what I've been reading....

Hi. It's nice to be back from my little break. Life got in the way of blogging and reading. It was all good stuff, but I have missed sharing here what I've been up to.

I was over on GoodReads.com the other day, listing some books I'd finished reading, and decided to check out how I was doing on my goal of reading 75 books this year. Well, the news was bad. While I've read 13 books, I'm 17 books behind... yikes! Not sure if I can catch up, or if I even care to try, but I want to get back on the horse and read more the second half of the year. I also have piles of books in my room to read:)

Books I've read since I last posted...

Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis, by Lauren F. Winner
I picked this up since I loved her first book Girl Meets God and this didn't disappoint. Winner honestly shares her struggles with God and Christianity, and where she sees her self in the Christian story.

Here I Go Again, by Jen Lancaster
A hard book to explain without giving too much away, Lissy Ryder returns to her high school for her 20th reunion to discover that her memories were a little rose-tinted, and she may not be as successful and beloved as she once thought.

The Bling Ring: How a Gang of Fame-Obsessed Teens Ripped Off Hollywood and Shocked the World, by Nancy Jo Sales
While not the most well written book, it's an interesting look at the headline catching story of six LA teens who burglarized celebrity homes including Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Orlando Bloom. This book attempts to discover the motivation behind the break-ins and what lead to their obsession with celebrity.

One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories, by B.J. Novak
Random, odd, funny, heart-touching. A mix of short stories, Novak does an amazing job of fabricating unique stories, characters and places.

Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell
I've heard about how great this book is, and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. It is definitely a young adult book, but is a beautiful story of two high school misfits finding love and seeing if they have what it takes to make it last.

Help Thanks Wow: Three Essential Prayers, by Anne Lamott
One of my favorite authors, Lamott shares the three prayers that get her through tough times, and shares personal stories that lead her to these three prayers.

The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer
I read this book with my church's small group. Tozer does an amazing job at identifying and expounding on God's attributes, such as wisdom, grace, mercy and justice. There was a lot of content that was new to me, and it's a dense book, elegantly written, and I probably re-read in a year or two.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - Book Review

Book: Ender's Game

Author: Orson Scott Card

Genre: YA, Sci-Fi 

Publisher/Publish Date: Tor Science Fiction / 1985

Source: Public Library

Pages: 324

Rating: 3.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

I have been hearing so much about this book lately, probably since there is a movie of it coming out this year, I decided I better see what all the fuss about.

If you have been living in the woods like me, here is the premise of the story: Ender is the third child in a world that usually only allows two per family. After surviving two wars with "bugs," the world's focus is on creating an army that can defeat them for good, allowing humans to live in peace. All kids are monitored from birth to see if they have what it takes to go to battle school, and Ender is special and is chosen to go. 

Most of the book focuses on the tests and knowledge he learns at school. Orson Scott Card created a word that is twisted and focused on violence, and describes technology that isn't too far off than some of what we have today.

I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, but I really enjoyed this, and maybe in this century some of what he writes doesn't seem so out of this world. This is a young adult book, and the characters are really young, but I think the topics are great for discussion and consideration for all ages.

Absent by Katie Williams - Book Review

Book: Absent

Author: Katie Williams 

Genre: YA

Publisher/Publish Date: Chronicle Books / May 21, 2013

Source: ARC eBook courtesy of publisher and Net Galley

Pages: 184

Rating: 3.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

After dying from an accidental fall from the roof during a high-school scinece class, seventeen-year-old Paige is trapped as a ghost on the school grounds. She meets two other students that died at her school, and she learns how to deal with the grief and rumors that surround her own death.

Williams presents an interesting view of what it would mean to be a ghost, as well as what limitations and special abilities one would have. For example, they are able to move freely around the school grounds, but once they reach the property line, they are transported back to the place where they died. Also, they don't tend to stand well on floors, but sink to the ground (ie: the basement), but are able to learn how to levitate so they can walk around the different levels of the school.

This book pleasantly surprised me and it's a short book, perfect for a trip or lying on the beach. There were deep, touching moments, and was never cheesy. I'd recommend it for ages 14 and up. 

Williams is a talented writer and I am looking forward to reading more books from her. The Space Between Trees looks intriguing.

May - What I Read

Thanks to a cold and a lot of time spent sick in bed, I plowed through a lot of books this month. I feel very accomplished:) Working on some longer reviews of some of these, so expect those soon.

