The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off

The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off by Carolyn Brown
Sourcebooks Landmark
April 2014
Paperback, 320 pgs
ISBN: 1402287038
Source: ARC from the publisher

About the book:

It’s Fried Green Tomatoes meets Bridget Jones’s Diary in Carolyn Brown’s latest women’s fiction novel: The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off! With her unique Texas drawl and cast of quirky characters, Brown brings laugh-out-loud humor to a poignant women’s fiction novel, centered around three cousins working through some of life’s toughest situations…

In the small town of Cadillac, Texas, business is booming at Bless My Bloomers, the fancy lingerie shop run by Carlene Lovelle and her cousins, Alma Ray and Emma Grace. But irony strikes when Carlene discovers another woman’s silk bikini underwear in her husband’s briefcase. Carlene recognized them, not because they were hers, but because the hussy had bought them in her shop! Lenny Joe had crossed the line and no one, not even the Good Lord, can help him out of the fix he’d put himself into.

For ten years, Lenny Joe’s team has dominated Cadillac’s Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off.  But with Carlene’s Bless My Bloomers team now in the ring, it’s anyone’s game—and when there’s pride and food involved, things are bound to get messy!

With a cast of eccentric characters inhabiting the small tight knit town, Carolyn Brown’s signature wit is tinged with a Texas twang you won’t forget. At its heart, The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off showcases the poignant side of female friendship… and the unexpected power of a big bowl of award-winning chili.

My thoughts:

This is one of those books that brought me outside my comfort zone. I don't normally read "chick-lit" so I was hesitate to accept this book. However, I decided it was time to branch out and I dove in. I found this book endearing and engaging. I never would have thought a book that chronicles a bunch of southern women (don't forget, I'm NY born and bred) and their trials and tribulations would interest me as much as The Red Hot Chili Cook Off did. I have not read any other of Carolyn Brown's books, so I can't compare, but I can say that the town of Cadillac and those who reside there is incredibly fun. I laughed and (gasp!) even teared up at some of the drama that ensues. Being from NY, it was also neat to be transported to a place that I have never experienced. After reading this book, I feel like I know Cadillac, Texas and totally get Southern living (yea yea, I know that I don't really, but that is just how good Brown did describing the town and the life of these women).

The plot didn't draw me in as much as the characters and the whole idea of the rich southern belles did. I believe it was that aspect of the novel that kept me engaged more than the plot line of the divorcee one-upping her ex. However, the love and romance that was scattered throughout the book is great- not over done and just the right amount of spice. I was pleased with how it enhanced the story and wasn't just there for the hell of it.

This is a very humorous book and I found myself giggling a lot. I was rooting for the girls and cheered on their efforts at their lingerie shoppe and their quest to win the cook off. Brown did a great job of making the reader align with Carlene - we hate Lenny and all that he stands for. The epic rivalries between the girls and families is also an addition to boost our hate for the ugly souls and mold our love for the good. When it comes down to it, this is a story of good versus bad and making your own way. Plugging along when you feel like you can't move another inch. It is inspiring, funny, and full of big bold characters!

About the author:

Carolyn Brown is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than sixty books published. She writes bestselling single title cowboy and country music mass market romances, as well as women’s fiction. Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma. For more information, please visit www.CarolynLBrown.com

write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

Image, book synopsis, and author information provided by the publisher

How I Got Skinny

How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love. Now that is an epic title for a book. Especially a book targeted at young adult readers, specifically girls. Sounds a bit vapid though, doesn't it? However, that is an assumption that is incredibly off-base. Ken Baker wrote a great novel for young women.

About the book
Running Press Teens // April 22, 2014
“Thick. Heavy. Big-boned. Plump. Full-figured. Chunky. Womanly.” To Emery Jackson, these phrases are just nice euphemisms for the big “F” word of “fat.” But to her workout fiend dad, underwear model sister, and former Laker Girls mother, they are unacceptable states of being.
Emery’s cash-strapped family’s solution? Signing up for a reality TV show in which Emery will have to lose fifty pounds in fifty days in order to win a million dollars.
As the pounds start to drop and the ratings skyrocket, Emery feels the weight of success. And she must figure out how to turn the truths she uncovers—about beauty, love, fame, and family—into the keys to more than just fortune.

