Twisted

Twistedby Hannah Jayne, 313 pages

“Guilty until proven innocent... Bex has always been her daddy's little girl. After her mother left, it was just the two of them. Sure he spoiled her with clothes and jewelry, but what father doesn't dote on his daughter? Except Bex's dad is alleged to be a notorious serial killer. Dubbed "The Wife Collector" by the press, her father disappeared before he could stand trial. And Bex was left to deal withthe taunts and rumors. Foster care is her one chance at starting over, starting fresh. But Bex's old life isn't ready to let her go. When bodies start turning up in her new hometown, the police want to use her as bait to bring her father in for questioning. Is Bex trapping a serial killer or endangering an innocent man?” This was creepy and satisfying.  There was enough doubt about everything that I wasn’t sure until the reveal at the end who was guilty and who was innocent.  This has been one of Jayne’s best books, in my opinion.  Teens who like thrillers will read this

The Alloy Of Law

TheAlloy Of Law by Brandon Sanderson, 332 pages

“Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds. Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history--or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice. One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn, who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.” I enjoy all of Sanderson’s Mistborn books and this is no exception.  This is a series that most fantasy lovers will want to read.

Good Manners For Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck

Good Manners For Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck by Amy Alkon, 289 pages

“We live in a world that's very different from the one in which Emily Post came of age. Many of us who are nice (but, who also sometimes say "f*ck") are frequently at a loss for guidelines about how to be a good person who deals effectively with the onslaught of rudeness we all encounter. To lead us through this this miasma of modern manners, syndicated columnist Amy Alkon--The Advice Goddess--gives us a new set of manners for our 21st century lives. In chapters titled "The Telephone," "The Internet," "The Apology," and "Communicating," among others, Alkon maps out new rules that go beyond what fork to use to answer real questions we all have:

- When is it okay to phone somebody instead of emailing or texting? When is it rude?
- Why shouldn't you tweet about a guest at a private dinner party? Everybody knows privacy is dead, right?
- How do you shut the guy up in the pharmacy line with his cellphone on speaker?
- When is it right to approach somebody who's crying in public and when is it right to leave him alone?
- When should you unfriend somebody on Facebook and what do you say when she calls you on it?
- If you have an STD, when do you tell people, what do you say and do you have to contact everyone you've ever had sex with?

Real advice for today with more than a touch of humor, Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say "F*ck" is destined to give good old Emily a shove off the etiquette shelf (if that's not too rude to say).”  I liked this book.  It was useful. I expected it to be funnier than it was but it had a lot of good information, although not much that I didn’t already know.  There was some advice that other people I know could use though!

The Archived

The Archived by Victoria Schwab, 321 pages

“Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. Mackenzie Bishop is a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Now someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.” This was an amazing book.  Any teen who likes fantasy should read it.

Replica

Replica by Lauren Oliver, 520 pages

“Lyra's story begins in the Haven Institute, a building tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida that from a distance looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, Haven is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed. When a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects--Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72--manage to escape. Gemma has been in and out of hospitals for as long as she can remember. A lonely teen, her life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April. But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family's past and discovers her father's mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two replicas and a completely new set of questions. While the stories of Lyra and Gemma mirror each other, each contains breathtaking revelations critically important to the other story. Turn the book one way and read Lyra's story; turn the book over and upside down and read Gemma's story. The two distinct parts of this novel combine to produce an unforgettable experience for its two young heroines--and its reader.” I liked the way book was two stories in one, giving us basically the same story from two different people’s perspective.  I also thought that the story was believable and slightly horrifying in ways.  However, I also thought that it was hopeful.  Teens who like science fiction will enjoy this book.

