Annette's Book Spot

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Book Review: The Fall by Bethany Griffin

Although The Fall starts out really slowly, the creep factor builds and the tension mounts all the way through to the end.

Madeline Usher has been trapped by the House (of Usher). She is unable to leave and the house is literally sapping the life out of her. Just as her mother and other relatives before her, she has inherited the curse of the house.

How did she get to this point? The Fall is told by Madeline from two perspectives. A young, 9 or 10 year old Madeline and a 17 to 18 year old Madeline. This flipping back and forth really dragged on. Madeline has a twin brother who was sent away to boarding school when they were 8 years old. He rarely visited, and his parents sent him away to protect him from the house. They knew that the house had chosen Madeline for the curse.

There are a a lot of creepy, macabre things that happen. Their are three doctors that live with them, first to take care of Madeline's mother, then to take care of Madeline. Everyone around her ends up disappearing or dying and she is left alone with the strange doctors.

There's a machine they've built in a room that supposedly keeps the house from knowing what they are doing. This isn't explained very well; it's a plot device that never reaches its full potential, and that is too bad. I would have liked that to be better explained.

At the end, we only get the older Madeline's POV, and that's when the story gets very tense as she is trying to keep her sanity and figure out how to escape. It just takes way too long to get to that point.

I enjoyed the writing and the descriptions and I'm glad I read The Fall. Just be warned that this one creeps along slowly before eventually grabbing you. A great choice for the Halloween season, fans of Poe, and The Fall of the House of Usher will be intrigued by this homage.

Published by Greenwillow, October 7, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
432 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Monday, October 13, 2014

Book Review: The Eye of Minds, by James Dashner

The Eye of Minds is the first book in James Dashner's (The Maze Runner) new series. While it doesn't live up to The Maze Runner, it will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat turning the pages.

Michael spends most of his time in the virtual gaming world, the VirtNet. This totally immersive world allows him and many others to experience a virtual life -- without the deadly consequences. Michael discovers that some things are going wrong in the VirtNet. People are disappearing -- when they die, they are also dead in real life. Some are stuck in the VirtNet forever and can't return to the real world. That's not supposed to happen.

Michael is kidnapped by a government organization that wants him to help them find the hacker that's trying to take over the VirtNet. Michael and two best friends (virtual friends) begin a harrowing adventure to try to outsmart this bad guy and allow the government to catch him.

What The Eye of Minds has going for it is action. This book never stops. I almost felt breathless at times as I felt what these kids are going through.

The part that bothered me is the "cop out" plotting. It seems that almost every time the kids are in a dire situation they "look at the coding" and can program their way out of it. It just seemed to easy sometimes. But I don't think the intended audience will mind this at all, and I won't hesitate to put The Eye of Minds in the hands of Dashner fans.

It's a very quick read, and an excellent choice for reluctant readers who want nonstop adventure. Also, we get a bit of a surprise at the end that just makes it harder to wait for the second book, The Rule of Thoughts, which is already available!

Published by Delacorte, 2013
Copy obtained from the library
310 pages

Rating: 4/5

Book Review: Skink No Surrender, by Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen just has a unique style that I find very appealing. Skink No Surrender is no exception and contains another mystery to solve.

There is always an environmental issue that is addressed in Hiaasen's books, but this time it isn't the central theme and several issues are touched on. The story is told by Richard, whose cousin and best friend, Malley, has run off with a guy she met online, and now Richard can tell from her communications that she is in trouble.

Richard has become acquainted with a very unusual character who is known as Skink. Richard found him buried in the sand in a fake turtle nest on the beach. Skink has been trying to catch people stealing the turtle eggs, which is illegal. Skink is old, dirty, and turns out he used to be the governor. He supposedly died a few years ago.

When Skink finds out about Richard's cousin, he decides to find her. He and Richard go on an adventure through the Florida swamps, meeting alligators, lots of road kill, extinct birds, stinky fishermen, and eventually Malley and her captor.

It's always lighthearted, even when guns are being pointed. There is danger and suspense, but you never doubt that justice will prevail no matter how unlikely it seems. You have to be prepared for some eye rolling, but it's all in good fun.

Apparently Skink has been in six novels, but this is the first I've been introduced to him. Skink No Surrender is short and action packed, making it an excellent choice for reluctant readers. There is violence, but it's not detailed, and because of the flippant attitudes, I think Skink No Surrender could be enjoyed by younger teens.

Skink No Surrender has been longlisted for the 2014 National Book Award.

