The Corinthian - Georgette Heyer

Summary:  Penelope Creed will do anything to avoid marrying her repulsive cousin.  Dressed in boy's clothing, she's fleeing from London when she's discovered by Sir Richard Wyndham, himself on the verge of the most momentous decision of his life. 

When Sir Richard encounters the lovely young fugitive, he knows he can't allow her to travel to the countryside all alone, so he offers himself as her protector.  As it happens, at that very moment Sir Richard could use an escape of his own...  (Summary from book - Image from sourcebooks.com)

My Review:  Someone – I can’t remember who – raved about Georgette Heyer’s regency romance novels and how similar they were to Jane Austen novels. On that recommendation, I decided to try The Corinthian. Now, I wish I could remember who it was so that I could smack them upside the head with this book. Okay, perhaps it wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t that good either.

The beginning and end of this book were tolerable, I suppose, but not entertaining enough to make up for the tedium that fell in between (and yes, I'm blatantly ripping off Austen). While Heyer's particular brand of mad cap humor was amusing, her writing was dialog heavy and concerned primarily with circumstance rather than character depth or setting. Perhaps, if there had been an inkling of romantic tension between the two main characters, I might have stayed interested, but the story focused on their various escapades, with little regard for genuine emotional development. The "romance" only appeared when the characters admitted their feelings in the last 50 pages and, even then, it was lukewarm and hardly worth 261 pages of chatter.

Overall, I am entirely underwhelmed by this book. While it does adopt the setting, language, and customs of many Austen novels, it falls far short of the mark.  The Corinthian's best quality is its humor, but humor alone isn't enough to tempt me (to pick up another).  Oh there I go again...

Click here to read an excerpt of The Corinthian.

My Rating: 2.75 Stars

For the sensitive reader: As long as you are familiar with the old-fashioned definition of the word “ejaculated,” you should be fine. Otherwise, this book takes on an entirely different and exceptionally disturbing tone.

Sum it up: An occasionally amusing, frequently tedious, entirely unromantic romance.

The Emperor of Absurdia - Chris Riddell

Summary: What kind of world is it  where children are in charge and fishes swim the skies?  Where dinner comes before lunch, but then lunch hatches and runs off to fetch its -- uh-oh -- big bad, mama? 

But that's nothing compared to what the Emperor discovers when he wakes up the next morning!  From a two-time winner of the most prestigious picture-book award in Britain comes an adventure in which the extraordinary is ordinary and nothing is ever quite what it seems.  (Summary from book - Image from bookeg.com)

My Review:  In this book, incredible dreams become reality for one young boy. The emperor of Absurdia wakes up to find his snuggly scarf is missing! He sets out on a quest to find it, is surprised by a tiny dragon, and ends up being chased by a very large one! How will he escape? You’ll have to read this book and see.

The Emperor of Absurdia is gorgeous! The illustrations are exceptionally detailed, whimsical, and oh-so-imaginative -- think Steven Kellogg meets Dr. Seuss. Every time my daughter and I open this book, we spend a great deal of time exploring the nuances of each captivating page. The author’s subtle use of alliteration and cadence give the words a dreamy lilt without having to make everything rhyme. What makes this book extraordinary is how the last page flips the whole story on its head. My girls love that page and spend even more time examining those illustrations.

While this book is written for the pre-K to K set, my seven-year-old still thought it was pretty cool and although we checked out several books from the library, this is the one that my five-year-old keeps “reading” time and again. It’s also nice that, as many times as I’ve read it the last few days, it hasn’t become annoying. I will definitely be adding this book to our at-home library.

My Rating: 4.25 Stars  (Would have been 5 stars if they somehow could have worked in how it was important to clean your room and not fight with your sister)
 
Sum it up: A gorgeous and magical dream scape sure to captivate your child's imagination.

Home Safe - Elizabeth Berg

Summary:  In this stunning novel, beloved bestselling author Elizabeth Berg weaves a beautifully written and richly resonant story of a mother and daughter in emotional transit.  Helen Ames -- recently widowed, coping with grief, unable to do the work that has always sustained her -- is beginning to depend too much on her twenty-seven-year-old daughter, Tessa, meddling in her life and offering unsolicited advice.  Then Helen is shocked to discover that her mild-mannered and seemingly loyal husband was apparently  leading a double life.  When a phone call from a stranger sets Helen on a surprising path of discovery, both mother and daughter reassess what they thought they knew about each other, themselves, and what really makes a home and a family.  (Summary from book - Image scanned)

My Review:  Fear not!  Regardless of what you might infer from the above (aptly written) summary, this is not another book about a woman  who finds out her recently deceased husband was cheating on her.  Thank heavens!  That particular story, like vampire novels, is exceedingly overdone. 

Elizabeth Berg is one of my favorite authors. Long before I began this blog, I had read (and loved) several of her novels, including The Year of Pleasures, Never Change, Ordinary Lives, The Pull of the Moon, and Open House. Her books are an exploration of emotion – of life, love, and loss as seen through the eyes of a variety of women. They move slowly and sometimes make me cry, but they feel so real that I can’t stop reading. Normally, I avoid sad books because I over identify with the characters (translation: they make me depressed), but Elizabeth Berg always manages to write heartache and loss in a way that feels uplifting, genuine, and cathartic.

Home Safe is a brilliantly rendered, tender, and insightful story about love, grief, regret, and the sometimes tenuous bond between mothers and daughters.  Helen’s heartache at the loss of her husband was painful to read, but I loved being able to watch her work through it. Helen’s transparent attempts to interfere in her daughter’s life, and Tessa’s subsequent exasperation with her, felt incredibly authentic and thoroughly relatable. When Helen attempts to cure her writer’s block by teaching a writing class to an eccentric group of aspiring authors, I fell even deeper into the story. I loved the additional dimension that these characters brought to the story, and I only wish I could have heard more of “their” writing.

Home Safe had a certain stillness about it and I finished it with a calm and contented sigh. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller, look elsewhere, but if you’re looking for a story you can sink into and really experience, then pick up something by Elizabeth Berg.

Click here to visit Elizabeth Berg's website and see a list of her books (I haven't read them all!).

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader: A handful of F-words, uttered by one of her more colorful writing students and one mild conversation about sex.

Sum it up: A beautifully emotional story about a woman learning to let go and take control of her own life.

Branded - Keary Taylor

Summary:   Jessica's had the nightmares for as long as she can remember. Nightmares of being judged for people who have died, of being branded by the angels. Her friends and family think she's a crazy because of it all. Yet she carries the mark of the condemned, seared into the back of her neck, and hides it and herself away from the world.