Deja Who

Deja Who by MaryJanice Davidson, 285 pages

“’You couldn't arrest for murder someone who had killed in his last life. You couldn't bring a civil suit against such people, either. They could only be legally penalized for what they did this time around—and what a dark circus the legal system had been before that legislation passed! (It was still a dark circus, but perhaps not as dark.) But you could spot them, and watch them. You could set traps for them.’ Leah Nazir is an Insighter. Reincarnation is her business. But while her clients' pasts are a mess, Leah's is nothing short of tragedy. She's been murdered. A lot. If left to that bitch, destiny, it'll happen again. Leah wants to know who's been following her through time, and who's been stalking her in the present... P.I. Archer Drake has been hired by Leah's mother to keep an eye on her. But the more time he spends watching, the more he finds himself infatuated. Before long, he even finds himself agreeing to help find the person who wants her dead. Over and over again. Now going full-on "rewind," Leah hopes it can stave off the inevitable. After all, she's grown fond of this life—and even fonder of nerdy Archer. But changing her pattern means finding out who her killer is today. And as Leah fears, that could be anyone she has come to know and trust. Anyone.” I’m not sure how I feel about this series.  It’s an interesting concept and I liked the characters pretty well, but the story just wasn’t as good as some of Davidson’s other books.  I definitely wouldn’t give it to anyone who hadn’t read Davidson before, but people who have read her other books will probably want to read it.

Jim At The Corner

Jim At The Corner by  Eleanor Farjeon, 86 pages

“Eight-year-old Derry listens as an old sailor tells him stories of his adventures at sea.” This is a sweet old-fashioned story.  It will appeal to kids who like those kinds of books.

Lord Of Shadows

LordOf Shadows by Cassandra Clare, 699 pages

“Emma Carstairs has just learned that the love she shares with her warrior partner and parabatai , Julian Blackthorn, isn't just forbidden--it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorn family is threatened by enemies on all sides? Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn embark on a journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky new scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear. This series has started to lose my attention.  I suspect that it’s me, because the stories and characters are great, the writing is good, and it’s the type of thing I would normally love. For some reason, I never loved this as much as some people did anyway, and as time goes by I find myself caring less than I did before.  However, I still think that teens who like the series or science fiction and fantasy will enjoy it.

Emerald

Emeraldby Karen Wallace, 277 pages

“Emerald St. John is in trouble. She has been condemned to marry a man she hates, her enemies are conspiring to have her pet bear Molly torn apart in the baiting pits, and the man she loves is far away on the high seas. And she has stumbled into a web of spies with a plot to poison Queen Elizabeth I. To save herself and the kingdom, Emerald must beat the spies at their own game - which means transforming herself from a country girl into a lady of the court. Can she do it in time?” I enjoyed this story.  It wasn’t one of the best books I’ve read about this time period but it was engaging.  Teens who like historical fiction or adventure type stories will enjoy it.

Breathing Underwater

BreathingUnderwater by Alex Flinn, 279 pages

“To his friends, popular and handsome sixteen-year-old Nick Andreas has led a charmed life. But the guys in Nick's anger management class know differently. So does his ex-girlfriend Caitlin. Now it looks like the only person who doesn't realize how far from perfect Nick's life has become is Nick himself.” This was a powerful, if predictable book.  Teens who like realistic fiction will enjoy the story.

Curious Minds

Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich, 323 pages

“Emerson Knight is introverted, eccentric, and has little to no sense of social etiquette. Good thing he's also brilliant, rich, and (some people might say) handsome, or he'd probably be homeless. Riley Moon has just graduated from Harvard Business and Harvard Law. Her aggressive Texas spitfire attitude has helped her land her dream job as a junior analyst with mega-bank Blane-Grunwald. At least Riley Moon thought it was her dream job, until she is given her first assignment: babysitting Emerson Knight. What starts off as an inquiry about missing bank funds in the Knight account leads to inquiries about a missing man, missing gold, and a life-and-death race across the country. Through the streets of Washington, D.C., and down into the underground vault of the Federal Reserve in New York City, an evil plan is exposed. A plan so sinister that only a megalomaniac could think it up, and only the unlikely duo of the irrepressibly charming Emerson Knight and the tenacious Riley Moon can stop it.” This is a fun, light-hearted humorous, adventure romance.  Fans of the genre will enjoy it, but I think that Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series is a little better than this one.