Published by Knopf BFYR, September 23, 2014
ARC obtained from Library Media Connection Magazine
288 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 4.5/5

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Stacking the Shelves -- I'm Thrilled

A good week for me! Here's what I managed to grab:

For Review:

Mortal Heart, by Robin LaFevers from Edelweiss

I can't tell you how surprised and thrilled I was to get approved for this one. I loved the first two and can't wait to find time to read this!

A Cold Legacy, by Megan Shepherd from Edelweiss

Another one I'm really looking forward to after loving the first two books!

King, by Ellen Oh from Edelweiss

Keeping with the theme, this is another third book in the series, and although I didn't love this series as much, I liked it enough to read the third book.

So, what's been happening at your house? Any good books to show me? Let me know in the comments. Also, make sure you visit Team Tynga's Reviews, our hosts. Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you back here soon.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Feature & Follow Friday: Bookish Stuff

Happy Friday! Here's this week's question for discussion:

Book Merchandise - show off some of your stuff - posters, t-shirts. Whatever you got! - Suggested by Becky's Barmy Book Blog

My stuff is more library merchandise than book stuff. Here's my collection that sits on my desk:

It includes The Librarian From the Black Lagoon, The Library Dragon, Nancy Pearl's Action Figure, the Lego Librarian, and an old librarian I bought at a craft fair. The little chick is the "Romance" Reading Rubber Duck from Oriental Trading Company. They have a set with several different genres. A colleague gave me the stuffed Poe. This is the link to the mug. If you've ever had anyone ask you "Why does a librarian need a master's degree?" you need this mug.

And the one that got away. I used to have a Knight stress ball that said "Read" on the shield. A few years ago, the summer reading theme was "A Midsummer Knight's Read" and I bought a bunch of them, since our school mascot is Knights. I guess it was too tempting, because it has disappeared off my desk.

Let me know if you have any other goodies that I could add to my collection!

Thanks again to Parajunkee and Alison for hosting. Make sure you go visit them. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Book Review: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley @robin_talley

Lies We Tell Ourselves is a heart wrenching story about school desegregation in Virginia -- with an added complication.

Heart wrenching is a very accurate description. Nine students will attend the fictitious Jefferson High School after winning a suit filed by the NAACP. Now, we've all seen famous pictures from the 60s when this phenomenon was occurring. But those pictures are from the first day. This book recounts the day after day relentless persecution suffered by these teens. Spit wads, taunts of "nigger," shoving and pushing in and out of school, and many other occurrences were common, everyday experiences. It never got better. There was virtually no support or assistance from the faculty or administration. These kids weren't welcome at extracurricular events. And the prom was cancelled because parents didn't want their white kids at the same dance as blacks which just adds to the hatred.

Sarah is our main character, and she is forced to work on a school project with two white girls, Linda and Judy. They meet in a secret back room where Judy works, so no one knows. Linda's father is the editor of the newspaper and one of the most vocal supporters of segregation. Linda is also afraid of him -- he's a moody and sometimes violent father.

Lies We Tell Ourselves is told from both Linda's and Sarah's perspectives. Their feelings for each other begin at hatred, and eventually turn into friendship and more. Both are confused about their feelings.

We get to know several characters, and that makes the story become real. There are side stories -- Sarah & Linda both sing. Sarah's sister is also attending Jefferson, and Sarah feels like she must do everything to protect her. Linda is dating a much older guy and plans to get married as soon as she graduates. This is a book about the 1960s in general, as well as desegregation.

There is violence against the teens who attend the white school. Some of them don't survive the environment and end up quitting.

Lies We Tell Ourselves speaks to the reader about strength and perseverance and standing up for what you believe. It strongly addresses how easy it is for teens to believe whatever their parents have taught them and how difficult those beliefs are to change.

I almost felt like the lesbian issue was taking on too much. It was dealt with realistically, but the controversy is already so complicated it was almost overwhelming. Sarah is a devout Christian, and prays fervently for God to help her stop these feelings. This issue does make Lies We Tell Ourselves stand out from the crowd, though.

There's a lot here to discuss. Lies We Tell Ourselves is a difficult book to read, but necessary. We still live with prejudices today -- whether about race or other topics, and this book will do a lot to get the conversation started.

Lies We Tell Ourselves is one of those "everyone needs to read this" books. And then everyone needs to discuss it.

Published by Harlequin Teen, September 30, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
384 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Audio Book Review: Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende

Daughter of Fortune is an engaging story that follows one woman's life including her journey from Chile to San Francisco during the gold rush.