But when two men she can't ignore enter her life everything changes, including the nightmares. The two of them couldn't be more different. She will do anything to be with one of them. Even tell him the truth about angels, why she never sleeps, and the scar on the back of her neck. But one of the two has set events into motion what will pull her toward her own judgment and turn her into the object of her greatest fear.   (Summary and image from www.kearytaylor.com - Book given free for an honest review)

My Review:  Branded is a fairly clean YA paranormal romance with interesting premise surrounding a young woman who, for as long as she can remember, is condemned to torturous nightmares every time she falls asleep. I liked that the author deviated from the stereotypical harp-strumming, halo-wearing angels and threw in some seriously evil ones. However, while the plot showed creativity and had good “bones” (my term for liking the core aspects of a story), I had a hard time with the rest of it.

Branded did not feel like a fully fleshed out novel and my impression was that it was written by a relatively inexperienced writer. In addition to the handful of typos missed by an editor, parts of the plot felt melodramatic or contrived while others felt either undeveloped or laden with detail. The characters lacked dimension beyond their assigned roles as sexy bad guy, troubled best friend, and super hot perfect boyfriend. Yes, Alex was perfect, with his delightfully chiseled abs, mad guitar skills, and unshakable love for Jessica, but since I’ve decided to be completely honest I’m going to let you in on a little secret…come close so I can whisper it to you… I am so over perfect. Give me a few flaws, just so I can pretend a guy like that could actually exist.  Alex was very much a case of too good to be true.

While a younger reader might not notice some of this book’s less than subtle foreshadowing, I could not ignore the story’s predictability. It didn’t take more than a chapter to figure out Cole’s big secret, and this transparency extended to the rest of the book. I always knew what was going to happen next…with the exception of the last two chapters. I will say that the conclusion was probably my favorite part of the book. I’m not saying that to be mean, so don’t start sending me hate mail. I’m serious. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I liked how she wrapped things up, leaving certain loose ends untied.

I guess the most that I can say about this book was that the creative storyline shows the author has potential as a writer. While this one didn’t end up being my cup of tea, I think that her upcoming dystopian novel, Eden, looks both gorgeous and promising. Don’t believe me? Click here to visit Keary Taylor’s website.

SIDENOTE:  Since receiving this book for review, Keary has released a new and improved second edition of Branded.  While I didn't want to scrap this review entirely, I did want mention some of the changes that were made in the new edition.  According to the author, all of the typos have been fixed, weaker points in the writing have been shored up, and we learn more about Jessica's past than in the first edition, like why she is the way she is and reacts to things the way she does.  I hope that gives a clearer picture of the Branded that is currently available. 

My Rating: 2.75 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Like I said, this book is mostly clean. While there are a few close calls (those crazy kids) things stay pretty PG on a fairly regular basis.

Sum it up: An interesting story, but not likely to be her best work.

A Cook's Tour : Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisine - Anthony Bourdain

Summary:  The only thing "gonzo gastronome" and internationally best-selling author Anthony Bourdain loves as much as cooking is traveling.  Inspired by the question, "What would be the perfect meal?", Tony sets out on a quest for his culinary holy grail, and in the process turns the notion of "perfection" inside out.  From California to Cambodia, A Cook's Tour chronicles the unpredictable adventures of America's boldest and bravest chef.  ( Summary from book - Image from www.bookcoverarchive.com )

My Review:  Anthony Bourdain is a famous chef and the best-selling author of Kitchen Confidential, a gritty and graphic behind-the-scenes look at restaurant kitchens. However, he wants more than just being in a kitchen and selling books. He wants to wander the world, getting into trouble, and eating amazing meals. So he speaks to his publisher. His hook?

“How about this?... I travel around the world, doing whatever I want. I stay in fine hotels and I stay in hovels. I eat scary, exotic, wonderful food, doing cool stuff like I’ve seen in movies, and looking for the perfect meal. How’s that sound?”

And his publisher bit. Now, in A Cook’s Tour: Global Adventure in Extreme Cuisine, Anthony takes readers (and a camera crew) along on his quest for adventure, trouble, and the perfect meal.

Okay, so until I read this book, I'd never actually heard of Anthony Bordain. I had to google him because I’m just not up on those kinds of things. Also, I don’t have cable. Mostly, I like to read about people who travel and eat.  You see, I am not an adventurous eater and I love books, like this one, that allow me to “sample” international cuisine and culture without the terrifying experience of actually having to sample it.  While I was a little disappointed to find out Anthony would be accompanied by a camera crew, it wasn’t hard to forgive him once he flat out admitted to selling out to the Food Network. I guess it’s hard to turn down an all expenses paid trip around the world.

Anthony's adventure started off a bit rocky; while he enjoyed the food, I think he was expecting bliss right away and was disappointed when he didn’t get much more than forced adventure. For a while he bounced in and out of the moment, alternating between loving (and hating) the experience, but eventually he found his groove. 

A Cook’s Tour provides plenty of opportunities to sample food and culture as Anthony eats his way around the world. Here’s a small sneak peek at some of his adventures: He helps slaughter a pig in Portugal, admires the elegant simplicity of Japanese cuisine (and eats one of the worst meals ever made), attends a vegan potluck in California (he hates vegans), kills fluffy bunnies in Scotland (vegans don’t like him much either), eats braised reindeer in Russia (and a little vodka), is force fed iguana in Mexico, eats the most impressive restaurant meal of his life in California, and falls in love with the food and people of Vietnam (but not their driving). Each chapter was a revelation of experience and I loved how he managed to weave food, culture, politics, and history into his narrative. Through it all, Anthony discovers that when looking for the perfect meal – one composed of “good food, good company, exotic ambiance, and an element of adventure,” – it’s all relative, and that “perfection” can be found in the most unexpected places.

While I really enjoyed reading about his adventure, Anthony is kind of a jerk. Well, to be perfectly honest, he’s a pompous, mean-tempered, arrogant, vulgar, foul-mouthed heathen and he’s proud of it. His less-than-polite personality is reflected in every facet of this book, especially when he rants about anti-smoking laws,  vegetarians, and a variety of other topics. A sensitive reader might do well to steer clear or opt for watching the video version on The Food Network (where I’m reasonably certain it will be edited for television). Overall, I enjoyed this book and, while I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone (e.g. my mother), I might recommend it to a few die-hard foodies who would appreciate the journey.

Sidenote: This book has some similarities to Eat My Globe, another book about a man who travels around the world eating all types of food. The difference between the two books is that Anthony was a professional chef in pursuit of the perfect meal, while Simon was more professional eater on a quest to eat the good, the bad, and the hideously disgusting (on purpose).

My Rating: 3.5 Stars (It might have been more if there had been less swearing and vulgarity)

For the sensitive reader: Um. Watch the show on The Food Network. I’m pretty sure it’s edited for television.

Sum it up: An enjoyable trip, full of great food, stories, and observations, but you have to wade through a quite a bit of muck.

Maranatha - C. Wood

Summary:  The Holy Spear of Destiny has been removed from its display in the Vienna Hofburg Museum, and strangely vandalised.

When she is called upon by the Hofburg authorities to test the authenticity of the spear, metallurgist Vanessa Descartes quickly realises she is involved in a horrific murder case.  The severed head of a museum security guard has been left upon a silver plate, and grotesque and baffling mutilations carried out upon the body.

