THE HOUSE YOU PASS ON THE WAY

The House You Pass On The Way By Jacqueline Woodson 114 pages

https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/893772116

 

Staggerlee is different.  Her father is black and her mother is white.  Her paternal grandparents were famous African American performers. And then there is her budding sexuality.   When her adopted cousin Trout comes to visit, Staggerlee finally has someone she can talk to.  (And yes, her name is from the legend of songs and snaps/dozens, THE Staggerlee. )

This is a beautifully written book that brings the fictional town of Sweet Gum to life, from the statues of Staggerlee’s grandparents, to the thick mud that clings to Staggerlee’s boots and ruins Trout’s loafers, to the easy talk and laughter of the men that work for her father.  Staggerlee is complex and very self-aware, very in touch with her feelings, and very observant.  This story resonates with her emotional honesty.

(Warning: some of the following might be considered “spoilers”.)

One thing I really liked about this book was how the question of sexuality was not decided.  Neither Trout nor Staggerlee knew if it was a phase or permanent.  Since many teenagers go through a homo-emotional (if not sexual) stage during early puberty, I liked how this was left open-ended.

One thing I found a bit jarring was that Staggerlee did not feel comfortable telling anyone about her feelings for a girl, until she met Trout.  While Trout had confessed to her aunt, Staggerlee had felt intuitively that she could not tell anyone.  This was never fully explored.  Even in a bi-racial family, and a family that had suffered such losses during the Civil Rights era, was sexuality was still closely guarded? Or was it the town of Sweet Gum? We will never know. 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes Judy Blume, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Mildred D. Taylor, in addition to all Woodson fans.

UBIK

Ubik  By Philip K. Dick 202 pages

https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/307887116

Until recently the only Dick book I’d read was “Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?” back in the early 80s when the “Blade Runner” movie came out.  I was a big Blade Runner fan and the book was disappointing to me at the time, because it was so different from the movie.  (I re-read it again recently, and loved it, and the movie no longer holds the same interest for me.)

A few months ago “Flow My Tears The Policeman Said” came across my hands, and I started reading it.  Now I want to read everything Dick has written.  However, his stories are so unique, and his writing is so sharp and intelligent, so personal, that I have to take long breaks between stories in order to digest his numerous, alternate worlds. 

“Flow…” was written after Ubik, but there are some similar themes.  Here is the description from SLPL’s Bibliocommons:
Ubik (1969), with its future world of psychic espionage agents and cryonically frozen patients inhabiting an illusory "half-life," pursues Dick's theme of simulated realities and false perceptions to ever more disturbing conclusions, as time collapses on itself and characters stranded in past eras search desperately for the elusive, constantly shape-shifting panacea Ubik. As with most of Dick's novels, no plot summary can suggest the mesmerizing and constantly surprising texture of these astonishing books.

This book would’ve been better in one sitting, but I had to read it in three sittings.  Each time I had to go back and re-trace a few pages, because the story is so layered, and this world is so complex.  (Warning: there may be some spoilers.)

 An agent of the Runciter Corporation is called to action against the psychics.  One of the psychic agents can alter time and appears to be working for Runciter- but is she?  They go to Mars and an accident occurs, and for the rest of the story you are left wondering who is dead?  The boss Runciter, who seems to be communicating with them as an “inertial”- someone who is dead but can still be communicated with in the after life?  Or are they dead, and is Runciter communicating with them?

And what is this Ubik?  It is everything and everywhere.  I love each chapter’s Ubik advertisement. I loved the many twists in the already twisted plotline.  The end was satisfying but I had to read the last chapter twice, and I am still not sure who lived, and who was only alive in an artificial, inertial, Ubik afterlife. 

I recommend this to anyone who likes mind-benders and alternate realities, with a paranormal, futuristic setting.

MEMORY RAPE

Memory Rape By Maria Grech Ganado 32 pages

 

https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1068037116

 

 

This is an amazing set of poems. Somehow, even in translation, Malta is there, the sound of Maltese, and the Mediterranean. There are love poems, poems about the "Cracked Canvas" bodies of women, aging and lost loves. Dreams are here, and mothers, friends, books, and fruit- laringas (oranges), grapes, and Apple's Eye. Here in this slim volume are refugee fish and grain set to soaking the day before the sowing.

 

I'm so thankful for the poetry collection at Central Library. I can't imagine having discovered this gorgeous collection without it!

