Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Snow in Summer

Youth Fiction by Jane Yolen.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Interesting retelling of the Snow White story, set in Depression-era Appalachia.


I also read recently by this author: Curse of the Thirteenth Fey

Sunday, October 27, 2013

January First

Subititled: "A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her"
Nonfiction by Michael Schofield.

January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

As if you couldn't tell from the subtitle, this is a book about a SCARY subject.

"A Child's Descent into Madness." Wow.

January, the little girl who is the subject of this book, was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age six. AGE SIX!!! And this is her father's story of a parent's worst nightmare.

It scared to poo-poo out of me, but I couldn't put it down either.

Thanks to Deb at A Bookish Libraria for the recommendation. Click here to read her review of this book, which is WAY superior to mine.




Thursday, October 24, 2013

Why Have Kids?

Subtitled: A New Mom Explores the Truth About Parenting and Happiness
Nonfiction by Jessica Valenti

Why Have Kids?: A New Mom Explores the Truth About Parenting and Happiness

Why indeed? I got this book just for the title.

It was kind of a case for NOT having kids. I think they convinced me!

Wait... too late...



Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The Middlesteins

Fiction by Jami Attenberg.

The Middlesteins: A Novel
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

A story about a fiftyish woman whose obsession with food is killing her, this book had believable and complex characters, but not super-likable ones.

I may be biased on this, but the fat-shaming was a little too heavy in this story for my taste. The author seemed to be trying to present a balanced view of this family but had trouble concealing her contempt for them, especially the ones with eating disorders.

Friday, October 18, 2013

The Color of Water

Subtitled: A Black Man's Tribute to his White Mother
Nonfiction by James McBride.

The Color of Water
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

I chose this book because it was on my daughter's reading list for 11th grade English.

It's a really good memoir. I recommend it.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Replay

Fiction by Ken Grimwood.

Replay
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

What if you had your life to live over again? That might be cool, right?

What if it happened over and over? 

That's the premise of this book. It was really interesting.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

Fiction by Maria Semple.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

This was a good book, but a little strange. I ended up liking it a lot, but had trouble getting into it at the beginning.

Other books I've read by this author: This One is Mine

Friday, October 11, 2013

What the Nanny Saw

Fiction by Fiona Neill.

What the Nanny Saw
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Interesting story about a nanny in the home of a wealthy British family accused of insider trading.



Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Curse of the Thirteenth Fey

Youth Fiction by Jane Yolen.

Curse of the Thirteenth Fey: The True Tale of Sleeping Beauty
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

A retelling of Sleeping Beauty, this was a good fantasy story.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Deeply Odd

Fiction by Dean Koontz.

Deeply Odd (Odd Thomas Series #6)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

This book was okay, but not nearly as good as the first Odd Thomas book. Like not even close. It might be time to let this character go, Dean. Sorry.



Other books I've recently read by this author: Life Expectancy, 77 Shadow Street, Odd Apocalypse 

Thursday, October 3, 2013

The Cuckoo's Calling

Fiction by Robert Galbraith.

(Who is actually J.K. Rowling, apparently.)

The Cuckoo's Calling
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

 Really good mystery story. I'd say it's as good as Agatha Christie, only with  a liberal sprinkling of the "f" word. Which Mrs. Christie never used, of course. Since they didn't have that word in the twenties. (Or did they? Probably they just didn't feel the need to use it every five minutes like people do now.)

I'm pleased to see J.K. Rowling took my advice (see my post about The Casual Vacancy) and put this story under a pseudonym, as it is DECIDEDLY not like Harry Potter. Unfortunately, until it was "leaked" that Mr. Galbraith and Ms. Rowling were one and the same, no one was buying the book.

Now there's a waiting list a mile long at my local library.

Still, the book is great, whether you know who the author is or not.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

How to be an American Housewife

Fiction by Margaret Dilloway.

How to Be an American Housewife
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Really great story about a Japanese woman who marries an American serviceman after the second world war.