She is joined in the investigation by eccentric Oxford scholar Dr. Emmanuel Khalamanga, who is convinced of a connection to ancient Holy Grail legends and Professor Tomas de Carranza, a best-selling author of radical Biblical histories.

This diverse trio find themselves in a race against time with the Vienna police department to solve the growing mystery.  But as they interpret the symbols left at the scene, and discover more pieces of the puzzle, a greater and even more terrifying reality reveals itself; the existence of an invisible 'holy war' that has been fought since the Middle Ages, and is about to end in blood and death on the streets of Vienna.

And should the wrong side claim victory with the power of the holy relics, an unthinkable holocaust will be unleashed, driven by dark mysticism and insane genetic science...  (Summary from book - Image from amazon.com - Book given free for review )

My Review:  Maranatha begins with a murder, a rape, another murder, and then a gruesome ritualistic slaying. I knew that there was some violence in this book, but I wasn’t prepared to be smacked with high velocity spatter within the first few pages. After the initial slaughter, things die down a bit (ha!) while the main characters try to piece together a frighteningly complex puzzle and prevent further casualties. This was the part of the book that I felt most lost. To be honest, much of the deeper theorizing went soaring over my head. Way over. As in, spaceships had a better view.  This continued on for a while, but once the characters understood what they were facing, I became more interested in the story and was delighted by some of the twists and turns in the plot.

It is impossible to read Maranatha without comparing it to The Da Vinci Code – a comparison that is sure to delight (or infuriate) the author of this book. Both begin with brutal ritualistic killings laden with symbolism that send the main characters on a frantic quest for answers. They both have deeply religious themes and equal amounts of what might be considered blasphemous and radical historical and religious theories. While Maranatha had a similar feel to The Da Vinci Code, the latter was easier to understand and did a better job relating to the average reader. I think this book would fare better with someone who had a basic knowledge or passing interest in religious mythology, radical Christain beliefs, gnostic mysticism, alchemy, and esoteric Christianity.

Maranatha has some delicious surprises and raises some interesting ideas about the duality of faith (with its destructive and sustaining powers), but ultimately it just wasn’t my bag. I didn’t like the illustrations, had a hard time understanding many of the references, and I never felt pulled to read it when I was doing other things.

For those who want a teensy spoiler: While the book never flat-out explains how the title, Maranatha, relates to the story, a quick Wikipedia search hints at certain aspects of the plot.

My Rating: 2.75 Stars

For the sensitive reader: As with The Da Vinci Code, there is the possibility that some might find this book extremely offensive. I consider myself a conservative Christian, but I also recognize fiction when I see it and usually let a lot of things slide. There is violence (murder/rape), the occasional profanity, a great deal of radical religious theorizing, and a particularly disturbing drug-induced fantasy involving Christ.

Sum it up: A mystery/thriller for someone with a basic knowledge of (or desire to learn about) gnostic mysticism, esoteric Christianity, alchemy, and other radical theories.

So Sexy So Soon : The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids - Diane E. Levin, Ph.D & Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D

Summary:  Thong panties, padded bras, and risque Halloween costumes for young girls. T-shirts that boast "Chick Magnet" for toddler boys.  Sexy content on almost every television channel, as well as in books, movies, video games, and even cartoons.  Hot young female pop stars wearing provocative clothing and dancing suggestively while singing songs with sexual and sometimes violent lyrics.  These products are marketed aggressively to our children; these stars are held up for our young daughter to emulate--and for our sons to see as objects of desire.

Popular culture and technology inundate our children with an onslaught of mixed messages at earlier ages than ever before.  Corporations capitalize on this disturbing trend, and without the emotional sophistication to understand what they are doing and seeing, kids are getting into increasing trouble emotionally and socially; some may even engage in precocious sexual behavior.  Parents are left shaking their heads wondering: How did this happen?  What can we do?

So Sexy So Soon is an invaluable and practical guide for parents who are fed up, confused, and even scared by what their kids--or their kids' friends--do and say.  Diane E. Levin, Ph.D., and Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D., internationally recognized experts on early childhood development and the impact of the media on children and teens, understand that saying no to commercial culture -- TV, movies, toys, Internet access, and video games -- isn't a realistic or viable option for most families.  Instead, they offer parents essential, age-appropriate strategies to counter the assault.

Filled with savvy suggestions, helpful sample dialogues, and poignant true stories from families dealing with these issues, So Sexy So Soon provides parents with the information, skills, and confidence they need to discuss sensitive topics openly and effectively so their kids can just be kids.  (Summary from book - Image from www.dianeelevin.com )

My Review:  “Beth” usually wears a skintight top and low slung jeans. Like most girls, she worries about her weight and wonders whether boys find her attractive. She wants to be a superstar, like Lady Gaga, and loves singing along with I Like it Rough, while swaying her hips to the music. Beth isn’t 18, or 14, or even twelve-years-old. She’s seven. She wants to be “sexy,” and she has no idea what that means.

In recent years, a startling number of children, tweens, and teens have demonstrated signs of “early sexualization.” These children show an alarming interest in sexual behavior, language, and the exploration of sexual relationships, long before such behavior is considered developmentally appropriate. This sexualized childhood manifests in a variety of ways but is easily visible in the way young children dress, speak, and interact.

If you’re like me, and this trend scares you senseless, then So Sexy So Soon might be one of the most important parenting books you’ve ever read. Without proper guidance, children of all ages and genders can become confused by subtle and not-so-subtle messages found in popular culture (e.g. books, magazines, movies, television, the internet, music, music videos, video games, etc.). Through a series of unsettling examples and well-researched studies, this book shows the negative effects that early exposure to inappropriate imagery can have on our children. It also serves as a scathing indictment of industries that value profit over principle, targeting children through advertisement and spreading the idea that appearance determines an individual’s worth or personal happiness.

While we can and should control the flow of media into our own homes, our children will still receive mixed messages while standing in the checkout line, on the playground, from friends, or even older siblings. So Sexy So Soon alerts parents to possible dangers, but also provides useful ways to counteract harmful messages that slip through the cracks and promote healthy, age appropriate sexual development. For example, the authors describe how to establish relationships where children will feel comfortable asking questions or voicing concerns. They also provide tips for dealing with teenagers, combating negative stereotypes, teaching children how to evaluate images they encounter, and much more.

I read So Sexy So Soon with my three young daughters in mind, but there was plenty of information for families blessed with Y chromosomes. The authors’ explain how media and the early sexualization of young girls can negatively influence the perspective of young males. They also show how unrealistic standards of masculinity are established and maintained through early exposure to violent video games, music videos, toys, books, and other social media.

This book was a brutal wake-up call – the smack you in your face kind. It wasn’t always an easy read and occasionally blew things out of proportion, but it validated many of my concerns, helped identify other areas that need special attention, and offered reasonable solutions to problems I might encounter. I recommend this book as a compelling and invaluable resource to every parent who is concerned with the current trend towards sexualized childhood and looking for ways to limit media influence in the home.