End of Watch

End of Watch by Stephen King, 432 Pages

“For nearly six years, in Room 217 of the Lakes Region Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic, Brady Hartsfield has been in a persistent vegetative state. A complete recovery seems unlikely for the insane perpetrator of the "Mercedes Massacre," in which eight people were killed and many more maimed for life. But behind the vacant stare, Brady is very much awake and aware, having been pumped full of experimental drugs . . . scheming, biding his time as he trains himself to take full advantage of the deadly new powers that allow him to wreak unimaginable havoc without ever leaving his hospital room. Brady Hartsfield is about to embark on a new reign of terror against thousands of innocents, hell bent on taking revenge against anyone who crossed his path--with retired police detective Bill Hodges at the very top of that long list...” I liked the conclusion to this trilogy.   King does a great job of wrapping everything up.  Horror fans will enjoy the series.

Gwendy’s Button Box

Gwendy’s Button Box by Stephen King, 171 pages

“It's 1974 when 12-year-old Gwendy Peterson is offered a magic box by a man named Richard Farris, whom she meets at the top of one of the cliffside Suicide Stairs in Castle Rock, Maine. Farris wears a "small neat black hat" and seems to know just who Gwendy is and what she wants. Eight buttons grace the mahogany box he offers to Gwendy, and a lever dispenses silver dollars and intricate chocolates that Farris claims will help Gwendy lose weight and escape being called "Goodyear" by her classmates. Lose weight she does, but that's not all. Wonderful things keep happening in Gwendy's life, and she's happier than she's ever been. But when she decides to press one of the buttons, the consequences are horrendous. The novella follows Gwendy through high school and beyond, capturing the golden-hued joy of childhood and the wonder of friendship and first love, all under the shadow of temptation.” This was entirely creepy and I loved it.  Anyone who likes horror will love this book.

Interior Darkness

Interior Darkness by Peter Straub, 478 pages

“These 16 stories by renowned horror author Straub plumb the depth of the human consciousness, bringing to light the darkness that lives in each of us and exposing the secrets we keep-not only from the world but from ourselves. "Blue Rose" depicts the first steps of a child down the path of sociopathy; "Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff" reminds us that the old adage "what goes around comes around" is very true; and "Ashputtle" presents a twisted version of one of the world's most beloved fairy tales.” All of these stories were ok but none really spoke to me.  Fans of Straub’s work will probably like it, but I just thought it was ok.

Redeemed

Redeemed by Margaret Petersen Haddix, 406 pages

“Jonah was able to save all of time from collapsing but in doing so gained a twin brother, Jordan, who must learn what has happened and do his own part to save time--and his parents.” I enjoyed the end of this series a lot.  The entire series was fun but the books really should be read in order.  Kids who like science fiction will love this.

The Reluctant Queen

The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst, 360 pages

“Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . . And those spirits want to kill you. It's the first lesson that every Renthian learns. Not long ago, Daleina used her strength and skill to survive those spirits and assume the royal throne. Since then, the new queen has kept the peace and protected the humans of her land. But now for all her power, she is hiding a terrible secret: she is dying. And if she leaves the world before a new heir is ready, the spirits that inhabit her beloved realm will run wild, destroying her cities and slaughtering her people. Naelin is one such person, and she couldn't be further removed from the Queen--and she wouldn't have it any other way. Her world is her two children, her husband, and the remote village tucked deep in the forest that is her home, and that's all she needs. But when Ven, the Queens champion, passes through the village, Naelin's ambitious husband proudly tells him of his wife's ability to control spirits--magic that Naelin fervently denies. She knows that if the truth of her abilities is known, it will bring only death and separation from those she loves. But Ven has a single task: to find the best possible candidate to protect the people of Aratay. He did it once when he discovered Daleina, and he's certain he's done it again. Yet for all his appeals to duty, Naelin is a mother, and she knows her duty is to her children first and foremost. Only as the Queen's power begins to wane and the spirits become emboldened--even as ominous rumors trickle down from the north--does she realize that the best way to keep her son and daughter safe is to risk everything.” Anyone who read the first book in this series will need to read the second book.  It’s nearly as good as the first.  This is also a good fantasy read for teens, although the intended audience is adult.

The Queen Of Blood

The Queen Of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst, 353 pages

“Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . . But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms. With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits' restlessness--a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it's bathed in blood.” This book has an excellent concept and it’s brilliantly executed.  Although this book was written for adults there are plenty of teen fantasy lovers that will want to read it as well.