 

A wee excerpt of my current favourite poem "Father Christmas", about a woman's belief in Father Christmas at different ages in her life:

 

I believed in Father Christmas, till I was thirty four. 
I scrubbed his floors and cooked his meals and waited by his door. 
But his demanding work left no time for lonely women, 
Though he brought me sacks of babies, petty worries, and soiled linen.

 

And here is a few lines from “Cracked Canvas” the title from an excerpt of Milan Kundera’s “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”:

 

Should you remember how once in a blue space

you whirled around, head thrown far back,

to drink the sky- forget it.  Your arms stretched

out, the sky showed through your fingers

and if another hand met yours, it was in dance.

Wide Sargasso Sea

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys     189 pages

"Wide Sargasso Sea, a masterpiece of modern fiction, was Jean Rhys’s return to the literary center stage. She had a startling early career and was known for her extraordinary prose and haunting women characters. With Wide Sargasso Sea, her last and best-selling novel, she ingeniously brings into light one of fiction’s most fascinating characters: the madwoman in the attic from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. This mesmerizing work introduces us to Antoinette Cosway, a sensual and protected young woman who is sold into marriage to the prideful Mr. Rochester. Rhys portrays Cosway amidst a society so driven by hatred, so skewed in its sexual relations, that it can literally drive a woman out of her mind."

Ultimately, this book was very boringly written, there was no plot, and the characters were so bizarre and weirdly written so as to make them confusing. I couldn't really say there was anything I particularly cared for in this book, so I had to give it the lowest rating because I did not enjoy reading any part of it. I had tried reading this a year ago, but could not get into it. I only attempted it again because of Book Riot's challenge. I have succeeded in reading all of it but not in liking it any better than the first time.

The Princess Diarist

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher     257 pages

"The Princess Diarist is Carrie Fisher’s intimate, hilarious and revealing recollection of what happened behind the scenes on one of the most famous film sets of all time, the first Star Wars movie."

This was a fascinating book. Fisher is so frank and open with her words and the stories she unfolds about her life in this novel are very touching and intimate. Focusing on the Carrie at the beginning of Star Wars, Fisher reveals her head-space at that time, her insecurities (especially about her looks and weight), her reluctance to get into acting and then her subsequent breakthrough into acting as Princess Leia, and, of course, her affair with Harrison Ford, who was 15 years her senior. The glimpses into the show business and what it means to be a recognizable icon are all mulled over within this book and it was a joy to hear Fisher discuss her feelings about being Leia, what it means to be Leia, both to her fans and to herself. I listened to the audio book, hearing her words spoken in her own voice and it was such a fun, enjoyable experience. I could hear her amusement at herself, at the situations she would get into, and the love and endearment she still carried for Star Wars, her costars, and the fans of the films. I was particularly moved by her bits of poetry and poetic-diary excerpts within this book. In the audio, they were read by her daughter, Billie Lourd. They were very moving and so, so beautiful. I honestly would highly recommend this book to any fan of the Star Wars franchise, or of Carrie Fisher, even those who are looking for a quick, fun celebrity memoir. Fisher has such a way with words, she'll definitely get you laughing and she'll definitely make you think. It's a great read.

Maid Sama!

Maid Sama! by Hiro Fujiwara     208 pages

"Misaki Ayuzawa is the President of the Student Council at Seika High School, formerly an all-boys school. Unfortunately, most of the students are still male and stuck in their slovenly habits, so man-hating Misaki really socks it to them in an attempt to make the school presentable to attract more female students. But what will she do when the sexiest boy in school finds out that after school, Misaki works in a maid cafe."

This was an interesting story - I'd seen a few of the anime episodes of this series and thought I'd read the manga. Not much is different. There is a creepy element to this type of story (I find Maid cafes to be creepy and quite sexist) so I didn't love the story. But I like reading a quick, humorous manga and I like the two main characters so overall it wasn't a terrible read.

Vox

Vox by Christina Dalcher     326 pages

"Set in an America where half the population has been silenced, VOX is the harrowing, unforgettable story of what one woman will do to protect herself and her daughter.

On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than 100 words daily, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial—this can't happen here. Not in America. Not to her.

This is just the beginning.

Soon women can no longer hold jobs. Girls are no longer taught to read or write. Females no longer have a voice. Before, the average person spoke sixteen thousand words a day, but now women only have one hundred to make themselves heard.

But this is not the end.

For herself, her daughter, and every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice."

