Jane Yellowrock books 1-10

The Jane Yellowrock series books 1 - 10 by Faith Hunter, 3393 pages in ten books

This review covers the first ten books (Skinwalker, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, Raven Cursed, Death's Rival, Blood Trade, Black Arts, Broken Soul, Dark Heir, and Shadow Rites) in the Jane Yellowrock series.

This series lives in a world were certain fantasy beasts like vampires, werewolves, and others exist, though are not in the realm of common knowledge. Only the vampires, witches, and to a lesser extent shapeshifters are on the public's radar. Vampire clan's have claimed large parts of the United States, though they do not really rule, just consider that area their hunting ground. There is also an accord that vampires will not hunt people and only take blood from the willing. When this accord is broken by rogue vampires people like Jane Yellowrock hunt them down.

Initially I was unsure if I would continue reading this series past the first book. I did not mind the books having a female protagonist, but does she have to develop a crush on every single guy she meets? The first couple I can live with, or even if it was one per book, but really every single good looking guy seems a little much. After accepting this, and to some extent just ignoring it, the series was quite good. It manages to avoid the "main character can do no wrong" cliches that seem to pop up all to often in urban fantasy, while not making the character seem completely useless.

In terms of protagonists this series is like Ilona Andrews's Kate Daniels series or Kim Harrison's Hollows with the main character being strong yet fallible, but it also avoids the heavy handed romance you would see with Sherrilyn Kenyon.

The Dehumanization of Art

Velazquez, Goya, The Dehumanization of Art, and Other Essays by Jose Ortega y Gasset, 136 pages

This volume collects Jose Ortega y Gasset's writings on art, consisting of six essays written over the course of forty years, including an unfinished work on Goya.  Thematically, the essays center on his understanding of the development of art over the course of the modern era away from the Real and towards abstraction, defacing the human, inverting (but not abolishing) all hierarchies, and negating history and tradition.  Ortega is not concerned here to praise or condemn, but to comprehend, and he freely admits that his conclusions may be wrong, yet such is the power of Ortega's writing that at times even simple sentences seem to imply a fascinating galaxy of meaning.

Keep Her Safe

Keep Her Safe by Sophie Hannah    352 pages   Due out in September, 2017 - I read an e-galley

Cara Burrows can't take her family any more. Pushed to the breaking point, she flees to a five-star spa, even though she can't afford it (but she'll deal with that later). When she lets herself into her hotel room, she's shocked to find it occupied by a man and a teenage girl.  It's a simple mistake by the front desk staff but soon, Cara realized that the girl she saw couldn't possible be the one that is the most famous murder victim in the country. Or was she?

This story is filled with loads of twists and turns and at times, you feel as mixed up and confused as Cara does. I found the storyline was sometimes tricky to follow, and sometimes started to wonder if there's something wrong with Cara and was expecting at some point to find that she had been hallucinating the whole thing. No spoilers here, though.  Suffice to say, this story will keep you guessing and trying to figure out if you can unravel things and discover the truth.

An American Marriage

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones   320 pages    Comes out in February, 2018  I read an e-galley

Celestial and Roy are newlyweds, shining examples of the New South and American Dream, secure in their love for each other and their bright future. However, one night changes everything and from that point on, nothing is ever the same. Told through first-person narratives and letters, this story explores what it means to hold on a relationship through difficult circumstances, and how it can start to become clear that love may not be enough.

I enjoyed this story, even though at times I felt like a voyeur into the lives of the characters. This absorbing story takes into lives of people that you can easily imagine, and for some readers, they may see their own friends and families in these characters. The author brings our main characters to life in clear detail, but doesn't neglect the supporting characters, which bring a fullness to this story. I liked that the storyline was believable, as were the reactions of the characters. Celestial isn't a saint and neither is Roy. Both of them do their best, and I got the sense throughout that these were basically good people at heart who were sometimes derailed or swayed by the circumstances facing them.

Danger: Man Working

Danger: Man Working: Writing from the Heart, the Gut, and the Poison Ivy Patch by  Michael Perry     256 pages   due out September 2017 - I read an e-galley

In this book, Michael Perry draws on fifteen years' worth of what he calls "shovel time," a writer working as the work is offered. His subjects range from mountain-climbing war veterans to fishing, reflections on his mother and the unexpected benefits of going to a spa. Told with his typical candor, humor and insight, Perry shares these stories in a way that make you nod your head, let out a few laughs, and feel like you're spending time with an old friend.

I admit it: Michael Perry is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of his books (and own a few, although I'm hoping to complete my collection this Christmas). I have always enjoyed his writing and perspectives on the world around him, whether it's on his own life or what he's observing in others. I enjoy how his writing draws me in, like I'm listening to a good friend tell me stories over a beer or two. He has an honest view of himself, and I think that's part of why I like him so much: he doesn't take himself too seriously, but he's introspective and his stories often make me think and reflect. I also enjoy his humor and reading this e-book on the train recently, was laughing out loud more than once (which is why it was good I was in a single seat).  I was hoping someone would ask me what I was reading, just so I'd have an opportunity to share about this book.

