Review: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Although I've loved most of my experiences with Newbery novels, reading too many of them close together can make them all start to blend together. Because so many of them are a coming of age story, focusing on a young or boy learning to deal with whatever hardships life has dealt them, some of the details begin to merge together creating a giant Newbery read instead of the individual books.

Although some stories have a tendencies to run together, there are some which are a such a w original idea, completely unique unto themselves that they demand that you remember them individually. When You Reach Me by Re Stead is one such story.

This book is brilliant. I might repeat that again, because I can't think of a better word to describe the story (unless I'm just going to stick with basically amazing.) I can't imagine the flow charts, timelines and diagrams Stead must have used to create this book. Everything within the story is connected, but nothing feels contrived. Too many times in stories where plot lines overlap and characters connect in unexpected ways, the coincidences become too much and too unrealistic for the necessary suspension of disbelief, and it lessens the enjoyment of the story, because I can't believe any of that would actually happen. When You Reach Me offers no such feeling. It is simply an 11 year old  girl trying to come to terms with a life changing experience.

Miranda (Mira) is our main character and her voice is strong. Throughout the book, Mira is struggling to determine her place in a world that is suddenly different from what she had always known her world to be. Her best (and only) friend no longer wants anything to do with her, there is a 'crazy-shaped person' living on their corner who sleeps with his head under the mailbox, and (the most disconcerting and unsettling of all) she begins finding letters within her things, asking for assistance from an unknown, unnamed source who seems to know things before they happen. Mira's mind is practical and she finds it very difficult to accept many of these new changes. I love that we are able to watch and listen as Miranda's mind broadens as she learns to accept the changes within her life.

One of the complaints I had with this book the first time I read it was the desire to know more about some of the periphery characters. While that is still true to a degree, after the second read through I decided Stead's way was better, especially with Marcus. I believe Marcus is one of my new favorite literary characters. He is just so individual and he lives by such a different set of rules without ever really acknowledging that his way is any different, any more right or wrong, than anyone else's. Although I would love to know more about Marcus and the other great characters in Stead's novel, it is a selfish desire to know everything about everything, not something her novel is actually missing.

I refuse to go into too many details here, because this is one book that it would be a shame to spoil. Knowing too much about this book the first time you read it ruins some of its magic. There is so much depth to this story, so much wonder and it is definitely one you must discover on your own. I believe that the brilliance of this story comes from its simple comp ties. Those are what make it such a magnificent first time read, but allows you to enjoy the story more each time you read it. The story is simple enough to appeal to the younger audience it was written for while also being complex enough to not only appeal to s and the older children, but also complex enough to withstand multiple readings. I re-read this book just the other day, about two months after my first read through, and I found myself noticing much that I missed the first time through, and enjoying it just that much more.

This book was nothing short of fantastic and managed to hit upon the perfect degree of interest. It left me wanting more of the story and more of the characters, but what I was given filled all the empty places. It was everything it needed to be.

The Storyteller and the Defacement of Public Property

Here it is everyone! A special thank you to author M. Clifford for taking the time to write up a post just for us. Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts! 

Most of the time when people read my novel, THE BOOK (www.dontreadthebook.com), they come away proud of the passion they always had inside for the written word and for storytelling.  Some people close the novel with a fresh desire to read more paperbacks or to buy their books from used bookstores and sign the inside cover so that someone will always know that they owned that book and loved those pages.  A lot of people ask me what my intentions were in writing THE BOOK and there are many.  To follow through on my promise to give you a unique guest blog post, I'll touch on the one motivation I haven't discussed very much - the redemption of the storyteller.  

In my novel, I definitely glorify story and the ability to read it freely from an honest source.  Reading is a private and very personal act.  Authors are who they are because they love telling stories.  Creating an arc and then another arc and then another until they reached the end of a much larger one that began somewhere in the beginning. I'm an intentionally self-published independent author.  I've never sought representation from a major publishing house or even attempted to get an agent beyond a few query letters six years back.  I'm sort of a rare breed in that I am passionately supportive of the indie author and I encourage them to get their work read, edited and uploaded so that story-lovers can keep finding things to read.  Not everyone is a storyteller, even when they've written a book, and that's sort of the negative element to the benefit of being able to self-publish.  Stay with me because I'll loop this back to the beginning and it'll all makes sense in a minute. 