My overall thoughts are that this book, whose premise was so intriguing to me, didn’t go far enough to match my expectations. I wanted it to be so much more than it was. In some ways, it felt like Dalcher was trying to write a “Handmaid’s Tale” read-alike, but Jean just cannot live up to the standard of Offred. The story is too short and doesn’t really explore the world too much. Like with “Handmaid’s Tale,” Jean has little interaction with the resistance, in fact she didn’t even realize there could be one, and so much of the story is focused on Jean’s own reception of and reaction to the Pure Movement. Since I didn’t care for Jean, I cared little for her comments or feelings on the whole situation and so the book was really just me trying to figure out how this movement would be brought down, or if it even would be. So, would I recommend it? Yes, to those who like reading dystopias or are interested in feminist literature. But otherwise, I’d say people could pass on it and they wouldn’t be missing much.

Hurricane Child

Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callendar     256 pages

"Twelve-year-old Caroline is a Hurricane Child, born on Water Island during a storm. Coming into this world during a hurricane is unlucky, and Caroline has had her share of bad luck already. She's hated by everyone in her small school, she can see things that no one else can see, and -- worst of all -- her mother left home one day and never came back. With no friends and days filled with heartache, Caroline is determined to find her mother. When a new student, Kalinda, arrives, Caroline's luck begins to turn around. Kalinda, a solemn girl from Barbados with a special smile for everyone, seems to see the things Caroline sees, too. Joined by their common gift, Kalinda agrees to help Caroline look for her mother, starting with a mysterious lady dressed in black. Soon, they discover the healing power of a close friendship between girls."

This book was not for me. Not only were the main characters unlikable, but the themes in this story seemed much too heavy to be geared toward young readers (now, I know, depending on where children grow up and what their sexual orientation is, or what their home life is like, this story isn't any worse than what they've experienced, but the way this story is written doesn't seem like it would bring a reader in, especially a young reader. The writing style, to me, doesn't seem as if it were written for the age the main character is, but this is my opinion). I will just say that I don't know what kind of reader I would ever be able to recommend this book to, because the story is challenging, the narrative is a bit all over the place, and there is not much of a plot.

Five Feet Apart

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott     288 pages

"Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?"

This was such a beautiful love story, told from the perspective of two teenagers with Cystic Fibrosis. Will and Stella couldn't be more different in their outlook on life, him wanting to stop treatment and life life to the fullest while he still can, she trying to hold everything together to get better so she won't hurt the people she loves. But when they meet, slowly they change each other for the better and they find love where they didn't expect it.

I found both Stella and Will to be well rounded characters and I liked them both. They both seemed believable and earnest in their feelings and the why of their feelings was explained well. I also felt that the relationships with side characters was strong, mostly between Stella and Poe. There was a feeling of real time spent together, their routines and inside jokes helped show just how much the knew and loved each other. Not much time was spent with other friend characters, like Stella's school friends or Will's friends, but the story was not long, so there wasn't much time to include these.

I think the parents were believable as well, though I do think it was a bit too good to be true for Stella's parents to <spoiler> have gotten back together so easily and quickly after Stella's long transplant</spoiler>. I do like that the parents were there and involved, rather than just being props to make the story move along.

I kept wondering how the story would end, since the prospect of CF being terminal suggests that one or both characters could die at any time. I am glad that the author didn't create a magical/unbelievable recovery for Will or made it so that both characters actually could be together in the way they wanted, as this would have taken away from the reality that this book is trying to convey. The ending is bittersweet, but also ambiguous in a hopeful way. Stella's and Will's stories are not quite over and you, the reader, are left to imagine what you think might happen to them.

Lastly, I very much enjoyed the author's decision to provide a very real portrayal of the lives of people with CF. I think many stories don't handle illnesses well, or attempt to use illness as a quirk to create a compelling or unique romance and end up using the illness as a tool or don't present it in an accurate way, thus showing that the inclusion of illness in the story is just to make it novel or provide a tragic reason that the two leads cant be together - I’m looking at you, Everything, Everything! From the way this book was written, really lovingly, I could tell that the author wanted to provide a positive story for those who have CF, that accurately represented their lives, and that would make them seen by the rest of the world. At no point in the book did I feel like CF was just a story tool or was used to add heightened drama. It was very real, eye opening, and moving.

I would highly recommend this story and I am very glad I read it. Anyone who loves teen romance stories or who want to read a book with compelling, well written characters should read this book.

September 2018 totals

Janelle Monae reads

 This month, the SLPL team welcomed some new members to the team!!!  