Reawakened

Reawakened by Colleen Houck, 393 pages

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification. And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe. But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world. I’ve enjoyed other books by the author more than this but this book wasn’t bad.  I’m interested enough to want to read the other books.  Her books combine fantasy and historical elements.  The biggest problem for me is that I thought the characters were a little flat.  There are teens that will really enjoy these, especially if they have any interest in ancient Egypt.

The Bedlam Stacks

The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley   336 pages

In 1859, ex-East India Company smuggler Merrick Tremayne is trapped at home in Cornwall after sustaining an injury that almost cost him his leg. On the sprawling, crumbling grounds of the old house, something is wrong: a statue moves, his grandfather's pines explode, and his brother accuses him of madness.
When the India Office recruits Merrick for an expedition to fetch quinine--essential for the treatment of malaria--from deep within Peru, he knows it's a terrible idea. Nearly every able-bodied expeditionary who's made the attempt has died, and he can barely walk. But Merrick is desperate to escape everything at home, so he sets off, against his better judgment, for a tiny mission colony on the edge of the Amazon where a salt line on the ground separates town from forest. Anyone who crosses is killed by something that watches from the trees, but somewhere beyond the salt are the quinine woods, and the way around is blocked.
Surrounded by local stories of lost time, cursed woods, and living rock, Merrick must separate truth from fairytale and find out what befell the last expeditions; why the villagers are forbidden to go into the forest; and what is happening to Raphael, the young priest who seems to have known Merrick's grandfather, who visited Peru many decades before. 

This book is written in a style that purposefully holds back information and slowly reveals details, which was confusing and choppy. The premise and the ideas in this story are fascinating, but I could only read little bits here and there, which confused more than entertained, making it hard to enjoy. Overall, although there are historically accurate elements, it is a tale of whimsy and mysticism and ancient secrets in ancient places. I think I will re-read it when I have the luxury of time so that I may appreciate the nuances of the story.

Posted By:   Regina C.

White Houses

White Houses by Amy Bloom   220 pages

Lorena Hickok met Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while reporting on Franklin Roosevelt's first presidential campaign. Having grown up worse than poor in South Dakota and reinvented herself as the most prominent woman reporter in America, "Hick," as she's known to her friends and admirers, is not quite instantly charmed by the idealistic, patrician Eleanor. But then, as her connection with the future first lady deepens into intimacy, what begins as a powerful passion matures into a lasting love, and a life that Hick never expected to have. She moves into the White House, where her status as "first friend" is an open secret, as are FDR's own lovers. Through it all, even as Hick's bond with Eleanor is tested by forces both extraordinary and common, and as she grows as a woman and a writer, she never loses sight of the love of her life.

I wish I had known more about Eleanor Roosevelt before reading this fiction because I don’t want another person's version of characterization to influence my thoughts and perceptions...I want to know cold hard facts before delving into personal aspects of character…akin to watching the movie before reading the book.

Posted By:   Regina C.  

Rescued

Rescued by Eliot Schrefer, 261 pages

“John grows up with everything he could possibly want, his father a businessman who travels far and wide. One day, he comes home with a rare gift for his son, a baby orangutan, and the two become inseparable friends. But as the orangutan gets older, stronger, less cute, the family relegates the animal to a locked trailer in the backyard. Until John's father finally decides to sell the ape to a roadside zoo. Coming to the defense of his childhood friend, John resolves to smuggle the orangutan back to Indonesia, and the two set out on a journey far more dangerous than John bargained for.” This was an interesting book that gives quite a bit of information on orangutans. The facts are not overwhelming and aid in the telling of the story, so it works well.  Teens who like realistic fiction about animals will want to read this and other books by the author.

The Girls of Atomic City

Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan   373 pages

In this true story, the author traces the story of the unrecognized WWII workers in the Tennessee town of Oak Ridge through interviews with dozens of surviving residents. One of the Manhattan Project’s secret cities created in 1942, didn’t appear on any maps until 1949, and yet at the height of World War II it was using more electricity than New York City and was home to more than 75,000 people, many of them young women recruited from small towns across the South. Their jobs were shrouded in mystery, but they were buoyed by a sense of shared purpose, close friendships—and a surplus of handsome scientists and Army men!
But against this vibrant wartime backdrop, a darker story was unfolding. The penalty for talking about their work-even the most innocuous details-was job loss and eviction. They all knew something big was happening at Oak Ridge, but few could piece together the true nature of their work until the bomb "Little Boy" was dropped over Hiroshima, Japan, and the secret was out. The shocking revelation: the residents of Oak Ridge were enriching uranium for the atomic bomb.

