Annette's Book Spot

Friday, February 14, 2014

Feature & Follow Friday: A New Blog

Happy Friday, and Happy Valentine's Day! Here's this week's question:

Find a “new to you blogger” and feature their button on your post this week. Tell us why this blogger stands out to you.

I'm not really sure how long I've been following The Little Blog of Geek, but I don't think it's been too long. I'm impressed by the well-written and helpful book reviews. There are also some nice features and a cute design. This blog is a collaboration, and I really enjoy reading it.

Can't wait to check out some new blogs. Let me know if you have one for me to look at! Thanks to Parajunkee and Alison for being our gracious hosts. Make sure you go check them out. Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Book Review: Insanity, by Susan Vaught

I don't usually read book descriptions. As I was reading Insanity, I kept thinking, "this is almost like three separate stories." Well, here's what the amazon.com description says:

"In three connected stories all set in the same mental institution in rural Kentucky, ghosts of a very spooky sort make appearances in dark tunnels, abandoned bell towers and forgotten corners of the basements. Based on real local lore and the actual institution headed by Vaught herself."

Well, now that I know that's what it was supposed to be, I guess I have to reevaluate my opinion.

All of the stories take place in the same, very creepy mental institution. The stories have the same characters, but each is narrated by a different one. And each character has different magical powers. In each story, the danger builds to a crescendo, and then there's a big showdown among the evil spirits and our good guy characters, and there's a victory. Then we start all over from another perspective to battle a different demon.

If you like creepy, scary, disturbing ghost stories, Insanity is for you. Vaught can write scary scenes with some really nasty demons. Each situation is unique, and a different magical trick is pulled out of the hat to prevail.

As far as characters, well, we get to know them, but they aren't normal. I felt some sympathy for them and cared about their well-being. There's a little romance that helps too.

I just wasn't prepared for this type of story. I kept thinking, "well, this is the end right? But, I'm only 25% through the book!" I don't know what to do about this book dilemma. I wish there had been a blurb on the cover or something in the contents to indicate it was SUPPOSED to be three separate stories. Because, I really like to stay away from book descriptions. They often give way too much away. How do you feel about reading book blurbs? Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Recommend Insanity to your teens who like to feel the creeps!

Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens, February 18, 2014
eBook obtained from NetGalley
384 pages

Rating: 3/5

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Book Review: Me Since You, by Laura Wiess

Me Since You is a touching story, although very bleak.

Rowan skips school on the day that a young father jumps off a bridge holding his baby and kills them both. Rowan's father is a police officer who was first on the scene, since he had to pick up Rowan and bring her home when she got caught skipping.

This day changes Rowan's life.

There's a bit of a love interest named Eli. He has had a difficult life too, and the fact that he was on the bridge walking his dog during the incident complicates it even further. Rowan and Eli have a bond because of what happened, and soon a touching romance begins. I did enjoy this relationship, and I really loved the dog and the role she played in the story.

Most of Me Since You is about Rowan and her family's grief. Wiess has done an excellent job depicting how grief tears people apart, and different people grieve differently. But really, this goes on for pages and pages and I found it very repetitive. And I did find the behavior of at least one person to be unrealistic. Having dealt with the death of a family member before, I found this book really depressing. The end is very abrupt, just beginning to reveal meager signs of hope.

Wiess writes great characters, and the situations she puts them in are realistic and difficult. The middle of Me Since You just gets bogged down in the endless symptoms of grief. I will recommend Me Since You to my teens with the caveat that it's really a downer.

Published by MTV Books, February 18, 2014
eBook obtained from Edelweiss
368 pages

Rating: 3/5

Monday, February 10, 2014

Book Review: Angelfall, by Susan Ee @Susan_Ee

The fast pace of Angelfall made it unputdownable!

The earth has been attacked by angels. Penryn has spent the last couple months holed up, protecting her mother (a schizophrenic) and her sister (a paraplegic), but she's decided they need to move into the mountains near San Francisco where it will be safer. Nighttime is the best time to travel, but soon after they leave their home they encounter a fight among several angels. One of the angels gets his wings cut off, Penryn's sister gets taken by the angels, and she is separated from her mother.

Penryn decides to try to save the injured angel because he is the only one that can help her get her sister back. So begins a long and difficult trek to San Francisco, that involves a few dangerous detours.

Something is always happening in Angelfall. It's nonstop and tense. It's difficult to tell who are the good guys and who are the bad ones. Fortunately (or conveniently) Penryn has had significant training in self defense and martial arts. Because she's going to need to fight her way out of several scary situations. I was able to sympathize with Penryn and I really cared about her. She was so heartbroken to lose her sister and steadfast in her goal to find her again.