In September:

9 bloggers

read 69 books

totaling 21,732 pages

And the new reading season is off to a roaring start!!

Winter's Tale

Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin, 673 pages

Winter's Tale is a strange story strangely told.  In a New York that never was, surrounded by a hurricane-like cloud wall that partially insulates it from the outside world, there lives a white horse able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.  After the horse rescues a thief named Peter Lake from the vengeful gang leader Pearly Soames, the two form an instant bond.  To finance his escape from the city, Lake attempts to burgle the mansion of a wealthy newspaper publisher, only to unexpectedly encounter the publisher's lovely, dying daughter Beverly.  The two fall instantly, deliriously, magically in love, a love which transcends death and reaches beyond the stars.

The narrative is broken into pieces by numerous flashbacks, subplots, digressions, and mysteries.  Some of these pieces fit together better than others.  Oddly, the novel Winter's Tale most resembles may be Gravity's Rainbow, only where Pynchon's work is suffused with paranoid pessimism, Helprin's sparkles with enchanted delight.

Written in Red

Written in Red (The Others #1) by Anne Bishop  433 pages 

"As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others. 

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow."

That's the summary from Goodreads --- I tried twice to write a summary that made sense, but it just wasn't working.  In this world created by Anne Bishop, humans are in the minority and the Others are the majority, keeping the destructive humans from wreaking their havoc on the world (yes, it's easy to see humans as annoying and troublesome once you start reading this story). As you can see from the summary, there are shapeshifters, but they aren't the only Others in this story --- there are vampires and Elementals, as well.

I had enjoyed Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy and when this series was recommended, I gave it a try --- and then after I started the book, was kicking myself for taking this long to pick up these books!  Luckily, I had already picked up the second book in the series (and now will check out the rest). I enjoy Bishop's worldbuilding and character development and the pacing here felt just right. 

The Power of Moments

The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip and Dan Heath                         Audio book: 6 hours, 24 minutes      Hardback Book:  320 pages         

Brothers Chip and Dan Heath show how meaningful brief encounters can be, when you are emotional and someone comes along and says that one perfect thing that calm s your fears or you are feeling a lot less than perfect and don’t even realize how down you are but a stranger comes along and smiles at you not asking anything of you, just a genuine smile meeting your eyes and all of a sudden your spiritis lift and you are soaring where before you may have been staring at the ground feeling just like a mushroom.  The book talks about how small things that happen in an instant came be just the right thing to heal yourself and others.    It cites a lot of stories and Kodak moments.   A very uplifting book that I highly recommend.   Little things in the spur of the moment can matter to someone for a lifetime and they will never forget you or what you did and how made them feel.    Very good book.   Lots and lots of stories and examples here.   I definetly recommend it.

Just the Funny Parts…

Just the Funny Parts…And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking Into the Hollywood Boy’s Club by Nell Scovell       Audio Book: 8 hours, 36 minutes     Hardback Book:  336 pages     

Nell Scovell is both funny and a great writer.    She spells it out and names names on her experiences trying to break into writing for television and film.    Even in this day and age, the field is often closed to women, most t.v. writers are men and they are a very closed network.   Being a women and breaking through the glass ceiling of Hollywood writers is almost but not quite impossible.   Nell was able to do it, to hold her own to earn respect from her bosses and co-workers but in doing so she often had to become one of the guys.   If she worked with there being another woman on the writing team it never lasted.   They gave her hell, often ignoring her ideas or taking credit for them instead of giving it to her, even being belligerent and shouting in her face she was only there because they were giving the impression they were a diverse team.   Nell talks about the old boy network alive and rampant in all of the Hollywood studios.  If you do manage to break in don’t be surprised if you are harassed, sometimes verbally sometimes sexually.  It takes a tough skin to survive and she has learned to give and take with the men in the room by tolerating some of their crude remarks even giving them verbal jabs now and then, and she goes into detail  about the treatment she received from some of the top names in show business.   It is a very good book with a lot of insight into what to do and what not to do, what to expect and what not to expect.    She tells it all with aplumb and so much humor you will be laughing out loud at times.   This book is so open and informative a real taste for wanna be writers – a serious if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen type of advice.    She is like a mentor giving the ins and outs.    She said as a woman and as a white woman she still seemed to have an advantage as in her decades long career she has never seen a black woman writer and so very few minorities working as writers on t.v. shows that it could be a room out of the 1950s and would still look pretty much the same.    An eye-opening look into Hollywood bias.   I would recommend this book.  