Although difficult to view through the lens of modern technology and communication, it is fascinating to imagine thousands of people accepting uncertain jobs in an unknown location for an undetermined amount of time, and then to keep what little became known a secret, even from those closest to them. Although it is a great story, it often read like a combination science/social studies textbook, information that was interesting the first time but dry after repeated telling. Had the story been told in half as many pages, it would have kept me engaged; as it were, however, I felt obligated to struggle through simply because it was a book club choice.

Posted By:   Regina C. 

A Plague Of Bogles

A Plague Of Bogles by Catherine Jinks, 330 pages

“Jem Barbary becomes a bogler's apprentice in 1870's London and gets the fright of his life in a city where science clashes with superstition and monsters lurk in every alley.” This book combines two of my favorite genres: fantasy and historical.  It also has a touch or horror about it.  Kids who like the combination will definitely want to read this series.

Ghostfaces

Ghostfaces by John Flanagan, 383 pages

“From John Flanagan, author of the worldwide bestselling Ranger's Apprentice, comes a brand-new chapter in the adventures of young Skandians who form a different kind of family—a brotherband. When the Brotherband crew are caught in a massive storm at sea, they're blown far off course and wash up on the shores of a land so far west that Hal can't recognize it from any of his maps. Eerily, the locals are nowhere in sight, yet the Herons have a creeping feeling they are being watched. Suddenly the silence is broken when a massive, marauding bear appears, advancing on two children. The crew springs into action and rescues the children from the bear's clutches, which earns them the gratitude and friendship of the local Mawagansett tribe, who finally reveal themselves. But the peace is short-lived. The Ghostfaces, a ruthless, warlike tribe who shave their heads and paint their faces white, are on the warpath once more. It's been ten years since they raided the Mawagansett village, but they're coming back to pillage and reap destruction. As the enemy approaches, the Herons gear up to help their new friends repel an invasion. In this sixth book in the action-packed Brotherband Chronicles, the Herons find themselves in unfamiliar lands and prepare for battle with a ruthless, unknown enemy.” Flanagan can’t write enough books to satisfy me.  He’s an incredible storyteller and a great writer.  His books are great for boys but girls will love them too.  This is part of the second series he’s written.  The books are better read in series order.

The Tenderness Of Thieves

The Tenderness Of Thieves by Donna Freitas, 348 pages

“Jane is ready for a fantastic summer. In fact, she's pretty sure the universe owes her one. This past winter, Jane was held at knifepoint during an armed robbery, and the spectre of that night still haunts her. A summer romance with one of the town bad boys - sexy Handel Davies, who takes her breath away and makes her feel like a bolder version of herself - seems like the universe's way of paying her back. But bad boys always have secrets - and Handel's secret just might shatter Jane completely.” This book was excellent.  I didn’t find it quite as thrilling as the description suggests but there was definitely a hint of mystery about the story and I really enjoyed it.  Teens who like mysteries, romance, or thrillers will probably like this.

The Steep And Thorny Way

The Steep And Thorny Way by Cat Winters, 335 pages

“A thrilling reimagining of Shakespeare's Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way tells the story of a murder most foul and the mighty power of love and acceptance in a state gone terribly rotten. 1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee's oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father's killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee's father wasn't killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him--who happens to be Hanalee's new stepfather.The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a "haint" wandering the roads at night.” This book was a little hard to read because of the subject matter but it was very well done.  Teens who like historical fiction need to read this book.

The Whole Thing Together

The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares, 293 pages

“Summer for Sasha and Ray means the sprawling old house on Long Island. Since they were children, they've shared almost everything--reading the same books, running down the same sandy footpaths to the beach, eating peaches from the same market, laughing around the same sun-soaked dining table. Even sleeping in the same bed, on the very same worn cotton sheets. But they've never met. Sasha's dad was once married to Ray's mom, and together they had three daughters: Emma, the perfectionist; Mattie, the beauty; and Quinn, the favorite. But the marriage crumbled and the bitterness lingered. Now there are two new families--and neither one will give up the beach house that holds the memories, happy and sad, of summers past. The choices we make come back to haunt us; the effect on our destinies ripples out of our control . . . or does it? This summer, the lives of Sasha, Ray, and their siblings intersect in ways none of them ever dreamed, in a novel about family relationships, keeping secrets, and most of all, love.” Reading this was a little like reading a soap opera.  I enjoyed it, and this is the type of book that teens who like realistic drama will enjoy.