I have often read books that are waiting for me to open them the moment I enter a bookstore.  Stacks upon stacks of shiny covers waiting.  I know hundreds of thousands have been printed and I almost feel a responsibility to take one for that fact alone.  And then, when I get home and start reading, I have felt by chapter four that I've already listened to four different voices.  Three other people have written a few sentences here and a paragraph there.  I'm sure of it.  Although publishing houses do a good service for the written word by printing and distributing and marketing high-quality stories, they are a still a business.  A for-profit business.  They will alter a story if need be, or convince an author to do so, simply to sell more copies.  I wouldn't be surprised if there are authors today that, after submitting their work, get a reply like, "Solid book, but please make all your characters vampires.  Send it back and we've got a deal!"

That is obviously an outrageous, dramatic example.  My point is that altering an original work is akin to someone being interrupted during the telling of a campfire story.  I included a similar scene in my book, sans interruption.  Campfire storytelling is a wonderful pastime where novels begin and the mind of the creative person is sparked toward a future in writing.  The desire to tantalize and entice people around them, to get them to the edge of their log as they wait to find out where the man with the hook on his arm is hiding.  Now picture this budding author telling his story, only to be interrupted by someone else at camp who thinks everyone needs to know that "one of the characters was also a vampire.  Okay...go ahead now.  Finish the story." Even though plenty of readers could find that to be more beneficial to the story, I think it is important for readers to know that when they buy a book from a bookstore, or from someone that isn't an independent author, they may not be getting a single story.  They are getting one that has been edited with scissors and tape and red pen from multiple handwriting styles suggesting alternate story lines, characters, etc. When you read THE BOOK, it is 100% mine.  Every idea is mine and every line is mine (other than what I reference from classic and contemporary literature) because no one has the ability to control my writing.

Although this was not my main motivation, not even in the top 10, I do think it is important as we move into this new age of digital reading to discuss the future of publication.  I would be lying if part of me wasn't afraid for the authors who have written stories that other people control.  Who's to say that on the 50th anniversary of THE SHINING by Stephen King, the sales department at the publishing house will not only create a new cover, but alter the story to explain that the reason the main character went crazy and attacked his family was because of a full moon and that he was actually a werewolf or something.  Sure it sounds interesting when you hear the idea, but Stephen King may not be alive when that happens, which means that he would be unable to defend the characters he created.  Is that really fair to do that to him or his characters?  In a sense, the publishing house owns those characters...so... 

We see a lot of this today with Quirk Classics and their new release of Android Karenina.  I'm not opposed to taking old stories and putting a new twist on them, I think it's really smart.  I hope to dabble in that at some point in my future.  It's fun and it's creative, but it only illustrates my point further.  How destroyed would Jane Austen be to known that her characters were mangled and reformed into something comedic and disgusting?  To know that the lines that she cried over, that mixed with the ink of her pen, were now spliced with a graphic image of a zombie tearing into the fleshy neck of some matriarch from a rich family while she's reading quietly in her stately home.  

The difficult thing is that there is not an easy answer for this question.  That's why a lot of people have enjoyed discussing THE BOOK after buying it, because I ask a lot of unanswerable questions.  Do we treat these books as just a collection of words?  One after the other, after the other and the other, until there are enough pages to be clasped together and wrapped with a hard linen binding?  Or are they unique works of art that must remain perfectly intact, structurally sound, exactly as the artist intended?  Does it make it okay to chop it up and change it simply because enough time has passed?  Maybe.  It's a good discussion to have. What is great is that my book is gaining attention during the advent of popularity with these mash-up novels.  I think that in ten or twenty years we'll really see how people go about augmenting this idea further. 

 Here's the real truth in the matter: the moment you edit or add to an original manuscript, a line is crossed.  Again, I'm not saying crossing that line is bad.  But it is crossed and respect must still be given to the original.  How far then do we walk past the line before it is too hard to get back?  And, by then, when we reach the point of no return, will people even care?  As an author, I know I would be devastated to hear that a hundred years from now someone could take my characters and change them any way they pleased, simply to make a profit.  Those characters are pieces of me and I love them, as any author would.  I poured my soul into them.  But, in the same breath, although I would not agree with the actions of someone disfiguring my work, I'll fight to the death their freedom to do so.  And maybe therein lies the real question - How much of this is an expression of freedom, and how much is a defacement of public property?  The reader must decide, because it's not stopping anytime soon.