My Rating: 5 Stars.  *I feel like I should qualify my rating because I'm wavering between 4 and 5 stars, depending on the day*  Occasionally this book slides into the sensational and scary.  In other words, it tries to scare the pants off you and most likely will succeed.  I gave this book five stars because I feel this book does a reasonably good job of addressing a subject that every parent should consider, NOT because every solution is perfect or the writing is amazing.

For the sensitive reader: Some frank discussion of sexual topics and media that kids might encounter. Some of the language used could be considered offensive, but I really felt it was necessary to illustrate the problems our children are likely to encounter.

Sum it up: A must read for any parent.

To learn more, visit the So Sexy So Soon website at http://www.sosexysosoon.com/ or click here to read the introduction.

These Happy Golden Years - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Summary:  Laura, not yet sixteen, takes a job teaching school in a drafty shanty twelve miles from home.  It's a terrifying job.  Most of her pupils are taller than she is -- and she has to board with a hateful, crazed lady.  Laura is miserable, but she must help to keep her blind sister Mary in school.  And every Friday, when the school week is over, Almanzo arrives in his sleigh -- come all twelve miles across the desolate icy slough to take her home to her family  for the weekend.  Could it be love?  (Summary from book - Image from openlibrary.org )

My Review:  These Happy Golden Years has a different feel than the novels that precede it. With Laura grown up, by De Smet standards, the story focuses more on her life outside of the Ingalls household -- teaching school, studying for exams, and living in the homes of strangers. A homesick Laura is delighted by fleeting weekends with her family and regular Sunday drives with Almanzo. I enjoyed Almanzo’s attention to Laura, and her bewilderment by it, but found that I missed the pleasures of daily life in the Ingalls home and wished for more detail sprinkled between the weekdays and carriage rides.

As with Little Town on the Praire, this book paid excessive attention to fashion, much to my disappointment and disinterest, but Laura’s budding relationship with Almanzo more than made up for it. My seven-year-old daughter loved it as well, which was a little disturbing, and she kept giggling each time Almanzo showed up to take Laura for a buggy ride. She was aghast at life with the Brewsters, which only served to highlight the love and warmth of Laura’s childhood home.

My youngest daughter made the occasional appearance while reading, but my eldest constantly pestered me to read “just one more!” This book ends in the expected wedding and Laura’s bittersweet journey from the Ingalls homestead to her new home with Almanzo.

We finished this book in around four days and Kaisa bolted downstairs to get the final book (or the follow-up, depending on your perspective), The First Four Years.

My Rating: 4 Stars

Sum it Up:  Laura gets a life, and love, of her own. 

Cinderella : Ninja Warrior - Maureen McGowan

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior is part of the Twisted Tales series by Maureen McGowan. Also in the series? Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer.

Summary:  In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince -- she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge in a dangerous situation.  Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after.  In a special twist, you will have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next -- but no matter the choice, the result is unlike any fairy tale you've ever read.  (Summary from book - Image from amazon.com)

My Review: The second I saw the title of this book I knew my daughters would love it. Like most young girls ages five and seven, they enjoy dressing as princesses, but mine like to roam around the house as pirates, jedis, and ninjas, as well.

Whether you like this book or not will probably depend on your age. From an early tween or YA perspective, this book will likely register as a fast paced, unique, and innocently romantic story of a much more assertive Cinderella. As an adult, I found it all a bit melodramatic, disconnected, and silly, but enjoyed the choose-your-own adventure aspect and think most twelve-year-old girls will eat it up.

My girls certainly loved the addition of Cinderella’s spectacularly acquired ninja skills and magical abilities. That having been said, I quit reading it (to them) because I felt that the romantic aspect of the story was a bit over their heads – nothing inappropriate mind you – just more gushy and wistful than I’m ready for them to be reading. They threw a fit. Perhaps I should have paid closer attention to the 12 and up recommendation.

While this book wasn’t necessarily to my tastes, I applaud the author’s attempt to infuse traditional fairytale with an inventive plot and an empowering heroine. I love that the reader can choose how Cinderella will act without cutting the story short, and I do plan to save this book for my girls to read when they are a bit older.

My Rating: 3 Stars for an adult, 3.5 for an older tween or YA reader.

For the sensitive reader: One use of “breasts” when “chest” would have worked just fine. Other than that, you’re home free.

Sum it up: An interesting twist on a well-known fairytale.

Facing Forward : A Life Reclaimed - Reba D + GIVEAWAY

I will be giving this book to someone who really needs it.  See the bottom of this post for details.

Summary:  Like so many women, I wanted a home, children, a loving husband, and a pet.  When life didn't work out the way I'd hoped by the time I was 30, I started to panic.  I was actively looking for love when I met a man who would ultimately change my life and the lives of those closest to me.

This story has a happy ending.  Unfortunately, not all victims of domestic violence are so fortunate.  There are steps you can take to free yourself or help free someone you know.  Through my story, you'll find out how.  You will walk away with a better understanding of how someone can lose everything to an abuser -- and when she is ready, reclaim her life.

What would ever make a woman settle for someone she knew in her heart wasn't right?  Worse, what would make her stay in an abusive marriage or relationship once she realized the truth?  A lot of things, among them, shame and fear.  Shame of leaving, shame of failure, fear of his retaliation, fear of personal marital details becoming public in a divorce proceeding -- and fear of suffering socially or financially by a divorce.  For some, there's the fear of being alone.  If you're unable to understand this, be thankful.  But also be careful.  Prior to my marriage to the pastor, I would never have tolerated anyone treating me this way.  (Summary from book - Image from www.mondialbooks.com  - Book given free for review)

My Review:  Facing Forward is a heartbreaking account of one woman's struggle to endure nearly two years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of her husband. I warn you, this story is both compelling and disturbing. Once I picked it up, I could think of little else. I read it all in a day because I could not go to sleep without seeing the author safely out of her marriage.

Reba’s husband Philip is a seemingly dedicated Lutheran pastor, affectionate and attentive when he has an audience, but frightfully domineering and vindictive behind closed doors. Almost immediately after the wedding (and to be perfectly honest, even before it), Philip begins to insult Reba and berate her for the smallest of perceived offenses. To make matters worse, Philip's parents – who are, quite possibly, the most offensive, psychotic, and dysfunctional parents I have ever heard, seen, or read about – visit frequently and only uphold their son’s treatment of his wife. At first, Reba tries to stand up for herself, but when the verbal abuse escalates to the occasional physical confrontation, she discovers it is far easier to walk on eggshells and give in to her husband’s demands in order to keep the peace.

In Facing Forward, Reba acknowledges the red flags she missed, and those she simply ignored or rationalized away. From a outsider's perspective, it would be easy to see the same warning signs and say, "She's such an idiot. She should have seen it coming” or “There is no way I would have put up with that behavior. I would have left right away." However, the reality of abuse is always more complicated than it seems. Reba states "living in an abusive relationship can turn the most confident, secure, independent person into someone she never would have previously believed possible." Nowhere is this more evident than in Reba's own brief marriage as she transforms from an assertive, passionate woman to a fearful, desensitized submissive. Although Reba's situation deteriorated more quickly than most, such abuse is not uncommon. Her husband exhibited behavior typical of an abusive partner and it wasn’t long before she showed all the signs of being abused. It was only through her own determination and the loving support of family and friends that Reba was finally able to leave her husband and regain her sense of self-worth.

