Book Review: Quaranteen: The Loners, by Lex Thomas

I consider myself fairly good at suspending disbelief in order to connect with a good plot, but Quaranteen: The Loners just didn't get there.

It's the first day of school for David and his freshman brother, Will, at their brand new high school. Soon after they arrive, there is an explosion, and all of the adults die a horrible, graphic death. The school is quickly quarantined by the military.

The school kids almost immediately form gangs, based on the usual high school cliques. There are food and supply drops twice a week, which the gangs must battle for. The swiftness of the teens' demise into anarchy was unbelievable. I can believe this would happen over time, but there would have been some attempt at organization and governance first.

Speaking of time, it was very difficult to decipher the passage of time. At times, we were told weeks or months had passed, and supposedly over a year passes during the story, but it was very ambiguous.

Will has epilepsy, and because of the absence of his medication, has a seizure very early in the book. This fact is alluded to a couple more times, but he doesn't have any more seizures until it is necessary for a very convenient plot device at the end of the book. It would have been much more believable if he had experienced some other difficulties because of this disease.

The authorities drop food and supplies every two weeks. Every drop causes an aggressive battle as the different gangs try to procure enough food for survival. Why? If they could drop food every two weeks, why not every week? Why did students have to be starving? Why not include some communication -- letters or news -- from the outside world?

There is no significant world building. We have no idea what is going on outside. The school has been quarantined because the teens carry a virus that kills adults. The military is able to enter the school to install a high-tech device so that the students can determine when they are no longer adolescents. Therefore they can leave, but must do so before they die. Other than that, there's no outside communication or assistance. Why? I couldn't get over the fact that the adults didn't communicate in any way. If they can come in once, why not come in and take over and restore order?

Thomas made it really difficult to bond with the characters. I just kept thinking that everything they were going through didn't make any sense, and it was frustrating to see their suffering.

Quaranteen: The Loners consisted of one violent scene after another. Boys (and yes, I think this can definitely be considered a boy book) who enjoy violent displays will probably enjoy this book, even with the lack of a coherent explanation of the situation. I, however, only finished this one because I had to review it for a printed publication. Quaranteen: The Loners would have been a DNF, except for that fact. I wouldn't recommend this necessarily to reluctant readers because it is fairly long at over 400 pages. I'm pretty tolerant, but you really have to love violence to connect with this book. I need more than violence....

Published by Egmont, April 24, 2012
ARC obtained from LMC Magazine for review
406 pages

Rating: 1.5/5

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Monday Memories - Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Welcome to my meme, Monday Memories, where I feature favorite books we've loved from the past. 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.

I also wanted to let you know about another wonderful blog that you should check out. Ashley @ Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing does a weekly post called Memory Monday. She has been posting about her childhood memories of books. What's great about Ashley's site is that she is asking for guest posts for her Memory Monday event!  So hop on over there and check it out.

What an impression Between a Rock and a Hard Place made. I still think about it, about six years after reading it. I've not seen the movie (127 Hours) and I don't think I want to. I remember the book goes back and forth between his current (horrible) situation with his arm stuck in a rock, and not much food, water, or hope of rescue, and his past which explains how he ended up hiking alone without telling anyone where he was going. I remember the turmoil -- I wanted to know how he was going to get out if this situation (although it's pretty obvious from the cover and well-publicized story) but needed those breaks from the tension that the back story allowed. It was harrowing, and realizing it is a true story just drove that home.

I don't read many memoirs. I don't care for most of them -- not many people have a book worth of interesting stuff to say, in my opinion. But, this one was worth it. Like I said, I still think about this story.

What books have stayed with you long after you've read them? Does it matter if it's a true story? Does that make it stick with you? How do you feel about memoirs? Which ones are worth reading?

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!

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In My Mailbox -- Lots More Fun!

Lots of fun books to report this week, so let's get going...