 M. Clifford

Now, about those lists...

In my about me page, I mentioned that I love working my way through book lists. I have several that I am actively working through and many others on the side that would be nice to get to, one day. I thought I would spend a moment and introduce those lists that are an active part of my reading patterns.

THE NEWBERY AWARD 

In 1922, the American Library Association (ALA) began awarding The John Newbery Medal to what they determined to be the most distinguished contribution to children's literature for that year. Because of the multitude of amazing books written each year, the committee is also allowed to acknowledge those books which did not make the final cut but are still worthy of recognition. These are given The Newbery Honor Medal. While not a exact system, and each year there are and will be people who disagree with the novel chosen as the recipient, I appreciate the effort made to recognize these books and make them more accessible to children. If you are a recipient of the Newbery Award, your book will likely never go out of print (and it's kept some doozys around) and most libraries and bookstores will carry a copy.  As of today- 6/28- I have read 67 out of the 89 winners. I'm almost there! I intend to read and own every Newbery Winner. I'm not as committed to reading every honor (there are almost 300) but I'd like to read many, if not all of them at some point. 

THE PRINTZ AWARD

In 2000, the ALA added the Michael L. Printz Award to recognize those books which exemplify literary excellence in young adult literature. Like the John Newbery Award, each year a committee chooses which book most fits this criteria as well as recognizing the 'runners-up', which are awarded a Printz Honor. Because it's a newer award, I am aiming to read all of the winners and honors. I'd like to own many of them, but am not as committed to owning every one the way I am with the Newberys. So far, out of 11 winners I've read 3 and I've read 8 out of 41 honors. I've got a long way to go on this award, but I'm enjoying the process.

THE BBC'S THE BIG READ

In 2003, The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) conducted a survey to determine the nation's favorite books. The list is in 3 parts- The top 100 favorites, top 200 favorites and the top 21. The top 21 books were ranked by popularity, with the understanding that each author could only be represented once among the top 21 favorites. My focus is on the top 100 books, although it may shift to include the top 200 once I complete the first bunch. So far I've read 29 1/2 (got stuck getting all the way through The Lord of the Rings trilogy) but I've got several more on my immediate to-read list. 

Aww, Shucks!

Hey everyone! Head on over to author M. Clifford's blog! He read my review of his novel, The Book and was so pleased with it, he posted it on his site! He had very nice things to say about it, so head on over to his blog to read his review of my review. He also posted a review for his next book, The Muse of Edward Manet. I haven't read that one yet, but given how much I enjoyed reading The Book, it is definitely on my list of books to watch for!

Head on over and check out his blog, and don't forget to pick up a copy of The Book!


And stay tuned! His guest post will be up by Tuesday morning!

Review: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

We all know that there are myriads of great (and not so great) books that have been turned into movies, plays, animated cartoons, TV shows and etc. etc. etc. I always roll my eyes at people who respond to the question- How did you like that book? With some variation of, "Oh ya, I loved it! The movie was so great!" Gag. Really?! You just said that?! You just smeared the name of literature by telling me a book was great because you liked the movie?! (Ahem...) Well, the other day I shamefacedly realized that I was guilty of this myself. (Insert horrified gasp here) One of my fondest memories of Christmas, most beloved childhood memories and in my top 3 favorite Christmas stories was missing something...


A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of the most recognized, well known, and cherished Christmas stories in existence. There are numerous versions and adaptations for both children and adults, in animation, live action or produced live on stage. You can find it serious or slightly comical or even as a musical. Some follow the original script closely while others use only a loose interpretation of the story. Whatever versions you've seen, most people are very familiar with the plight of the Cratchit family and Tiny Tim, the cold, miserly heart of Ebenezer Scrooge, and the eerie spirits who visit him during the night of Christmas Eve.

However familiar we are with the story, how many of us have actually read the book? I imagine not very many. It's included on BBC's The Big Read and I wonder how many people include it because of the story rather than the book itself. So, to avoid this horrible reader faux pas, I decided to pick up this favored story and read it for myself. It's a short book, more of a novella than a novel, and I already knew that I loved the story.