Requiem (Delirium #3), by Lauren Oliver
[my review]

What Good Is God?: In Search of a Faith That Matters, by Philip Yancey
I listend to this as an audiobook, read by the author. And since much of the book is based on his sermons, it was an enjoyable and inspiring listen.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain
So good! Everyone should read this. [my review]

The Mystery of Mercy Close (Walsh Family #5), by Marian Keyes
[my review]

Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love and Tragedy at the Circus, by Dean N. Jensen
Thanks to the publishers who were kind enough to send me an Advanced Copy of this book. I really, really enjoyed it. This book will be available June 11. [my review]

Screwed, by Laurie Plissner
Also got an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher. I may not be the right audience for this book (I'd recommend for high school and college age), and I had some issues with the writing, but the story was interesting.

Absent, by Katie Williams
Thank you Chronicle Books & NetGalley for the ARC, I really enjoyed this. [my review]

The Last Summer of the Camperdowns, by Elizabeth Kelly
Such a great book! Was so glad yo get it as an ARC. I often value books based on how much I like the cover, and this one held up to my high standard. [my review]

Storybound (Storybound #1), by Marissa Burt
Cute story about a normal girl who is reading one day, and is sucked into Storyland. Sometimes felt that it was trying too hard to be a great series like Harry Potter, but I'd recommend for elementary and middle school kids. (I got an ARC from NetGalley)

Requiem - Book Review

Book: Requiem (Delirium #3)
Author:  Lauren Oliver
Genre: YA 
Publisher/Publish Date: HarperCollins, March 5, 2013
Source: SF Public Library
Pages: 432
Rating: 4/5
GoodReads  •  Amazon

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.  

Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it. 

But we have chosen a different road. 

And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose. 

We are even free to choose the wrong thing. [via GoodReads]

This book, the final in the series, is not quite as action filled as the second book, but does a nice job of wrapping up the story.

The story is told from the point of view of Lena, who has escaped the bonds of the city and is living in the Wilds. And her best friend Hana, who has had the anti-love procedure and is set to marry the new mayor.

Picking up where Pandemonium left off, Lena is in a love triangle when she discovers that Alex is still alive. They then wander around in the woods for awhile, a bit Deathly Hallows-ish, then meet up with other revolutionaries and the book takes off from there.

Knowing how this series ends, I do recommend it to people who enjoy Dystopian YA. And now that all three books are out, you can actually read them back to back.

Scarlet - Book Review

Book: Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi 
Publisher/Publish Date: Feiwel and Friends / February 5, 2013
Source: SF Public Library
Pages: 452
Rating: 3/5
GoodReads  •  Amazon

A sequel up to Cinder, Scarlet introduces new characters and a new story line, but intertwines it with the continuing story of Cinder.

Scarlet's grandmother is missing, and she partners with a stranger, Wolf, to track her down. Yes, I realize how cliche that sounds, but it's only the names that reflect the fairytale, and the story is really good. Scarlet and Wolf go on a journey to discover who her grandmother really is, and how her life is about to collide with the cyborg they keep seeing on the news, Cinder.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. I'd recommend to anyone who enjoyed Legend, Delirium, or Divergent.

April - What I Read

April was a great month. Lots of beautiful sunny weather here in SF, both my sisters came to visit for a week, and I somehow still read 6 books this month.

Bitterblue, by Kristin Cashore
A fantastical novel, about a distant and mysterious kingdom. For fans of The Infernal Devices & A Song of Ice and Fire. [post]

Winning Balance, by Shawn Johnson
Johnson shares her early gymnastic years, her experience at the Olympics, and how how her life has changed since then. Easy and fun to read.

Clockwork Prince, by Cassandra Clare
Just as good as all of Clare's other books, she creates great characters and plots to pull the reader in. [post]

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, by Barbara Demick
Good, but not my favorite book on North Korea. [post]

Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, by Lawrence Wright
Amazing book. Read my review for more thoughts, but I recommend you read it and decide what you think about Scientology. [post]

Scarlet, by Marissa Meyer
This sequel was better than the first, go read it!

Only 4 months into the year and I am 50% done with my goal of 50 books this year. I guess I underestimated myself. Maybe I should aim for 100 next year!

Life Before Legend - Book Review

Book: Life Before Legend (Legend 0.5)
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: Middle Grade, Mythological 
Publisher/Publish Date: Putnam Juvenile / January 15, 2013
Source: eBook
Pages: 38
Rating: 3/5
GoodReads  •  Amazon

A short review for a short book. This is a companion book to the Legend Series by Marie Lu and though technically is #0.5 in the series since it tells stories of things that take place before the first book in the series, it can be read at anytime though.

Told from both June and Day's points of view, it covers the events of one day, three years before the events in the book Legend. Day's story is about his first kiss and the events surrounding that, and June's is about her first day as a student at Drake University.