If I've learned anything from James Frey, Milli Vanilli, and the allegations currently swirling around Greg Mortenson, it is that sometimes people embellish the truth, pay lip service, or outright lie to make themselves look better. While it is true that there are always two people in a marriage and two sides to every story, I felt that Reba gave an honest portrayal of her marital woes. She was upfront about her own, relatively microscopic, failings in the marriage and accepted the blame for times when she erred, regardless of her husband's inexcusable behavior.

Facing Foward is a riveting narrative, but the author did not write it to entertain. She shared her story in the hope that it could serve as a wake-up call for someone currently living in an abusive relationship or lend some perspective to those trying to support a love one who is being abused. I recommend this book to everyone. Read it and you might recognize the signs. Read it and you might find the strength to leave.

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader: There were a handful of times in this book when the couple's sex life came into play. While I understand its relevance to their relationship and this book, I would have been okay with a little less detail. The pastor is also quite fond of profanity-laced tirades.

Sum it up: A compelling memoir of abuse and a life reclaimed.

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A Note from Reba:

For too long, domestic violence was something no one talked about in polite circles. But that didn't mean it didn't exist. Today, few people haven't been touched by it personally or known someone who has.  Today, we know longer accept it the way things have to be. We know we have choices, options and that help is available. As we continue to raise our social consciousness, we learn that it's only by facing this openly together that we can bring about the awareness that ultimately leads to change. If you know someone in need of help anywhere in the US, download a free state-by-state resource guide at http://www.facingforward-alifereclaimed.com/ 

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As of right now, this book has been claimed. 

You can buy your own copy of Facing Forward here or the Kindle edition (for $4.99) here.  

GIVEAWAY:  Because I feel that more people could benefit from this book, I will ship my copy to the first person* who contacts me at mindyoja AT hotmail DOT com.  Please only write if you are currently involved in or know someone who is involved in an abusive relationship.  Read it and, when you're through, pass it on.


*US residents only.  I can't afford to ship internationally.

The Third - Abel Keogh + GIVEAWAY

Hey guess what!?  We're giving away an

autographed copy of this book! 

See below for details!

Summary:  When Ransom Lawe, a recycler in the Pacific Northwest, finds out his wife is pregnant with their third--and therefore illegal--child, he's forced to choose between the government who proclaims a desire to save the planet and his hope for a place where his family can live in freedom.  But with the Cencus Bureau Sentinels closing in on his wife and unborn child, Ransom's choice will either save his family or tear them apart forever. (Summary from book - Image from abelkeogh.com - Book given free for review)

My Review:  I know what you're thinking.  Another dystopian novel?  Really?  Are you ever going to stop reading these?  Nope.  Never.  I love them.  The seemingly utopian society. The twisted morality. The character's struggle to survive.  They just, well, complete me (or something along those lines).  So, learn to deal with it.

Most dystopian novels begin in a outwardly perfect society before events uncover a seemy underbelly, but The Third skips over all that and drops you directly into a horrifying world where children are seen as a nuisance, and worse, expendable.  Ransom Lawe lives in our world, in 2065.  People are near starving, and third children are ripped from their mothers bodies by a tyrannical government bent on saving mother earth and controlling the population. 

I don't want to reveal much, but this story was disturbing and intense.  I am the mother of three young children and rarely find time to read during their waking hours, but after a few chapters I was desperate to read more.  All I can say is thank heavens for preschool...and naps...or I might have gone insane. 

I'd also like to give a nod (or a gigantic round of applause) to the author, who manages to keep this story free from the sex and language that seem to accompany other books.  While there is some violence, it is of the hand-to-hand combat variety and tame enough for an older YA reader. 

The Third tied up some loose ends, but there is much more of the story to be told.  As soon as I finished, I contacted the editor to confirm that there was another book and the author even let me read the first chapter (which is sure to torture me for a while).  I look forward to reading the next two books in the series when they are published.

My Rating:  4 Stars

For the sensitive reader:  Some hand-to-hand violence between characters, and one scene of violence towards an infant at the beginning (more of a "putting the child in danger" situation).

Sum it up:  An intense and evocative ride.

Read the first chapter or learn more about Abel Keogh here.

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Eligibility: This giveaway is open to US/CAN residents only.  It will end on  May 31st at 11:59 PM.  The winner will be chosen randomly, posted publicly and contacted swiftly to arrange shipping.  Good luck!

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Little Town on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Summary:  The long hard winter was over.  The people of De Smet, South Dakota, came outdoors and began to live again.  They held church socials, dances, and "literaries."  In the summer, Laura took a grueling job -- making shirts, through long hard hours.  She wanted the money to help send Mary to the college for the blind in Vinton, Iowa.  Suddenly, Laura was a young lady.  And who but the dashing Almanzo Wilder escorted her home in the evenings!  (Summary from book - Image from www.littlehouse.wikia )

My Review:  After the long winter, the Ingalls family moves back out onto their claim for the summer and Laura spends the time studying for her teachers certificate and working in town to help pay for Mary's education.  In the fall, a plague of blackbird plagues leads to lost crops but ample blackbird pie. 

When winter rolls around again, the claim shanty isn't ready to weather the storm, so the family moves back to town and the girls become "city girls".  Laura is growing up.  Before long, she gets invited to parties and sociables,  and even begins paying attention to fads, fashion, and (gasp) boys.  My girls were particularly interested in the reappearance of mean-spirited Nellie Oleson, and the problems with the new school teacher (who also happens to be Almanzo Wilder's sister).  My eldest thought it was hysterical that Laura got to ride in Almanzo's buggy instead of a certain snobby schoolmate who shall remain nameless.

Despite my love for this series, there were a few things that I didn't like about this book.  Because Laura is more interested in clothing and looking fashionable, there were many times that clothing was described down to the most minute detail.  Bo-ring.  My kids couldn't picture it and didn't much care.   Also, towards the end of the book, the Ingalls family attends a literary where several men paint their faces black, dress up as "darkies" and put on a show.  Definitely not the most P.C. moment in Little House history, as the word "darkies" was used a number of times.  I just substituted the word "performers" and read quickly.  My children also didn't understand the church revival at all and I think were a little distressed by all the yelling. 

My five-year-old has all but detached herself from this series now, choosing instead to look at other books while I read to her older sister.  I suppose that Laura has grown up too fast for her, but my seven-year-old still begs me to read and dissolves into giggles the moment Almanzo's name is mentioned.  When we finished this one (without her sister) she gleefully ran downstairs to get "These Happy Golden Year" proclaiming that "Laura and Almanzo are going to get married in this one."  Should I be worried?  I mean, she's seven.