I don't usually do this but I'm just going to include the description from amazon.com:

An orphan raised in Valparaiso, Chile, by a Victorian spinster and her rigid brother, vivacious young Eliza Sommers follows her lover to California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Entering a rough-and-tumble world of new arrivals driven mad by gold fever, Eliza moves in a society of single men and prostitutes with the help of her good friend and savior, the Chinese doctor Tao Chi'en. California opens the door to a new life of freedom and independence to the young Chilean, and her search for her elusive lover gradually turns into another kind of journey. By the time she finally hears news of him, Eliza must decide who her true love really is.

Daughter of Fortune is beautifully written. The descriptions of people and place are vivid and complete. Eliza is a character that you can't help but care about and root for. Although, I did wish she would realize what she had sooner (but that would have ruined the story, I guess). She become so obsessed with finding the man she thought she loved that she was blind to anything else.

You will learn a lot about Chile and all the foreign people who chose to come there to make their fortune. You will learn a lot about the gold rush and what life was like, especially for women and foreigners during that time. But just because you are learning, doesn't mean Daughter of Fortune is boring. There's adventure, romance, near death experiences, and lots of drama to keep you reading (or in my case, listening.)

Blair Brown, the narrator, does an excellent job. She has a Spanish (or Chilean?) accent that adds authenticity but is still very easy to understand.

Daughter of Fortune is highly recommended to fans of historical fiction. This is my first Allende book, and it kind of reminded me of books by Barbara Kingsolver, who is one of my favorite authors.

Published by Harper Collins, 1999, HarperAudio, 2008
Copy obtained from the library
416 pages

Rating: 5/5

Monday, October 6, 2014

Book Review: Burn by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Burn tells a compelling detective story involving one of the most macabre crimes I've ever heard of.

I think I've read one other Michael Bennett book, but it isn't necessary. Burn works well as a standalone. Bennett reminds me a lot of Alex Cross, with his devotion to family. (And I adore Alex Cross.)

This time Bennett is stuck with a new assignment, and a very undesirable one. Of course, he ends up investigating some really interesting (and heinous) crimes. He is pulled back to the Major Case Squad to investigate several diamond heists that have been occurring throughout New York City. But there's much more to this case than just stealing diamonds.

What I liked: As is typical, Burn is a quick, easy read that moves at a very brisk pace. It's impossible not to love Bennett because of the description of family and the romance. I also like that Patterson/Ledwidge aren't afraid to kill people. The good guys don't always get there in time, and victims die.

What bothered me: The politics and animosity between Bennett and his superior was overdone. I really don't know if this is realistic or not, but I got tired of Bennett always being treated unfairly, and then having to dig his way out of things. Fortunately, once the action began, this was no longer an issue.

The awful crime that ends up being the focal point is almost too unbelievable. Hopefully this one wasn't ripped from the headlines! But I'm probably just being naive.

The bottom line is, if you like James Patterson books, particularly those involving the detective Michael Bennett, you won't want to miss Burn.

Published by Little, Brown, and Co. (September 29. 2014)
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
432 pages

Rating: 4/5

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Book Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Absorbing magic and compelling characters make Snow Like Ashes a most enjoyable read.

Sixteen years after the Kingdom of Winter was attacked and taken over by Spring, Meira and seven other Winter natives still fight for survival and to take back their kingdom. The locket that is the conduit for Winter's magic, was broken in two and taken away by Spring, and until they get the pieces back, there will be no chance of taking back their kingdom.

Meira was a baby when Winter fell. She longs to be a soldier and is being trained by the Prince, who is also her best friend. While they try hard to keep their relationship platonic, it is obvious that there are stronger feelings between these two.

The Winters get attacked, and end up on the run again. Alliances are made (and broken). Snow Like Ashes is an exciting adventure story with battles and court intrigue. And ... there's magic! A bit of a love triangle develops, but is presented realistically. The third member of the triangle is strong and brave and has a good heart.

The pacing is good. There are a lot of exciting parts. I thought a few parts were a bit slow, but that's being really picky.

I enjoyed the magical lore in Snow Like Ashes. Each kingdom has a conduit that their ruler can use to summon the magic for that kingdom. There are rules! But, the reader, along with Meira, finds out that there is a bit more to it. Meria discovers things about the magic that no one else seems to know.

I loved Meira, and all the supporting characters. I really felt for these poor people who had lost so much. Meira is strong and resourceful. She thinks things out before making decisions. She's smart. All traits that I really admire in a hero.

Snow Like Ashes ends with the major plot being wrapped up, and part of it I suspected all along. That didn't take away from my enjoyment. And there is certainly potential to write more about these characters and this captivating world.

Give Snow Like Ashes to those teens who like their heroines strong and magical!

Published by Balzer + Bray, October 14, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
432 pages

Rating: 4.5/5