I did really enjoy reading this book and I'm glad I can now say that I've actually read it. However, I must admit that I am more in love with the idea of this book than its reality. It's a wonderful story, with a wonderful message and wonderful characters, but I didn't have the same emotional connection to the written story that I do to the various productions I've seen. I know that this is more due to past experiences and the relationship it has to my childhood than anything negative about the book. I loved the book and will definitely reread it in the future, but it's just not the same as watching Scrooge, the Musical or The Muppets.

The book places more emphasis on the characters and the realizations they make than just the story of Scrooge. Most movie or live productions emphasize Scrooge's discovery of the Christmas Spirit, and becoming a more generous person. I love that, and it is a very important part of the story. However, I love that reading the book offers more insight into why Scrooge became the way he did and the relationships he had with those around him.

It is a great story to invite the Christmas spirit and remember the true meaning of Christmas, but it is also a cautionary tale. Be careful the emphasis you place on money and things. It is usually more important to focus on the people in your lives than the things in your life and this story, no matter how you experience it is a great reminder of that.

Photos courtesy of Gary Benson, a scenic designer. For more images and more information, you can find him on Webshots here and he also blogs at Bascombe Mania. If you are interested in his photography, please contact him through one of the links provided. 

More Blog Hoping and Follow Friday!

This week there are two great ways to find new blogs that I'm participating. Jen over at Crazy for Books hosts this weekly blog hop, and Parajunkee has one as well. I've found tons of great and very interesting blogs through both these hops and definitely look forward to finding more over the next few days.

If you are visiting from one of these hops, HI! I'm glad you stopped by. I hope you like what you see! Leave me a comment or follow me, and I will definitely check out your blogs in return! Hope to see you around!

If you are visiting- let me know in the comments section- Where is your favorite place to read?

I did mention an exciting week, right?

This just seems to be a week of great news for me and my blog!

Lori over at The Next Best Book Blog has picked me and my blog to spotlight!! How exciting for me! It's a great spotlight, and Lori only has nice things to say for me. She always seems to be hosting great giveaways on her blog and has tons of great author interviews and information. (Apparently, she has great literary connections...!)

Head on over to her blog to check out the amazing spotlight here and click here to check out her latest giveaway. It ends soon, but there are still a few copies of the book What He's Poised to Do  by Ben Greeman just waiting for YOU to grab them! it's a fun contest too- You get to write a letter to a literary character! What a great way to celebrate books! Head on over and enter now!

Remember to thank Lori for the lovely things she had to say and keep checking back for all the great stuff her blog has got going on!!

All kinds of New and Exciting Stuff!!

Hey everyone and thanks for reading! I've got some really exciting things planned for the blog over the next little while.

The most exciting update- Michael Clifford, author of The Book has agreed to write a unique guest post just for us! I never seem able to come up with interesting interview questions. All my questions either ask things that are pretty easy to find on the internet, or would totally spoil the ending of the book, not to mention giving away a writer's carefully hidden secrets. So, I asked Michael Clifford to write up a post for us, because it's more unique, more personal, and probably more interesting. And he said yes! So, keep checking back! Depending on his schedule, it should probably be up sometime late this week.

Also, I've started a Word of the Day. I'm hoping to update it once a day. I want to do more with it, but haven't drawn all the details together yet. It should end up being lots of fun though. I'll use it to instigate formal and informal contests and giveaways and a bunch of other fun stuff.

If you have any fun words you'd like to see featured as a word of the day, let me know! Leave me comments or send an email!

The Review

First, let me thank both Lori at The Next Best Book Blog and author M. Clifford. Lori hosted a contest to win a copy of M. Clifford's new book, The Book. I won.