Kind is the New Classy

Kind is the New Classy by Candace Cameron Bure      Audio Book: 5 hours, 32 min    Hardback Book:  272 pages             

A treatise on how to be nice when your circumstances may not be.    How to re-think  your situation.   How to maintain a dignified manner within the chaos you may be dealing with.   Candace sites many examples from her own life and while it isn’t that she doesn’t get mad and feel like punching someone at times but she has learned that her strength comes from above.    God gives her enough calm to continue on in a Christian manner rather than going off on others.   She talks a lot about her life and discusses how she was not a Christian growing up but learned about God in her early adult life and became a Christian.   She cites examples when turning the other cheek was not her first reaction but how through her experiences and prayer she has learned that anger hurts you more than the other person and how even if you don’t feel it at first, kindness does allow the world to see a better you and when you look in the mirror, you do too.    A good book by a motivational speaker, commentator on the View, author, actress, wife and mother.   She has a lot of good things to say and a few truths that shocked me.   She seems like a fun person and her book shows it throughout.  I will be reading more of her books.

The Wabi-Sabi House

The Wabi-Sabi House by Robin Griggs-Lawrence       Hardback Book:  192 pages                  Genre:  Adult Non-Fiction, Accepting Your Circumstances and Improving on Them  Decorating,  Making art

In Japanese the word Wabi Sabi means humble beauty.    The author discusses finding the beauty in things that may not be new, may be rusty or the paint faded may be second, third or seventh-hand but can still be eclectic and beautiful.    Unlike Chinese Feng Shui which balances the elements of wind and water, Wabi Sabi does not look for perfection it looks for comfortable, and like that favorite pair of worn jeans that feels so good you always wear them or the rusty wagon wheel you found in a gulch in the southwest and brought home to stand in your yard glowing with unappreciated character until you found it and gave it purpose and saw its inner beauty.    It is found joy.    A wabi sabi house is full of love and feels well lived in.   The furniture is loved by its owners for how it makes them feel when they see it.   Wabi Sabi houses don’t have to be perfect, a well lived in home with people, pets and artistic pursuits is a wabi sabi home.   Humble beauty abounds not like those HOME BEAUTIFUL magazine photos, but, with a sense of love and commaraderie that Is strongly felt and seen by the artful use of what is there, what is repurposed what is loved and accepted for the beauty it reflects like bright shining eyes crinkling in a sea of wrinkles on a well-lived person’s face a joy still there a sparkle emanating from the soul within that is wabi sabi not airbrushed fake perfection.   Wabi Sabi art in a home might be driftwood gathered on a family vacation that holds beauty and meaning in its coarseness so much that you have to have it near you where you can see it often.  A very good book sharing a Japanese concept of acknowledging the less than perfect and seeing its charm not in spite of its weathered persona but because of it.    Wabi Sabi doesn’t strive for the sterile pristine modern look it includes every thing beautiful and meaningful to the person so that your home is a reflection of your heart and thoughts.   People want to come to a wabi sabi house and it may be hard to get them to leave because they feed on the effervescent vibe of acceptance there.   Wabi sabi people would be street people with stories to tell and songs to sing who brighten your life by sharing theirs with you.  Humble beauty what a wonderful concept.   I would definetly recommend this book.

Solo

Solo by Kwame Alexander            Audio Book:  4 hours, 2 min     Hardback Book:  464 pages

           

I liked this book a lot.    It is the story of trying to find your place in your family when the whole interconnected thing is somehow off-kelter.    Blade is 17 and an avid writer of songs, he puts his emotions into poetic words then accompanies himself on guitar.   His father is a drug addicted alcoholic rock star.   Their family enjoys the lifestyle of the rich and famous but their hugely successful musciain father is embarrassing.   He is always doing something or saying something that is awesome to his fans who think he is a rebel and they admire him, yet, Blade his son feels a huge embarrassement weighing him down whenever his father is making the tabloid news.    While his father loves him dearly and only wants the best for Blade and his sister his drug and alcohol hued lifestyle is wreaking their family.   The kids don’t want to be around him although he provides a lifestyle that allows them basically anything they want any time they want it.    A good inner look inside a family about to implode showing how they got there and how good intentions can go awry.   The thin line between love and hate goes back and forth from foot to foot like a game of hopscotch.   Picking petals from a flower, he loves me, he loves me not then getting disgusted and bored and throwing the flower away – this book gives you that kind of feel but the story while intense is good.   Honestly, the songs and poems were more pass for me than wowing me, but, they are pertinent to the story as Blade expresses his inner hurt through them.    It seemed like things might go right at Blades graduation as valedictorian instead of making a speech Blade got up to sing what he wanted to say to everyone, especially one someone who captured his imagination and dreams.  The story takes a twist here that I will leave for the reader to discover but this is a good story, a lost and found of a family who cycles through so much like a driverless car heading for a wall.    Keep reading it will make you bite your lip and think.    