The Accomplished Guest

The Accomplished Guest by Ann Beattie.  Made it through 180 of 288 pages.

"Surprising and revealing, set along the East Coast from Maine to Key West, Ann Beattie’s astutely observed new collection explores unconventional friendships, frustrated loves, mortality, and aging.

One theme of The Accomplished Guest is people paying visits or receiving visitors, traveling to see old friends, the joys and tolls of hosting company (and of being hosted). The occasion might be a wedding, a birthday, a reunion, an annual Christmas party, or another opportunity to gather and attempt to bond with biological relatives or chosen families. In some stories, as in life, what begins as a benign social event becomes a situation played for high stakes."  summary courtesy of Goodreads

I usually like Ann Beattie, but I just couldn't get in to any of these stories. It may have been my reading mood at the time, so I might try to revisit this book in the future. However. I never felt like I was engaging with any of the stories, or finding any of the characters to be compelling.

Carnivalesque

Carnivalesque by Neil Jordan     288 pages

When the boy looked out the car window, the carnival looked just like any other. But of course, it wasn't. The hall of mirrors invites Andy in and then he walks right into a mirror. The boy that walks out of the hall of mirrors isn't Andy, but that boy goes home with Andy's parents. Andy, meanwhile, is trapped until a girl from the carnival pulls him through and out, and into another world of a carnival where anything might happen.

I thought this was an interesting book and enjoyed the dark undertones of the story. There are definitely some disturbing elements to the story and the part with Andy's parents and the boy that looks like, but isn't, their son have a strange feel to them. You're not sure what's going to happen and whether or not Andy's mother is going to figure out what's happened. Andy, or Dany as he's now known to the carnival, has a more interesting storyline, and I liked how the author wove a backstory about the carnival and the magic that it holds.  It'd suggest this book to readers who liked Dr. Strange and Mr. Norrell.

The Bertie Project

The Bertie Project by Alexander McCall Smith        Audio Book:  9 hours, 30 minutes    Hardback Book:  294 pages  

I truly enjoyed this story and was happy to find out that while I thought this was the end of the story I now see that this is part of a series.   Good!   I want to hear more about Bertie and how he is doing.    What a sweet child.   His mother is a viper figuratively speaking.   She is awful.   His father is dear but weak and won’t stand up to her not even for Bertie.    Good storyline and I look forward to reading more.    In this particular book,  Bertie is 7 years old with the language articulation of a scholarly 50 year old.    The Bertie Project is his mother’s term for raising Bertie according to her standards, denying him television, sports, sweets, vacations and any opinion on anything other than hers in order to force feed him on only what she believes is of worth.    She steals poor Bertie’s joy without any remorse and ignores any request the dear boy makes to play or go on holiday or even to be a pirate in Peter Pan play which she is repulsed by.    She treats his father the same way.   Nothing her husband says or does meets her criteria for worthiness and so she treats him with utter disdain with every minute they are together, she is slightly nicer to Bertie though no less condescending.   Bertie’s younger brother, Ullyssees,  is so put off by their mother that every time she gets near him or picks him up he gets sick and vomits.    Ulyssees is perfecting fine at all other times and with everyone else including strangers.   Thank goodness for Bertie’s paternal grandmother,  who, while babysitting the two boys, allows them to watch television, takes them out for ice cream and anything else they want to eat and takes the boys for fun outings.     It is such a good story and there are many other characters with fun storylines, too, but since this book is titled the Bertie Project and I love Bertie’s character so much, I had to put him front and center.    It is such a good book you won’t want to put it down, but, perhaps you will want to begin at the beginning which is what I plan to do next.    I am so happy there is more to Bertie’s story!

Anatomy of a Song

Anatomy of a Song by Marc Myers             Audiobook: 9 hours, 30 minutes   Hardback Book: 336 pages                    