For Review:

Such a Rush, by Jennifer Echols, from Around the World ARC Tours

Diva, by Jillian Larkin, from Edelweiss

The Girl in the Park, by Mariah Fredericks from NetGalley

 The Eternity Code and The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer, from NetGalley

Won:

Another Piece of My Heart, by Jane Green, from Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books

Library:

Vixen, by Jillian Larkin (I have to read the first two before I can read Diva!)

My heart just pounds when I do these posts. I can't wait to read all of these--I wish I could read by osmosis, so I could get caught up! Hope you have a great week and thanks for stopping by. Thanks to Kristi, The Story Siren, for hosting.

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Do I Have Anything to Discuss?

Recently I've been taking Saturdays off, as far as posting on this blog. I thought maybe Saturday would be a good day for a discussion post, at least when I have something to discuss.

I've been think a lot about what I call my "reading balance" lately. It seems I've gotten myself in a rut by reading only advanced review copies or books that have recently released. This is great fun for me -- having all kinds of books from NetGalley, Edelweiss, authors, and publicists to read in advance of publication.

But, I work in a library surrounded by hundreds of books I want to read someday. I have a couple of them checked out, just sitting here waiting. And, I have my own books that I've bought, or won, or been given. I have them because I want to read them. But I'm constantly tempted by what's new--what's just coming out.

So, how do you strike a balance? I have this handwritten list of all the ARCs I have, and the date they publish. I try to keep up, so I'm posting a review before or shortly after release date. I'm getting farther behind on the list -- and I'm seeing less and less gaps in the schedule where I can read something older.

It's starting to bug me. I need to do something, but I'm having trouble saying no. I've thought about just not viewing those Waiting on Wednesday posts, or the In My Mailbox meme. But that's no fun. I can't give that up. Plus I still get all those emails from publishers telling me what's coming out, so I'd still find out.

What do you do? How's your "reading balance?" Any suggestions for me?

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Follow Friday - Books that Shouldn't be Movies

It's kind of a backwards question this week. We've all thought about what book we'd like to see as a movie, but Alison and Parajunkee want to know:

What is one book that you would be nervous to see a movie adaption of because you think the movie could never live up to the book?

I really don't think ANY movie lives up to the book, simply because books are always more richly detailed. Most of the books I can think of are the long, epic books that have a lot of intricate settings. The first one that came to me is The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver. There's no way...

A book that is more complex in language and feelings is also difficult to capture in a movie. Something like A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. I don't think that would transfer well to the screen.

I also have doubts about something like Wonder, by R. J. Palacio. It also is a deeply felt story, and it is important that you never see the main character. I guess they could make the movie and never show him. It's a powerful book -- I'm not sure the movie would have the same impact.

(And no, I rarely follow directions and list just "one" when the question requires it. Sorry...It's my blog...)

Now, let me end all that by saying there are many very talented people that have impressed me with their movies. And, I'll be happy to eat my words if I see a great movie based on any of these titles. I don't presume to know anything about making movies, and those creative geniuses can surprise you!

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend! And, I hope you read some great books. Can't wait to see this week's answers.

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Book Review: The Prince of Mist, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Prince of Mist scored very high on the creepiness factor. There's plenty of danger and excitement for all.

Maximillian Carver has decided to move his family (a wife and three children) to a small coastal village, away from the war-torn city. Of course, the kids aren't excited about this. Max, the middle son, discovers a strange garden of statues behind the house. The garden is misty, and creepy, and wait...did that clown statue in the middle of the garden just move?

The house itself is creepy too. Max's little sister Isabelle (not sure of the name-can't remember and couldn't find it on-line) has a strange accident on the stairs, and Max wonders if it the house is haunted by Jacob, the previous owner's son, who drowned off the coast of the town.

This is only the beginning of Max, his sister Alicia, and their new friend Roland's adventures. Roland lives in the lighthouse with his adopted grandfather, who was the only survivor of a shipwreck off the coast. Roland's grandfather is very secretive about the shipwreck. Roland takes Max and Alicia diving down to the wreck to find treasure. They find much more than treasure.

