A Better Angel by Chris Adrian

   Just what short stories are supposed to be. A question mark in the beginning and an open mystery at the end. I had such a good time reading this book.


Favorite Quote:

"She yodels again, or yiddles, or whatever it is, that sound like some rebel parrot would make."


Overall Opinion:

Mysterious and a little creepy, the stories are hauntingly terrific.


Rating:

Yes!

The Gift by Cecilia Ahern

A little precious.

Favorite Quote:

"The elevator pinged and the doors opened, like welcoming arms ready to embrace the next guest. But there was nobody there. It waited, but nobody entered, and so it crossed its arms in a huff, and descended again.

Overall Opinion:

Wouldn't go back to it.

Rating:

4

The River Wife by Jonis Agee

The River Wife reads backward and forward while following a family over generations. It is a little bit mystery, little bit drama, whole lot of dark. It was also murky in the telling and traveled too much.

Favorite Quotes:

"It thumped into the large bowl of stewed rhubarb with clotted cream that the waiter had set on our table as the final insult to our appetites."

"Their jeans were so dirty you could sow oats on them and harvest a good crop before either of them realized it."

"Only Ethel May Zubar managed to keep herself together, but that was because she traveled like a ship at sea, with on board laced down tight as she pushed the prow of her bosom past..."

Overall Opinion:

Too many stories trying to be told at once. It seesawed back and forth, picking up threads here, there and everywhere that it burdened its own telling.

Rating:

3

Security by Stephen Amidon

   Halfway through the book and I was still waiting for something to happen, and then, just when I thought it was nothing but a series of vignettes, it finally pulled itself together into one story. Too bad by that time I was ready for it to be over without wanting to know the point of the reading hours I had already put in.

   Dark, depressing and definitely with no happiness in sight anywhere, Security follows a few citizens of Stoneleigh Massachusetts through their seemingly disparate lives that finally collide in betrayal, hurt, distrust and pain.

Favorite Quotes:

"His expression continued to shift until it landed somewhere between insurrection and anxiety."

"His brittle hair was styled to fight a desperate rearguard action against baldness..."

Overall Opinion:

If you enjoy slogging through a book just for a somewhat surprising ending then this one's for you.

Rating:

eh

Meet Me in Venice by Elizabeth Adler

  I originally thought the book would be long on romance and short on story. It was a little longer on story than I expected and about as long on romance as I thought. Ms. Adler's book isn't strictly a romance only novel. It is, more correctly, a romantic thriller. A mediocre romantic thriller. 

Overall Opinion:

Readable at least. Once only at most.

Rating:

Readable At Least. Once Only At Most.

In a Heartbeat by Elizabeth Adler

  I originally thought the book would be long on romance and short on story. It was a little longer on story than I expected and about as long on romance as I thought. Ms. Adler's book isn't strictly a romance only novel. It is, more correctly, a romantic thriller. A mediocre romantic thriller. 

Overall Opinion:

Readable at least. Once only at most.

Rating:

Readable At Least. Once Only At Most.

Invitation to Provence by Elizabeth Adler

   I originally thought the book would be long on romance and short on story. It was a little longer on story than I expected and about as long on romance as I thought. Ms. Adler's book isn't strictly a romance only novel. It is, more correctly, a romantic thriller. A mediocre romantic thriller. 

Overall Opinion:

Readable at least. Once only at most.

Rating:

Readable At Least. Once Only At Most.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

   The White Tiger is a letter written to the Premier of China by Balram Halwai, an unredeemable character who does nothing to charm you to his side in spite of his character. Balram is writing to inform the Premier of the truth about Bangalore, and what better way than by telling his story.

   Balram's story begins in poverty, travels through his occupation as a servant, acknowledges the murder he commits and culminates in his success as an entrepeneur. He is almost impossible to like, so much, in fact, that is difficult to feel sorry for his circumstances. Balram is a contradictory combination of ignorance and cunning; he believes that cell phones shrink the testicles, that Beijing is the "Capital of the Freedom-loving Nation of China" and is able to start and run successful company.

   Mr. Adiga does a wonderful job weaving his story. He makes no apologies for Balram and lays bare Balram's India and all who inhabit it. Reading it, one kind of marvels at the circumstances and characters involved, wondering how any of it is possible and thankful they're not in it.

Favorite Quotes:

"A rich man's body is like a premium cotton pillow, white and soft and blank. The story of a poor man's life is written on his body, in a sharp pen."

"Like eunuchs discussing the Kama Sutra, the voters discuss the elections in Laxmangarh."

