PopSugar Reading Challenge Update

Here's the title I added in the last week:

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery is a book my mom loves.

Previously:

The Map of the Sky by Felix J. Palma is a book with more than 500 pages.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is a book that became a movie.

How (Not) to Fall in Love by Lisa Brown Roberts is a book published this year.

Perfect Puppy in 7 Days: How to Start Your Puppy Off Right by Sophia Yin is a book with a number in the title.

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini is a book written by someone under 30.

The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 22: 1993-1994 by Charles M. Schulz is a book with nonhuman characters.

CraftFail: When Homemade Goes Horribly Wrong by Heather Mann is a funny book.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman is a book with a female author.

The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett is a mystery or thiller.

Ink by Amanda Sun is a book with a one-word title.

Napoleon's Pyramids by William Dietrich is a book set in another country.

Mint Juleps With Teddy Roosevelt by Mark Will-Weber is a nonfiction book.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is a popular author's first book.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor is a book by an author I love that I haven't read yet.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige is a book that a friend recommended.

A Cold Legacy by Megan Shepherd is a book that scared me.

Don't Give Up, Don't Give In: Lessons From an Extraordinary Life by Louis Zamperini is a memoir.

The Red Deaths by Casey Eanes with Seth Ervin is a book that I can finish in a day.

Dark in the City of Light by Paul Robertson is a book with antonyms in the title.

The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson is a book set somewhere that I've always wanted to visit (London)!

Loop by Karen Akins is a book set in the future.

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver is a book set in high school.

A Magic Dark & Bright by Jenny Perinovik is a book with magic.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a book by an author I've never read before.

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan is a book I own but have never read.

Modern Crochet: Crochet Accessories and Projects for Your Home by Molla Mills is a book originally written in another language (Finnish)!

The Maker Movement Manifesto: Rules for Innovation in the New World of Crafters, Hackers, and Tinkerers by Mark Hatch is a book written by an author with my same initials.

And I'm currently reading America's Library by James Conaway and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.  America's Library won't count for any checklist items, but I believe I'll count Twilight as "a book with bad reviews."  ;)

Ones that I don't have a book lined up for:  "a classic romance" (recommendations for a romance without extended bedroom descriptions?), "a book of short stories," "a book based on a true story," and "a book that takes place in your hometown" (I've decided to claim the greater Greenville, SC area as my "hometown," as that's where I grew up:  South Carolinians: any recommendations?)  Thank you!

As always, feel free to comment with any suggestions for the remaining checklist items!

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider | Book Review

I actually had to think hard about how to rate this book.  It wasn't what I expected, so I had to readjust my own perceptions to accurately give this one four out of five stars.

This is the story of Evan, the guy who you don't want to like.  He's a star athlete with good looks and the cheerleader girlfriend.  He's guy who walks into the party and everyone yells, "EVAAAAN!"  All his friends are fellow star athletes.  They have the choice table at lunch.  Oh, and they live in sunny CA.

Evan, however, has a theory:  everyone experiences a tragedy at some point that irrevocably changes their lives.  His childhood best friend, Toby, experienced his tragedy at age 12.  On his birthday, he and Evan and a few other friends go to Disneyland.  While on a roller coaster, a young tourist in the seat in front of Toby stands up and is decapitated and Toby catches the head.  Yikes.  You can imagine the teasing this leads to.  So who can blame good looking athletic Evan for kinda distancing himself from Toby?  However, Evan's tragedy was awaiting him at the end of junior year.  He leaves a party one night angry and heads home and is hit by another driver in a hit and run.  His knee is shattered, as are his athletic hopes and dreams.  His pretty friends abandon him and his cheerleader girlfriend is gone.  Showing up at school on the first day of senior year pale and walking with a cane, he finds himself on the debate team (one of the few non-sport electives at his school) and rekindling a friendship with Toby and the other school misfits.