The Prince of Mist is a very mysterious book, that slowly, creepily, reveals it's secrets. The "slowly" part is the only reservation I would have when recommending this book. You have to be patient. There's a creepy cat, and old movies featuring Jacob to add to the mystery. It is very artfully done and captivating. I think I even got some chills during some parts of the book. Part of the chill-factor was the audiobook -- the reader, Jonathan Davis, was superb. He has this quiet, creepiness to his voice that worked perfectly with the story.

The ending got my heart pounding, and caused me to drive around the block a few times (audiobook...) to finish.

The Prince of Mist would be great for middle school or high school kids. The characters act like kids, and the writing is beautiful, but accessible.

Published by Little, Brown, 2010
Audiobook obtained from the library
224 pages

Rating: 3/5

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Book Review: The Book of Blood and Shadow, by Robin Wasserman

At the beginning of The Book of Blood and Shadow, we are told that Chris, one of the main characters is dead. It appears that this book is a  murder mystery. Well, it is that, but it's MUCH more than that.

Nora is our narrator, and she is doing an independent study during her senior year that involved translating Latin letters that were written about 400 years ago. That's right. Nora knows Latin. When most youngsters were taking piano lessons, Nora was taking Latin lessons from her father.

She is doing the translation for a university professor, and her best friend, Chris also works for the professor, as well as his roommate Max. It would stand to reason that while spending all that time together in a little room with nothing to do but translate old texts a romance would bloom. And it does. There are other well-defined characters, Adriane and Eli in particular, that are also essential.

So the question is, how do the translations of these 400-year-old letters relate to the murder of Chris? Well, that's the story. And it's a great one, well-told. Involving intrigue, conspiracies, religion, danger, and even romance. There's supposedly a machine called the Lumen Dei, that the letters give clues about. Apparently this machine allows one to communicated directly with God. There are people who want this machine. There are people who think this machine should be destroyed. But, it doesn't even exist, does it?

The Book of Blood and Shadow was a bit of a slow starter for me. I really grew to love the characters, especially Nora, so I was willing to immerse myself in her development. After things take off, it was unputdownable. Nora ends up in Prague trying to secretly meet Max after his disappearance. The setting and situations they find themselves in were very believable, and palpable. Wasserman does a great job making you feel you are in the back streets of Prague with these characters.

The plot took some unexpected twists and turns that were creative and exciting! I really had no idea how things were going to turn out, until they did. Nora is not the typical YA "kick-ass heroine." She's smart and determined, but physically depends on others (males) to rescue her. I kind of found this refreshing.  I love physically adept girls, but not all of us are -- and brains help too!

The book is long, detailed, and included a complex vocabulary so it's not for the average teen reader. But those that enjoy an intricate plot with history, drama, and romance will enjoy this one. It just requires an investment. The Book of Blood and Shadow should have wide appeal to adult fans of historical fiction too. And, yes, it has a "Da Vinci Code" vibe, so if you liked that one, you should definitely check out The Book of Blood and Shadow.


Published by Knopf, April 10, 2012
eBook obtained from NetGalley
448 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Blue Asylum, by Kathy Hepinstall

You would think that a book about life in an asylum during the Civil War would focus on the horrible conditions and mistreatment of the patients. Blue Asylum, while it does contain a bit of this unpleasant life, isn't really about that at all.

Iris Dunleavy has been sent to Sanabel Asylum because she wasn't a proper wife for her husband. We slowly find out exactly what actions prompted this court order, so I won't get into specifics here.

Suffice it to say, she isn't crazy. And, in fact, she is so sane that throughout the story she changes the lives of several other characters. Sanabel Asylum is run by Dr. Cowell, who lives on the island with his wife and young son, Wendell. You can imagine this is a very strange life for a young boy, to be isolated on this island.

Iris becomes friends with Ambrose who is suffering from PTSD from his experiences in the Civil War. This is how the reader gets the historical aspect of the novel, through Ambrose's eyes, as we slowly learn his story.