My thoughts
I was pitched this book for review from the publisher, along with another title (Summer on the Short Bus by Bethany Crandell - you can find that review here) and was kind of on the fence about it. The title sounded like something I wouldn't be drawn into and the synopsis didn't add much spark to my interest. The title sat on my TBR pile for a few weeks before I got to it this weekend- and devoured it in one sitting.
Blown away.
I was so impressed with this ya novel. It isn't about a vapid girl looking to shed weight and become famous - it is about a girl who is aching inside and gets on a reality tv show to help her family. Turns out, she is helping more than her family. She is helping herself become the strong, healthy, independent, happy young lady she is. She is helping innumerable amounts of young women who watch her vlog posts. She is helping others who are in need of getting fit and healthy. She is helping the world and she doesn't even realize it until she is knee-deep in the reality of reality tv.
Emery is a tough kid. Putting up walls helped her survive being overweight. Now she is shedding weight and breaking down those walls. As a main character, I found her incredibly real and inspiring. So much so that I honestly think this needs to be required reading for teenage girls. She promotes self-love, growth, fighting stereotypes, and building each other up instead of breaking each other down. It is impressive. I can guarantee that young girls will relate to her character, without a doubt. The characters that Baker has developed are genuine and easy to understand. They grow as they story moves forward.
In addition to the great character development, I was wholly impressed with the way the story was portrayed. It easily could have been a Mean Girls or Clueless style tale, but what Baker really did was write a book about the struggles of overweight teenagers (specifically girls) and make it as honest as possible. It shows the inner workings of the teenage mind, the inner workings of family and sibling rivalry, the drama of high school, and of course the reality of "reality" television. The morals of the story are plenty. Get healthy for you (not anyone else), trust your gut, challenge the norm, stand up for yourself and others, be kind, and treat every day like gold. Baker crafted a moving story that I think is very powerful, especially for teenage girls. I think this will remind them that what they feel about their bodies ins't abnormal, but that it also isn't healthy. It will shed some light on all the things us adults tell the kids about society, but they refuse to hear. I really want young girls to read this book, it is a wonderful story and one with so much power to change the reader.

About the author
Ken Baker is an E! Entertainment Television News Correspondent. He is the author of "Fangirl," and his memoir, "Man Made: A Memoir of My Body," is the inspiration for the upcoming film "The Late Bloomer." He lives (and writes) in Hermosa Beach, California. You can visit him online at kenbakernow.com or via Twitter @kenbakernow.


write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair an honest review. Book synopsis, author information, and image from Amazon.com

Pawn mini-review

About the book:
Harlequin Teens // January 4, 2014
YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING.
For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.
If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.
There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed…and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

My thoughts:
Pawn is a great dystopian young adult novel. The idea of America taking on a caste like system is daring. The protagonist is brave yet real and humanly flawed- I liked her straight away. The twists and turns that abound in this novel are great... I had a hard time predicting some, which is always good as an avid reader- I like to be surprised. The ending definitely left me anxious for the next book.
I would certainly recommend this one to middle and high school kids. I think they would find this book interesting and would be salivating for the second book in the series. Pawn would encourage reluctant readers to push through a full novel and get them excited for another one!

Author information:
I attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and received a degree in Screen Arts and Cultures (a fancy way of saying I was forced to watch a lot of old movies) with a sub-concentration in Screenwriting. I write. I watch a lot of new movies. Read a lot of books. Tweet too much. Love dogs and have two spoiled Papillons.


write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

FTC: I received an egalley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Cover image and book information provided by NetGalley. Author information provided by the author's website.

The Book of Someday

About the book:
Sourcebooks // September 2013
From the earliest moments of her California childhood Livvi Gray has been haunted by a recurring nightmare, the terrifying image of a beautiful woman in a shimmering silver dress. On an early morning walk, while she’s making the most important decision she will ever make about love, loyalty and family, Livvi comes face-to-face with the stranger from her dream. This chilling encounter alters Livvi’s future and changes almost everything she thinks she knows about her past. Livvi’s story is told in parallel with the stories of a Boston photographer named Micah and a Long Island housewife named AnnaLee. One of them is defined by a stunning act of heroism, the other by a moment of weakness regretted for a lifetime. Micah, AnnaLee and Livvi have never met, but their lives are connected through an extraordinary mystery. A web of hidden truths that exposes the unexpected ways in which we protect, and betray, the people we love.