Our House

Our House by Louise Candlish     399 pages   read a galley - due to be published 8/2018

"On a bright January morning in the London suburbs, a family moves into the house they’ve just bought in Trinity Avenue. 

Nothing strange about that. Except it is your house. And you didn’t sell it. "


Fiona Lawson's making the best of her new living arrangement with her husband. Called a "bird's nest" solution, they alternate living in their house with their children in a co-parenting agreement to ease their separation and provide their family with stability. However, when Fiona comes home one day to find strange people in her house, people who are insisting they have purchased this house from Fiona and her husband, Bram, it becomes clear that something has gone horribly wrong.  Just where is Bram? And where are Fiona's children? And how did their house, their beautiful home, wind up in the hands of complete strangers?

This is the type of book that starts strong and just gets better as the story continues. It's the perfect kind of book where you can imagine the horror of this kind of thing happening because as the story unwinds, you realize just what is happening and how this could happen in reality. The characters are well-written and the story is compelling, but what I think drew me in was how carefully crafted the whole "house stealing" scheme happened.  That's true horror for me: not monsters under the bed or ghosts in the eaves, but how a domestic situation can go from not great to horrendously awful.

Where Bram is concerned, there is a definite cat-and-mouse game going on, so it's a good thing that you get his perspective in the story. Whether or not you're sympathetic to him . . . well, that's something else. Let's just say that more than one character has something to hide.

Terrific read for a weekend where you have plenty of time to settle in and enjoy a pageturner (with, as expected, a twist).

Baby teeth

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage    320 pages  Read an e-galley -- book due to be published 7/17/18

Hanna's such a sweet child. It's such a pity that she doesn't speak. Her father knows she's a good girl. Her mother knows better.

In this disturbing (yet wholly compelling) story, we get the alternating viewpoints of both Hanna and her mother, Suzette. Suzette loves her daughter but she's exhausted. Home-schooling Hanna because she's not able to stay in other schools for long, Suzette finds her precarious health and sanity are starting to weaken. She wants to believe Hanna's not a monster, but increasingly, it's becoming clear that something's wrong with her daughter. Complicating everything is the fact that her husband doesn't seem to believe that Hanna's anything but a sweet, misunderstood girl.

Of course, Hanna loves her father. In fact, she loves him so much that she would be happy if her mother was out of the picture. In fact, she'd be happy if Suzette was completely out of the picture, buried six feet underground.

Having the alternating viewpoints of both Suzette and Hanna is fascinating, especially since you start to wonder if Suzette is perhaps going a little mad. With her Crohn's disease already making her unwell, Suzette's strained by being home all day with Hanna, all the while feeling more day by day that Hanna's a monster.  Hanna's inner dialogue is pretty sophisticated, which makes things feel even more unreal. She's quite aware of what she's doing, thank you very much, and doesn't appreciate that people think she's stupid because she doesn't talk. And she's sure that if she could just get her Mommy out of the picture, she and Daddy would be so, so happy.

This kid is chilling.  Suzette's not necessarily going to win Mother of the Year award, but her unraveling is something that Hanna's been working on, bit by bit (a little like pulling a thread slowly but surely).

I feel this is definitely going to be one of those divisive reads --- either people will love it or hate it. However, no matter what, I think it's the kind of book that people won't be able to stop talking about.

The Craftsman

The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton.  416 pages   I read a galley - book due out in October 2018

When Florence Lovelady convicted coffin-maker Larry Grassbrook of a series of child murders 30 years ago, she not only made her career, but she thought the case was closed. However, decades later, events from the past are beginning to repeat themselves. When her own son goes missing, Florence wonders if she had the right man all those years ago and if now, the original murderer has come back for some personal revenge.

