Reader's Choice Spring 2012

[Jennifer]

Sorry! I'm so late about posting the new RC titles! I'm afraid I have read any of them yet, but I am going to pick one up today. Any suggestions? What have you read so far? Did you like it?

Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun
Before Ever After
Blind Your Ponies
The Cloud Roads
The Dangerous Edge of Things
Doc
Dragon Bound
The Dry Grass of August
A Fierce Radiance
Friendship Bread: A Novel
The Informationist
Instruments of Darkness
The Kitchen Daughter
The Language of Flowers
Learning to Swim
Lost in Shangri-la
My Year with Eleanor: A Memoir
No Biking in the House Without a Helmet
The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels
The Silent Land
South of Superior
The Trinity Six
Turn of Mind
Under Fishbone Clouds
Under Wraps
Vaclav and Lena

[Britt, Book Habitue]

So far I've read:
Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun-- 3 stars
The Dangerous Edge of Things-- 4 stars
The Silent Land-- 3 stars
The Informationist-- 4 stars

[Vicki]

I'm thinking about Blind Your Ponies. I had a patron at the Library tell me it was really good. Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun sounds fun. I read The Silent Land when reviewing books to become part of Reader's Choice, and I thought it was very interesting, but I can't say I loved it. I gave it three stars. I did skip a couple of sex scenes in it, I don't like reading that. So if you are sensitive about those kinds of things, I don't recommend it.

[Em]

I read Friendship Bread : A Novel last year. A nice light read. Especially fun if you have ever had Friendship Bread starter given to you.

[Jennifer]

I just read Turn of Mind. It was very interesting, since my grandmother had Alheimer's. I didn't watch her deterioration, but I've always wondered what it must have felt like to her. However, I didn't really think this was a thriller, like it was billed. The mystery was engrossing, but there wasn't a sense of urgency to it for me.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

The Kitchen Daughter was good. 5 stars, even if I did want to smack the older sister upside the head.

Also, not a RC book, but I just read The Innocent, sequel to The Informationist and really enjoyed it.

[Jennifer]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "The Kitchen Daughter was good. 5 stars, even if I did want to smack the older sister upside the head.

Also, not a RC book, but I just read The Innocent, sequel to The Informationist and really ..."

I've had a couple of people tell me about The Informationist. I'll have to give it a try.

[Ruby]

Has anyone read any of the 4 non-fiction Reader's Choice this time? Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels is actually in first place at Bingham Creek!

[Havilah]

I just finished My Year with Eleanor. I thought it was great! We just moved, so I'm behind on reading more RC books. Hopefully now that we're getting settled I can pick up again.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

I haven't read any of the nonfiction yet, but that one is sitting here waiting for me to read it.

[Erin]

I loved Vaclav and Lena, but didn't see it on the list. Silent land was an interesting concept, but was just okay. I'm working on Blind your Ponies and can't decide if it's great or okay.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Read The Cloud Roads last night. Meh.

Interesting concept, didn't love the execution. Really really wanted to be a YA. Title didn't seem to fit and the back cover description is not sure accurate.

*ETA: Wow, I should proofread my comments before posting. That should be "sure not accurate". Sigh.

[Ruby]

Language of Flowers is #2 at Bingham Creek. If you read it, how would you rate it? Do you think it would make a good Book Club read?

[Vicki]

I just finished Blind Your Ponies and I loved it! I was so caught up in this classic underdog story, I could hardly put it down. I felt the emotion of each of the characters of this small town in Montana and their desire to have the basketball team of the high school, win even one game! The team is so small, only 6 members, that with injuries or fouls they have to play with only 3 or 4 players at times. They all work so hard it is inspiring. Normally, I'm not into sports books, but this one drew me in on the advice of a friend.

[Jennifer]

I just finished Vaclav and Lena, which was lovely. Very romantic and sweet. It was interesting that it felt like historical fiction to me, even with the contemporary setting. I kept thinking, "When was this set? Oh, now!"

[Ruby]

Samantha Sotto, author of "Before Ever After", sent me a lovely email reply when I told her the novel was going to be a Reader's Choice:

"Hi Ruby,


Wow! Thank you so much for your very kind words about Before Ever After. It would be an HONOR to be included in your Reader's Choice list. (I think I'll be walking around with a silly grin on my face for the rest of the day!)


Thanks again! This really means a lot to me :)


Warm regards,
Sam"

So give "Before Ever After" a try! If you've read it, how did you like it?

[Ruby]

Do you or someone you love have Alzheimer's? In "Turn of Mind" Alice LaPlante tells the story of Jennifer White, a respected retired hand surgeon, who can't -- or won't -- remember if she killed her best friend. Try this haunting novel and let us know how you liked it.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Read Turn of Mind.... extremely well done, but wow, as someone with depression who internalizes books a little too much, this one about gave me a complete breakdown.

A Fierce Radiance-- meh. If it doesn't further the plot, don't leave it in the book!! Of 527 pages, I enjoyed maybe 200 of them. I have a feeling I will be in the minority though.

Just finished The Dry Grass of August... LOVED the first 180 or so pages, but the last 100 felt awkward, rushed, out of place. Resolved issues that you didn't realize were there while leaving ones I wanted resolved completely untouched.

[Ruby]

Voting for the current list of Reader's Choice titles will end on April 30th...so just a few more weeks to finish up! What has been your FAVE book so far? At my library (Bingham Creek), "Pioneer Woman" is leading, with "Language of Flowers" #2 and "The Dangerous Edge of Things" #3.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Instruments of Darkness-- 5 stars (want the sequel!)
Before Ever After-- 5 stars (screwiest book I've ever given 5 stars to!)
The Language of Flowers-- 4.5 stars (enjoyed it, but couldn't quite give it 5)
Vaclav and Lena-- 3 stars (meh)

I've read 14 of 26 now.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Jennifer wrote: "I just finished Vaclav and Lena, which was lovely. Very romantic and sweet. It was interesting that it felt like historical fiction to me, even with the contemporary setting. I kep..."

I kept thinking it was historical too. I might have liked it more if it had been.

[Darin]

I really enjoyed Blind Your Ponies. I listened to the book--great narrator! Even if you don't particularly enjoy basketball, which I do, I still think you'd enjoy it. The book is more about hope than anything. One of my new favorite books!

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Do we know which books won yet?

[Jennifer]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Do we know which books won yet?"
The winner was The Language of Flowers, second place was The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and third place was Learning to Swim: A Novel.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Awesome! Thanks!!

I LOVED learning to swim and Language of Flowers. Haven't read the other one yet.

[Jennifer]

Keep your eyes out for the next Reader's Choice- starting Monday!