My thoughts:
I devoured this book. Dianne Dixon wrote a book that caught my soul and held on tight. I was so invested in this story. The way that she intertwined the characters stories and told this from multiple points of view kept the novel moving. It was interesting to try and piece together what kind of connection these people had, because it seemed as if there was no reason for it- until we get to the end and it all beautifully ties together.
A story of love, loss, and the choices we make, The Book of Someday is a great novel. It caught my attention and held on until the very end. My only criticism is the ending itself- it seemed to go out with a whimper. The ends were not fully tied up, which bothered me. But the ride that Dixon took me on for the entire novel overshadows that... and you all know me and my thoughts on endings, so for a book to overpower an ending I don't like is quite the feat. Mixed reviews abound for this novel, so I think it is a hit or miss for most people. I would suggest this to fans of her previous book, The Language of Secrets and those looking for a tale of trials with a dose of mystery.

About the author:

As a television writer Dianne Dixon (winner of the Humanitas Prize for Excellence in Screenwriting and double Emmy nominee) regularly received glowing reviews: “Her characters dance off the page.” (Jane Hewland/Sky Television, UK) “An enormously gifted writer.” (LaVerne McKinnon/CBS Television)  “Her knowledge of storytelling is both clear and articulate.” (Nate Hopper/Sony Pictures). Now Dianne is receiving equally enthusiastic response to her work as a novelist: “Captivating, fascinating.” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) “Absorbing and provocative.” (Huffington Post) “Convincing prose, particularly the dialogue.” (Kirkus) “An exciting new writer, capable of creating a well-paced, emotional page-turner of the best kind.” (Katie Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Girls in Trucks and The Magnolia League).
Dianne is a former Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, a nominee for the Mary Routt Chair of Writing at Scripps College, and has taught screenwriting at the Dodge College of Film & Media at Chapman University in Orange, California.


write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

FTC: I received an egalley of his book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Book & author information provided by the author's website, image provided by NetGalley

Nick & Tesla - my new favorite middle grade series!

A few months ago this adorable cover popped up in my mail. Nick and Tesla's High Voltage Danger Lab is a new middle grade series that mixes mystery and science to create awesome stories.

About the book:
Quirk Books // Nov 2013
Nick and Tesla are bright 11-year-old siblings with a knack for science, electronics, and getting into trouble.
When their parents mysteriously vanish, they’re sent to live with their Uncle Newt, a brilliant inventor who engineers top-secret gadgets for a classified government agency. It’s not long before Nick and Tesla are embarking on adventures of their own—engineering all kinds of outrageous MacGyverish contraptions to save their skin: 9-volt burglar alarms, electromagnets, mobile tracking devices, and more.
In Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab, we meet the characters and learn how to make everything from rocket launchers to soda-powered vehicles. Learning about science has never been so dangerous—or so much fun!

My thoughts:
I absolutely adored this book. The first in a series, Nick and Tesla's adventures in High Voltage Danger Lab are engaging and fun. Following the scientifically inclined siblings, the books contains directions for some of the experiments contained in the story. Giving detailed instructions, diagrams, and general knowledge, the experiments are a fabulous addition to the story. Middle grade readers will love the experiments that are scattered throughout the reading. You get to create the same experiments that Nick and Tesla do during the book. As a teacher, this is a book that I could easily adapt to fit my science lessons- especially during our summer school session. The book is filled with learning and information without the reader ever even noticing that they're being taught some really cool concepts. The writing is quite good as well, and the mystery that is the undercurrent of the story is well developed and intriguing. The fact that this is a series is also great- I think that kids will love following Nick and Tesla through the rest of their adventures. I can't wait to read the next title in this series, Nick and Tesla's Robot Army Rampage! 

About the authors:
“SCIENCE BOB” PFLUGFELDER is an elementary school teacher based in Newton, Massachussetts. He has made many television appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Live with Kelly and Michael, The Dr. Oz Show, and other media outlets. These are his first books.
STEVE HOCKENSMITH is the author of a New York Times best seller (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls) and an Edgar Award nominee (Holmes on the Range). He lives in Alameda, California.


write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

FTC: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book and author information provided by the publisher, QuirkBooks

The Resurrectionist

The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black

Can I just start out by saying that I was THRILLED when Eric from Quirk Books sent me the summary of this book?! It instantly caught my attention, especially when he said it was a "cross between Mary Shelly's Frakenstein and Gray's Anatomy." I mean seriously, how could that NOT get you excited?! It was hard, but I saved it to read during Dewey's Read-a-thon, and enjoyed it in one sitting!

About the book:

Philadelphia. The late 1870s. A city of cobblestone sidewalks and horse-drawn carriages. Home to the famous anatomist and surgeon Dr. Spencer Black. The son of a “resurrectionist” (aka grave robber), Dr. Black studied at Philadelphia’s esteemed Academy of Medicine, where he develops an unconventional hypothesis: What if the world’s most celebrated mythological beasts—mermaids, minotaurs, and satyrs— were in fact the evolutionary ancestors of humankind?