I always enjoy learning the details behind songs I like, how the song came to be,  what the inspiration was, and what was the artist thinking when they wrote a particular verse?    Always enlightening and always entertaining to me.    The 45 songs mentioned in this book settled some real mysteries for me.    One of my all time favorite songs, “Time After Time,” by Cyndi Lauper such a touching song beautifully sung.    The video will leave you in tears.    So many people could relate that it was a huge hit for her.    I was so glad to learn that the song was not about a devastating breakup in her life per se but a union between her and fellow songwriter Rob Hyman who were tossing around lyrics and melodies and came up with it.   The girl could turn a phrase and Rob Hyman wasn’t bad either, originally it was written as a bouncy happy tune.   I cannot even imagine the song as a happy tune but I would love to hear that version.   So many great songs mentioned throughout this book and how some of the sound effects were stumbled upon think the intro to Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride” and how many happy accidents occurred that were so good they were left in like the bleed through previous recording of Led Zepplin’s “Whole Lotta Love” that is often mistaken for an echo track but is actually an accident that sounded so cool on the playback they left it in.   How R.E.M. who are fom Georgia took a southern phrase, “Why that’s about to make me lose my religion!” and turned it into a #1 hit for the group, “Losing My Religion.”   I was relieved to find it was not someone questioning their faith but a play on how something is about to make you cuss or swear.    You will learn about songs by the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, the Neville Brothers, the Dixie Cups, the Edwin Hawkins singers, Johnny Winter,  Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, John Fogarty, Jim Morrison, artists all over the charts what an excellent journey this was and for all of you trivia buffs you will learn a treasure trove of info here.    While the book discusses 45 songs, it also discusses artists that did the songs, wrote the songs, played on the songs and how the songs relate to other artists who have performed them.    George Clinton, Miles Davis and an eclectic star studded galaxy are mentioned that will empower you with so much new information to share you will be delighted that you read this one.   You will also gain insight into the personalities of so many artists, be they musicians, singers and/or writers it is a pleasant plunge behind the scenes where fans don’t get to go but now they can know what it was like to be there.    Excellent book.

Dean Martin Cool Then, Cool Now

Dean Martin Cool Then, Cool Now a book and 2 CDs by Hip-O Records      Hardback Book:  62 pages     

What a fun read and nostalgic trip through the words of Kevin Spacey, Shirley Maclaine, Jerry Lewis, Robbie Williams,  Arnold Palmer and one of Dean’s daughters,  Gail Martin Downey.    Wonderful family photos included that is like a walk through Dean’s private home life, his professional work life and the joy he spent with his friends, the Rat Pack, his Brentwood poker playing buddies and at his charity events.   A lovely tribute to a man described in glowing terms by celebrities, fans and family.    It was like sharing memories while paging through a family album.    Dean Martin was one of those stars that you felt as though you knew because he had that mischievous fun down to earth way of coming across.   Singer, actor, sometimes dancer, husband, father, friend and Ratpacker.    Larger than life still.   What a great tribute and you get to see and hear him – 2 CDs included.    I thoroughly enjoyed this book and music.

Stuffocation

Stuffocation:  Why We’ve Had Enough of Stuff and Need Experience More Than Ever by James Wallman      Hardback Book: 281 pages        

Excellent book – a user friendly mind expansion on having stuff vs. having experiences.    Wallman takes the reader along on a journey through the industrial revolution to present day then forecasts the future trends from the perspective of the constant pursuit of lesser things that is currently happening as opposed to the pursuit of acquiring more and more possessions that had been the norm post World War II.   There is a current trend in people minimizing their carbon footprint that is catching on worldwide.    People are buying less stuff.   People are moving to smaller houses.   There is a sector of society that promotes minimizing the things you own rather than the old way of thinking that one must show one’s status by owning more and more and then flaunt your status by all the expensive things you have.     The current direction society is leaning toward tends to applaud reusing or repurposing items that one now owns rather than buying something new.     Recycling is much more mainstream now.    Reselling is very much the norm for things in good shape but not wanted, but, a far more powerful mindset is coming to the fore – Reduce!     People are reducing the amount of things they buy.    They are reducing the damage done to the planet from overuse of the limited resources.    Reduce, reuse, recycle are all words common to the ear but more than that they are becoming common practices and that is a good thing.     With marketing firms bombasting the human psyche with ads in magazines, newspapers, on t.v., radio and even the internet, human beings are on sensory overload constantly.   We are told all these products we need both outright and by subliminal seduction.   Ad firms play with our brains as psychologically strategic as the attacking armies in A Game of Thrones.     Ads play on our emotions, woo us with promises, tempt us with delectable gotta have goodies even though we may not really want or need the products being thrust upon us.   It takes a strong constitution to say NO!  Enough!   That is why ad companies make billions of dollars.     However, they are pushing things not experiences.      James Wallman, the author, is a trend forecaster, a journalist and a speaker.    He has done extensive research on the way of things to come and sees people are moving from materialism (stock piling stuff) to a culture bent more on doing than having.     People are creating memories rather than toting around material goods.    People are sharing cars rather than having to buy them.     People are visiting places having fun experiences rather than buying a bunch of stuff that in retrospect doesn’t make them happy.    The memories are what is making people happy.    While the GNP does not track experientialism yet, it still tracks product consumption at this time, however those experts doing the tracking of such are having to rethink their statistical processes in keeping with the changes in how consumers are living and spending.    An interesting look and speculation on where life is headed.    