It was a nice addition to the other book in the series, and was worth it purchase as an inexpensive eBook. I'd recommend it to anyone who's read the other books in the Legend series.

Clockwork Prince - Book Review

Book: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Genre: YA 
Publisher/Publish Date: Margaret K. McElderry Books / December 2011
Source: SF Public Library
Pages: 528
Rating: 4/5
GoodReads  •  Amazon

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends. (via GoodReads)

Clockwork Prince is the follow up to Clockwork Angel, and this series is a spin off of The Mortal Instruments Series, which also has other spin offs. Which is great, since I like the author, Cassandra Clare, and she's plenty to read. While the series take place in different time periods, they are in the same fantasy world, with some overlapping characters (vampires, hu?).

While I think the short summary above makes the book seem really dark, I think Clare takes a dark subject and intertwines humor and romance. Not sure what it says about me, but I like the mix of dark and romance, and in these books, romance is never the main plot line.

The novel takes place in history London, and you really get the feel of the cold, moist, and dirt that characterized the city at that time. Clare does include some historical references, as thought this is a true story. The under belly of London that was kept secret. The Mortal Instruments, which is set in current time, takes place in New York, and I actually like that series better, if maybe just for the more contemporary feel.

If you haven't before read any of Clare's books, reading this series or The Mortal Instruments first would work, I would just be sure to start with the first book in that series.

Bitterblue - Book Review

Book: Bitterblue (Graceling Realm #3)
Author: Kristin Cashore, Ian Schoenherr (Illustrator)
Genre: Teen, Young Adult
Publisher/Publish Date: Dial / May 2012
Source: SF Public Library
Pages: 576
Rating: 4/5
GoodReads  •  Amazon

Set in a fantastical world where some people are born with special skills, known as a Grace, some people use this skills for good, others for evil. Bitterblue, the third book in the Graceling Realm series, takes place eight years after the first book. Eight years after the terrible reign of her dad ended, and she became queen of Mosea. While the kingdom is still recovering from the influence of her father, Leck, Bitterblue is trying to sort out how he terrorized the citizens and find a way to bring healing.

Leck was a violent psychopath, and his grace was an ability to make people believe and do what he wanted them to. Bitterblue was left with advisors who had worked for her father, and were focused on a forward-thinking plan, ignoring the past. Her curiosity leads her to sneak out the castle in disguise, to explore the streets of her city, and discover the true story of what her father did and the impact it still has on her kingdom.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series (the second is a companion book with different characters), and was looking forward to reading this one for awhile. Although it's set in a mythological realm, I like how believable the characters are, making the plot more true to life then a lot of YA books. While there is romance, it's complicated, and doesn't wrap up cleanly in the end. There is mystery, surprises, but it's never over the top. Not to give too much away, but things turn out really great in the end, and I hope Cashore writes many more books about these kingdoms.

Included at the end of the book, an almost too easy to miss, are breathtaking illustrations of the three bridges that are central to the novel, as well as a map of the seven kingdoms. [Purple illustration above is from the inside cover.]

my favorite dystopian serial novels

Hunger Games / Catching Fire / MockingJay - Suzanne Collins

These were one of the first YA dystopian series I read. I fell in love with the plight of the characters and the energy and tension of the story. While the second two books were also good, as a stand along, the first is my favorite. I assume most readers will know of these already so I won't recap their plots.

Maybe it's due to the covers, but I get these next ones confused all the time. if you asked, I could now, of the top of my head, tell you which each are about

Divergent / Insurgent / #3 - Veronica Roth

Set in Chicago, the world is divided into five factions, each focused on a particular virture. At the age of 16, each citizen must chose their faction, one with they will stay with the rest of their lives. Our female protagonist must decide to stay with her family, or go with her gut. And of course this all leads to running, fighting, a little falling in love... the typical YA dystopian plot.

Legend / Prodigy / Champion (coming soon) - Marie Lu

In a divided United States an elite member of society, June, must partner with the country's most wanted criminal to discover what's really going on in the government and try to reconcile the nation. I think this would make a great movie, would be similar to many military fantasy movies and lots of good action.