Overall Opinion:

There was almost no one to like in the story and a relief when it was over. It is a measure of Aravind Adiga's writing skill that the reader can so despise the characters and circumstances while still enjoying the story.

Rating:

7

Midnight is a Place by Joan Aiken

Youth Fiction Pick

   I was waiting for it to get mysterious and, frankly, better. It got slightly better though not very mysterious. There are other books on the shelves that would be better picks. It stayed on the marginal side of okay and then completely fell apart on the last few pages.

Overall Opinion:

Maybe a young reader might like it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Rating:

4

The Postcard by Tony Abbott

Youth Fiction Pick

   Now, if you read my Firegirl review, you know that I enjoyed Tony Abbott. The Postcard is no exception. Written for a younger audience, this "mystery within a mystery" is engaging for all readers and something I like as a mother of boys, a male protagonist.

   Jason has just begun his summer vacation when he learns that he must join his father in a visit to Florida. Jason's paternal grandmother who he doesn't know and is rarely spoken of has died. Unhappy with being there and while cleaning up, Jason unexpectedly learns something about his grandmother through an old postcard. The mystery adventure begins.

  

Favorite Quote:

"There was no fight, no rumble of berets and spatulas and walkers.

Overall Opinion:

Grab your 8-12 year olds and wow them with a good time with a good book!

Rating:

Borrow It For Your Kids

Touching the Dark by Jane A. Adams

   A mystery. Tally Palmer is a blind, ex-police officer who, along with her lover and friends, is trying to find another friend's attacker. The book is easily read, the characters are likeable. Unfortunately the mystery was easily solved before the book was finished.

Overall Opinion:

It's not a complete waste of time, but it is almost pointless when you figure it out before you're halfway through.

Rating:

5  

The Exodus Quest by Will Adams

   The second book to follow Daniel Knox, The Exodus Quest is another historical mystery/archeological thriller. After the time lapse between the actual reading and the review, I'm not sure that the book stood the test of time. 

   There are other authors who follow the same basic model for their books, Patterson, Clancy, Evanovich, who keep their characters familiar yet engaging and their stories fresh. It didn't feel like Mr. Adams was able to make that same jump.

   Hmmm, check The Alexander Cipher for more information on this particular series.

Overall Opinion:

I would give Mr. Adams a third chance; I think leaving a bigger lapse between books would help.

Rating:

6

The Household Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide

   Touching, well written and mysteriously moving, The Household Guide to Dying was worth reading. Delia is making lists of daily needs, wedding to do's, writing her final book and looking for a missing piece of her past. Delia is also dying and doing her best to do it well.

   I enjoyed the book and discovering the answer to her question. It was nice to meet her family and heartbreaking to know the outcome for them in advance. Interspersed through her story written backward and forward were letters and replies to her household advice column that were entertaining and fun to read.

Favorite Quotes:

"The shabby old car was as radiant as a bride."

"Eight was when you attained a certain level of coolness...You were no longer in the infants' department at school...and you were allowed the heady freedom of using a pen instead of a pencil in class."

"Meanwhile, most afternoons the cockatoos came unannounced and noisily to the neighborhood, like a gang of hoodlums squealing brakes and burning rubber."

"The chickens were clustered in a corner of the yard, clucking and scolding like a bunch of old ladies harassed by schoolboys."

Overall Opinion:

I loved the vocabulary and I liked Delia's family. I was a little wishy washy on Delia, but felt for her in her need to prepare the way for her family. The Household Guide to Dying made me think about what I would need to do to prepare my own.

Rating:

It's Worth a Read

Sixteenth Week Wrap...Delayed

   Fourth of July, yay! For the life of me, I can't think of anything else. Late wrap. Read only one library book. Reread my Twilight books (5 book total week). Hmmm. Bit of a different experience this time; definitely not happy about it! The books are in the library, but I didn't actually borrow them. Not sure if I should review them.
   You know what? I am just not feeling this wrap right now. Maybe I should come back to it in a better mood.