My Girls: A lifetime with Carrie and Debbie

My Girls: A lifetime with Carrie and Debbie by Todd Fisher     Audio Book:  13 hours, 15 minutes   Paperback Book:  500 pages          

Excellent book.  I would highly recommend it.    Told with truth, love and humor.   Todd Fisher is the son of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher and is the younger brother of Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame.   This book was such an enjoyable read from beginning to end.  Todd relates stories of his life growing up as the child of celebrities relating great stories of hanging out with celebrities and thinking of them just as Mom and Dad's friends, like the time Bette Davis was using the bathroom in his room  and he went running in, flung open the door and there they were just staring at each other.   Apologetically he slammed the door shut horribly embarrassed, but, Bette called to him and continued to talk to him through the door until she finished, washed her hands came out and lovingly placing her hand atop his head told him he was an angel then went back to the get-together.  He talks about Debbie always saying on the phone when calling him and Carrie, "Hello Dear, this is your mother, Debbie."   Or the live in Chinese couple that worked for the family and were considered part of the family.   The lady would say each school day morning,  "Fishy Carrie, time to get up, I lobely you!   Fishy Todd, wake up!  I lobely you."  Which Todd and Carrie always continued to say to each other over the years and which when Todd said his last goodbye to Carrie when she had been disconnected from all the tubes and monitors in the hospital and was declared dead, he went back to her for a few minutes alone telling her how he would miss her and more, he ended with, "I lobely you."   He talks about the financial debacles Debbie's last two husbands had put her through -what a nightmare!  And the philandering and drug use of Eddie Fisher who walked in to Debbie one day and told her he was leaving her for Elizabeth Taylor.   At least he told her. Todd talks about growing up with a multimillionaire step-father and his tale of the manicurist that came so often when his mother was away.   Debbie Reynolds was one of the hardest working women in showbusiness.  She was forced to work to pay off the debts her exs incurred but while hard on her she loved her fans so much it was a labor of love and got her out on the stage with a smile even when she was in such pain that Todd had to carry her up the steps to the stage but she would stop she would not disappoint her fans she would say.   Todd's grandpa told him Quit was not a word in their family and she never did till her dying day.   Debbie supported her kids, her parents and her brother until her dying day and paid for so many things for both Carrie and Todd throughout their lives that they really should not have put on her once they were grown,  She loved them so much she didn't want to disappoint them and while she might postpone a major financial outlay on their latest want, she always came through.   Carrie at 19 wasn't sure if this Star Wars movie would ruin her career or not, but, gave it shot.   What a good thing she did career-wise though on the down side it gave her access to more hangers on with drugs.   She blew through relatioinships with Paul Simon and a brief marriage and a sex only relationship with Han Solo himelf, Harrison Ford during production.   Mr. Ford being married at the time - so-both knew it was a no strings relationship.   Carrie had huge mood swings which the drugs enhanced.  She was finally diagnosed as Bi-Polar and began to talk about it openly in hopes she might help other people suffering from it.   She wrote books about her life, "Post Cards from the Edge," "Shckaholic" and admitted to all that she was up to.   She alwsys felt Debbie was competing with her and their relationship remained strained at best until Carrie had a child of her own.  Carrie was destined to be unlucky at love just like her mother when her baby daddy told her he was gay and left her and their daughter.   Carrie used that as fodder for her stand-up comedy.  Such a great book, I wish it had been longer it was so compelling learning each new thing about this related trio and their good times and bad up through the deaths of both Carrie and Debbie 1 day apart.  Todd said his mother never wanted Carrie to feel like she was alone.   Such a good book,   You will feel so many emotions going through these pages.   Carrie never wanted Todd to write a book because she said that was her thing, but, I am so glad he did.   Bravo, Todd!   This is a wonderful book and an awesome tribute to your girls and you.