The Resurrectionist offers two extraordinary books in one. The first is a fictional biography of Dr. Spencer Black, from his humble beginnings to the mysterious disappearance at the end of his life. The second book is Black’s magnum opus: The Codex Extinct Animalia, a Gray’s Anatomy for mythological beasts—dragons, centaurs, Pegasus, Cerberus—all rendered in meticulously detailed black-and-white anatomical illustrations. You need only look at these images to realize they are the work of a madman. The Resurrectionist tells his story.

My thoughts:

I absolutely LOVED The Resurrectionist. It really is two books in one, and both are exceptional. The first half of the book is all about Dr. Spencer Black. Hudspeth put this part of the book together as if it were a short biography of the mysterious Dr. Black, gathered through letters and journal entries. As I was reading, it was easy to get caught up in the story and almost forget that this was fiction. I loved that. There was a lot of mystery surrounding Dr. Black, however I do think that his character could be flushed out a bit more. I understand we need mystery, but I would have loved to know a bit more about him.

I also really enjoyed the inclusion of journal entries and letters throughout the first half of this book. It added a dose of historical relevance and dialogue that illustrates just how ahead of his times Dr. Black was.

The second part of this book is in one word stunning. Hudspeth is a masterful artist. The Codex Extinct Animalia reads like a beautiful anatomy text. This is not only Dr. Black's crowning jewel, but E.B. Hudspeth's as well. The artwork within is simply incredible. My breath was taken away more than once as I read through The Codex. Extremely detailed is both illustration and text, this second half of the book is more than worth the splurge of glossy hardcover. With anatomical renderings of such animals as Pegasus Gorgonis, Ganesha Orientis, and Minotaurus Asterion, you will be blown away and transported to another worth where these creatures just could exist.

The Resurrectionist is incredible. It is one of those stories that comes around once in a blue moon and leaves you wondering how one mind can create such mystery and beauty.

4 stars! Great read!!!

As if you need any more convincing... check out this youtube video, A Conversation with E.B. Hudspeth

About the author:

Author E.B. Hudspeth is an artist and author living in New Jersey with his wife and two children. This is his first book.

Website

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{Summary, book & author information, and video provided by Quirk Books}

write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

FTC: This book was received from the publisher for a fair and honest review
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Chasing Rainbows

Chasing Rainbows by Kathleen Long is a novel about life, love, and loss. This appealed to me because I haven't read a novel like this in quite some time. I have been focusing on gritty reads and was in search of a soulful story. Chasing Rainbows delivered.

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

What's that saying about the devil you know? For Bernie, it's the devil she never expected that changes everything.

Her father's sudden death leaves a gaping void in her life and is one in a series of events that rock her world. Her husband leaves for another woman, and her best friend announces an unplanned pregnancy at the age of forty-one. Bernie's behavior goes from acting out to out-of-hand, and she finds herself in trouble at home, out of work and banned from the mall after a confrontation at the cosmetic counter.

When her mother discovers her father's book of cryptograms, Bernie realizes his encoded lessons in living might be exactly what she needs to survive. From dealing with her family's grief and bonding with her best friend's thirteen-year-old daughter, to dieting, dating and mindless almost-sex with the landscaper, Bernie discovers what her father always knew.

In life, you either choose to sing a rainbow, or you don't.

For Bernie, the singing is about to begin.

Chasing Rainbows is both thought provoking and mindless, and I mean that in the best way possible. The story made me evaluate my own life, but was also simple and easy to digest. I wasn't pondering the content of the book, but the messages did make me ponder life and grief in general. Does that make any sense? I hope so, because I want to get across that this novel is light and deep- it is a multifaceted read.

Bernie is a well developed character, as are some of the other players- specifically her best friend Diane and Diane's daughter, Ashley. While Bernie takes center stage, Ashley and Diane both play huge roles in the changes that come in Bernie's life. Other characters come into the picture too, and are developed just enough to get connected to their story in relation to Bernie. Number Thirty Six and Mrs. Cooke are characters that pop up and slowly shed their skin of mystery as the story unfolds. I also appreciated the time Long spent on Poindexter, Bernie's dog. The reader learns a thing or two from him as well.