Prior to reading The Book, every dystopian society I've come across in literature has been the result of a major apocalypse, huge earth changing war or a major catastrophe. It is then relatively easy for this "utopian" government to step in and take over because anarchy reigns and the people are in desperate need of some order. Even a highly controlling government sounds great when faced with the absolute lack of one. This gives most dystopian literature a feeling of separation from reality. We can see the similarities to our culture and society and hopefully avoid that future, but we breathe easier because we know it can't reach that level of atrocity without that apocalyptic moment. And, if we are faced with the apocalypse, we probably have other things on our minds. The major disaster that destroys most of the world keeps us at a disconnect that allows me to sleep comfortably at night knowing my government is solid, even though it isn't perfect. M. Clifford refuses to allow me that small comfort. The government who orchestrated the introduction and infiltration of this insidious electronic reading device is my own United States Government, still bound by the amazingly brilliant United States Constitution. This adds a new element of fear to his book. With all other works of dystopian literature, I am able to take comfort in the knowledge that my government would never be reduced to those extremes, and that I can take comfort in the protections, securities and liberties written into and guaranteed by the Constitution. Clifford takes that away from me, and instead shows me a world where my government is responsible for the systematic destruction of the printed word and ultimately our freedom of speech, the press and expression. I shudder. I cringe. But, it forces me to think.

Aside from uniquely blaming our current government on the horrific situation our hero finds himself in, the best part about this book was the love of literature that simply flowed from the pages. This book is one that truly speaks to lovers of the written (and printed) word. The way Clifford drafts his character's discussion, description and handling of books is reverent, almost sacred. The imagery he uses to describe these character's first experiences with an actual printed book gave me goosebumps. There were numerous allusions, both blatant and indirect to a wide variety of literature. He quoted multiple sources ranging from popular fiction to fairy tales to classics. He used them as inspiration for parts of his story, but managed to do it in a way that doesn't feel as if he is 'borrowing' their ideas in substitute for his own. His written voice is unique enough, even when directly quoting sources, that the words almost felt like entirely new ideas. If you take away nothing else from this book, remember that books are important and have the ability to transform your world and your life. Love them, treasure them, but most importantly, read them.

In this novel, M. Clifford has gifted the reader with both the horrors of a nightmare and the majestic beauty of a dream. His book begins with the words "Don't read the book". But it's more than that. If you read between the lines and apply it to right now, we can instead say, Don't let others think for you. Don't follow blindly. Question everything.

Review: When Dad Killed Mom by Julius Lester

Today is Father's Day. I've been needing to write this review for a while and figured that Father's Day was as good a time as any. Plus, it's the only book I've read recently that has anything to do with fathers... Although, let me begin by saying that I absolutely love my father, especially after reading this book...

I really admire what Julius Lester attempted with this book. In When Dad Killed Mom, he attempts to personalize one of those sensational and tragic headlines we so often see in the news. Aside from an, "Oh how sad!" we rarely give thought to what happens next for those left behind. Lester uses this book to try and give us a look into what the family and friends suffer through in a situation like this. The book is narrated by both Jenna (14) and Jeremy (12), the two children left behind after Dad kills Mom and we are able to follow them as they try to adjust to life without their parents. 

I liked that Lester chose both children to narrate. It allowed us to gain perspective from both children, each of whom was closer with one parent than the other. (Jeremy to the mother, and Jenna to the father). However, that was just about the only thing that I liked about these two characters. There were shallow, poorly written, unrealistic and anything but genuine. Not only were their characters poorly written, every situation was ridiculously unrealistic and almost every single relationship, both past and present, is horribly dysfunctional. 

Don't believe me?! Let me illustrate. We have: The ex-wife who has always had a very close relationship with Jenna, is best friends with the new wife, and is invited to and gets along great at all family gatherings; The art teacher who becomes a surrogate mother to poor, grieving Jeremy, attends not only the funeral (understandable) and the viewing (...), but also Thanksgiving with the family, and regularly drops by Jeremy's late mother's detached studio where Jeremy lives alone (his paternal grandfather is staying in the main house...); The majorly creepy father who treats his daughter more like his girlfriend than his child (seriously, what father in their right mind would offer to take a 13 year old to get her nipple pierced?!); The 8 year old Sara, who decided on their first meeting that Jeremy, who looked lost and sad, should become her new brother, because, Hey, my dad was adopted, so we can adopt you and you can be my new big brother!, she takes him home, and her whole family is totally okay with Jeremy, this 12 year old boy becoming best friends with this 8 year old girl, spending all his spare time over there, and having his own room when he stays the night- right next to Sara's. Feeling creeped out yet? Ha... And that's just the tip of the iceberg. (Trust me... There's a whole lot more creepieness just waiting to be discovered that would be too spoilerish to post here.)