Washington’s Farewell:

Washington’s Farewell: The Founding Father’s Warning to Future Generations by John Avlon        Audio Book: 10 hours   Hardback Book:  368 pages       

A good look behind the scenes of George Washington and many of the other Sons of Liberty, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin.    The author gives a detailed look at George Washington, the man, the soldier, the leader and the President.      He fleshes out the views of the times and the views of the men in political power dealing with establishing a new sovereign nation while dealing with the personalities and attitudes of the various men in power each trying to push their own agenda.     Washington in his role as Father of the new fledgling nation did his best to lead the country as he saw right and fit yet he had his detractors many of whom were in his inner circle of trusted colleagues.   Washington was not comfortable with public speaking, his strength lay in his ability to strategize and lead.   He was a soldier with a quick mind and the ability to survey his course and that of his enemy then determine whether to surge forward or drop back – he shone as a leader of his men.   He was a complicated man who was often at odds with his words.    While wishing for the freedom for all men and feeling in his heart that one man owning another man was not right, still he owned over 300 slaves by the end of his life who worked on his tobacco plantation.    He saw to it that families were not separated and there were 135 children at Monticello.    At his death he freed all of the slaves that he owned and provided for the education of all their children (which was illegal in Virginia at that time).   He also had explicit instructions included that none of his heirs would be able to change this.    Sadly, the slaves that were owned specifically by his wife Martha at his death were not freed and she kept them in bondage until her death.   The press hounded Washington mercilessly and drudged up all of his shortcomings and slandered him calling him a puppet of the English King when he tried to make nice with England to stay out of another war with them that the United States would not have been able to afford.   When he explained to the people that there would very much need to be some form of taxation, the existing states at that time rebelled.   Poor guy had his hands full.   He never wanted to be President, he just wanted to protect the country in its infancy and help it stay on the right track.    When the office was basically thrust on him because of his popularity during the war against England, he very reluctantly accepted it with many misgivings.    He wanted to retire from office after his first four year term but with all the political turmoil going on and in-fighting he thought perhaps he should stay another term to keep things stabile and going forward instead of backward.   He had enough by the end of 8 years in office and wanted no more.   He wanted to go back to being a gentleman farmer and live out his days in peace at Monticello.   Instead of delivering a farewell speech to the masses, he chose instead to write a farewell to the nation to be printed in one of the newspapers at that time, hoping to offer his parting thoughts on what democracy is and how in his mind he thought it best to go forward.   He offered warnings to the citizenry of what pitfalls might lay ahead and how he thought it best to achieve liberty without becoming a debtor nation.   He warned of foreign intrigue and how the United States should not be pulled into the wars of other countries.    While he did not stress separatism he did call for the people to stay out of the affairs of other countries and mind the business at hand making the United States  a great nation and prospering the way of life here at home.   Washington’s farewell has been quoted by many Presidents and other groups since its origination.    Each quoting and bending the meaning to their purposes including the Bund, the American Nazi Party who asserted that George Washington was the first Nazi back in the late 1930s!   Various groups both pro and con have cited examples from Washington’s farewell to suit their position or use it against their opponents to cast doubt on their intentions.    The reader will learn so many good things from this book and the author gives you the feeling of being in the room with heavy weights from the nation’s history from the late 1700s to the present.   Very good read, great insight into the lofty characters we studied in school, but, this book will leave you feeling as though you know the people they were.   Good job.  

Ship of Magic

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, 685 pages

“Bingtown is a hub of exotic trade and home to a merchant nobility famed for its liveships-rare vessels carved from wizardwood, which ripens magically into sentient awareness. Now the fortunes of one of Bingtown's oldest families rest on the newly awakened liveship Vivacia. For Althea Vestrit, the ship is her rightful legacy. For Althea's young nephew, wrenched from his religious studies and forced to serve aboard the ship, the Vivacia is a life sentence. But the fate of the ship-and the Vestrits-may ultimately lie in the hands of an outsider: the ruthless buccaneer captain Kennit, who plans to seize power over the Pirate Isles by capturing a liveship and bending it to his will.”  I really enjoyed this.  There are several different aspects to this story, told from several different points of view, but they are all fascinating.  This was hard to put down.  I dreaded and longed for the end.  A great choice for fantasy lovers.

The LIttle French Bistro

The Little French Bistro by Nina George     322 pages

I loved the cover of this novel. The setting looks like it’s at an outdoor French bistro.  The cover alone makes you want to sit down, enjoy a glass of wine, people watch or share an intimate conversation with a lover.

The dreaminess of the cover evaporates with the first chapter. Marianne and Lothar have been married for forty-one years. Lothar is a jerk and has no redeeming qualities. Marianne longs to be loved, to be treasured or heck to just have her husband pay her a compliment. From the moment the wedding rings went on when she was nineteen, Lothar proved that he never loved her. He even denied her children because they would get in “his” way.

On a vacation (which sounded like hell), Marianne is so depressed that the only way to be happy is to commit suicide. However, she can’t even seem to do that right. She is saved by a homeless man and taken to a hospital. Lothar is more concerned about the cost of a taxi cab ride than he is about Marianne.

As she slowly recovers in the hospital, Lothar returns to their home in Germany, leaving Marianne to fend for herself. She steals a painted tile with a beautiful seascape painted on it, and decided that is where she’ll find her happily-ever-after. So she takes off for the coast of France, Kerdruc, in Brittany.  Since she has no money, she must walk.  She barely speaks French, much less the Briton dialect.

