Annette's Book Spot

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Audio Book Review: A Red Herring Without Mustard, by Alan Bradley

Flavia de Luce is back and she's as entertaining as ever. There is another dead body in A Red Herring Without Mustard, and Flavia is on the case!

If you are unfamiliar with this series, you might want to read my reviews of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag, the first two books in the series.

Flavia is eleven years old, living on an old estate in England in the 1950s with her father and two older sisters. She's precocious, smart, and fancies herself a chemist. This one starts out with her causing a gypsy's fortune telling tent to catch fire, and doesn't stop after that.

The mystery is intriguing, but I find myself not really caring "who done it." It's experiencing all of Flavia's brilliant deductions and crazy escapades while we get to the conclusion that provides all the fun. And Flavia and her sisters have outdone themselves again. The crazy things they come up with to torment each other are not to be missed.

There's the gypsy, a missing baby, a body hanging from Poseidon's fountain, a mysterious junk yard, an artist with a secret painting, and an old religious order called the Hobblers in A Red Herring Without Mustard. And you will never guess how that all fits together! Oh, and plenty of Flavia's explanations of chemicals and their reactions.

These aren't books that you want to hurry through to get to the solution. Flavia's often irrelevant but delightful asides are not to be missed. (And many times what at first seems unimportant ends up being a critical element!)

I find these books pure entertainment, and I've listened to Jayne Entwistle read all of them to me. She's perfect for this series and really brings Flavia and all the characters to life. It isn't necessary to read the books in order, but there are subtle references to previous cases in each book, so why not start at the beginning. I really can't say any of the series are better than the others. They are all just witty and clever and unlike anything I've ever read.

I've recommended the Flavia de Luce Novels to teens in my library and I will continue to do so!

Published by Delacorte, 2011
Audiobook obtained from the library
416 pages

Rating: 5/5

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Book Review: Out of the Easy, by Ruta Sepetys

Out of the Easy is such a delight. It's a book that just immersed me in its world, and I didn't want it to end.

The plot isn't that unique or stunning. Josie's mom is a prostitute in New Orleans. Josie has been on her own since she was eleven years old. She lives above a book store where she works, and she also cleans the house where her mother lives and works. It's 1950, so there's corruption and the world isn't easy for a poor young woman.

Willie, who runs the house, is like a mother to Josie. Many assume Josie will have to turn to the life her mother lives, but Josie will do anything to avoid it -- and she really wants to go to college. But, not just the local college. Josie wants to go where no one knows about her past. She wants to go to Smith College in the East. She comes up with a clever plan to make it happen.

See? It just doesn't sound like much is going on when you describe it, but there are so many colorful characters in Out of the Easy. Some want to help Josie, some want to be romantically involved, and some just want her to be a prostitute. Josie is shrewd, thank goodness, because life throws her several curves. Josie's mother is unbelievably heartless. Thank goodness she has other people in her life that she can rely on. I felt myself rooting for Josie, and wanting to jump right in the story to help her right along with all the other characters.

I'm not giving specifics about the plot, but just let me say this is a book you need to experience. I appreciate that the ending isn't all unrealistically perfect, but it is hopeful. Whether teen or adult, and even if you aren't a big historical fiction fan, Out of the Easy has something for everyone. Sepetys is a wonderful writer, and I'll read anything she comes up with.

Published by Philomel, February 12, 2013
Copy obtained from LibraryThing Early Reviewers
348 pages

Rating: 5/5

Monday, February 11, 2013

Monday Memories: Fever 1793

Welcome to my meme, Monday Memories, where I feature favorite books we've loved from the past. It's been quite a while since I've posted one of these, so just to remind you: You can link to an old review, or write something new about a beloved book from your past. Really, what's important is not the book, but why it is memorable to you. So, have fun reminiscing, and leave a comment below, so we can all enjoy your memories.

It's no secret that I'm a historical fiction NUT. And Fever 1793 is one reason why. Fever 1793 was published in 2000 and is the story of a yellow fever epidemic. The main character, Mattie, is 14 years old and she's spunky. Her mother insists she leave Philadelphia to escape the plague, but Mattie soon finds out it has spread to the countryside. Mattie is a great character, and the well-researched details make you feel like you are living through it. I read Fever 1793 when it first came out and still remember scenes from it.