Delirium / Pandemonium / Requiem - Lauren Oliver

Love is a desease. Everyone gets a cure on their 18th birthday. But between then and now, dun, dun, dun.... This series has a really strong second book and I'm really looking forward to reading the last book in the series. (I just discovered there are also short ebooks between each of the main 3 books, more to enjoy)


Honorary Mentions...
The Mortal Instrument Series: City of Bones / City of Ashes / City of Glass / City of Fallen Angels / City of Lost Souls / City of Heavenly Fire - Cassandra Clare
The Infernal Devices Series: Clockwork Angel / Clockwork Prince / Clockwork Princess - Cassandra Clare
The Uglies: Uglies / Pretties / Specials / Extras - Scott Westerfeld

Insurgent (Divergent #2) - book review

Book: Insurgent (Divergent #2)
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: YA
Publisher/Publish Date: Harper Teen / March 2012
Source: SF Public Library
Pages: 525
Rating: 4/5
Other books from author: Divergent Series
GoodReads  •  Amazon

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. (Summary via GoodReads)

Oh boy! That's quite a gripping summary. (**there are spoilers ahead**)

This was a great sequel to Divergent. Does a great job of getting the reader right back into the story and continues the action, the love story and the suspense. 

This series is set in a universe where everyone belongs to one of five factions, based on their personality: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). I don't know about you, but this just seems like it's gonna cause some problems and of course it does. But, I think it's also a really interesting look at what we hold to be virtues, and what we put value in. And that can be a good and a dangerous thing. 

There are some hints at the end of the book that there may be more than meets the eye, so I'm really excited to read the next book.

Like many YA dystopian novels I like, this one also features a strong, female, lead character. Sometimes though, I feel like her decisions and conversations belong to someone much older than her, so it doesn't always seem true to character. But I like her determination and how real she is with her emotions and struggles.

You'll like this series if you like Delirium, Hunger Games, or Legend.

Book 3, still untitled, is expected to come out sometime in 2013.

Book Review: Clockwork Angel

More young-adult fantasy novels... they may be my favorite genre.

This is the fourth book I have read in this series. The first three, (known as the Mortal Instruments), are set in present time, While Clockwork Angel, the first in The Internal Devices series, is set in London during the reign of Queen Victoria.

The story deals with London's Downworld, and the Shadowhunters who protect the civilians from vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk. It follows a young girl Tessa Gray, as she travels to England, gets kidnapped by two downworlder sisters, and is rescued by the Shadowhunter. The story continues with a lot of twists and a couple love stories.

I enjoyed that is wasn't too sappy, was a well written, smart plot, and has good character development. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series, Clockwork Prince, and the third, Clockwork Princess, which comes out on March 19. And a movie based on the original series The Mortal Instruments, is coming out this year, can't wait.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

[Book #1 I have read for the 2013 YA Contemporary Challenge]

Since I read so many young adult, dystopian series, I sometimes get confused and mix up the plot lines. While I know I like the book, I could not tell you the main character's names and the title of the previous book. Honestly, I wish there was a good way to keep track of these sorts of things, and get alerted to when the next book comes out (if someone knows of something like this, let me know).

Onto the book review.... [**spoiler alert**]
Prodigy is the second book in the Legend Series, was published in January and written by Marie Lu. There is actually a 0.5 book in the series, Life Before Legend, a short eBook, that takes place before Legend, that I have yet to read.

Prodigy begins where the last book leaves off, with Day and June arriving in Vegas to try and work with the Patriots. A little back story. Years before, Antartica began to melt, and much of the eastern coast and some of the western coast of the United States is now underwater. The story takes place in a United States that is now separated into the Colonies (east), which is fighting a war with the Republic (west) run by the Elector (sort of dictator-ish). June grew up in a well-to-do Republic family, and trusted the Republic until she discovers they killed her brother, and she partners with Day, a well known rebel.

The Patriots are a group of people trying to destroy the Republic, and bring back unity to the States. Whatever means necessary. June and Day need their support to try and find his brother, but as June goes on a mission to set up the new Elector for assassination, they begin to doubt the goals of the Patriots, not knowing who to trust.

This book has all the aspects that I enjoy in a good YA novel, strong, multi-layered characters and a complex history to their current world that makes sense and holds together. Some scenes seem straight out of an action movie, in a good way, and make for an heart-stopping ending. It is a little predictable though, I could see the multiple love triangles coming for miles (or is it a love square?). Though that didn't make me enjoy it any less.

And now I have to go sit and wait for the next book in the series to come out.

Rating: 3.5/5

Book Review: Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck, a book from the author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick, tells two stories, set 50 years apart. One told in pictures, and one in words.

If you are unfamiliar with Selznick's work, his line drawings beautifully tell the story which weave together in a surprising and inventive way.

While it is technically a children/young adult book, the strong characters and riveting plot line makes his books a great read for anyone.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

February - What I Read

Boy did March sneak up on me, but I think I did a pretty good job this month considering it's a short month.

