employees. Izzy, of course, has too much on her plate, but now she's a bit more responsible, so she's forced to take care of things. I like that Lutz has given Izzy - the eternal teen rebel - room to grow.
I have to say that I was a little disappointed - yet again - with Izzy's love life; she seems to choose the wrong man every time.
Other than that, this was another good Spellman romp - and possibly the last(?) since it ends with a wrap-up done by another character. Still, for pure fun, it's hard to beat Izzy and the crew.
Mod
3 STARS
I think I liked this one better that the first, possibly because the there was less main character exposition. Grecian does a lot of things well - the main mystery of the missing people and the whole physical aspect of the town literally disappearing as the mining seam collapses beneath them. He does a good job at building tension, and though the ending was a little too convenient (three "groups" all happen to meet in the same place in all those miles of mines!), it still worked.
What was less appealing were all the small subplots and extraneous details - I just felt that there was so much not completely explained: the American Civil War angle, the fact that the entire town gets sick from the water, superstitions are introduced but never fully developed, and there's something going on between the Vicar and his wife. Into this mix, Grecian throws Day's wife (did she really need to stop in on her way through?), and the disappearance of the Constable.
I'm not saying that some of these things didn't add to the grittiness of the storyline, but there were a few loose ends that I would have liked to seen tied up (or used to the fullest potential). Still Day and Hammersmith are interesting - though, with the amount of physical problems Hammersmith has to deal with in this case and the last, he might want to cut short his career before it kills him. Dr. Kingsley isn't featured as much in this one, so hopefully, if there's a third book, he'll be given a more prominent role.
Dark Journey by Elaine Cunningham3 Stars
Another Star Wars novel in the middle (or thereabouts) of the New Jedi Order series. Not as good as previous books, but definitely not bad. This one seemed to focus more on the emotional journey of Jaina Solo who hasn't received as much attention as her brothers have. It didn't advance the war plot too much, but did resolve some loose threads from the previous novel.
Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experimentsby Alex Boese
4 Stars
This book highlighted interesting experiments from world history. Boese discusses these experiments in a light-hearted fashion and often adds amusing asides or opinions (though these occasionally feel strained). He does well to keep it simple and to the point so that this book is approachable for almost anyone. People who desire more precision and rigor can follow his references to their sources.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clonesby R.A. Salvatore
3 Stars
I felt this was a fairly good adaptation of the screenplay. The dialogue between the two versions strayed little (if at all). It also added scenes that weren't in the theatrical version of the film that gave us more insight into Cliegg Lars and Padme. However, the novel shares the exact same shortcomings as the movie. If the movie drove you crazy, I doubt the novel will do anything differently. I would suggest reading it based on your feelings towards the movie.
The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee4 stars
I am totally loving this series. This time, Mary is sent by the agency to figure out who killed a worker at the Parliament building site. Of course, she runs into James again, which creates more complications than she probably needs. I felt this book was well plotted, plus I like how the author added historical details (like the building of Big Ben and the plight of the poor in this era). On to the third!
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers4 stars
This was just as good as the first one. Sybella, a handmaiden of death, is sent back to the family that (literally) drove her crazy, in order to discover anything that might aid the duchess and her struggle for power. I like the characters in this one (at least, the good one). The Beast, especially, was interesting - I like how he ugly (the author's term, not mine), yet Sybella was still able to form an attachment to him (proof that looks aren't everything). Also, I found it interesting that apparently many of the characters in this book (the duchess, Madame Dinan, d'Albret) were real people, though I think I'm glad I found that out at the end of the book.
As a side note, there are a lot of adult themes in this one (incest, rape, etc.). I found it added to the story and helped with Sybella's characterization, but I know not everyone will see it that way.
Mod
2 Stars
Nothing really new here, though most of these ideas are actually something one would be able to implement realistically. Mostly common sense ideas on how to live withing your means.
Mod
3 stars
Read the first one a while ago and decided to pick up the rest of the series. This second book finds Bart and Allison on the honeymoon. Allison, of course, finds herself followed and kidnapped. The book moves quickly and is a little unrealistic, but a fun read nonetheless.
Mod
3 stars
The third book in the series follows Bart and Allison as they head to San Fransisco. Of course, anything that can wrong does and Allison is always in the middle of it. Her evil stalker returns from the grave but in the end Allison and Bart are triumphant. Light and breezy, this action/romance was a fun, quick read.
Mod
3 stars
For the most part I enjoyed this rom-com; Faith is left at the alter when the best man intervenes. She continues to have poor luck with men until she returns home and continually runs into said best man, Levi. The romance played out okay, but the supporting characters seemed to really shine. Faith's grandparents' relationship was a little grating to read but I thought Jeremy was portrayed well.
Mod
3 stars
I didn't enjoy the protagonist as much of some of Higgin's other female leads. She was bitter and couldn't see what her attitude was doing to those around her. However, I also felt a little protective of her because she was always the bad guy. No one seemed to care about her abandonment issues that had turned into super-realistic view of the world.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte3 stars
I almost didn't read this classic because I didn't care for Wuthering Heights which was written by her sister Charlotte. However I'm glad I did. While the book did seem to drag on a bit in places, it was nice to see that Anne didn't have quite the same "doom and gloom" feel as her sister. It was an interesting story about a young woman who finds herself trapped in an unhappy marriage when her husband turns out to be different than the man she first fell in love with. Totally relatable to women of today I'm sure and it was nice to see how she made it through while still maintaining her dignity and rising above her husband's devious behaviors.