Evan is deeply flawed and so very well done.  As I said before, he's the guy you don't want to like... but then you do!  You want to help him maybe?  And the whole book is about Evan growing from his "tragedy," so there's lots and lots of character growth.  Evan isn't the only 3D character, either.  I'd say that Toby and Cassidy are also very well-rounded.

Remember that I'm giving the book four of five stars as I tell you that there were two little flaws with the book.  First, the cover.  This is so minor, but I can't resist mentioning it.  It's all bright and kind of cheery and features a roller coaster.  The roller coaster thing is so very minor in the book!  It happened years before the book begins, and is barely mentioned after the first chapter.  And I didn't feel like this book had a ton of cheeriness.  It wasn't depressing, but it was about a guy growing up and learning some hard truths along the way.  Second, I figured out the reveal before the reveal.  Don't worry, I'm not going to spoil it!  But you know how there's always some "what's up with that character?" thing?  I figured out what was up with that character before Schneider revealed it.  Not all the details, but the general idea.  It didn't ruin the book, but I probably would've leaned more toward 4.5 or 5 stars out of 5 if I hadn't.

Overall, a good book.  For it's page count, I fairly flew through it.  Definitely has older teen appeal (there's a borderline steamy scene at one point), but I'm not sure a ton of adults will line up to read it.

*I received an ARC of The Beginning of Everything from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens | Audiobook Review

Throwback Thursday Review!

I'll be reviewing The Fire Chronicle next Thursday, and you know how I am... I never want to review a book without reviewing the books before it in the series!

I originally listened to The Emerald Atlas in January 2013 and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I gave it 5 of 5 stars on Goodreads, but didn't write down my reasoning.  My library shelves this in the Juv section, but it's solidly middle grades.  I think some younger teens would even find it interesting.  I know that I did, and I'm supposedly an adult!  It's got a really rich setting, and the characters' interactions are so very real and deep.

The Emerald Atlas is the story of three siblings who have grown up in one orphanage after another.  They love each other fiercely and stick together tighter than glue.  Little do they know, but they are living separate from their parents as a means of protection against magical forces that could harm them.  When they discover a very special atlas, their lives are changed forever and a grand adventure begins!

Obviously, I loved the book enough to listen to the 2nd book!  Oh, and I should mention that Jim Dale is one of my favorite narrators.  I think he does mostly children's lit.  His voice is just the right, comfortable tone and his cadence is slow enough for comprehension and clarity but not lagging.  And slightly British (I think?)

*I checked out my copy of The Emerald Atlas from my local library.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery | Book Review

(The copy I read was a beautiful hardcover that my mom brought me from P.E.I.  It's very cool, with a foreword by Ms. Montgomery's grands.)

Yup yup!  I'm totally writing a review of a book that's been in print for over a hundred years.  I know; no need to "sell" this one, but I do want to rave about how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book.  My blog; my prerogative.  :)

I LOVE THIS BOOK!  (So this "review" is unapologetically biased.) I'm going to open with a little story from my childhood.  Don't worry; I wont' take long.  When I was about 11 years old or so, my mom purchased a box set of the entire Anne series.  She gave me the first one, Anne of Green Gables, told me I might like it, and to let her know when I finished.  I immediately connected with the spunky redheaded Anne and flew through it!  When I finished, my mom gave me the second book in the series.  I loved the immediate gratification!  And like Anne, I was occasionally a little mischievous.  It was round about book 3 or 4 that I figured my mom must have the entire series stashed somewhere in the house.  The first time I was left unsupervised, the hunt began!  Oh, how I must have tried my mom's patience as a kid.  She just wanted a fun surprise for me over summer break, and my impatience ruined it a bit.

But that was when my love affair with Anne began.  I identified with her.  No, I'm not adopted, but I identified more with her personality than her circumstances.  When she flew into a temper at Mrs. Lynde, I saw myself and my own flash temper.  When she worked so hard at school to be head of class, I saw myself and how upset I'd get if I got less than a "B" on any assignment.  Anne and I are "kindred spirits" in our love of books and our penchant for imagination.  And I still, as an adult, sometimes get lost in a book or other thoughts and leave dinner to burn or remain unthawed.