When she arrives, she is welcome with open arms. The residents of this small coastal town think she is the new chef. That takes a leap of faith for readers. The story gets bogged down while readers learn all about Kerdruc and its inhabitants. Anyway, to stay unknown, Marianne replaces her married surname with her maiden name.

Once the story comes back to Marianne, we see her discover herself. She becomes the powerful, passionate and adventurous woman she has always longed to be. The sea gives her strengths she didn’t know she possessed.

When her real identity is discovered, Marianne’s future is at risk. Will she have the courage to jeopardize her new life?

The Little French Bistro receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world. The little French bistro is more of a minor character and the bog that I mentioned earlier are why I rated the novel as I did.

I received The Little French Bistro from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.

Lost Tudor Princess: The Life Of Margaret Douglas

Lost Tudor Princess:The Life Of Margaret Douglas by Allison Weir, 537 pages

“Royal Tudor blood ran in her veins. Her mother was a queen, her father an earl, and she herself was the granddaughter, niece, cousin, and grandmother of monarchs. Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, was an important figure in Tudor England, yet today, while her contemporaries--Anne Boleyn, Mary, Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I--have achieved celebrity status, she is largely forgotten. Margaret's life was steeped in intrigue, drama, and tragedy--from her auspicious birth in 1530 to her parents' bitter divorce, from her ill-fated love affairs to her appointment as lady-in-waiting for four of Henry's six wives. In an age when women were expected to stay out of the political arena, alluring and tempestuous Margaret helped orchestrate one of the most notorious marriages of the sixteenth century: that of her son Lord Darnley to Mary, Queen of Scots. Margaret defiantly warred with two queens--Mary, and Elizabeth of England--and was instrumental in securing the Stuart ascension to the throne of England for her grandson, James VI. The life of Margaret Douglas spans five reigns and provides many missing links between the Tudor and Stuart dynasties. Drawing on decades of research and myriad original sources--including many of Margaret's surviving letters--Alison Weir brings this captivating character out of the shadows and presents a strong, capable woman who operated effectively and fearlessly at the very highest levels of power.”  This was an interesting biography.  Weir is a good writer and Margaret’s life was interesting.  I have read quite a bit about the Tudor family but had not known much about her and it was fascinating to see how she was entwined in all of the other lives that I knew so much about.  I would highly recommend this for anyone interested in this time period in history.

Carve the Mark

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth, 470 pages

“On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not--their gifts make them vulnerable to others' control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world? Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra's currentgift gives her pain and power--something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother's hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows. Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive--no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive--or to destroy one another.” I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait for the second book.  I liked the Divergent series but I think this is much better.  Give this to teens who like science fiction.

The Edge Of The Shadows

TheEdge Of The Shadows by Elizabeth George, 447 pages

"The first fire may have been an accident, but what about the second? And the third-- the one that killed someone. Becca King and her friends wonder if one of the newcomers to the island is to blame. Perhaps it's Isis Martin's brother, Aidan, just home from a school for troubled teens. Or Parker Natalia, a talented musician fired by his bandmates for unknown reasons. Fellow psychic Diana Kinsale encourages Becca to explore her growing extrasensory abilities. Beautiful Whidbey Island may seem like a tranquil haven, but all is not as it seems."  This is the third book in the series which seems to be on the verge of wrapping up.  A couple of major story points were pretty much resolved in this book, although the main conflict has not been resolved yet so there should be at least one more book.  I like the series.  Teens who like realistic fiction and thrillers will enjoy the series, especially if they like a hint of mystery, drama, and science fiction also.

Nimona

Nimonaby Noelle Stevenson, 266 pages

“Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel has been hailed by critics and fans alike as the arrival of a "superstar" talent (NPR.org). Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.”  This was a pretty good graphic novel.  I would highly recommend it to teens, especially girls who are looking for strong female characters.

Zoobreak

Zoobreak by Gordon Korman, 230 pages

Griffin and his friends from Swindle are back.  This time their plan is to rescue Savannah’s monkey, Cleo, from a floating zoo.  Unfortunately, the only way to do this is a zoobreak!  And Savannah will not be satisfied with getting Cleo back.  She is appalled at the animals’ living conditions and won’t be happy unless they rescue them all!  This book is funny and full of adventure.  It’s good for kids who like realistic fiction, especially animal lovers.