There are other characters that add to the richness of the setting and plot -- Mary, the wife of Dr. Crowell, the horrible matron who mistreats the patients, other patients such as the woman who swallows things and the woman who refuses to believe her husband is dead, and the chef, who is Wendell's only friend.

The pacing is slow, but steady. Blue Asylum creeps up on you and I found myself thinking about it when I was away from the book. There are some abrupt changes in the point of view, but this may have been because of the ebook ARC format, and hopefully will not be a problem with proper spacing and formatting in the final copy.

The best thing about Blue Asylum is the language. Hepinstall can really turn a phrase. I don't want to quote too much (although I could) because this is an ARC and subject to editing, but here's a small example: "A thought was coming around the corner, headed right toward him." These creative phrasings are all throughout the book and I enjoyed the language very much.

The ending is both heartbreaking and uplifting, and believable. While the historical part of Blue Asylum isn't the main focus, there's a good story here, including a bit of romance, adventure, and mostly characters to care about.

This is an adult book, and as such, I think it has limited appeal to teens. Those specifically interested in this period in history, may enjoy Blue Asylum. I would not hesitate to recommend Blue Asylum to adults who enjoy historical fiction and beautiful language.

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 10, 2012
eBook obtained from NetGalley
288 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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TED Talk: Chip Kidd on Designing Books

Thought this was entertaining and informative. Just had to share...

Chip Kidd doesn't judge books by their cover, he creates covers that embody the book -- and he does it with a wicked sense of humor. In one of the funniest talks from TED2012, he shows the art and deep thought of his cover designs. (From The Design Studio session at TED2012, guest curated by Chee Pearlman and David Rockwell.)

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Book Review: Breaking Beautiful, by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Breaking Beautiful is a heartbreaking story of a teen girl in trouble, unwilling to ask for help, and therefore she's flirting with disaster throughout most of the story.

Allie is in mourning for her boyfriend, Trip, who died in the car accident in which Allie was severely injured. She has a scar on her scalp, and her hair is all messed up because of it and also a scar on her face.

She finally decides she should go back to school, after her parents threaten to take her to counselling, and since she's never really had any friends except for Trip, she is surprised when everyone is so friendly and welcoming. That soon changes.

Allie's only friend is Blake, and they've been friends since they were children. But Blake is also a misfit, and the students at school don't treat him very nicely. Blake continues to push Allie to continue their friendship, even though they didn't really see each other while Allie was seeing Trip.

Allie doesn't remember the accident, except for bits of it that don't make sense. She knows there's more, but she is almost afraid to figure out what happened. It very quickly becomes clear that Trip abused Allie regularly during their relationship, and Allie begins to think maybe she killed him because of something he did to her.

Breaking Beautiful is a complex story and the resolution was somewhat surprising. There are several characters key to the story. Allie has a twin, Andrew, who has cerebral palsy since birth and is in a wheel chair. Allie's father is recently retired from the military, and has missed much of Allie's childhood while he was deployed. There are teachers, a police investigator, Trent's ex-girlfriend, and two of Trip's other friends who all play significant parts in the development of the story.

Wolf's writing is spot-on. The pacing was perfect. There was always small bits of important plot elements being revealed, and it's easy to read but contains enough detail to put the reader in the story and in particular, in Allie's head. Like I said, Breaking Beautiful broke my heart. It was one of those stories where I don't even know what I could have done to help Allie--she was such a mystery to those around her. Yes, maybe her parents should have been a bit more perceptive, but she hid her problems very well.

The resolution of Breaking Beautiful was perfect. It leaves the reader with hope, after a harrowing journey through the exposition of the truth about what really happened that night. Teens who like contemporary novels that tackle tough issues head on should be drawn to Breaking Beautiful, and I'm going to do my best to point them in that direction.

Published by Walker & Co., April 24, 2012
Copy obtained from Around the World ARC Tours
368 pages

Rating: 5/5

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