1.

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai  /A / **1/2

From goodreads.com:
In a crumbling, isolated house at the foot of Mount Kanchenjunga in the Himalayas lives an embittered judge who wants only to retire in peace, when his orphaned granddaughter, Sai, arrives on his doorstep. The judge’s cook watches over her distractedly, for his thoughts are often on his son, Biju, who is hopscotching from one gritty New York restaurant to another. Kiran Desai’s brilliant novel, published to huge acclaim, is a story of joy and despair. Her characters face numerous choices that majestically illuminate the consequences of colonialism as it collides with the modern world.

I had difficulty getting this good even read, and to me anything difficult to read is ultimately a bit difficult to like.  To me nothing really HAPPENED besides that I grew to dislike every single character more and more as the book progressed.  Their total lack of growth may be what turned me off to this book.

2. 

Lies: A Gone Novel by Michael Grant

/ YA / **

This is the third book in the GONE series (preceded by GONE and HUNGER).  This series started with the premise that nuclear radiation had started to cause unusual "talents" in several of the children in the area, which of course the parents are not aware of.  One of the more powerful children in a fit of anger unknowingly caused all the adults to simply disappear.  I was interested in this story to see how society would re-establish itself without the presence of adults.  This story line is what still keeps me reading this series.  But the stories have each gotten more and more odd with each novel. A whole story line of good versus evil was introduced with the evil being some type of thing that lives deep in the earth and manipulating the children to achieve it's means.  This story line is incongruent with the whole Lord of the Flies feel of the original story.  And even though it is a sci-fi type novel it is getting a little "strange".  It is almost like this is a bed time story made up by the author and each night his children choose another odd tangent to add to extend the story.

3.

Skin Hunger (A Resurrection of Magic) by Kathleen Duey / YA / ***

This story alternates between telling the struggle of a young boy sent to a wizarding school where each student either learns their lessons or starves, and back in time to the lives of the founders of the school as they struggle to find the magic that has been suppressed by the ruling class in order to control the people.  The first half of the book started a little slow to me and felt a little "off", but by the end the kinks were worked out and I want to find out what happened to get the story from the past to where it is now.  I hope the library has the next story.

1.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and Patricia Castelao / JF / ** 1/2

This is the most recent Newbery winner. I made a goal years ago to read every Newbery award winner since the induction of the award in 1922 . It was such a great experience and I was so glad I did it. The early award winners were honestly not that great, but from about 1965 to around 2005 the books really were so exceptional. I have been working on purchasing each title for my collection.

The last few years I have been very disappointed in the award winners. This year is no exception. The story was sweet but a little implausible, and reeked of a "Charlotte's Web" rip-off. Very discouraging.

2.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio / JF / ***

This was the selection for April for my book group. It is about a severely deformed boy who goes to public school for the first time as a fifth grader.  It was chosen by a mother in our group that has a severely autistic child.  
This book was tender and sweet. I especially loved that the boy was around the same age as N.  
The discussion at book group was excellent.

3. 

River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kaye / A / ****

Guy Gavriel Kaye is my most favorite author EVER (yes even more than JKRowling although it is pretty close).  He writes fiction loosely based on ancient historical events. A few years ago it was Spain, then Ireland, then the Byzantine empire. This book and the one before it are based on the Chinese Imperial Dynasties.   He changes the names, makes his own story, moves events around how he wants them. You learn some things about that time period but really you are just captivated by the stories.  This book wasn't the most enthralling story of his but the writing and attention to detail was still oh so amazing.

4.

Requiem (Delirium) by Lauren Oliver / YA / ***

This is the final book of the Delirium trilogy. I remember being satisfied with how it ended... but I don't remember a lot of details about the  book. See how helpful I am?  

 

5.

Calico Joe by John Grisham/ A / ***1/2
Good old John Grisham. He is another author that hasn't ever written a book I haven't liked.  This is a baseball story loosely based on the life of Ray Chapman, the only baseball player ever killed by a stray pitch. The story is not so much about baseball but rather is about family and redemption.  However i was surprised just how much I enjoyed the baseball parts of it.

 I AM starting to like baseball more now that Nathan has been playing the game, but it isn't one of my favorite sports at all, especially at a professional level.  But I loved the nostalgic feel the book evoked... the warm summer nights with whole neighborhoods listening to the game on the radio while drinking ice tea on the front porch.