As Bernie navigates through a very difficult time in her life, the reader is right there with her. I was transported to a time of grief in my life, analyzing my travels through tough times. I found myself cheering for Bernie and simultaneously learning about my own process with grieving. Everyone grieves differently, which is an obvious point in this novel. While it is obvious (and I normally hate that) it was done very well- it wasn't glaringly obvious that it was distracting, but it was there as an undercurrent to the whole novel. I liked that.

I found that this was a really enjoyable read. It was quick and fulfilling. Chasing Rainbows was an inspiring novel, forcing me (in a good way) to think about my own grieving process. Also, there were some beautiful quotes scattered throughout the story- it added dimension and many were sticky-note on my desk worthy! I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an uplifting and purposeful novel. 

I'll leave you with two of my favorite quotes that Kathleen Long added to Chasing Rainbows:

"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it."

~ General Norman Schwarzkopf

"We love those who know the worst of us and don't turn their faces away" 

~ Walker Percy

This book crosses over 2 challenges for me: 
Color Coded and Monthly Keyword

Pattern- Rainbow

March keyword: Rainbow

write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

Lockdown

Lockdown: Escape From Furnace is the first book in the Furnace series by Alexander Gordon Smith.  The cover caught my eye immediately- it is totally creepy and the gas mask reminded me of Doctor Who and the whole "are you my Mummy?" stuff. I also thought the synopsis sounded interesting.

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

Furnace Penitentiary: the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. Convicted of a murder he didn't commit, sentenced to life without parole, “new fish” Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world. Except in Furnace, death is the least of his worries. Soon Alex discovers that the prison is a place of pure evil, where inhuman creatures in gas masks stalk the corridors at night, where giants in black suits drag screaming inmates into the shadows, where deformed beasts can be heard howling from the blood-drenched tunnels below. And behind everything is the mysterious, all-powerful warden, a man as cruel and dangerous as the devil himself, whose unthinkable acts have consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the prison.

Together with a bunch of inmates—some innocent kids who have been framed, others cold-blooded killers—Alex plans an escape. But as he starts to uncover the truth about Furnace’s deeper, darker purpose, Alex’s actions grow ever more dangerous, and he must risk everything to expose this nightmare that’s hidden from the eyes of the world.

Sounds bizarre right? It is. Lockdown is a whole other world of evil. Think of the depths of hell and the evil that must brew close to the center of the earth... then multiple it. That is Furnace Penitentiary. Smith created a world so evil the Devil would be scared. His depiction of Furnace is chilling- while reading, I could picture this horrible place in my mind as I traveled along side Alex as he sunk  below the earths surface and entered a nightmare. Not your typical jail story, the reader learns early on that the workers from Furnace are not there to protect you- they are there to fill beds. Guilty or not, the kids who end up in Furnace are in for the worst nightmare imaginable, because in Furnace, everyone is guilty of their crimes. Unimaginable monsters are woven into the story in the form of gangs, mutant animals, and gas mask clad creatures. Everyone must fight to survive- and hope they make it through the night.

I must say that this was a bit slow in the beginning- although it was necessary. We need a back story for Alex to understand who he is and why he ends up at Furnace. Once we get to Furnace though, things move quickly. The story picks up some serious momentum and I plowed through. Smith created such disturbing pictures in my head that I swear it was real. Smith laid a foundation of fear as he described Furnace Penitentiary and described the underbelly of the earth. The monstrous dogs that come for the inmates was a vivid image in my mind thanks to beautifully wicked descriptions. The evil gas masked creatures that mark the cells in the middle of the night were haunting- I could hear their screams in my head. Overall, Smith did a mind blowing amount of description without slowing his pace or losing his readers. The minute details that he wove into the story created such an ugly picture. I was amazed. The characters were not as developed but it almost didn't matter- he gave us enough to get attached and feel for Alex, Donovan, and Zee. Other players in the story were also memorable, even without huge back stories. 

I was greatly impressed with the writing in Lockdown and as so pleased to have found Alexander Gordon Smith. His writing is disturbingly wicked and quite memorizing  I will absolutely read the next one in this series: Solitary and certainly finish this series- there are five books in all. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a creepy action filled tale. 

write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

Trapped

A little over two weeks ago I got a HUGE Scholastic order. I placed my kiddos orders and went on a book buying spree with some of my excess bonus points- I got a stack for the class, a stack for Madeline, and a stack for me. In my stack was Trapped by Michael Northrop. I read a quick blurb and added it to the list.

Since it is relatively short (240 pages), I picked this off the pile to read first.