My Rating: 3.75 Stars

Sum it up:  A welcome reprieve from The Long Winter, with some interesting description of town life.

Across the Universe - Beth Revis

Summary:  Amy is a cryogenically  frozen passenger aboard the spaceship Godspeed.  She has left her boyfriend, friends -- and planet -- behind to join her parents as a member of Project Ark Ship.

Amy and her parents believe they will wake on a new planet, Centauri-Earth, three hundred years in the future.  But fifty years before Godspeed's scheduled landing, cryo chamber 42 is mysteriously unplugged, and Amy is violently woken from her frozen slumber.

Someone tried to murder her.

Now, Amy is caught inside a tiny world where nothing makes sense.  Godspeed's 2,312 passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader.  And Elder, Eldest's rebellion teenage heir, is both fascinated with Amy and eager to discover whether he has what it takes to lead.

Amy desperately wants to trust Elder.  But should she put her faith in a boy who has never seen life outside the ship's cold metal walls?  All Amy knows is that she and Elder must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill her again.  (Summary from book - Image from bethrevis.com)

My Review:  Let's clear something up right away - this book is in no way based on Beatles lyrics or on the 2007 movie of the same title.  If that's why you're reading this review, you can stop right now.

Anyone left?

Okay.  This Almost the Universe is a fresh and fascinating YA sci-fi romance with a little mystery thrown in.  I loved the unique setting and I read the whole book rather quickly, considering the distractions that three kids can offer, but was not left without some concerns.  From an adult perspective, the writing was fairly basic and nearly every twist was easy to see coming.  A younger reader might not care about those things, but certain aspects of this book (namely the Season which causes everyone but the main characters to exhibit the rutting instincts of animals) left me questioning it's suitability for the YA audience. 

That said, the grown-up in me still enjoyed the afternoon.

My Rating:  3.5 Stars

For the sensitive reader: Some sexual language, plenty of "mating" during the Season, and one mildly graphic attempted rape.  Only one use of actual profanity, but several uses of made-up words like frexing, chutz, and shite, that convey a similar message.

Sum it up:  Fun but predictable.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K. Rowling

Summary:  The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readers' attention in the book known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Now, thanks to Hermione Granger's new translation from the ancient runes, we present this stunning edition with an introduction, notes, and illustrations by J.K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore.  Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales:  "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot," "The Fountain of Fair Fortune,"  "The Warlock's Hairy Heart," "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump," and of course, "The Tale of the Three Brothers."  But not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love, reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter. (Summary from book - Image from amazon.com)

My Review:  The Tales of Beedle the Bard is an interesting, but relatively unimportant, addition to the Harry Potter series.  I read the fairy tales to my children and the commentary by Albus Dumbledore to myself (since they haven't read the HP series).  The commentary by Albus Dumbledore was not as insightful as I would have liked, but did give some alternate perspective and have moments of Dumbledore's signature humor.

Most of the fairy tales can be read as stand-alone bedtime stories for children, even those who aren't familiar with J.K. Rowling's previous works.  The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, The Fountain of Fair Fortune, and Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump were lighter, more traditional fairytales and my girls loved them.  The Tale of the Three Brothers was significantly darker but I loved the eery feel and its connection with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  However, I wouldn't recommend reading The Warlock's Hairy Heart to your young ones.  Preceded by two sweeter tales, a less discerning parent might end up speechless and scrambling at the paragraph "The maiden lay dead upon the floor, her breast cut open, and beside her crouched the mad warlock, holding in one bloody hand a great, smooth, shining scarlet heart, which he licked and stroked, vowing to exchange it for his own."  Not that that ever happened to me. *awkward pause*  Um.  Anyway. 

Perhaps the best reason to purchase The Tales of Beedle the Bard is that all royalties will be donated to the Children's High Level Group, which works to make a real difference in the lives of many institutionalized and marginalized children.  While it doesn't inspire the same devotion as its thicker counterparts, I'm glad I have my copy to sit alongside the series.

My Rating: 3 Stars

Sum it up: A welcome addendum to the Harry Potter series.

Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles

Summary:  A modern tale of star-crossed lovers with a fresh urban twist. At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago , everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive. So when Brittany Ellis and Alejandro “Alex” Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations – that Brittany ’s flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex’s bad-boy persona hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they’re together, life somehow makes more sense. Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface. (Summary and image from http://www.simoneelkeles.net/)

My Review:  Pride and Prejudice meets She's All That and West Side Story in this gritty, urban romance by Simone Elkeles.  Alex and Brittany have nothing in common.  He's a hardened member of the Latino Blood street gang and she's Ms. Perfect, with her perfect grades, perfect hair, and perfect life.   When the two are thrown together in chemistry class, they couldn't be more unhappy about it and emotions run high.  But things change, as they often do in books like this, and it isn't long before the tension between them is of an entirely different nature.   Neither Alex or Brittany are what they seem and as they get to know each other, the truth comes out in unexpected ways. 

No doubt about it, this book is a YA romance novel and not much else.  It had a great deal of profanity, sexual comments, sexual situations, and substance abuse -- far more than I feel is necessary or appropriate in a YA novel.  It might have been a little less offensive if I didn't speak Spanish, because then I would have missed certain words and innuendo, but there were plenty of English ones to go around.  That having been said, I read this 357 page novel from cover to cover in four hours.  And not just any four hours.  I looked at the clock at 2am when I was crazy enough to think "I'll just read a chapter" and I didn't look at it again until I finished at 6am.  Yes, I realize this makes me crazy.  Obviously, I was a wee bit invested in their relationship, okay?

I was disappointed by this book's romanticized view of gang membership, because I felt most of the time their behavior was toned down to be more "attractive bad boy" than "lethal killer" (with exceptions made towards the end).  Simone Elkeles has written several other YA novels in this same genre that usually revolve around teens working through problems of fitting in, or dealing with difficult situations at home.  She has written two more books that follow Alex's brothers, Carlos and Luis: Rules of Attraction (2010) and Chain Reaction (releasing Aug. 16th, 2001). While I wouldn't recommend this book to young adults, I think that an older adult, who is not bothered by sex, profanity, etc. might enjoy this YA romance. 

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

For the sensitive reader:  If it wasn't for all the profanity, sexual comments, and sexual situations, I would probably have given this book a four star rating.  I definitely did not feel it was suitable for a YA audience (at least not my YA's), however "realistic" it might have been. 