Shadows Of Self

Shadows Of Selfby Brandon Sanderson, 383 pages

"With The Alloy of Law , Brandon Sanderson surprised readers with a New York Times bestselling spinoff of his Mistborn books, set after the action of the trilogy, in a period corresponding to late 19th-century America. The trilogy's heroes are now figures of myth and legend, even objects of religious veneration. They are succeeded by wonderful new characters, chief among them Waxillium Ladrian, known as Wax, hereditary Lord of House Ladrian but also, until recently, a lawman in the ungoverned frontier region known as the Roughs. There he worked with his eccentric but effective buddy, Wayne. They are "twinborn," meaning they are able to use both Allomantic and Feruchemical magic. Shadows of Self shows Mistborn's society evolving as technology and magic mix, the economy grows, democracy contends with corruption, and religion becomes a growing cultural force, with four faiths competing for converts. This bustling, optimistic, but still shaky society now faces its first instance of terrorism, crimes intended to stir up labor strife and religious conflict. Wax and Wayne, assisted by the lovely, brilliant Marasi, must unravel the conspiracy before civil strife stops Scadrial's progress in its tracks." I really like this new series, maybe better than the original Mistborn trilogy.  People who like fantasy will enjoy this.

The Girl Who Could Not Dream

The Girl Who Could Not Dream by Sarah Beth Durst, 379 pages

"Sophie's parents run a secret shop where dreams are bought and sold. When Sophie dreams, her dreams become real, so she is forbidden to have any. Sinister events are set in motion when she is accidentally seen by one of her parents' customers, and it's up to Sophie to save her family." I really liked this story.  This will have a lot of appeal for older elementary kids who like fantasy.  because of the length it's going to be easier to give to kids who like to read but it also has larger type and a little more white space so kids who have a minimum page requirement might also be interested.

Private Paris

Private Paris by James Patterson & Mark Sullivan, 411 pages

"Someone is targeting the most powerful people in Paris--only Jack Morgan can make it stop.  When Jack Morgan stops by Private's Paris office, he envisions a quick hello during an otherwise relaxing trip. But Jack is quickly pressed into duty after getting a call from his client Sherman Wilkerson, asking Jack to track down his young granddaughter, who is on the run from a brutal drug dealer. Before Jack can locate her, several members of France's cultural elite are found dead-murdered in stunning, symbolic fashion. The only link between the crimes is a mysterious graffiti tag. As religious and ethnic tensions simmer in the City of Lights, only Jack and his Private team can connect the dots before the smoldering powder keg explodes."  This is typical Patterson although the longer chapter length and slightly more depth gives away that these aren't completely Patterson.  I like them a little better for it.  Some of Patterson's fans may prefer his classic style and appreciate the fact that his books are such quick reads.  These are still fairly quick but not as much because they have a little more meat to them.  Some fans will like that the book takes a little longer so they have something to read while waiting for the next book.

The Water Knife

The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi, 371 pages

"Angel is a water knife for the South Nevada Water Authority, pitting himself against anyone who threatens Las Vegas and its control of water rights from the precious reserves of the Colorado River even if it means cutting desert communities off at the knees. Lucy is a journalist chronicling the desperate state of affairs in drought-ridden Phoenix. Maria is a refugee from Texas struggling to make ends meet. Their lives converge in a city dying from a lack of water but drowning in violence, and all become tangled in the search for long-lost water rights that could change the power structure of the American Southwest."  This might be my favorite book by this author.  Adults who like dystopian novels will love this story.  I definitely did.

The Forever Man

TheForever Man by Eoin Colfer, 339 pages

"Riley, an orphan boy living in Victorian London, who has achieved his dream of becoming a renowned magician, and Chevie, the seventeen-year-old FBI agent who traveled from the future and helped him defeat his murderous master, Albert Garrick, face the return of Garrick, an assassin-for-hire, and must destroy him once and for all."  I liked this story.  Colfer isn't my favorite author but I liked this series and I felt like it wrapped up fairly well.  Young adult fans of his other books will enjoy it.  I would recommend starting the series at the beginning but this book can be understood without that.

Frogkisser

Frogkisser by Garth Nix, 372 pages

"Princess Anya has a big problem: Duke Rikard, her step-stepfather is an evil wizard who wants to rule the kingdom and has a habit of changing people into frogs, and her older sister Morven, the heir, is a wimp--so with the help of the librarian Gotfried (who turns into an owl when he is upset), and the Royal Dogs, she must find away to defeat Rikard, save her sister, and maybe even turn Prince Denholm back into a human being."  This was an excellent story.  Nix is a master storyteller and I loved the characters and the how this book came together.  I would highly recommend it to older elementary kids who like fantasy.

The Girl Who Drank The Moon

TheGirl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill, 388 pages

"Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna's thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge--with dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Deadly birds with uncertain intentions flock nearby. A volcano, quiet for centuries, rumbles just beneath the earth's surface. And the woman with the Tiger's heart is on the prowl . . ."  This was a really great fantasy for kids.  I will be book talking this next school year.

Coal Miner’s Daughter

Coal Miner’sDaughter by Loretta Lynn with George Vescey, 269 pages

This is Lynn’s autobiography.  Her story is kind of interesting although typical of country singers of the time.  Many of them grew up dirt poor and made it big, which is Lynn’s basic story.  It was told from the heart so we get a lot of her feelings and impressions and a really sense of how crazy the life of a celebrity can be, especially for someone who was completely unprepared for it.  I also liked reading about her interest in helping others, which I was unaware of.  I would really only recommend this book to people who are interested in a biography of Loretta Lynn.  It’s not an exceptionally well written biography since it’s written in her voice but her writer/editor probably cleaned it up quite a bit.  I just don’t think people are going to want to pick it up as a casual read.