Trapped is a YA novel about a crazy nor'easter, seven high schoolers, one teacher, and a big empty school.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive. . . .

Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision.

I liked the premise of this book a lot. Being from upstate NY, I'm quite used to a heavy nor'easter every winter and a blizzard every few years... and I love everything about both- the idea of being snowed in is a favorite of mine... now, I don't like when it lasts for-ev-errrrr, BUT I do enjoy a good winter. Trapped immediately peaked my interest with the abundance of snow. I also love survivalism  so the aspect of teens staying alive in a high school during a major winter storm is also appealing to me.

Trapped starts out pretty quick- within the first few chapters you already know that a big storm is brewing and the kids will be hunkering down in the school soon. The group of kids left in the school is quite the little mix, and I liked that Northrop did that- adds a little underlying story to the book. We get to know the characters by proxy. Narrated by Scotty, we hear his take on his peers and what is going on. Very high school cliche with the "cliques" but I guess a YA novel based in a high school should have some of that!

Northrop did a great job building suspense with the storm. His descriptions of the snow and the drifting was very visual- while reading I kept thinking it was snowing.. when in reality, it wasn't. He also describes the bitter cold so well that I was bundled up or in the tub while reading... granted, it IS freezing right now in upstate NY, but still.

I thought that this novel had just enough in way of extra story lines (the clique stuff, angsty teens, flirting, and some hints at romance) to suit the story. Not so much that it was in the way of the big picture - um hello, crazy ass blizzard - but enough to add a bit more dimension to the characters and story itself.

As for the blizzard... slightly grandiose and a bit fantastical, but believable if that makes sense. The idea of getting stuck in the school was also believable in this story.. the storm was bad enough that it seemed plausible that parents couldn't get to the school to grab their kids. As for the teens in the school, I do think Northrop could've amped up their survival skills. If *I* was trapped in a school, I sure as hell would've scavenged every single room and locked I could get into to get supplies to keep myself alive. These kids did some of that, but not nearly as much as I've hoped. It was a bit of a letdown that the story didn't showcase more survival skills. Oh well. The only other issue I had was the ending- it was very abrupt. Again, I thought it was somewhat believable but I just wasn't totally sold on the idea. Plus, it was just to clean and fresh of an ending. It needed a bit more.

Overall, I did quite enjoy this book. The ending may have bugged me, but it didn't ruin the story. Trapped was a fun and short read that was exactly what I needed in between my bulky reads. Now I think I am going to go check the forecast and make sure I'm prepared for whatever disaster the weather channel might throw my way. Haha!

Ps: don't you just love the cover?.. very ominous.

write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

Gone Girl

Gone Girl was the HIGHLY anticipated release by Gillian Flynn last year. I was so excited to get my hands on this one and I purchased it shortly after it was released in June. At the time I was in the middle of another good book and didn't want to confuse plots. I lent the book to a friend and she in turn let her husband read it... I didn't end up with it back in my hands until about 3 weeks ago. Maybe the fact that it took two people over 6 months to finish reading and get around to giving me back the book should have been an indication of the novel itself. If it was 'scream from the mountain tops' good, I'm sure it would have been devoured and passed on quickly. It wasn't. However, I did have high hopes for Gone Girl. I loved Gillian Flynn's other two books and had held off reading almost ALL reviews of the book so I went in unbiased. Gone Girl is an intense mystery and I hoped it would hold my attention like her other novels did.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Marriage can be a real killer. 

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

Sounds thrilling, right? I thought so. Plus, with Flynn's track record, I figured Gone Girl was bound to top my list of best reads in 2013. Unfortunately, that isn't exactly what happened....

Let's start with the good.... Ultimately, I did like the book. I may not have been totally blown away, but it was intense and interesting. I enjoy Flynn's writing... it is gritty and real. She is a strong writer and I think she does a good job developing character. Particularly in Amy- she did quite the job creating character for her. Those of you that have read it, you know what I'm saying here. Nick didn't have nearly as much depth as Amy, but I think Flynn still did a good job with him. Flynn did a fabulous job portraying both of them and altering them throughout the story which in turn allowed the reader to have many mixed feelings and pass judgement. 

So here is what troubled me... Gone Girl was really hard to get into. I was not very interested and it did not hold my attention. Quite frankly, I was bored. The diary entries by Amy were dull and annoyed me (especially in the beginning). It was a good 100 pages before I was hooked, which in my opinion is MUCH too long. The other thing that bugged me was the flow- it was occasionally quite choppy, the way it swapped between narrators. Oh, and the ending. I HATED the ending... as in, chuck the book down and curse.