Sum it up:  A very mature YA romance (that kept me up all night, literally)

The Tiger Rising - Kate DiCamillo

Summary:  The Tiger Rising is the tale of 12-year-old Rob Horton who finds a caged tiger in the woods behind the Kentucky Star Motel where he lives with his dad. The tiger is so incongruous in this setting that Rob views the apparition as some sort of magic trick. Indeed, the tiger triggers all sorts of magic in Rob's life--for one thing, it takes his mind off his recently deceased mother and the itchy red blisters on his legs that the wise motel housekeeper, Willie May, says is a manifestation of the sadness that Rob keeps "down low." Something else for Rob to think about is Sistine (as in the chapel), a new city girl with fierce black eyes who challenges him to be honest with her and himself. Spurred by the tiger, events collide to break Rob out of his silent introspection, to form a new friendship with Sistine, to develop a new understanding of his father, and most important, to lighten his heart.  (Summary from http://www.2scholastic.com/ - Image from http://www.betterworldbooks.com/  )


My Review:  It seems that Kate DiCamillo can do no wrong.  I've read (and loved) Because of Winn Dixie and we've reviewed The Tale of Despereaux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane with positive praise.  I found The Tiger Rising at a local used book store and knew it would be good -- most National Book Award finalists are -- but I had no idea it would knock my socks off.  I mean, it's little.  Tiny.  Miniscule.  

The Tiger Rising is a stunningly expressive tale, thick with emotion and beautifully written.  While the plot itself was quite simple -- perfect for the 9-12 reader -- I feel that a child might not understand the symbolism or appreciate the elegant language and emotional nuances.  They can read it, of course, but I think that an adult might get more out of it. 

The Tiger Rising is populated with a vibrant cast of characters, but my absolute favorite was the housekeeper, Willie May.  She exuded wisdom, sass, and a fierce independence that is evident in one of my favorite lines of the book, "I ain't got to do nothing, except stay black and die."   She is by no means the only fabulous character.  Rob is one tough little kid, but eventually he'll have to open that suitcase.  His father is kind, but barely holding it together.  And Sistine?  Well, Sistine might be in denial, but she still rocks.  Several of these characters work through a spectrum of emotions in this book and, while the story and its the ending were bittersweet, it had the effect of being a very cathartic read.  I felt lighter after I'd read it.

This book is a great gymnastics/karate/dance class read.  Basically, you can read it in under an hour if you don't have kids poking you.  So drop them off, lock yourself in the car, and have at it.

My Rating:  4.5 Stars

Sum it up:  A tiny book that packs a powerful punch.

The Rape of Kuwait - Jean Sasson

Summary:  At dawn, on August 2, 1990, Iraq's troops stormed across the Kuwaiti border, collapsing the goverment of its tiny neighbor in a matter of hours.  The brutality with which this illegal invasion was carried out -- and the atrocities to which the Kuwaiti population are subject on a dailiy basis -- will shock the world.

Jean P. Sasson traveled to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, England, and the U.S. to gather firsthand accoutns of the invasion and its aftermath from stunned and angry refugees.  From exiled members of the ruling family, resistance fighters, medical professionals, wives, and mothers, she heard startling tales of terror:  Infants torn from incubators and left to die on hosptial floors.  Women savagely raped.  Refugees shot in the back of the head as they attempted to escape through the desert.

The Rape of Kuwait presents these eyewitness stories, which bring to light for the first time the extent of the crimes committed against the nation's civilian population.  A shocking indictment of the Iraqi military, this book will increase the world's understanding of Saddam Hussein -- and raise the frightening question of what he might do next.  (Summary from book - Image from www.jeansasson.com )

My Review:  I have always been fascinated by the Middle East and have read several books by Jean Sasson, including Princess: Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia, Princess Sultana's Daughters, Princess Sultana's Circle, and Mayada, Daughter of Iraq: One Woman's Survival Under Saddam Hussein.  I highly recommend any of these books, as each was deeply compelling and related the difficult, but remarkable, experiences of women living in the Middle East.

The Rape of Kuwait was written quickly, between August 2, 1990, when the Iraqi military invaded Kuwait, and January 17, 1991, when the U.S. and its allies stepped in to help liberate the country.  Sasson freely admits that her purpose for writing this book was to let the world know exactly what was going on in Kuwait and to encourage international intervention.  Published just before the U.S. became involved, it reached #2 on the NYT Bestseller list and, according to Wikipedia, the Kuwaiti Embassy even paid to have 200,000 copies shipped to U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf.

Except for a brief history of Kuwait, which I found incredibly helpful, this book is comprised almost entirely of first-hand accounts of the atrocities committed by the Iraqi military against the citizens of Kuwait.  I don't think I can possibly convey my horror at the depth of cruelty perpetrated by the invading army and condoned by its leaders.  Though it occurred over twenty years ago, I am sickened by their actions and haunted by the people whose lives were cut short, whose stories might never be told. 

Throughout the book, Sasson questions what Saddam will do next.  It was haunting to read these statements, knowing that so much more cruelty was to come, not only for Kuwaiti's trapped inside Iraq, but for Kurds, and for Iraq's own people.  I ran the gamut of negative emotions while reading this book: sadness, anger, frustration, etc., but there was one positive emotion that stood out.  Relief.  Saddam Hussein is dead, and I am relieved (and even, though I'm not terribly proud of it, a little bit glad).

The Rape of Kuwait is a shocking and painful description of violence committed by the Iraqi military, but it is also a tale of a beloved nation that fought to regain its freedom from a grasping, predatorial dictator.  I was continuously impressed by the love and loyalty of the Kuwaiti people, the nation's generous humanitarian donations, wise financial investments, and their determination to rebuild.

I don't usually read books like this, but when I do I am rarely sorry.  I feel a sense of purpose, like reading them can somehow give these people a voice, so that even twenty years later their sacrifice is not forgotten.  If you think you can handle it, and maybe even if you think you can't, I recommend picking up a book like this one. 

My Rating: 4 Stars

For the sensitive reader:  Each account is graphic in its own way, though not in a glorified or overly detailed sense. 
Sum it up:  These accounts are horrible, bloody, tragic, and terrifying, but they are also true, and they deserve to be read.

Cloaked - Alex Flinn

Summary:  I'm not your average hero.  I actually wasn't your average anything.  Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop  to help his mom make ends meet.  But a little magic changed it all.

It started with a curse.  And a frognapping.  And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

There wasn't a fairy godmother or any of that.  And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairytale I've ever heard.  Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Keys.

Don't believe me?  I didn't believe it either.  But you'll see.  Because I knew it all was true, the second I got Cloaked.  (Summary from book - Image from www.harpercollins.com )

My Review:  I've read a few Alex Flinn books (A Kiss in Time and Beastly) and I have to say that I think that this is the last one I'll be reading.  There wasn't a great deal that was wrong with it, as far as YA fairytale retellings go, but I have better books to read (theoretically, anyway).  Like the other Flinn novels I've read, Cloaked offers a male perspective on a modern-day fairytale, but instead of just sticking to one fairytale, this book was a combination of seven.  That's a lot.  The characters bounced about quite a bit and everything just moved too quickly.  I felt like I was reading a book on speed (not me, the book).  While each scenario was a interesting on its own, taken as a whole -- well, I kind of got a headache. 

I will say that the Cloaked reminded me of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, with its combination of modern and mythological.  Each book had questing heroes with difficult tasks, but where Olympians had gods, monsters, demigods, and magic, Cloaked had witches, royalty, talking frogs, and enchanted swans. 