In an interview with NPR, Grisham said the following:

SIMON: Do all baseball stories have to be about a father and son and feature some kind of barefoot rookie?
GRISHAM: No, but they all have to be sad. Almost every baseball story is sad because it's about unfulfilled potential and broken dreams and all that. There are a lot of good baseball stories but almost all will break your heart, just like the game.

I like the history of the game and the traditions... I was thrilled that Emily got to see the Boston Red Sox play last year during the 100 year celebration of Fenway Park, singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and "Sweet Caroline" at the bottom of the eighth inning.  I think baseball now is unappealing to me due to the steroid use, the big money, the tarnished image of the sport.  But I do think there is a reason why baseball is called the "Great American Past-time".  My dad played... Darren's dad played... and I love that Nathan is playing, too.  I love being the mom in the bleachers box scoring each play (or trying too... I'm still learning :)!)

MARCH BOOK BAG

1. 

Gone Girl: A Novel by Gillian Flynn / A / ****1/2 

Favorite quote: “I often don't say things out loud, even when I should. I contain and compartmentalize to a disturbing degree: In my belly-basement are hundreds of bottles of rage, despair, fear, but you'd never guess from looking at me.” 

This story is so cleverly written.  It opens with Nick and Amy making plans on the day of their 5th wedding anniversary.  Nick goes to the beach for a few hours to allow Amy time to plan her yearly scavenger hunt.  He returns home to find the living room destroyed, blood in the kitchen, and Amy gone.

The story alternates between Nick in present time and dairy entries from too perfect Amy's past.  Each chapter convinces you that the other party is hiding something.  It is fascinating writing.  For example when Nick tells his story to the police, everything "fits" until the final sentence of the chapter in which Nick internally narrates, "... this was my fifth lie" which leaves you to wonder what the other four were.   

 The book methodically reveals more and more about the couple until you realize that one is crazy, one is weak, and neither are innocent.

It is fast paced. It is clever. It is dark.  It was intriguing.  Even though it got a little strange for me at the end, I could not put it down and found myself wishing over and over that I could WRITE like this.

 2.Keeping The Castle by Patrice Kindl / A / ***

I picked up this book thinking it was the sequel to a book I enjoyed called " I Capture the Castle".  The cover even said something like "if you love 'I Capture the Castle' you will love 'Keeping the Castle' ". Well, needless to say, it is not the same story or even the same author.

The book compared itself to the works of Jane Austen and it would have been better served to not try and draw those parallels. The story could have stood on it's own and had it's own pleasant humor, but instead of I found myself wondering the entire time if this was a Jane Austen re-write. It wasn't, but it detracted from my immersion into the story.

3. 

Because I Said So!: The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids by Ken Jennings / A / ****

As the title indicates, Ken Jennings explores the "Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to It's Kids".  He gives solid research on each one and either confirms or debunks their validity.  What could be initially interesting but ultimately boring is enlivened by Jennings witty writing style. He honestly is just darn funny.  I was surprised how many of the Myths I have heard of and even said to my own children (cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis / Don't stand in front of a microwave while it's running / don't talk to strangers, etc etc). 

My family hates when I read books like this as I am constantly spouting totally unrelated facts and tidbits of useless knowledge.  But it is nerdily fun.

4.  

The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi  / YA / ***

Set in the same world as "Ship Breaker", "The Drowned Cities" tells the story of another set of teens growing up in a dystopian North America where the oil is gone, the sea's have risen, and the world is at war. 

This is a story of survival. It was dark.  It was violent.  It was full of disturbing images.  I couldn't bring myself to love any of the characters, and I found the violence over the top for a YA book.

5. 

Touch (A Denazen Novel) by Jus Accardo/ YA / ** 1/2

Girl is a punk. Girl likes to do the direct opposite of whatever her father tells her. Girl meets boy in trouble. Girl takes boy home. Girl finds out her father really is a creep and maybe she was more right than she knew to rebel against him.  Girl finds out boy has secret powers. Girl has secret powers she's kept hidden.  Girls' father manipulates those that have secret powers.  Girls' father must be DESTROYED.

This was a punky story that was definitely written for teens however I did get a kick out of it. Not the greatest writing or story but tons better than a lot of the other free fiction I've read lately from Amazon. I plan to read the sequel.

6. 