Set in a small village in Lancashire, this moody thriller is a slow-building pageturner. More suspenseful and psychological than anything else, Bolton gives us a protagonist who makes her way in an inhospitable place to prove that she is as good at her job as she believes herself to be. There is a deeply foreboding feeling to this story, where the sense of place is quite clear. Bolton also brings the area's history of witches and witchcraft into this story, a place where you wouldn't expect it.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. It's a sophisticated story and I liked Lovelady ---but I found I was sometimes struggling with some of the details, or maybe the pace. I felt like the pace was detail-heavy in a way that made it a bit of a slog until about 3/4 of the way through --- and then I was whipping along.  This is probably just a case of "not the right book for me in the moment right now," because other readers' reviews on Goodreads are quite positive.

Mother of the Saviour

The Mother of the Saviour and Our Interior Life by Fr Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, OP, translated by Bernard J Kelly, CSSP, 338 pages

Mother of the Saviour is both an examination and a celebration of the Mother of God - neither purely devotional nor purely intellectual, it uses devotion to draw us into deeper understanding and the intellect to draw us into deeper devotion. Fr Garrigou-Lagrange carefully proceeds with a theological inquiry into the Church's teachings, revealing the grounding of the Marian dogmas in the reality of the divine maternity and the mystery of human participation in the work of God.

Louisiana Catch

Louisiana Catch by Sweta Srivastava Vikram    261 pages

When I was offered a chance to review this book by the author, I jumped at it. I like the to-the-point summary she gave: “The book is about a grieving daughter and abuse survivor who must summon the courage to run a feminist conference, trust a man she meets over the internet, and escape a catfishing stalker to find her power.” What I wasn’t prepared for was how terrifying it would be.

Thanks to her mumma, Ahanna has recently filed from divorce from her abusive husband. Her life with sex-addict Dev has been a living hell. Terrified that people, especially her family would harshly judge her, she does everything she can to hide what her life is really like. Living in New Delhi with her parents, readers get to see what life there is like for an average woman. The scary part was how unsafe it is for a woman to venture outside her alone. But Ahanna receives courage and support from her Mumma and the rest of her family. 

Tragedy strikes while Ahanna is the in process of organizing a world-wide, feminist conference called “No Excuse.” The conference will be held in New Orleans in one year. She works long days, trying to digest what has happened in her life. Two men come into her life.

First is Rohan Brady, who lives in New Orleans. His PR firm is helping with the conference and Rohan becomes her right-hand person. He likes to tease her, is smart, funny and caring, something that Ahanna is not used to from a man.

Then there is Jay Dubois. She meets him in her online therapy group. As the pages unfold, readers get to watch Jay slowly turn from a seemingly-also depressed individual to a terrifying manipulator.  Jay represents Ahanna’s love life over the years. Jay gave me the creeps from the minute he is introduced, and it turns out, rightly so.

Viram does an excellent job in the slow build-up of the plot. It’s so subtle in the first two-thirds of the novel, that I thought there really wasn’t a plot. That slowly rising tension is enhanced by the voice. It sounds more like a memoir than a novel, which only adds to Vikran’s creditability. The last third of the book read more like a novel with high suspense

I enjoyed reading “Louisiana Catch” and give 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world. I wish there had been an appendix that would define all the Indian words that Vikran uses. She defines the majority of them without getting in the way of the story, but I hated not being exactly sure that I understood correctly.

Breakfast at Tiffany's and Three Other Stories

Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Three Other Stories by Truman Capote    140 pages

It’s been decades since I last read the title novella in this short book.  I kept in on my shelf as I had never gotten around to reading the other three stories. That is why I chose this title to read as my June selection in my 2018 reading resolution. I’ve seen, and loved, the movie of the same name at least a dozen times.

Now that I have re-read the second of Capote’s masterpieces, I was majorly disappointed.  Set in New York City during the 1940s, the irreverent Holly Golightly adores the good life. She dates older men, stays out all night, and has little regard for her new best friend, the new guy in her building, a writer. Still, by the time I got to the end I was bored with Holly. She just seemed to do the thing over and over in each scene. 

But let’s talk about the other stories. First is “House of Flowers.” It is an odd little story that I really didn’t care for. Set in Haiti, Ottilie is a prostitute, a customer favorite.  The bordello’s madam does her best to keep Ottilie happy by giving her things the other girls must do without. She must decide whether to remain at the house or become the wife of Royal Bonaparte, a man from the mountains. I didn’t care for the ending at all.

Second is “A Diamond Guitar.” Set in a prison in Alabama, the two main characters are both convicts. Mr. Schaeffer is serving a 99-year sentence for murder and Tico the new guy on the block, serving a two-year sentence for stabbing two men. They attempt to breakout, with the ultimate goal of obtaining aa prized guitar.

The third story was my personal favorite and catapulted this review to three stars (up until then, it was going to get one. In “A Christmas Memory,” narrator Buddy is looking back the last Christmas he spent with this much-older cousin in rural Alabama. Every Christmas season they spend four days making thirty-one fruitcakes, evening going as far as sending one to President Franklin Roosevelt. It’s a fun, yet sad story that often rings of Capote’s own childhood.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Three Other Stories” receives 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

The Future of Humanity:Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth

The Future of Humanity:Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth by Michio Kaku               Audio Book: 12 hours     Paperback Book: 592 pages        

The book lets readers know why Sheldon Cooper is so fascinated with physics.    A very well written book that speaks to the layman about things Einstein, Tesla, Schopenhauer, Hawking, Asimov and the world of the Science elite were and are involved in monitoring the state of the planet while monitoring the skies and whether life may exist beyond the earth.    Kaku keeps it so easy to follow along it is like an introduction to the universe, with a dollop of global warming thrown in mixed well together then served up to tell the reader where from a scientific, geological, meteorological, astronomical, engineering sector where it is that humanity finds itself in the scheme of life on earth and given all the factors how long we can expect life to continue as we know it and what must be done to save the human race from the impending meltdown path the earth is currently on.    Given the tracking of global warming and the rise in temperature of the earth’s core, Kaku tells in great detail many of the programs currently underway by the government and private funding sector, exploring  the potential of other planets, moons (not just our moon but also those circling the other planets in our Milky Way  galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy, even beyond) that could be habitable as it becomes necessary for the continuation of the human civilization to carry on living that with overpopulation, the gravitational pull between earth, moon and even that of the galaxy stretching itself into a flatter shape,  the looming black hole found at the outermost reaches of the Milky Way show that things are going to have to change and within the next century.     Billionaires are investing in plans to work out interstellar travel.     Scientists are working on ways to make the atmospheres on other planets workable for colonization.   It will blow your mind to learn all that is going on that the public generally doesn’t hear much about.    Colonization training, is real.    It will take many years to send up exploration vehicles, robots to test the terrain,  even robots built to replicate themselves on another planet for the purpose of doing the necessary work – building factories on other planets to produce the materials necessary for putting up homes, biodomes,  hydroponics for sustaining life once the limited supplies taken there run out, etc.     Kaku tells the reader what is currently being discussed, planned, alternatives being researched, it is mind boggling all that is going on throughout the countries of the world to make sure that in the event of massive trauma to the earth there are viable alternatives to continue the human race so that we don’t go the way of the dinosaur if a huge asteroid were to plummet into the earth and bring on another ice age.    There are even plans and research going on that go out 1,000 years to future generations continuing colonizing as technology advances even further into space so that the human race, if it were to evolve into many colonies (replicating the move from Africa into Europe and the poles on this planet) that in the event humans living on a myriad of planets might begin to think of themselves as something other than Earthlings and splinter off into differing groups as they move further and further away from one another.     It is wild.    The book discusses how mankind might have to eventually become  hybrid into cyborg like states in order to stay strong enough to meet the demands put on human bodies living in vastly different environments given the state of the atmosphere on other planets (Searing heat, lethal gases, etc.) not to mention making communication remain stable and fast.    Aging is another field being worked on and it is thought that one day it might be possible to halt the aging process and Kaku outlines several areas of research currently going on and what their initial and long-term goals are.     He discusses research being done currently on lab animals to install microchips that would allow humans to communicate with their minds through whatever the internet becomes.    Though it sounds sci-fi and too much to believe scientists have already been able to capture memories of mice.    The stuff of Jules Verne, Ray Bradbury and others is nothing compared to the actual true programs currently in place.     This book will floor you.   Seriously.