Overall, this book would probably be entertaining for a younger young adult, but I think it would leave the average adult mildly amused, but mostly dizzy and unsatisfied.

My Rating:  3 Stars

For the sensitive reader:  Not much to worry about here.  There's a bit of romance and talk of making out that elevates this from children's fiction to young adult, but it's all very tame.

Sum it up: A modern (and mildly entertaining) mish-mash of fairytales.

The Dirty Life : On Farming, Food, and Love - Kristin Kimball

Summary:  Single, thirty something, working as a writer in New York City, Kristin Kimball was living life as an adventure.  But she was beginning to feel a sense of longing for a family and for home.  When she interviewed a dynamic young farmer, her world changed...On an impulse, smitten if not yet in love, she shed her city self and moved to five hundred acres near Lake Champlain to start a new farm with him.  The Dirty Life is the captivating chronicle of their first year on Essex Farm , from the cold North Country winter through the following harvest season--complete with their wedding in the loft of the barn.

Kimball and her husband had a plan: to grow everything needed to feed a community.  It was an ambitious idea, a bit romantic, and it worked.  Every Friday evening, all year round, a hundred people travel to Essex farm to pick up their weekly share of the "whole diet"-- beef, pork, chicken, milk, eggs, maple syrup, grains, flours, dried beans, herbs, fruits, and forty different vegetables -- produced by the farm.  The work is done by draft horses instead of tractors, and the fertility comes from compost.  Kimball's vivid descriptions of landscape, food, cooking-- and marriage -- are irresistible. 

"As much as you transform the land by farming," she writes, "farming transforms you."  In her old life, Kimball would stay out till four a.m., wear heels, and carry a handbag.  Now she wakes up at four, wears Carhartts, and carries a pocketknife.  At Essex Farm, she discovers the wrenching pleasures of physical work, learns that good food is at the center of a good life, falls deeply in love, and finally finds the engagement and commitment she craved in the form of a man, a small town, and a beautiful piece of land.  (Summary from book - Image from amazon.com )

My Review:  Kristin Kimball never imagined herself on a farm, slaughtering pigs, planting beets, and driving a team of horses. When a chance interview leads to few days of grueling farm work, Kristin falls in love, first, with a way of life, and then with Mark – a farmer, who is equal parts eccentric, romantic, and world-class chef. Despite all good sense and the concerns of her family, Kristin moves to a ramshackle farm located on 500 acres of land in upstate New York, to cultivate a life of agricultural bliss with her soon-to-be husband.

The Dirty Life follows Kristin’s transformation from a single, freelance writer and devoted city slicker, to that of a wife, mother, and down-home farm girl.  In a fit of idealism, Kristin and Mark embark on an agricultural venture that, given their lack of capital, equipment, and expertise, has very little chance of success.  Their goal is to grow and eat their own food – all of it – and to give their community the same opportunity by building a cooperative, CSA-like farm that will provide members with a year-round, complete diet of organic fruit, vegetables, beef, chicken, pork, milk, eggs, butter, cheese, grain, dry beans, maple syrup, and more).  If that isn’t ambitious enough, they plan to do it all without chemical fertilizers or heavy-duty machinery.  Mark is determined.  Kristin is sure they are crazy.

After endless days of what Kristin calls, “trying to hammer out this big, awkward thing, [and] bring it from theory into being,” a farm begins to emerge from the dust and the wilds. It hobbles at first, and then it runs, as each week more members arrive at the farm, boxes in hand, to pick up their increasingly unlimited supply of food. While it was thrilling to watch the Kimball’s dream come true, it was Kristin’s description of the journey that I found most interesting – the successes, failures, and frustrations of living a life both gloriously simple and tremendously difficult.

Passionate and evocative, The Dirty Life had me at the prologue, with an irresistible blend of food, romance, and farm life that continued throughout the book. I was absorbed in the particulars of cooperative farming, the authors’ eloquent imagery, and unexpected sense of humor. I savored every page of it. Whether you are in love with country living, looking for a little inspiration, or just longing for a good book, The Dirty Life won’t disappoint you.

*POST EDIT* While I read the hardcover version of this book, the paperback version released April 12th, 2011, complete with recipes and photographs. *Yay!*

My Rating: 5 Stars

For the sensitive reader:  There were two moments of profanity and a few scenes of slaughter and gore that, though realistic in a farm setting, made my stomach a little squeamish. 

Sum it up:  A riveting agricultural love story that is compelling, realistic, and well worth your time.

Mockingbird - Kathryn Erskine

Summary:  In Caitlin's world, everything is black and white.  Anything in between is confusing.  That's the stuff her brother, Devon, always explained.  But now Devon is dead, and her father cries a lot.  She wants to help her dad -- and herself! -- but as a ten-year-old girl with Asperger's syndrome, she doesn't know how.

She turns to textbooks and dictionaries, easy for Caitlin because they're full of facts in black and white.  After reading the definition of Closure, Caitlin knows this is just what she and her father need.  And she is determined to find it.  In her search she discovers that not everything is really black and white -- the world is full of colors, messy and beautiful.  And perhaps if she "Works At It," Caitlin and her father can have Closure and Empathy, too.  (Summary from book - Image from abebooks.com )

My Review:  Life with Asperger’s is hard and Caitlin is always Working At It. Her brother, Devon used to show her what to do, how to act, and what not to say, so that people wouldn’t laugh or stare. Only now Devon is dead, and Caitlin feels adrift, unsure how to behave without him, confused by her father’s erratic behavior, and unable to explain or even understand her own feelings. In her grief, Caitlin struggles to decipher the emotions that swirl around and inside of her, but it is through her conversations with the school counselor, an unlikely friendship, and a special project, that Caitlin discovers how to find happiness in the midst of heartbreaking loss.

I read Mockingbird from cover to cover while my youngest daughter took her morning nap. Reading a book in one sitting is a gift, in and of itself, but this book would have been beautiful even with a million interruptions. Reminiscent of The Curious Incident of the Dog at Nighttime and written “in the hopes we may all understand each other better,” Mockingbird is a poignant glimpse into the mind of a child with Asperger’s syndrome. Erskine’s delivers a stunning and tender portrayal of grief and recovery, with a voice that is unique and brilliantly rendered. Although this book could have been completely depressing, I closed it feeling strangely uplifted -- as if Caitlin’s journey from black and white to color was somehow my own.

Perhaps as its greatest achievement, Mockingbird offers insight into the behavior, mannerisms, motivation, and thought processes of someone with Asperger’s. By the end of the book, I felt a greater understanding for how Caitlin’s mind worked and a deeper empathy for families dealing with this particular disease. I highly recommend this book to everyone, but especially those who know someone with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Go ahead. Buy it, borrow it, or check it out. You will not be disappointed.

My Rating: 5 Stars

For the sensitive reader:  Read away. 

Sum it up:  A convincing and eloquent portrayal of loss, recovery, and Asperger's Syndrome.