Overall, I ended up liking the book as a whole... it just took some time to get there. It was interesting and had a very Flynn twist to it. Even though I was super pissed off (no, really- I was angry about it) at the ending, I enjoyed the story as a whole.

Gone Girl is not a book I would recommend rushing out and buying... if you are interested, borrow from the library or a friend. You may like this book if you don't mind a slower paced beginning and plot framing. Those who enjoy a good mystery and a lot of twists would also likely enjoy this. Once you get into the meat of the novel, it does deliver. 

If you've read Gone Girl... let me know what you thought. It has gotten many mixed reviews... I'm interested to see other opinions!

write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

This book was on my TBR and is my 4th Mount TBR Reading Challenge title

Perks

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is one of my absolute favorite books. It is up there in my top five reads of all-time. I first read Perks when I was a young teenager in high school... it was 2000 (a year after its release) and I was finishing my freshman year of high school. I was 15. I was young and naive. Perks opened my eyes to a whole other world. Reading it changed me. The book literally altered who I was. This novel is as intense today as it was when I first read it. Every single time I read Perks, a little bit of me falls more in love. 

I do have one huge regret relating to Perks though.... when I was a senior in college I loaned out my copy to a friend. This was my only copy- the one I read at 15 and reread as time went by. It was beat up and dog-eared. I even had penciled notes, underlined quotes, and highlighted best loved sections. I lent it out assuming it would find its way back to me. It never did. College is funny like that... time moves too fast and before you know it you've graduated and are off to great places. This is one of my biggest reading regrets - the other being a similar situation: the gifting of my original set of Harry Potter books. Between those two things, you'd think I wouldn't loan as many books as I do. Yet, I still do and I still worry I will never see them again. While most of the time they find their way back, I did lose Perks for a SECOND time. Being a favorite book, I obviously have raved about it for ages to friends. Once again, not so long ago (last year, actually) I loaned out my copy of Perks.... and once again it never made its way back to me. So now I don't have a physical copy of Perks. I only have it on my Kindle. Lovely for the fact that it cannot disappear on me again, but also depressing because notes and highlights on a Kindle just aren't the same... and it just doesn't age. I liked when books age- show their love and the hours you've spent with it. I would like to find a well-loved copy of Perks to call my own again. I don't know if I'll buy a fresh copy or find a copy at the second hand bookshop... but either way, I will likely never loan it out again.

Well... now that I've professed my awkward love of a book and my (perhaps misplaced) regret over losing two copies, let's move on to the fact that I have now finally seen the movie adaptation.

Obviously I love the book. Pretty sure that is clear by now. I knew I wanted to see the movie- I was hoping to see it in the theater but just never got around to it. Once that happened (because I felt like it was out of theaters quick) I got skiddish. I started to think maybe the movie wasn't good- even though people were raving about it. But then I figured that Emma Watson is amazing, and I totally believe she would never choose to do a movie that was a poor adaptation of a book. So then the trouble was actually finding the damn movie. It wasn't on Netflix or Amazon Prime and I couldn't ever find it at a RedBox because it was always out of stock. Finally luck would have it that RedBox had a copy returned and was finally available! I did a happy dance and took it home- where it sat for a few days. We got it when there were a few really busy days ahead so we just never got around to it. FINALLY we were able to sit down and watch it the other night.

Barrett has not read Perks of Being a Wallflower. He knows the story and he knows I love the book. He also knows it makes me cry whenever I read it. He also knows that it got good reviews and he was actually pretty excited to finally sit and watch it. Let me start with the fact that it was adapted and directed by Chbosky, which is awesome. Plus, it had an all-star cast. All this had us both geared up for a phenomenal movie- and we were not let down. 

The film adaptation of Perks is one of the best I have seen. 
SO much translated to the screen. The movie was as magical as the book. I wept like a baby (of course) and even Bear got soft. He actually said the words "this is pulling on my heart" and murmured under his breath at Charlie as he watched the movie. He came away from the movie touched... and so did I. Perks was an amazing movie. By that I mean that I will be going out and actually purchasing a dvd of it. I don't do that anymore. I own what I own- I don't go buy new movies because rarely do I want to watch them again. However, that is not the case with Perks of Being a Wallflower. Much like the book, I want to watch it again and again. I am so pleased with the movie. Now, don't get me wrong- the book will always trump the movie, especially in this case. The writing in Perks is just so fluid. I love every word of it. Nothing can trump that.