Mod
4 stars
Cassie is from a Texas oil family and visits her Aunt Cait and cousins in San Francisco for the summer. Getting off the train she runs into Jamie, who she believes is a "pretty boy". He asks her out and she refuses having just had her heart broken by another "pretty boy" in Texas. Jamie ends up being the best friend of Cassie's cousin and so they spend a lot of time together. Jamie wears Cassie down and they go from just being friends to courting (I love that word).
I love Julie Lessman's writing style, she is able to weave many subplots within the main plot that I enjoy almost more than the main story. In this book, Cassie's aunt, who is her aunt by marriage and a widow as Cassie's uncle Liam has died, is being pursued by Cassie's other uncle, Logan. Logan is the brother of Liam and was engaged to Aunt Cait before she married Liam. Logan was a "pretty boy" and fooled around with another woman during their engagement. 25 years later, Logan has changed his ways and is trying to get back in Cait's good graces. I enjoyed this subplot and the development of the characters.
Mod
3 stars
Alan Christofferson, who is walking from Seattle to Key West, Florida, is in Missouri when he discovers he has a brain tumor and has to be operated on. He goes to California to his childhood home with his father, has the surgery and 8 weeks later is back in Missouri to finish he quest. As always, he has many adventures along the way. This time he runs into a cult and a preacher. My favorite part was him stopping to eat at a Waffle House!
The Very Picture of You by Isabel Wolff4 stars
Ella is a portrait artist who finds that her paintings are so lifelike they sometimes reveal things about the subject that they didn't even realize about themselves. Her work puts her on intimate terms with her subjects and she learns hidden secrets about each of them that she never saw coming including from her own mother. On top of that she's commissioned to paint her sister's new fiance who she absolutely despises even though she barely knows him. She's never painted someone she didn't like before and the idea of it is overwhelming.
The story weaves intricately along and reveals the secrets and turmoil in her subjects lives as well as her own life. I had an extremely hard time putting this book down and I just love the way Isabel Wolff writes and breathes such life into her characters. I highly recommend this book.
The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee4 stars
Another great book by this author. It was great to see Mary work through many complicated relationships and struggle to make the best decisions for her. Well written, and as always, I managed to learn a little more about history because of this author (I didn't know that Buckingham palace used to be a duke's residence - I always thought that's just were the royals had always lived!).
Mod
2 STARS
I'm not sure how to explain what I think about this one, except to say that it's just "off". There were so many elements that didn't quite fit either the time period or the atmosphere.
I did like the main characters. Betsey was independent and I rather admired her straightforwardness. John was honest - both about his ambition and about his interest in Betsey (even if he wasn't always honest with himself). Still, there were some problems. Both had 21st century sensibilities - especially in terms of language and beliefs. And while I can appreciate that John's syntax was a result of his Welsh heritage, a little of his dialogue went a long way - at one point, he sounded so much like Yoda that I had a hard time hearing anything else.
The story, which had so much potential, eventually devolved into a will-they-or-won't-they chick-lit plotline. The scenes in which Betsey stood up for herself in her job were the best parts of the book; I had hoped for more of those. The book's description painted this as more of a challenge to the business norms of the time, but when it became more of a romance novel, I lost a lot of interest. Love the cover, though.
(One last thing, why did we get Lillian's POV? Other than to contrast her with Betsey at the beginning, her take on things provided very little new information and truly faded away. Why take the time to try to flesh her out?)
Mod
3 STARS
I read this one for Book Club, and I can honestly say that I might not have finished it except for that reason. It's not that it's a terrible book - it's that it's very dry. I enjoyed the sections on weeds in Shakespeare's writing and the poppies of Europe after WWI. I also liked the discussion of the medicinal and cultural value of the weeds. But, without illustrations or maps, it was difficult to imagine the diversity (and to see why some people's weeds are others' enjoyment).
Overall, the author's discussion was valuable. I probably do come away from the book with a more positive feeling about weeds than when I began. In the end, I might have weeded out a few sections of the book that made it just a shade too long.
Mod
3 STARS
Liked the book, hated the cover (it was a little too earnest, like some of the inspirational fiction novels I try to stay away from).
Anyway, the novel was based on Dody McCleland, who is supposed to be one of the pioneering medical woman at the turn of the 20th Century, She is assigned to work with the Home Office in London with autopsies and forensics. This set-up seemed rather realistic, so her working relationships with others in Scotland Yard were easy to accept. The storyline also made sense - there were a few red herrings thrown into the mix - but nothing really got in the way of the main plotline, which I appreciated. And Dody's character, and that of Pike, were drawn well. I'm not sure I'm completely convinced by the character of Florence, Dody's sister, but this is a good start for a series.
It was a quick read, and I learned a bit more about the fight for women's suffrage in England. And, the book was a bit darker than I would have thought (which was just fine for me). The discovery and the identity of the culprit made sense, even if it wasn't what I expected. Overall, worth the read.
Mod
3 stars
This time Allison is told that her husband and father have been killed in a helicopter accident. She works with her mother to lead their small group of anti-terrorist agents in protecting three celebrities that have had threats made against them. Of course, all the while she is digging into the circumstances surrounding Bart's death, hoping for another miracle.
Mod
3 stars
Allison is on her way to Sri Lanka, looking for Bart who has been missing for several months. Of course, poor Allison falls victim to one of the most cliched plot devices: she falls from and elephant and hits her head, developing amnesia. How can she find her beloved Bart when she doesn't remember him? Suddenly another man is claiming to be her husband and she doesn't know who to trust. Despite the melodrama, I actually liked this one better than the last. The setting was interesting and Gardner does a good job of bringing real-world politics into the mix.
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