I think that's part of the magic of this book, and the key to it's longevity:  almost everyone could identify with at least part of Anne's personality or situation.  Everyone must have experienced, a least a little bit, a desire to please an adult in their life.  And everyone had a childhood best friend they were fiercely loyal to.  Everyone played and had to work at school.

Anne of Green Gables also has a bit of timelessness to it.  No, of course Anne and Diana didn't have computers or cell phones.  But they did have curfews and played in their yards and went to school together.  They may not have had movies or malls to go to, but they attended live recitations and concerts.  Anne didn't long after leggings and crop tops, but she did crave puffed sleeves on her dresses.  (Anyone who has read this book will never again be able to hear "puffed sleeves" without thinking of Anne!)

I've now read this book 5 or 6 times, at different ages, and each time I read it a different aspect resonates with me.  I will continue to reread it occasionally for the rest of my life, and will share it with nieces and library patrons.  :)

*I own my copy of Anne of Green Gables.  In fact, this is my third copy.  I read the first two to death.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  For more information, or to join the fun yourself, check out their blog!

Top Ten Books I Think Make Great Beach Reads

Personally, I will probably not be going to the beach.  1. The hubby and I are definitely more "mountain people" than "beach people."  2. Even if I went to the beach, I'd not be lounging in the sun reading.  I'm a redhead who burns in about 2.5 minutes.  3. Summer is so crazy busy at my work place... when I do take a long weekend over my wedding anniversary in July, I just want something easy and non-crowded... like a small mountain hideaway.  But but but!  I do work in a library, and we definitely get the question:  what book(s) should I take to the beach?  I'm going stereotypical in this list:  light & fluffy.

1. The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller.  Summer setting + fantastic lol snarky conversations + comic books/rpg gaming.

2. A Magic Dark & Bright by Jenny Perinovic.  This book has two things going for it:  an engrossing plot + summer setting!

3. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  Ohmygoodness how much do I just love this book?  Plus standalone + summer setting + coming-of-age.

4. Little Fish by Ramsey Beyer.  Perfect for teens about to head off to college + style of writing (graphic novel meshed with zine) makes it easy to put down & pick up as time allows.

5. Wake by Amanda Hocking.  Summer setting + MERMAIDS.  (I really like mermaids.)

6. 45 Pounds by K.A. Barson.  Summer setting + main character triumphing over diversity.

7. Red by Allison Cherry.  A town inhabited solely by redheads- how much more implausible can you get?  Standalone + rather light.

8. Little Blue Lies by Chris Lynch.  Coming-of-age + mob + summer setting.

9. Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block.  Romance + carefreeness + lyrical writing + not long or complicated.

10. For me: At Home in Mitford, Anne of Green Gables... rereads!  Summer is a good time to revisit favorite reads of the past.  Last summer I did a massive reread of the Mitford books; this summer I might just reread all the Anne books.  What would you reread?

American Quartet by Warren Adler | Book Review

(The original cover from the early '80s was not quite so attractive.  This one is much better.)

I "discovered" Warren Adler about a year ago, by accident.  I saw a train on the cover of Trans-Siberian Express on NetGalley and snatched it up... and fell in love.  I wouldn't say that American Quartet was bad at all, but unfortunately it didn't quite live up to Trans-Siberian Express or Treadmill.  

Perhaps it was the MC.  Fiona is a female DC cop, and her character felt a little "forced" to me.  She is awesome.  She's holding her own in a mostly-male world.  She's really smart; almost always making connections before the men around her even finish their morning coffee.  But she is quite confrontational in most of her interactions.  Very defensive.  I guess I would have liked for the author to trust us readers to recognize her awesomeness (as I did) and not to feel the need to explain over and over how she's a woman in a man's world.