Hurricane Child

Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender, 214 pages

“Born on Water Island in the Virgin Islands during a hurricane, which is considered bad luck, twelve-year-old Caroline falls in love with another girl--and together they set out in a hurricane to find Caroline's missing mother.” This book was hard to read for me.  The topic was a little tough, first of all, and the characters just didn’t hold my interest as much as I want. I really disliked some of them too.  I liked the story and it was executed fairly well, but it moved a little slowly in parts.  Overall, I’m not sure that I would seek out other books by the author or recommend this to kids, but I can’t say that I’m sorry that I read it.

Ringer

Ringer by Lauren Oliver, 502 pages

“Like its ambitious companion novel, Replica, this far-reaching novel by the powerhouse author of Before I Fall and the Delirium trilogy digs deep into questions of how to be a human being in a world where humanity cannot be taken for granted. In the world outside of the Haven Institute, Lyra and Caelum are finding it hard to be human--and Lyra, infected at Haven with a terrible disease, finds her symptoms are growing worse. When Caelum leaves without warning, Lyra follows him, seeking a pioneering organization in Philadelphia that might have a cure. But what they uncover there is a shocking connection to their past, even as their future seems in danger of collapsing. Though Gemma just wants to go back to her normal life after Haven, she soon learns that her powerful father has other plans for the replicas--unless she and her boyfriend Pete can stop him. But they soon learn that they aren't safe either. The Haven Institute wasn't destroyed after all, and now Gemma is the one behind the walls. Bestselling author Lauren Oliver brings the Replica duology to a shocking close in Ringer, but like both Gemma and Lyra, you won't be able to leave the world of Haven behind after you've turned the last page.” I’m not sure that I was entirely satisfied with the conclusion of the story.  I might have been happier if I had read Lyra’s story before Gemma’s though.  It felt like Gemma’s story wrapped everything up just a little more than Lyra’s.  This is a great story for teens like dystopian books and science fiction.

Victoria: Portrait Of A Queen

Victoria: Portrait Of A Queen by Catherine Reef, 246 pages

“Victoria woke one morning at the age of eighteen to discover that her uncle had died and she was now queen. She went on to rule for sixty-three years, with an influence so far-reaching that the decades of her reign now bear her name--the Victorian period. Victoria is filled with the exciting comings and goings of royal life: intrigue and innuendo, scheming advisors, and assassination attempts, not to mention plenty of passion and discord. Includes bibliography, notes, British royal family tree, index.” I really liked this book.  It was very accessible because it read more like a story but very clearly included a lot of great information about Victoria; her life, family, and reign.  I would highly recommend this for anyone interested in the British monarchy in general and Victoria specifically, especially for anyone somewhat new to the topic.  It will be too simple for someone who already has a lot of information, probably, but for a novice it’s perfect.  It would probably be very accessible to teens and older children, as well.

Another Brooklyn

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson, 175 pages

“Running into a long-ago friend sets memory from the 1970s in motion for August, transporting her to a time and a place where friendship was everything--until it wasn't. For August and her girls, sharing confidences as they ambled through neighborhood streets, Brooklyn was a place where they believed that they were beautiful, talented, brilliant--a part of a future that belonged to them. But beneath the hopeful veneer, there was another Brooklyn, a dangerous place where grown men reached for innocent girls in dark hallways, where ghosts haunted the night, where mothers disappeared. A world where madness was just a sunset away and fathers found hope in religion.” This was a sad but hopeful story.  It really spoke to me for some reason that I can’t quite explain.  I loved it, but I’m not sure I’ll want to reread it and I can’t quite explain that either.  I’d recommend this to anyone who likes realistic and historical fiction.

The Store

The Store by James Patterson & Richard DiLallo, 259 pages

“When Jacob and Megan Brandeis plan to expose a secretive and evil corporation, the fallout threatens to destroy them. Jacob and Megan Brandeis have gotten jobs with the mega-successful, ultra-secretive Store. Seems perfect. Seems safe. But their lives are about to become anything but perfect, anything but safe. Especially since Jacob and Megan have a dark secret of their own. They're writing a book that will expose the Store-a forbidden book, a dangerous book. And if the Store finds out, there's only one thing Jacob, Megan and their kids can do: run for their bloody lives. Which is probably impossible, because the Store is always watching . . .” I had a few issues with how this book worked, logistically, and the message was way too overt.  It was mildly entertaining but not Patterson’s best work.