Rafe (the angel she saves) is very mysterious. We get to know bits and pieces about him, but it's obvious there's more to him. He's quiet and isn't giving anything up to Penryn. And the reader gets the feeling he knows more about this attack on Earth than he's willing to tell Penryn.

We don't know much about the details of what happened to get Earth to this point. That's intentional because this is the first book in a series (Penryn and the End of Days), and I'm sure more details will be revealed in future books. There were a few conveniences towards the end of the book that helped Penryn quite a bit, but I'm forgiving those. And the ending really doesn't have much closure. Penryn is in a relatively safe environment, but that's about all. There is much more to accomplish.

I'm looking forward to the second book, World After, which is already available. I'll be happy to recommend Angelfall to my teens who enjoy apocalyptic survival stories, angel stories, and dystopians.

Published by Skyscape, 2012
eBook purchased
288 pages

Rating: 4/5

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Stacking the Shelves -- An Interesting Detective

Time to tell you what books I got this week. Not a lot, but that's OK.

For Review:

Sorrow Bound, by David Mark, from Edelweiss

The third Sergeant Aector McAvoy novel. I've read the others (The Dark Winter and Original Skin), love this character, and can't wait for this one.

What did you get? Leave me a link! Thanks for visiting, and make sure you visit our hosts, Team Tynga's Reviews.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Feature & Follow Friday - Feels Like the First Time

Happy Friday! Hope you've survived the storms. We had our 8th snow day this week. It's time for a question from Parajunkee and Alison:

If you could read a book for the “first time” again, which book would it be? Why?

I have a feeling we might see this answer a lot. There are many, many books that I would like to experience for the first time. I think that's a different thing than wanting to re-read a book, because I have a lot of those too, but they are different books. I have a feeling we might see this answer a lot. But I really have a reason.

It's Harry Potter. Now, you must understand that I was an adult when this book came out. Like, a mom, with kids. I had always thought I didn't like fantasy. I was very limited in what genres I would choose to read. Harry Potter opened my eyes not only to fantasy, but to the possibility that I might like ALL KINDS of different genres, if they were well written books. And that has turned out to be true. I read pretty much EVERYTHING (well, not erotica, but I think I will try that someday.) Since I work with high school kids, I read mostly books that would be interesting or at least appropriate for that crowd. I think the fact that I read a wide variety of genres and am open to new genres also keeps me from burning out. I read about blogger/reading burnout all the time, and I've never experienced that. *knocks on wood*

Really I could list a bunch of other books, but I won't. I can't wait to see your answers though. Leave me a link! Thanks for visiting and come back soon.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

DNF Books Review: White Space, by Ilsa J. Bick

I gave up on White Space at about 30% into it. Here's why.

I was confused. And you are supposed to be confused, I get that. But weird things keep happening. We jump from character to character, setting to setting, and none of it makes sense. It's as if the world has been turned on its end.

Things happen to a bunch of characters, but we don't get any back story, so I really didn't care. Monster gets this guy...so what? I don't even know who he is. I must admit, that a little back story for a couple characters did come out, but not enough to make me connect with their story.

I want to know what's going on, I really do, but I can't just continue to read about random events that appear to have nothing to do with each other, and get nothing in return. I need some crumbs. White Space is also the first book in a series, so that concerns me too. I'm afraid I'll get all the way to the end (560 pages!!) and still nothing will be resolved.

This makes me sad, because I want you to understand that I've read a lot of Bick's work and have been impressed. White Space reminds me the most of Draw the Dark, which is a very unusual book, but I liked it a lot! I absolutely LOVED The Sin-Eater's Confession. And, I thoroughly enjoyed The Ashes Trilogy as well as Drowning Instinct. So, if you are like me and White Space wasn't for you, please don't give up on Bick. She's a great author. I just got impatient with White Space.

Also, if you finished White Space, and you think I really need to stick it out because awesome things happen and everything is explained and makes sense, then please leave me a comment so I can decide to finish it.

Published by EgmontUSA, February 11, 2014
eBook obtained from Edelweiss
163 (of 560) pages

Rating: DNF

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Book Review: Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore

Downton Abbey fans, you must read Manor of Secrets.

It's 1911 in the English countryside. Charlotte is tired of stuffy parties and the expectations of her mother regarding marriage to the "right" man. When her eccentric aunt comes for a visit her mother tells Charlotte she need to stay away from her aunt. This compels Charlotte to find out more about her aunt, the black sheep of the family.

She enlists the help of Janie, who works downstairs in the kitchen. They have met briefly before, but of course Janie and Charlotte are not supposed to have any contact with each other. Charlotte wants desperately to befriend Janie, but Janie risks everything by associating with Charlotte.