A Season Of Daring Greatly

A Season Of Daring Greatly by Ellen Emerson White, 420 pages

Jill Cafferty is the first woman drafted into Major League Baseball.  Jill has always been a terrific pitcher and she’s excited but apprehensive.  She’s not sure if she’s really good enough.  She misses her dad, who dies a couple of years ago.  She’s just graduated high school and she wonders if she should have gone to college first instead.  When she’s playing the game, she loves it, but the responsibility weighs on her all of the time she isn’t playing.  This was a really awesome story, both about baseball and about a young girl coming of age.  I would recommend it highly, especially to female teens.

Trigger Warning

Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman, 308 pages

“Multiple award winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman returns to dazzle, captivate, haunt, and entertain with this third collection of short fiction following Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things--which includes a never-before published American Gods story, "Black Dog," written exclusively for this volume. In this new anthology, Neil Gaiman pierces the veil of reality to reveal the enigmatic, shadowy world that lies beneath. Trigger Warning includes previously published pieces of short fiction--stories, verse, and a very special Doctor Who story that was written for the fiftieth anniversary of the beloved series in 2013--as well "Black Dog," a new tale that revisits the world of American Gods, exclusive to this collection. Trigger Warning explores the masks we all wear and the people we are beneath them to reveal our vulnerabilities and our truest selves. Here is a rich cornucopia of horror and ghosts stories, science fiction and fairy tales, fabulism and poetry that explore the realm of experience and emotion. In Adventure Story--a thematic companion to The Ocean at the End of the Lane--Gaiman ponders death and the way people take their stories with them when they die. His social media experience A Calendar of Tales are short takes inspired by replies to fan tweets about the months of the year--stories of pirates and the March winds, an igloo made of books, and a Mother's Day card that portends disturbances in the universe. Gaiman offers his own ingenious spin on Sherlock Holmes in his award-nominated mystery tale The Case of Death and Honey. And Click-Clack the Rattlebag explains the creaks and clatter we hear when we're all alone in the darkness. A sophisticated writer whose creative genius is unparalleled, Gaiman entrances with his literary alchemy, transporting us deep into the realm of imagination, where the fantastical becomes real and the everyday incandescent. Full of wonder and terror, surprises and amusements, Trigger Warning is a treasury of delights that engage the mind, stir the heart, and shake the soul from one of the most unique and popular literary artists of our day.”  I really liked most of these stories.  Gaiman is a little hit or miss for me.  I really love some of his stuff and some of it is just too obscure and weird for me.  I really don’t like his picture books, for example.  However, most of the stories worked for me and I would recommend it to people who like fantasy and science fiction.

The Terrible Thing That Happened To Barnaby Brocket

The TerribleThing That Happened To Barnaby Brocket by Oliver Jeffers, 277 pages

Barnaby is a boy born to two very normal parents, thank you very much.  They, of course, are horrified when Barnaby, seconds after his birth, begins to float.  Hoping he'll grow out of it, they take Barnaby home to their otherwise normal life, with their two other normal children, Henry and Melanie, and their normal dog.  By the time Barnaby is eight, however, it is pretty clear that he will not just grow out of this floating business, which causes his parents to make a horrific decision with unexpected consequences for Barnaby.  This is a fantastic story, reminiscent of Roald Dahl's stories.  I would recommend this to kids who like magical realism.

Ten Thousand Skies Above You

Ten Thousand SkiesAbove You by Claudia Gray, 426 pages

This is the sequel to A Thousand Pieces Of You.  Marguerite Caine is the daughter of two renowned scientists who have discovered how to travel between alternate dimensions.  Marguerite is being forced to travel between these dimensions now by an evil man, Wyatt Conley, who wants to gain complete control of the technology.  He has managed to splinter another traveler’s soul.  Paul is the boy Marguerite loves and she must rescue him.  Another good friend, Theo, is helping her and the two of them may succeed in helping Paul, but they also need to stop Conley and his evil plans.  This was a compelling sequel.  My only complaint is the slightly cliffhanger ending.  It was pretty clear that there would have to be at least one more book to finish off the complete story and I hate those type of endings.  However, overall it was a good story and the ending made sense, even if I didn’t like it.  A good choice for soft science fiction fans.