Two Truths And A Lie: Histories And Mysteries

Two Truths And A Lie: Histories And Mysteries by Ammi-Joan Paquette & Laurie Ann Thompson, 177 pages

“Crazy-but-true stories about history, geography, and human achievement make this acclaimed nonfiction series perfect for fans of curiosities and wonders. A fun way for middle graders to explore ways to separate fact from fiction. Did you know that a young girl once saved an entire beach community from a devastating tsunami thanks to something she learned in her fourth-grade geography lesson? Or that there is a person alive today who generates her own magnetic field? Or how about the fact that Benjamin Franklin once challenged the Royal Academy of Brussels to devise a way to make farts smell good? Welcome to Two Truths and a Lie: Histories and Mysteries! You know the game: Every story in this book is strange and astounding, but one out of every three is an outright lie. Can you guess which stories are the facts and which are the fakes? It's not going to be easy. Some false stories are based on truth, and some of the true stories are just plain unbelievable! Don't be fooled by the photos that accompany each story--it's going to take all your smarts and some clever research to root out the alternative facts. From a train that transported dead people to antique photos of real fairies to a dog who was elected mayor, the stories in this book will amaze you! Just don't believe everything you read. . . .” This is excellent.  Kids who like interesting facts will enjoy this book.

Sleeping Beauties

Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King & Owen King, 702 pages

“In this spectacular father/son collaboration, Stephen King and Owen King tell the highest of high-stakes stories: what might happen if women disappeared from the world of men?  In a future so real and near it might be now, something happens when women go to sleep: they become shrouded in a cocoon-like gauze. If they are awakened, if the gauze wrapping their bodies is disturbed or violated, the women become feral and spectacularly violent. And while they sleep they go to another place, a better place, where harmony prevails and conflict is rare. One woman, the mysterious "Eve Black," is immune to the blessing or curse of the sleeping disease. Is Eve a medical anomaly to be studied? Or is she a demon who must be slain? Abandoned, left to their increasingly primal urges, the men divide into warring factions, some wanting to kill Eve, some to save her. Others exploit the chaos to wreak their own vengeance on new enemies. All turn to violence in a suddenly all-male world. Set in a small Appalachian town whose primary employer is a women's prison, Sleeping Beauties is a wildly provocative, gloriously dramatic father-son collaboration that feels particularly urgent and relevant today.” I liked this book.  It was a little less like Stephen King’s other stories in some ways, perhaps because of the collaboration, but there was enough of him in this book for it to work for me.  It was definitely creepy and certainly made me think.  There were parts that were hard to read but it was very good.  I think that most people who like horror will enjoy it.

Between The Lines

Between The Lines by Nikki Grimes, 216 pages

“Darrian dreams of writing for the New York Times. To hone his skills and learn more about the power of words, he enrolls in Mr. Ward's class, known for its open-mic poetry readings and boys vs. girls poetry slam. Everyone in class has something important to say, and in sharing their poetry, they learn that they all face challenges and have a story to tell-whether it's about health problems, aging out of foster care, being bullied for religious beliefs, or having to take on too much responsibility because of an addicted parent. As Darrian and his classmates get to know one another through poetry, they bond over the shared experiences and truth that emerge from their writing, despite their private struggles and outward differences.” This book almost makes me like poetry.  Grimes’s characters have some interesting things to say about poetry that I actually agree with.  I can’t say that I like the poems in this book better than others I’ve read, but I really enjoy the story and I may be able to better appreciate poetry in the future. This is a great book for teens who like realistic fiction, regardless of whether or not they like poetry.

The Alleluia Files

The Alleluia Files by Sharon Shinn, 436 pages

“Legend has it that the Alleluia Files contain the truth about the god of Samaria. Now, a child raised in captivity among the angels will journey the length and breadth of her world to seek the documents that will alter the face of Samaria forever...”  This is a great series and this book is a must read for fantasy lovers.

Truly Devious

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, 420 pages

“Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. "A place," he said, "where learning is a game." Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym "Truly, Devious." It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history. True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder. The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.” This book was amazing.  I can’t wait for the next books to come out.  Teens who like mysteries, especially if they are creepy, need to read this.

Wires And Nerve Volume 1

Wires And Nerve Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer, 238 pages

“In her first graphic novel, bestselling author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new, action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold. When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity. With appearances by Cinder, Cress, Scarlet, Winter, and the rest of the Rampion crew, this is a must-have for fans of the bestselling series.” Iko might be my favorite character in the series.  Although graphic isn’t usually my preferred format, I really liked this, maybe better than the original books in the series.  Anyone who liked the Lunar Chronicles or likes action filled graphic novels will want to read this.