We have two girls who are rebelling against the norms of the society in which they live. There are interesting romantic developments along the way and a satisfying ending.

This isn't Downton Abbey, but it gives you a little taste of that life to tide you over. Manor of Secrets is a very quick read, and with its brisk pace it is worth the time. It's light and entertaining. The characters are developed enough to get a feel for society, and Charlotte's mother is the epitomizes this time period -- cold and inflexible. It's a simple, predictable story, but the time period and characters sell it.

I loved it. I just want more. I wish someone would write a book series like Downton, where we get in depth characterizations and a multi-layered plot. But in the meantime, pick up Manor of Secrets and enjoy yourself!

Published by Point, January 28, 2014
eBook obtained from NetGalley
320 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Book Review: The Deepest Secret, by Carla Buckley

The Deepest Secret is one of those books where you know the train wreck is coming, it's just a matter of how it happens.

We are first introduced to Tyler, who is a teenager with a rare medical condition that makes him not able to tolerate any UV light. I mean, none. It's like automatic skin cancer if he goes outside in the daytime. So, he lives his existence locked in his room during the day and can only come out at night. He still is in danger, and has to wear sunglasses even at night. He can't be in any halogen lighting either, because that contains UV. It's a difficult life.

Tyler's mother, Eve, lives to make him happy and keep him safe. The entire family is affected. Tyler's older sister, Melissa, can't live a normal life either. And David, his father, works away from home so is only there on weekends. There are complicated relationships, which make The Deepest Secret even more interesting.

The neighborhood is mostly supportive of Tyler, but he's keeping secrets about his nighttime activities. And, there is at least one house that refuses to cooperate and uses halogen yard lighting at night. Eve has had the streetlights turned off on their street. And they all know to turn off their headlights when they enter the road.

Things begin to unravel when a young neighbor girl goes missing. The reader knows what happened, well, at least part of it. So we go on this journey where we know people are lying, and eventually the house of cards is going to fall down. It's interesting to see relationships disintegrate just because of suspicions. Also, the lengths that people will go to protect their loved ones. And even though you think you know what happened, there are some surprises at the end which add a lot.

It's an interesting premise and I really enjoyed watching it all fall apart. I think The Deepest Secret is a little long winded. It takes too long for the "event" to happen, and the description of Tyler's life is long and drawn out. I thought the progression of the entire story could have moved along at a faster clip. But it's well written, and I had no problem sticking with it.

This is a minor complaint, and I think fans of what I will call the "family mystery drama" will enjoy The Deepest Secret a lot.

Published by Bantam, February 4, 2014
eBook obtained from NetGalley
448 pages

Rating: 4/5

Monday, February 3, 2014

Book Review: The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker @helenewecker

The Golem and the Jinni is one of the most unique books I've ever read.

The golem is created in the late 1800s to travel to New York to be a wife. While on the journey, the man dies, so the golem lands in New York harbor all alone, without any identification documents, and with the mind of a newborn. BTW, a golem is a creature made of dirt, but looks like a human and is tied to a master who she must obey no matter what. Our golem is rescued by a Jewish Rabbi, and takes the name Chava.

A jinni is a creature created of fire. Our jinni, Ahmad, is released from a bottle in New York after a thousand years of captivity. The person who releases the jinni is a tin smith named Arbeely. Ahmad doesn't remember how he became captive, and we get occasional flash backs that eventually fill in the blanks. And, he's still not really free. He cannot transform into his jinni (think genie) form and has an iron bracelet that cannot be removed.

The Golem and the Jinni become unlikely friends. But there's a lot more to the story. The Golem and the Jinni is full of colorful characters, each playing their parts to eventually weave this marvelous story to its conclusion. It's a delicious ride.

While certainly a fantasy novel, The Golem and the Jinni is also an excellent piece of historical fiction. The life in the Jewish settlement in New York in the early 1900s is depicted with detail and authenticity.

My only slight complaint is that the book is a bit long at 500 pages. Not that I got bored, but more like restless to find out what was going to happen. It kept my interest, even with the amount of detail that served to expand the number of pages. There are also a lot of characters, and some of their names change throughout history, so it takes some attention to keep track at times.

It's very difficult to explain the genre of The Golem and the Jinni. It is such a mix and so wonderfully written that it defies classification, and it doesn't really matter that it does so. If you desire to be fully immersed in a historical setting and mesmerized by some unique fantasy, then I highly recommend The Golem and the Jinni.

Published by Harper, 2013
eBook, purchased
496 pages

Rating: 4.5/5