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The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Two words that might have kept me from picking this book up: "zombie apocalypse." I can't say as I tend to gravitate toward the undead. How then, did I end up reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth? Well, I frequent a message board with Carrie Ryan, the title's catchy, the cover's appealing in a good-creepy way, and the flap copy doesn't mention the z-word even once. So I hassled a Random House sales rep and dove into the story with blissful ignorance. Such ignorance, in fact, that I don't know whether I would have realized this was a zombie book at all if I hadn't snuck a peek at the acknowledgments in the back before I finished. That said, anyone with even half a freaking clue about zombies ought to catch on the moment Ryan begins describing the Unconsecrated. (Doi!) Anyway, I'm betting the Twilight crowd will go for the romance, the zombies, and the galloping plot, more or less in that order. (For an actual plot summary to bolster my blather, click here.) I, on the other hand, found myself fascinated with the way Carrie Ryan created an entire society, plunged me into it, and parceled out its history and secrets bit by bit -- just enough to make me feel continually intrigued instead of lost or frustrated. The questions about the roles of religion and authority in society kept my eyebrows on the rise, too. It's sinister, compelling, stuff and totally outside the usual realm of my taste. If Halfway Down the Stairs were still in business, I know I'd get a kick out of handselling The Forest of Hands and Teeth. And for what it's worth, I think I smell a sequel... (Available in March 2009)
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Pride and Prejudice
I know I'm supposed to cheer for Lizzy and swoon over Darcy, but...I really like daffy old Mrs. Bennet best. (And I have to stop choosing long audiobooks until I start driving regularly again. Two months for one novel is just plain ridiculous. And that's my excuse for the three-star rating, by the way.)
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Rapunzel's Revenge
I'm not a heavy graphic novel reader, but I don't believe I've ever come across one with such a spunky voice. And I got a big old kick out of the way the Hales managed to simultaneously follow and spoof the traditional elements of fairy tales. Plus, there's that playful, reluctant development of a relationship between Rapunzel and Jack that I've come to love from Shannon Hale. I just wish I were better at reading these things. I constantly catch myself glossing over the pictures as I read the text. Curse of the word nerd, I guess.
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The Rescuers
Quite the cozy little adventure, and well-read, too. Reminded me a bit of The Borrowers, in fact. Safe for young ones, but not without its own level of danger and excitement. Click here (after October 15th) for my Disney Literature Challenge assessment.
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Yeah, it's as good as the buzz. And there's been enough buzz that I don't feel compelled to describe the premise. I'll just stick to what wowed me. Number one: I'm pretty firmly trenched in the character side of the character- vs. plot-driven debate, but this is a masterful, compelling plot -- the kind of plotting writers should study. And the characters aren't just pawns thrown into a snappy plot (wait, actually they are in a sense, but in this case that's part of the story) but complicated, interesting people you care about. Enough to miss meals and shirk your own writing, in fact. The ultimate kicker for me? The Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy, which usually makes me grumble something along the lines of, "Put the whole story in ONE stinking book, would you?" Suzanne Collins, however, knows how to pull of the sequel trick, completely satisfying the main plotline while leaving just enough dangling out there to make you good and hungry (har har) for the next installment. I honestly can't remember the last time I closed one book in eager (as opposed to resentful) anticipation for its sequel. Brava.
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Nevermind me -- read this Goodreads review. Navah's absolutely right, and even summarized the plot, which I hate doing. All right, I won't cop out entirely: This is a fast, fun, fantasy adventure with lively voice. Given the British-y flavor of her characters, you'll be shocked to realize the author lives in...Iowa.
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Diamond Willow
Can I just take a minute to say "holy crap"? Because seriously, holy crap. I'd really like to crawl inside Helen Frost's head and see how on earth she does what she does. Her brain must be made of plaid, the way she can make words and thoughts weave and layer and intersect. The poems in this novel are something you've got to see to understand all my gushing. Click here for visual aides, samples, and general amazement.
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Brooklyn Bridge
I'm having a bugger of a time making up my mind about this book. I love the writing, love the setting, love the voice, LOVE the family. (How can you not love a family with names like The Queen, Aunt Mouse, and Aunt Beast?) The Yiddish flavor and the interaction between the characters are downright delicious. But the parallel vignettes about the children living under the Brooklyn Bridge? Not so sure - though I was grateful that the two story lines intersected before all was said and done. Also, while his connection with The Queen (Aunt Golda) is priceless and moving beyond all reason, the issues closest to Joseph's heart - his dreams of Coney Island and frustrations with his father and the family's teddy bear business - never quite touched me emotionally. In essence, the surfaces and surroundings of Joseph's life are beautifully presented, but much of the depth of his character stayed just beyond my reach as a reader.
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I suspect you've really got to be a Romanov junkie to devour this the way I did. I don't think I've ever encountered such a combination of engrossing and boring in a single volume. Olga's daily notations are significantly more engaging than The Last Diary of Tsaritsa Alexandra, but my gosh, there are still a whole lot of tennis scores and teatimes in this baby. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Olga's lightheartedness, and glad to finally get some solid context for her pre-war personality and daily life. I suspect, though, that if Olga really was as perceptive and introspective as some claim, it's not likely to surface in the written record until after the start of WWI and the Russian revolution. Let's keep our fingers crossed for another installment... (Why not a five-leaf rating? Academic inconveniences: no index, very few annotations, and dozens of unidentified names.)