The Darkling Child

TheDarkling Child by Terry Brooks, 300 pages

"After taking up his enchanted sword against the dark sorcerer Arcannen, Paxon Leah has become the sworn protector of the Druid order. Now a critical hour is at hand, as a beloved High Druid nears the end of her reign and prepares to pass from the mortal world to the one beyond. There is little time for Paxon to mourn his friend and benefactor before duty summons him. For in a distant corner of the Four Lands, the magic of the wishsong has been detected. Paxon must accompany a Druid emissary to find its source--and ensure the formidable power is not wielded by the wrong hands.  But danger is already afoot in the village of Portlow. Gentle traveling minstrel Reyn Frosch possesses the uncanny gift, and curse, of the wishsong. And now his coveted abilities have captured the malevolent interest of none other than Arcannen--whose quest for power is exceeded only by his thirst for vengeance. The lone survivor of a brutal assault on a notorious pirate city, the sorcerer is determined to retaliate against the Federation's elite military guard--and use the devastating power of the wishsong as his ultimate weapon."  As always, Brooks tells a great story.  His fans won't be disappointed and for fantasy lovers, this would be a good introduction to the world of Shannara.

Newt’s Emerald

Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix, 291 pages

“After the Newington Emerald is stolen at the height of a conjured storm, eighteen-year-old Lady Truthful Newington goes to London, disguised as a man, to search for the magical heirloom of her house, and is soon caught up in a dangerous adventure where she must risk her life, her reputation, and her heart.”  This was an excellent story for teens who like fantasy.  Fans of Nix’s other works will enjoy it.

The Wolves Of Willoughby Chase

The Wolves OfWilloughby Chase by Joan Aiken, 168 pages

Sylvia, poor cousin of the Willoughby’s, is coming to stay with Bonnie while her parents are gone on a trip.  Another distant cousin, Miss Slighcarp, will be their guardian and governess for the duration.  Unfortunately, the Willoughby’s boat sinks, leaving Bonnie as orphaned as Sylvia and soon after Miss Slighcarp shows her true colors, sending the girls away and taking over the estate.  The best part of the story is the cousins’ adventures from that point, but I love the entire story from beginning to end.  I’m a sucker for old fashioned stories, especially about plucky heroines.  This is a great read for elementary age kids.

Bronx Masquerade

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes, 167 pages

“While studying the Harlem Renaissance, students at a Bronx high school read aloud poems they've written, revealing their innermost thoughts and fears to their formerly clueless classmates.”  I thought I’d read this before because I’ve read a lot of Nikki Grimes’s books but I hadn’t.  Although I don’t care for the poetry format and only really liked a couple of the poems that the kids shared I liked what was happening in this story otherwise.  The revelations that the students were sharing with their classmates and the way they came together as a group made for a great story.  I would give this to reluctant teen readers because the format lends itself well to reading a small amount at a time and the book is not very long, which will appeal.  This is definitely a book for teens who like realistic fiction.

Real Friends

Real Friends by Shannon Hale & LeUyen Pham, 212 pages

“When her best friend Adrienne starts hanging out with the most popular girl in class, Shannon questions with whether she and Adrienne will stay friends, and if she is part of the clique.”  This is a graphic fictionalized memoir of Shannon’s life.  LeUyen did the graphics.  I thought it was well done.  Fans of Raina Telgemeier will love this story.

Voices in the Evening

Voices in the Evening by Natalia Ginzburg, translated by DM Low, 171 pages

Natalia Ginzburg's Voices in the Evening intertwines the lives, loves, and losses of a group of upper middle class men and women living in a provincial Italian town before, during, and after the Second World War.  The war, as well as the fascist government that preceded and precipitated it and the social changes that follow in its wake, affects the characters like a natural disaster, more something that happens to them rather than something in which they meaningfully participate.  The focus is instead on the relationships among the characters as they evolve down through the years.

As the title implies, the stories of the novel are told primarily through dialogue, the characters talking to and about one another.  There is no overarching plot, the novel being tied together by the setting, the characters, and the theme that, in this world at least, happiness is like water - impossible to hold on to.

Jerome

Jerome: His Life, Writings, and Controversies by JND Kelly, 339 pages

It sometimes seems as if the number of biographies of St Augustine of Hippo could fill a small library by themselves, with his own Confessions remaining the best.  By contrast, there are very few biographies of his interlocutor and rival St Jerome.  This is certainly not because he lived an uneventful life - to the contrary, wherever Jerome went, controversy swirled around him.  As Kelly ably reveals, this was the result of a character as passionately loyal to his friends as he was hostile to his enemies, "violently opinionated" with an "habitual tendency to exaggerate".  Jerome is best known as the translator who produced the bulk of the definitive Latin version of the Bible, the Vulgate, but in Kelly's biography this is secondary to Jerome's involvement in a range of contemporary disputes both theological and personal.  The result is a work which manages to be both lively and eminently scholarly.

This is not to say that Kelly lacks weaknesses - particularly troublesome is his consistent chronological snobbery that smirks at Jerome's sexual morality and airily waves about the latest word in biblical criticism as if it were the last word.  Throughout, it is clear that Kelly's own views are the yardstick by which he measures Jerome's successes and failures, and this colors somewhat his analysis of Jerome's mindset and motives.  Nonetheless, his solid scholarship compensates for these flaws, as the book is anchored solidly enough for the reader to dissent from Kelly's evaluations.