At the beginning of the year I made a goal to read 50 books this year, which I though was a conservative goal. I may have underestimated myself. So far I've read 13, and according to GoodReads I am six books, 11% ahead of schedule. Maybe I can get that percentage up for next month.

More Or Less: Choosing a Lifestyle of Excessive Generosity, by Jeff Shinabarger
A recently published boom and my first ARC review. My review (FYI: I really loved it!)

Disco Bloodbath, by James St. James
I blogged about it last week.

Prodigy, by Marie Lu
I have a review of this coming out later this month.

Forgotten God, by Francis Chan
A book I've been wanting to read for awhile, and I got my hands on the audio book at the library. While I don't love listening to audio books that often, it's great how quick it is to get through a book. This book focuses on the neglect of the Holy Spirit in today's church. How it's the true true source of the church's power and calls for us to refocus on the forgotten God.

Cinder, by Marissa Meyer
Loosely based on the story of Cinderella, though in this story she's a cyborg. As crazy as that may sound, this was actually a really great book. And unlike most other dystopian novels, this wasn't based in North America, but in New Beijing. Scarlet, the second book in this series (Lunar Chronicles) was published February 5th and I am looking forward to reading that soon.

Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West, by Blaine Harden
I have a review of this coming out later this month. I highly recommend reading this.

This Book is Not Good For You, by Pseudonymous Bosch
How can you not love a title like that. This is the third book (out of five) in the New York Times bestselling Secret Series. Two adventurous 11-year olds, Cass and Max-Ernest head off to track the Midnight Sun organization, after they kidnap Cass' mother. While I enjoy this series, the plot tends to be pretty shallow and repetitive, but I really enjoy the characters. And they are easy and fun to read, so I think I'll stick with the series. Recommended for 3rd - 5th graders (or thirty-somthing adults).

In process...
Infinite Jest: going to work on this book a little at a time. Only 51 pages in so far, but I am really enjoying it.
Red Carpet Burns: a memoir about moving to LA for love.
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict: one of my favorite contemporary series which I consider a cross between J.K. Rowling and Roald Dahl.

January - What I Read

I just started using GoodReads in december and not sure what I would do with out it. I love lists and keeping track of things, so it's a god-send to have a place to easily track my reading and books I want to read. I set a goal of reading 50 books this year, so having read 8 this month, I'm 16% ahead of schedule... maybe I set my goal too low.

So, thanks to GoodReads, I know everything I read this month...

Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America, by Robert Whitaker
While I didn't technically finish this (I skipped a couple chapters), I read it for my book club and discussed it so I feel I have a good understanding of that I skipped over. While this book is a bit alarming, he backs up everything with statistics, making a good case for doctors to think twice before prescribing medicine for psychiatric patients. I'm not a doctor, and not giving out advice, but I recommend this book to anyone who finds this topic fascinating. It can get a little repetitive, so if you do skip over any parts, be sure to at least skip ahead and read the last chapter.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel, by Maria Semple
OMG, so good! A bit of satire, a bit of Gone Girl, a whole lot of fun. A quick read, great for a trip to the beach.

Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son, by Anne Lamott
In some ways a follow up to her book Operating Instructions, this book follows the first year of her son's first son. I love Anne Lamott, and enjoy her memoirs the mosts.

The Boy Next Door, by Meg Cabot
Quick, fun, chick-lit. Meg Cabot is one of my more favorite chick-lit authors, and I've read most of her book. What I didn't like about this was it was all told through emails. So it was all told in first person, which got old really fast.

Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection Hardcover, by A. J. Jacobs
It took me a long time to read this, a few months, since I was just reading it at lunch time. I've enjoyed all of Jacobs' books, maybe I see a little but of me in him. While I sort of wish I had the guts to commit to the experiments he does, it's nice to be able to just sit on the couch as I read his struggles and successes and laugh with him about it. (I also reviewed his book The Know-It-All)

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag: A Flavia de Luce Novel (Flavia de Luce Mysteries), by Alan Bradley
The second book in a series for young adults. I don't hear much about it (i.e. not as popular as Hunger Games, Harry Potter, etc....) but I have really enjoyed the series so far and will continue to read the rest of it. FYI: the German edition has a much cooler cover design.

Water for Elephants: A Novel, by Sara Gruen
I've been wanting to read this for awhile, and was glad I finally gotten around to it. Fascinating story, and much better than I expected. Haven't seen the movie yet. Is it any good?


In Process......
This Book is Not Good For You, by Pseudonymous Bosch: love this series!
The Casual Vacancy, by J. K. Rowling: I own this so library books usually get read before this.
Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell: Had to return it to library, but was enjoying it so far.