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Would you believe I've been waiting for this book for six years? Back when Catalyst debuted, I went to a dinner with Laurie Anderson and watched her levitate two or three inches above her chair on her slavery soapbox when someone asked her what else she was working on. My expectations after that passionate outburst were what you might call stratospheric. It was worth the wait. I wasn't immediately head over heels for Chains, but before long it snuck up and walloped me. I think it still is, actually. This is turning out to be one of those books that won't leave you alone once it takes hold. So anyhow, at some point I realized how deeply Laurie'd plunged me into 1776 New York, and it boggled my mind. My God, the research! For example: I'll bet you my signed copy of Chains that the British Colonel Hawkins really did like almonds. No wonder I've been waiting six years. The setting is palpable in its detail, the language is thoroughly seasoned with 18th century vocabulary without overpowering the narrative, and the frustration building within Isabel as she's shunted between all these Tories and patriots crowing about liberty and equality made me want to scream. Even the supporting cast is still haunting me: Madame Lockton, Becky Berry, Ruth, Lady Seymour, and Sarah. They're all complicated, interesting people. Laurie even managed to make me feel sorry - yes, sorry! - for Madame Lockton on more than one occasion. And criminy, nevermind the fact that Laurie's so remarkably versatile. If I wasn't a devoted fan, I might have to hate her just a little for this.
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You know, sometimes I don't want to actually review a book. Sometimes I just want to snap the bugger shut and say, very satisfied, "Golly, that was good!" (Except in the case of Kathe Koja you should substitute something more...brazen for "golly".) But seeing as Kathe's a buddy of mine and the book's brand spanking new, I'll go the extra mile. (Except for plot. I hate summarizing plot. You can get a taste of that and plenty more yummy bits here anyway.) I've never been to boarding school - cripes, I even commuted to college - but darn it, this book felt real. All month long I've been reading fantasy, history, poety, and a dab of Sci Fi, so the fact that I'm saying my single realistic fiction selection felt "real" may have you rolling your eyes. Well knock it off; I'm not talking setting, folks. I'm talking about that feeling of oh-dear-God-yes-I-remember-all-this-high-school-crapola that smothers you when something this vivid triggers a switch in your dormant teenage brain. That sense of being 'other,' of wanting to be separate but not too separate, the blaze of an I-don't-care-what-anybody-thinks friendship, the giddiness of doing something stupid and silly that's not even worth getting caught for, and the gut-sinking realization that whether you've intended to or not, you're capable of being every bit as awful as the people you yourself can't stand. That's headlong. One question for Kathe: Where can I get some Cherry Hot candy? ('Cause searching for "cherry hot" on Google is so NOT a good idea...)
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From the publisher: Tender Morsels is a dark and vivid story, set in two worlds and worrying at the border between them. Liga lives modestly in her own personal heaven, a world given to her in exchange for her earthly life. Her two daughters, gentle Branza and curious Urdda, grow up in this soft place, protected from the violence that once harmed their mother. But the real world cannot be denied forever—magicked men and wild bears break down the borders of Liga’s refuge. Now, having known Heaven, how will these three women survive in a world where beauty and brutality lie side by side? Tender Morsels is quite possibly THE best reading experience I've had so far this year. Click here to find out why.
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If you are a book lover (and we both know you are) just open up your emotional fuse box and let this darling have its way with you. It is spare and sweet and perfect, and that is all you need to know.
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Masterpiece
Another welcome addition to what I like to call the "cozy adventure" genre -- excitement and moments of danger without too much intensity. Art, conspiracy, and one remarkably talented beetle make for a pleasing story of mystery and friendship. (But darn it all, I wanted those Durer miniatures to be real!)
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What I Saw and How I Lied
The National Book Award committee is running true to form with this nominee: dark, unsettling, and well-crafted. However, I didn't expect the level of suspense, nor the nature and extent of WWII's after-effects on the people who surround Evie. In the end, it's a matter of what constitutes decency, and the sacrifices you're willing make in order to hold on to a measure of it. I'm not sure the conclusion agrees with me, but that's not always a bad thing when a character's choices leave you thinking.
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You will feel Ray's weight on your body, and his breath in you ear. Your thoughts will become as soiled as your skin. Either you won't be able to look away, or you'll have to. After five years, Alice needs you to look, to see.
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Chasing Lincoln's Killer
Potentially unfair criticism: When the book-loving Civil War buff up the street recommended Manhunt, James Swanson's adult edition of Chasing Lincoln's Killer, the promise of getting into the real John Wilkes Booth's head particularly intrigued me. "It's not pretty," my friend warned, but he was clearly impressed by Swanson's exploration of Booth's psyche. So imagine my delight at the prospect of getting this story in only half the page count. (Sadly, I can be a little shallow that way.) Turns out, Chasing Lincoln's Killer omits virtually all of the psychological insight I'd been looking forward to. *pouts* Sure, I get that this edition is aimed at children, and granted, the mind of an assassin isn't a comfy place to be, but heck. I was still disappointed. However, Swanson gets much love from me for refusing to dumb down/spice up the narrative with fakey conversations between historical figures. He faithfully promises in a note to the reader, "Their words are authentic. In fact, all text appearing within quotation marks comes from original sources...." That's precisely the way I like my non-fiction. Otherwise I'm prone to snottiness. The overall design also appealed to me: military star motifs combined with chapter headings reminiscent of wanted posters or newspaper headlines give just the right ambiance to the text. Even the copyright page looks like a newspaper column - nifty! A fixable quibble: In the latter half of the book, the narrative ricochets back and forth between the perspective of Booth and his hunters. It's an effective technique for ratcheting up the suspense, but since there are no section breaks -- no white space, ornaments, nor asterisks between paragraphs -- to help indicate these point of view switches in the ARC, I found them rather jarring. My fingers are crossed that Scholastic might hear my plea and consider addressing this issue in the final print version. For a streamlined, reliable account of Lincoln's murder and the hunt for his assassin, this is tough to beat. If you want to prowl around in the dark crannies of Booth's mind, however, head for the adult edition instead. (Available in January 2009)
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The Hunger Games