The Fallen Star: Fallen Star Series by Jessica Sorensen  / YA / **

This was a weird mix of Twilight and City of Bones.  It seems like there are three types of books.... some books have terrible story plots but brilliant writing so you can kinda get into it anyway. Some have a potentially wonderful story plot but the writer is unable to correctly share the story (this book falls into this category).  It seems so rare for me to find a book that is such a lovely combination of both (the third type).  I guess technically you can have a terrible plot AND terrible writing which is becoming more common (see my last post about what I've learned from checking out e-books).

7. 

The Soulkeepers by G. P. Ching / YA / **

My entire life I've read and loved fantasy / science fiction books. People used to think I was WEIRD.  I then got into DYSTOPIAN books.  People thought I was even more strange.  And now with the arrival of Twilight and the advent of HUNGER GAMES, paranormal stories and apocolyptic stories are the new rage.  It is good for me as more of the type of stories I like to read are being written than EVER before. But some of them just are terribly written.  Like this one.  It is books like this that make people hate fantasy stories so I just hope this isn't the first book of this type people ever read.  Actually this book wasn't THAT bad. It just wasn't good either.

8.  Deathwatch [Paperback] by Robb White (1973) / YA / ***
THIS is the book that my friend Tami had suggested to me a few months ago.  She brought me a copy after finding out I'd purchased DEATH(space)WATCH not DEATH(nospace)WATCH.  Both are about boys in unusual circumstances.  Both involve death (brilliant observation.. I know).  But other than that the similarities end.  This was a great YA story and would be perfect for a book group as it would cause a lot of discussion.  The story centers on the idea of at what point does your honor become more important than your survival?  A great book.

9.  Delirium by Lauren Oliver  / YA / ***
This book was such a mix of the HUNGER GAMES trilogy / the UGLIES/PRETTIES series, and the MATCHED trilogy.  It had the typical anti-government bend, with the author doing a pretty good job of selling the crazy idea that "Love" should be outlawed. Somehow she made it actually plausible.  It was not brilliant writing, but filled the niche I wanted it to fill.



10.  Pandemonium (Delirium) by Lauren Oliver / YA / ***
This is the sequel to the book above. I was first recommended the series by the teeny-bopper librarian at our local library.  We were exchanging recommendations of books we loved.  EVERY SINGLE THING she recommended I had already read, except this one (side note... as we were leaving Darren commented, "couldn't resist one-upping the teen librarian could you....").    So I read "Delirium" and went right back to the library, told her it was great, and now could I have part 2 please?  She told me the library didn't have it.  Fast forward a few weeks. We are in SLC.  I am in Smiths getting buttermilk for my mother-in-law.  Windor dairy brand.  That the grocer was holding just for her.  Which is TOTALLY unrelated to this story. I was checking out when I saw the book display and the sequel to DELIRIUM for a very good price. So I snatched it up (along with some DARLING egg cups for Easter) and read it.  And I took it to the library when I was done and donated it.  And seeing the teeny-bopper librarian literally SQUEAL in delight and hug the book made it all worth it.   I just picked up the third book at WalMart Saturday and will be reading (and donating) it soon.



11.  Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare  / YA / ****
This is the second in the "INFERNAL DEVICES" trilogy. I've read it before, but needed to give it another read due to the third book coming out this month. I received it in the mail and dove right in but then realized I couldn't remember what in the world was going on.  So I hurried and re-read this one.  Now that I've read two and three I wish I had gone back and re-read one so I could have the full savory experience... but I didn't have enough patience at the time.  It is like tearing into a twinkie without getting the wrapper off entirely.  It still tasted awesome but could have been even more satisfying :)


12.  Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare  / YA / ****
I love this author. Loved this series.  I consumed it.  And at the end I had that glorious feeling of happiness for a great story and sadness that it all is over.
This trilogy is a "prequel" to the "Mortal Instruments" series but is definitely it's own story. It had enough ties to the original books that only made me want to reread them. The story was clever and of course had a yummy love triangle.  This author is amazing at dialogue and the story itself explored the question of whether you can love more than one person at once.  The ending was so painfully sweet I literally SOBBED.  All in all what I want as a reader, right????

13. 
The Runaway King: Book 2 of the Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen / YA / ***
This is the sequel to "The False Prince" I read last month.  This author has a very simplistic writing style that reminds me of Suzanne Collins with her "Gregor the Overlander" series.  The main character is witty, brave, and incorrigible.  I enjoyed this book even more than the first in the series.  The author is from Utah and YAY Utah authors!!!