The plot itself was really cool, and I totally enjoyed the way it unfolded.  Most of the book is from Fiona's POV as she investigates a series of murders in DC.  As the body count rises, so does the tension.  Not only is her job at stake, so are innocent lives.  I won't give spoilers, but I will say that Adler gives the reveal to the reader at a near-perfect point... in my humble opinion.  Sometimes I feel cheated if the author gives me the solution before the main character figures it out, but in this case it really added to the build-up to the end and had me at the metaphorical edge of my seat!

The other POV is a local powerhouse, Thaddeus Remington III.  He's a failed politician with tons of money to burn.  He throws the parties that you really want to be seen at.  And he knows lots of DC dirty little secrets.  You'll have to read the book to find out if he helps or hinders Fiona!

Overall, I'd give American Quartet 3.5 of 5 stars.  Goodreads doesn't let you give half stars, so my rating will round up to 4 of 5 stars.  And I would read the next in the series.  But I don't feel like I have to go out and get it now and tell all the peoples about it.  Make sense?  I guess I'm more in like than in love, while also recognizing good plot structure and writing.

*I received a copy of American Quartet from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review, and for that I'm grateful.

PopSugar Reading Challenge Update!

Here's the titles I've added in the past couple of weeks:

Dark in the City of Light by Paul Robertson is a book with antonyms in the title.

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan is a book I own but have never read.

A Magic Dark & Bright by Jenny Adams Perinovik is a book with magic.

Previously:

The Map of the Sky by Felix J. Palma is a book with more than 500 pages.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is a book that became a movie.

How (Not) to Fall in Love by Lisa Brown Roberts is a book published this year.

Perfect Puppy in 7 Days: How to Start Your Puppy Off Right by Sophia Yin is a book with a number in the title.

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini is a book written by someone under 30.

The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 22: 1993-1994 by Charles M. Schulz is a book with nonhuman characters.

CraftFail: When Homemade Goes Horribly Wrong by Heather Mann is a funny book.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman is a book with a female author.

The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett is a mystery or thiller.

Ink by Amanda Sun is a book with a one-word title.

Napoleon's Pyramids by William Dietrich is a book set in another country.

Mint Juleps With Teddy Roosevelt by Mark Will-Weber is a nonfiction book.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is a popular author's first book.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor is a book by an author I love that I haven't read yet.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige is a book that a friend recommended.

A Cold Legacy by Megan Shepherd is a book that scared me.

Don't Give Up, Don't Give In: Lessons From an Extraordinary Life by Louis Zamperini is a memoir.

The Red Deaths by Casey Eanes with Seth Ervin is a book that I can finish in a day.

The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson is a book set somewhere that I've always wanted to visit (London)!

Loop by Karen Akins is a book set in the future.

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver is a book set in high school.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a book by an author I've never read before.

Modern Crochet: Crochet Accessories and Projects for Your Home by Molla Mills is a book originally written in another language (Finnish)!

The Maker Movement Manifesto: Rules for Innovation in the New World of Crafters, Hackers, and Tinkerers by Mark Hatch is a book written by an author with my same initials.

And I'm currently reading The Chronicle of Fire by John Stephens and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.  The Chronicle of Fire won't satisfy any Reading Challenge items, but Anne of Green Gables is a book my mom (and I!) love.  (I've totally been texting her book quotes while I read it.)

Ones that I don't have a book lined up for:  "a classic romance" (recommendations for a romance without extended bedroom descriptions?), "a book of short stories," "a book based on a true story," and "a book that takes place in your hometown" (I've decided to claim the greater Greenville, SC area as my "hometown," as that's where I grew up:  South Carolinians: any recommendations?)  Thank you!

A shout out to my SiL, who recommended I try The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah for a book that might make me cry!  Thank you!

As always, feel free to comment with any suggestions for the remaining checklist items!

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!