The Room and the Chair by Lorraine Adams

   What to say about this book? I'm not sure if I really liked, just liked, or so-so liked this book. Hmmm. Maybe I'll have figured it out by the time I'm ready to close this review.
   First impression: Did not like the book. Had a hard time getting into it. Frankly, I wanted to skip it altogether. Ms. Adams seemed to have pulled out her thesaurus and sat down determined to use every entry; I was waiting for her to sign it Baby Kangaroo Tribiani (that would be a Friends reference, you should watch the show). Her vocabulary didn't make the book impossible to understand, but it did seem to make it stultifying to read. Hard to grasp the thread of the story also. Put the book down and finished the books from last week.
   Second impression: Finished last week's books, so time to go back to this one (read: lack of enthusiasm). Something different. Either the vocabulary lesson eased, I acclimatized to it, the story thread improved or a little of all three. Kind of liking the book. Kind of liking the characters. Feeling a little invested in their stories. A little curious as to how the story plays out.
   Some things I specifically liked: The vocabulary use was fun, if a tad/more than a tad overdone. There were some really interestingly visual turns of phrase. The characters' speech was written the way people actually speak. Think stops and starts, stutters and interruptions, incompletely spoken sentences followed by new, sometimes off topic, sentences.
   Some thing I specifically did not like: The translation of the characters' vagueness and ambiguity to the writing itself. It went beyond tone setting to impart an unnecessary lack of clarity in the story telling. Sometimes I wasn't quite sure what I was reading or was supposed to take away from what I read.
  

Favorite Quotes:

"She wanted to take the coat of appearances given her by birth and burn it away by will."

"The room was butterlies of beating questions."

"She thought they were bright, because when she looked in the mirror she saw her face transformed by the wish she brought to checking how time had played with her."

"Breaking a story was a cork trophy in an evanescent sport."

"Adam picked the mask of concern-the least convincing in his collection-and tried to put it on his face."

"It was enough for the first sensations, if one was neither too picky nor too slattern."

"He was talking with the forward motion of a cartoon cannonball."


Overall Opinion:

Hmmm, I'm still not sure. Oh! Wait a minute. My overall opinion is-ambivalent.


Rating:

???What Do You Rate Ambivelent???

Fifteenth Week Wrap

   Happy Fourth of July!! Ahhh. It's been a good day, full of baking, baking and more baking. Oatmeal cookies, peanut butter cookies, lemon oat streussel bars, fudge topped brownies, homemade apple pie all made today. I was really looking forward to eating goodies today; so far, half an oatmeal cookie. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. :)

   This fifteenth week had a day at Mojave Narrows with friends, Cabrillo Beach and fireworks shopping with family and a couple of pleasant days spent doing nothing that required preparation and planning. You know, the best kind of nothing.

   It's funny, this week began with me thinking that I wouldn't get much reading done (again) and actually finishing five books. Yay. Number five equalled sixty-six (66). That's right. I said it. Sixty-six!! I at least liked everything I read and super-duper liked most! Can you say "super-duper" without sounding like a dork? Hmm. Does spending time pondering that question automatically confer dorkiness? Does use of the word "confer" equate nerdiness? Good grief, I think I just answered all my questions. Eh. What the hay. I will accept your appellations and raise you one goofiness.
   Alright, alright. Reining myself in. Back to the reading. This week I have two picks of the week, almost three, but I'm going to limit myself to two.

Picks of the Week:

Jimi & Me by Jaime Adoff

and

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie


Happy reading, happy summer, happy day.

Jimi & Me by Jaime Adoff

Teen Fiction Pick


   Another winner by Jaime Adoff. His storytelling, his poetry style, they both add up to great books! Jimi & Me is a first person story that follows Keith, a boy who has just lost his father, has to move to a new town and must struggle with new revelations about his family.
   For jr and senior high audiences, this book poignantly speaks to its audience without speaking down or resorting to preachiness. Mr. Adoff allows his characters to be themselves and resolve their dilemmas in a realistic way that young audiences can appreciate and older audiences can understand.



Favorite Quotes:

"My cereal bowl is almost empty,
as the question slides
down the kitchen walls,
landing like a brick in Mom's lap."

"I'm trying to tell myself that things will be okay.
I know it's a lie. But I heard
if you tell a lie long enough
it becomes the truth.
Maybe this lie will come true.
I hope it does."


Overall Opinion:

Written powerfully and poetically, Jaime Adoff's books are ones to add to your teen's library. His stories are a well blended mix of drama and redemption.


Rating:

I would say
in a word-
good.

I would say
in two words-
very good.

I would say
in a word-
delicious.

The High King The Chronicles of Prydain - Book 5 by Lloyd Alexander

Youth Fiction Pick  

   Written in epic style, The High King, was a good fantasy adventure that thrilled its reader. My only complaint is that there wasn't enough review of the previous story; I felt a little adrift during the story. The book looked like it was going to close kind of lamely for a second, but recovered nicely.


Favorite Quote:

"Memory lives longer than what it remembers."


Overall Opinion:

I think boys will enjoy the series. If they are familiar with the Lord of the Rings series, this one should be a welcome addition.


Rating:

8