If you have not read the book- you need to. It is one of those books that everyone should read. After you read it, go watch the movie. You will not be disappointed. I promise.

Oh, and one more thing- Perks has produced some of the greatest quotes and a cult-like following. I have many of those quotes scribbled down in journals, pinned on my Pinterest boards, and floating around in my head. Read the book and appreciate the words.

I hope you don't mind my book-crush and my jumbled thoughts as they spilled out while I typed. There is something about this that just does that to me. I am so in love with it, I get all sorts of flustered. Does that ever happen to any of you??? 

write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow

Little House in the Big Woods

Lisa over at Books Lists Life has decided to host a Little House on the Prairie Read-a-Long! If you haven't already, join us... it is stress free and easy going. Besides, the Little House books are amazing and Laura Ingalls Wilder is pretty fantastic.

The series of Little House books are based on Wilder's childhood, but are classified as fiction rather than autobiography... you can learn more about that and Laura Ingall's Wilder by doing a quick search. Basically, there is debate about the memories and the influence of her daughter (who helped to edit the series). It actually is quite interesting to look into her life while reading the series.

Okay, so naturally we are reading the books in order (with the exception being Farmer Boy- we aren't reading that one). First book up in the series is Little House in the Big Woods. Quite possibly my favorite... but then again my mind may change as I read them now as an adult. I remember loving this one, but looking back it probably sticks out because it is what started me into the series and kept me reading. I remember it was my Aunt who bought me the boxed set when I was a kiddo. That set is now long gone, donated to my classroom years ago, wandering off piece by piece by former students. Fortunately, my classroom (and a colleagues) had a few copies of each book, so I was able to piece together the majority of the series. The rest I ordered from Scholastic and will get in the mail sometime next week. Thankfully one of the books I did have was Little House in the Big Woods so I didn't have to wait to join the Read-a-long.

Reading LH in the Big Woods on the shore

I picked Little House in the Big Woods and finished it in one sitting (freezing my ass off by Cayuga Lake while Bear and Jay were fishing). It immediately transported me back to my childhood. The details are rich and the writing flows quickly... but then again, that *may* be because I am no longer 8. Ha! Anywho, I absolutely adored this book. Rereading this as an adult brought so many "oh yeah!" and "that's pretty cool" moments. Reading about Laura's Ma and Pa and all of their duties around the home was neat. It reminded me where we came from and how life used to be. It also reminded me how to connect with nature. The simplicity and complexity of life is appealing on a certain level. So many different concerns and worries as opposed to today. I really enjoyed the little details about things such as churning butter and making cheese... it also sort of reminded me that if shit hits the fan and an apocalypse shows up at the doorstep, we could manage- they sure did.

Something that I don't think I picked up on as a kid (or at least not near as much as I did while reading this as an adult) was the internal struggle that begins within Laura in this book. Her struggle to behave and act more ladylike, as well as her struggle with competition with her older sister. Jealously and a feeling of being inferior are present as the story moves along. I was sad when I read those parts, thinking now through the lens of an adult. I can't recall these moments from my memories while reading Little House, so I feel like I either didn't pick it up or I just kind of felt like it was no big deal- normal even. Honestly, it is normal. I just hate the fact that it is... no little girl (or boy!!!) should feel inferior in ANY way. Okay, so I veered off topic a bit and am going to stop there before I turn this into a PSA.

All in all, I certainly loved rereading Little House in the Big Woods. It draws the reader in and does a good job spanning a year in the life. I enjoyed how it was broken up seasonally and thought that the descriptions were throrough and well thought out. The version I read had illustrations from the second illustrator, Garth Williams. I ended up browsing the internet to find some of the original Little House artwork by illustrator Helen Sewell. The images I found by Helen Sewell were lovely. I would enjoy finding a copy of the Little House books with her original work. Garth William's does an amazing job as well, and I would guess that his work with Little House is more widely known- I can only recall his artwork when associating anything Little House. Either way- the illustrations bring out the text and are pleasant to see. They may not be the illustrations children are used to now, but I think that anyone who reads the book would certainly enjoy them. I'm thinking I may hunt down a thrift store book to cut up and frame some of his illustrations! They're charming, in my opinion.

In conclusion... this was a long and rambling post. Please don't hate me for my tangents. Hahaha... and really, if you aren't reading along with us, go do so- NOW! While you're at it, go peep the twitter discussion with the #LittleHouseRAL hashtag. Ahh... Little House and technology.. what a mix!

write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow