New Favorite of 2013

 

Me Before You

 By: Jojo Moyes

Genre: fiction

Pages: 369

Published: 2012

Read: May

5 out of 5 stars 

This is a love story, but so much more. It is thought provoking and eye opening. The story makes you reflect your life for weeks afterwards. It is very true to life in that life can change at any given moment.  The characters are so well developed that you can’t help but fall in love with them. Lou is the kind of girl I would love to be; patient, understanding and most importantly compassionate. Her sister, on the other hand, is the completely opposite. I hated her, but she added to the story and emphasizes the compassion in Lou. This novel is easily my favorite of 2013 and added to my all-time favorite list of titles. A MUST read. This is her latest book of 17 and I can’t wait to read the rest J

Her website is www.jojomoyes.com

Worst book of 2013...

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

By: Robin Sloan

Genre: fiction

Pages: 288

Published: 2012

Read: May

1 out of 5 stars 

I HATED this book. I was so excited to read this novel….what booklover wouldn’t?? It’s about a mysterious bookstore open 24 hours a day. But, it’s more about googlers and technology and the mystery has nothing to do with the books themselves. I daydreamed a lot while reading it and wanted to give up, but trudged on hoping it would grab my interest. It never did L. Very little of the book even took place in the quaint, very intriguing-sounding bookstore. This was one of the few books that I hoped the ending would make the book worthwhile to read, but that never happened either. While it was well written and I believe the author has the technology knowledge to write a book of this context; it just wasn’t for me.

The most intriguing part – the cover of the hardcover edition glows in the dark – VERY COOL. This is Sloan’s first novel and I will probably not be looking for any of his future novels, but if you are a fan his website is www.robinsloan.com

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

 By: Stephen Chbosky

Genre: YA fiction

Pages: 213

Published: 1999

Read: May

2 out of 5 stars 

I was disappointed with this book. I expected a much better novel. While it was well written and I don’t see why it should be “challenged”, the story just didn’t grab me. I think this may be one of those young adult novels where you need to be a young adult to really enjoy it. I usually love books written in letter or diary form, but it aggravated me that the story never revealed who the letters were written to, if it was just a diary, or why it was written in letter form in the first place. I was hoping this would be revealed at the end of the story and it never was. I also could have done without the storyline of the very personal relationship between Charlie and his teacher, whom he called by his first name. It creeped me out a bit.

YA Graphic Novel

Smile

By: Raina Telgemeir

Genre: YA graphic novel

Pages: 224

Published: 2010

Read: April 

4 out of 5 stars 

This coming-of-age YA graphic novel is based off of the author’s 6^th grade experience when she had to get braces. It is a terrifically illustrated and told in her own voice as a 6^th grader.  Smile is definitely the most humorous feel good book I have read in a very long time. Anyone could read this book and truly enjoy it. The story reveals the feelings every girl, and even boys, have during those awkward pre-puberty years of your life.  Telegemeir is also the author of a series of graphic novels based off one of my childhood favorite series, The Babysitter’s Club.  By the end, you will definitely be smiling.

Telegemeir’s website is www.goraina.com

Another YA Challenged Novel

Speak

By: Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre: YA fiction

Pages: 208

Published: 2001

Read: April 

4 out of 5 stars 

I loved this “challenged” YA book. Written over 12 years ago, it is still a relevant classic book for any time. Originally an outgoing teen, this freshman get shunned by her peers for calling the cops at a party, but no one knows the truth for her reason. She decided to stop speaking and withdrew instead into her own head. I enjoyed every aspect of this book, especially the “voice” and character building of Melinda.  This is a book that I feel will grab any teen, or adult, that ever went through a difficult time with peers because of an event that appeared to be a “mistake”.  As with the other challenged books I have read, I would encourage ALL teens to read this novel rather then tell them they shouldn’t read it. Anderson provides a great perspective from the troubled teen view and the effects of being the ones labeling the teen as an outcast.

Anderson has written several controversial novels for teens, you can see them all at www.lauriehalseanserson.org.

MUST READ for a book lovers!!!

The End of Your Life Book Club 

By: Will Schwalbe

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 336

Published: 2012 

Read: April 

4.5 out of 5 stars 

This memoir is Tuesdays With Morrie, but with a  "novel" twist.  The conversations, or book club meetings, held between Will and his mom not only discuss the books, but also their lives.  Mother and son already had a close nurturing  relationship, but the 2 years of book club meetings deepened it considerably.  Even though the book title gives away the ending; its the way his mother would have wanted it  - She always read the last chapter of every book first.  Will's memoir is about family, relationships, hope, reconnecting, and love more than the loss id family experiences.  This heartwarming, touching book is a MUST read for all book lovers.  Their discussion of the novels you have already read will deepen your insight of them  and the ones you haven't read will be added to you To-Be-Read shelf quickly.  I loved the fact that Will included a bibliography of all the books discussed at the end - what a great added bonus!

Schwalbe doesn't have a personal website, but the book does - www.theendofyourlifebookclub.com
 

An Agatha Christie Mystery

Endless Night

By: Agatha Christie

Genre: Classic

Pages: 303

Published: 1968

Read: April

3 out of 5 stars

I have to be honest and say I would never have chosen to read an Agatha Christie book on my own. I read one only because my book club is reading Agatha Christie is month because we have an Agatha Christie “Mystery of Living” presenter coming to next meeting.  I opted to allow the members to read any Agatha Christie novel they wanted to.  I will say I was very pleasantly surprised with Endless Night.  Although it wasn’t “edge of your seat” suspense, I rather enjoyed the little mystery and writing style. I am entertained by books written from the point of view in which the narrator is actually writing the story then and there. I was able to figure out one of the mysteries; however there was a shocking element to the ending that was an interesting twist.  I was surprised that the “actual” mystery didn’t happen until the last third of the book, especially considering that when you read the summary for the novel you know a death occurs. I wonder if this is Christie’s typical fashion and will be asking Christie about this next week.

Read more about Agatha Christie at www.agathachristie.com