What is even more amazing to me is that Anderson also writes great contemporaries. She wrote Speak while in the middle of writing Fever 1793! Such different genres and such amazing stories! I am in awe (well, I am in general, always in awe of authors.)

If you haven't read Fever 1793 I would highly recommend that you do. It's short, but you won't forget it.

Share one of your cherished book memories!

You can do a Monday Memories post on your blog. Copy my button and link back here, so others can see all the other posts. Leave a comment below with the link to your post.

Or, just leave one of your Monday Memories right here in the comments.

Be sure to visit some other blogs that have posted their links. Thanks!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Stacking the Shelves - Another Slow Week

Welcome to Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Here's what I received this week:

For Review:

Beautifully Broken, by Sherry Soule, eBook from the author

Beyond, by Graham McNamee, ARC from Random Buzzers

And that's all folks! Hope you hop around other blogs participating and thanks for visiting my blog. Hope you come back soon!

Friday, February 8, 2013

Feature & Follow Friday: Mardi Gras Books!

Happy Friday! Today's question is:

Q: Happy Mardi Gras! If they were throwing the HOTTEST books off of a Mardi Gras float -- what would you do to have them throw to you…?

If I could get some ARCs I would love to have:

Game, by Barry Lyga

Isla & The Happily Ever After, by Perkins

The Eternity Cure, by Kagawa

That would be awesome! How about you? What book would you like to catch? Thanks for visiting. And thanks to Parajunkee and Alison for hosting. Hope you have a great weekend.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Book Review: The Assassin and the Empire, by Sarah J. Maas

I was afraid to read The Assassin and the Empire because it is the last novella before Throne of Glass. And I know how Throne of Glass begins, so I knew what was going to happen in The Assassin and the Empire -- and it isn't good.

Once again Celaena cannot stay out of trouble. I don't want to give away spoilers from the previous stories, but at the beginning of The Assassin and the Empire, things are looking pretty good for Celaena and Sam. But then they have money problems and can't get any work, so they decide they want to move away. In order to get enough money to buy their freedom and support themselves they decide to take on a stupid assignment.

Yes, it's stupid. And Celaena makes several stupid and rash decisions that get her into a heap of trouble. But she's in love, and she's young, so we must forgive her stupidity. But....she's had so much experience...I just wish she had put some more thought into things. But emotions take over. Oh, and the emotions. I never would have believed a short novella could arouse such an emotional reaction. Maas is brilliant. I love these characters, I love this world. I can't wait for more-- (Crown of Midnight, available in August.)

I highly recommend the first three novellas: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Desert, and The Assassin and the Underworld, as well as the novel, Throne of Glass. I continue to recommend this series to all my fans of adventure stories.

Published by Bloomsbury, July 20, 2012
eBook purchased
Approximately 80 pages

Rating: 5/5

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Book Review: The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life, by Tara Altebrando @TaraAltebrando

What and unexpected treat The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life is. I laughed but also was impressed with the unexpected depth of the characters as they discover significant truths about themselves and their friends in less than a 24-hour period.

Our narrator is Mary, who is about to finish her senior year of high school. She and three friends are participating in the Unofficial Senior Week Scavenger Hunt, a "secret" annual event that Mary is determined to win.

Her greatest adversary is Barbone, who got an athletic scholarship to Georgetown, and Mary didn't get accepted. To say there's some bitter feelings is an understatement. The list of items and tasks for the scavenger hunt is imaginative and entertaining. However, the fun isn't only their quest to collect as many points as possible, it's also learning about the characters' motivations and back stories. The romances and crushes. The breakups and secrets. A lot is cleverly revealed during this seemingly simple story of some high school students' annual contest.

Mary finds out her enemies aren't necessarily deserving of her hatred, her friends are keeping secrets, and one friend in particular wants to be more than friends. She learns some hard lessons about priorities, family, and taking one for the team. How Mary handles all these revelations is entertaining, but not always perfect.

I found it unrealistic that this ritual occurs every year during the same week, but presumably it's a secret for the townspeople and police. The kids were all worried about revealing themselves to the authorities in fear that the hunt would be ruined. I didn't buy the need for secrecy. If this really happens every year, there's no need for secrecy.

I enjoyed Mary's point of view and connected with her the most, but the other characters were interesting and added color to the story. The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life is fun, light-hearted, and is paced so that you can't really put it down. It's a short book, and I read it in two sittings (had to do some work, or probably would have finished it in one!) Recommend this one to your contemporary fans. It's a great story about friendship and loyalty and about working to meet a goal. Although this is narrated by a girl, there are strong male characters which make The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life accessible to boys too.

Published by Dutton Books, July 5, 2012
Copy obtained from the library
239 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 4/5

Monday, February 4, 2013

Book Review: Scarlet, by Marissa Meyer @marissa_meyer

It seems I've read several amazing "2nd books in the series" lately -- and Scarlet is no exception.

Scarlet is a pilot and farms with her grandmother, who has been missing for a few weeks. When the police give up on the case, Scarlet decides she will try to find out what happened on her own. She meets a guy named Wolf at a restaurant where she is delivering her vegetables and develops a strange attraction to him.

Crazy things happen, and Scarlet and Wolf end up on an adventure to find her grandmother, but Wolf is hiding things and Scarlet doesn't know if she can trust him.

Cinder escapes from prison, and brings a pilot along with her. They escape in a stolen ship and seem to be safe orbiting the Earth, but Cinder is desperate to figure out just how she came to be who she is.

That's a really bare-bones explanation of a really exciting adventure. The new characters are great -- and the old ones continue to develop. Yes, we do see what is going on with Kai, but he's on his own trying to appease the Lunar queen. She continues to be one of the most villainous villains I've come across. I really WANT the good guys to prevail here, but I'm entertained by the path to get to that point. Cinder and Scarlet's paths do cross in the end and Meyer's plotting is brilliant.

The main setting in Scarlet is France, and some of it is in Paris. It is interesting how Meyer has created this new world, but really it's based on the world we are familiar with.

The ending is satisfying because the battle is over, but the war has only just begun. We know what Cinder's plans are, and I can't wait to see how it all works out in the next book.

You could probably read Scarlet without reading Cinder, but why would you want to? I highly recommend this series to my teens, and I know many of them that are anxiously awaiting Scarlet. They won't be disappointed.

Published by Feiwel & Friends, February 5, 2013
ARC obtained from Around the World ARC Tours
452 pages

Rating: 5/5

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Books You Can Read in a Day - January '13 Update

I can't believe January is gone already! It's time to see how we're doing on our Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge! You can keep track of my entire year's progress here. My goal for the year is to read 25 books. I've got a good start, reading 5 books that qualify just in January! (I doubt if I'll be able to keep up that pace, though.)

Here's what I read in January:

1. A Certain October, by Angela Johnson
2. All the Earth, Thrown to the Sky, by Joe R. Lansdale
3. 12 Things to Do Before You Crash and Burn, by James Proimos
4. The Always War, by Margaret Peterson Haddix
5. Dying to Know You, by Aidan Chambers

How about you? Have you read any books in ONE DAY? Give me some suggestions.

If you would like to join us it' not too late! There's a link to the challenge page on the sidebar.

If you are participating, please leave a link to your post, or just list your books in the comments. Hope you are having fun with these "little gems."

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Stacking the Shelves: eARC Nutty!

I don't know what happened. I've been trying to not bite off more than I can chew, bookwise. But, for some reason there were SO MANY "must have" books available from NetGalley and Edelweiss, that I found myself grabbing a bunch of them. Oh well, I'm sure I'll get to them.

For Review:

Scarlet, by Marissa Meyer from Around the World ARC Tours

LOVED Cinder. Was dying to get my hands on this one. Yea!

Cinders & Sapphires, by Leila Rasheed from NetGalley

Supposed to be good for Downton Abbey fans. I definitely qualify.

Fire Horse Girl, by Kay Honeyman from NetGalley

My historical fiction fix. About Chinese immigrants, even better.

Towering, by Alex Flinn from Edelweiss

Fairytale retelling by Alex Flinn. Enough said. (Gorgeous cover too!)

Night School, by C.J. Daugherty from Edelweiss

Mysterious boarding school -- I'm in!

Severed Heads, Broken Hearts, by Robyn Schneider from Edelweiss

I must admit -- this one was all about the title and the cover. Gotta know...

The Madness Underneath, by Maureen Johnson from NetGalley

Sequel to Name of the Star! Of course!

From the Library:

Amplified, by Tara Kelly

I'm so excited for all of these...now I just have to decide which to read first! Thanks for stopping by. Also, thanks to Team Tynga's Reviews for hosting -- make SURE you go to her site this week -- she has a beautiful new design, as well as some great blogs to visit.