The book wasn't all bad. Although they were few and far between, there were a few parts to the story that emotionally felt real to me. The most notable of this being the trial. Listening in on Jeremy and Jenna's thoughts during the trial was very realistic, emotional and honest. While I don't fully buy into all the events of the trial after and including Jeremy's big outburst, to me there is no denying the emotional honesty of those two children listening in to their father's justification for murder. However, after the conclusion of the trial, the story once again slips below the level of believability. Grandpa steps in to explain why he believes their father is the way he is, and what part he played in creating that. It was insufficient and felt too deus ex machina for me. He tried to explain too much with too little and it felt like a cop out, almost like Lester saying, Well, we gotta have some sort of reason, so let's just throw this in there... It tried to explain a lifetime of dysfunction on one single moment in his past while also asking both the children and the reader to understand and pity the actions of the father. 

There is a suspension of disbelief needed with any fiction story, be it book or movie. I feel that Lester is asking far too much of me as a reader to believe in this. Although it had the potential to be great, ultimately, it's a lukewarm story with a lackluster beginning, middle and end. There was so much this story could have done to enlarge our understanding of what it must be like to experience and come to terms with tragedy but it failed on all counts. It wasn't a horrible read, but it doesn't leave much to recommend it either. 

I repeat, I love my father!

Weekly Blog Hop

over at Crazy for Books hosts her weekly

I'm going to be participating again, and I'm pretty excited! Head over to her blog to check out the great listing of blogs! There are a lot of great blogs listed there! It's a great way to find recent additions to the world of blogging, and well as older more established blogs. 

Thanks to each of you reading this, I'm glad you decided to stop by. When you leave your comment, would you please also include your favorite book(s)?! It's one of my favorite questions to ask of people, and I'm excited to hear your response! You may also tell me why it is your favorite book, but I'll let that be optional. ;)

Thanks for stopping by!! 

To answer my own question: That would be Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. If you'd like to know why- Click here.

Review: I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I want to be your Class President by Josh Lieb

This book has one of the greatest titles I think I've ever come across. Too bad the rest of the story doesn't quite do it justice.

I won this book, I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I want to be your Class President by Josh Lieb from the first-reads giveaway program on Goodreads. I saw the title, read the synopsis and knew I just had to read this book. Who doesn't love the idea of a 5th grade boy everything thinks is incomparably stupid having a secret life as a super evil genius who also happens to be the third richest person in the world?!

I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I were a teenage boy. Or if I had ever been a boy. There was a lot I enjoyed about this book, but there was also a lot that was just lost on me, having never been a young hormonal boy. I really did enjoy this story. It's great if you've got a little time and just want to read something that is going to make you laugh. I knew going into this story that it was going to be unrealistic and not only a little ridiculous, so I was able to enjoy that aspect of things. I went into the story knowing that, and so did the story. I loved that this story doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is. It has no illusions of literary grandeur, it is merely a fun way to spend a few hours.

The book is narrated by Oliver, and listening in on Oliver's thoughts was both hilarious and unnerving. I'm glad that we don't really get that smart when we are that young. It can be really damaging to believe that you cannot relate to a single person around you and being that much more intelligent that everyone else can definitely give you a major God complex.

Although for the most part, I really did enjoy this book, I was a little disappointed by the ending. It started out wonderful. Oliver's speech at the class elections was brilliant, depressing, but brilliant nonetheless. Both speeches were brilliantly written and really capture political emotions on both ends of the spectrum. However, once Oliver realizes that he's blown his carefully crafted cover and rushes from the auditorium, I feel that the ending begins to slip. It loses the creativity and unique flavor that made it so enjoyable up to this point, and just becomes another contrived ending that tries to resolve too many things too quickly.

This book was a lot of fun, but it wasn't as great as it could have been. Knowing that this is the author's first book, and that he worked with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show definitely makes sense. Don't read this expecting to find this great literary gem, but if you're in the mood for a laugh (and find young boy and/or bodily humor even the least bit funny) then this book is definitely worth picking up.

Just to prove I really am Basically Amazing...

Thank you to Becky at Escapism Through Books for my very first Blog Award! She has awarded me

Here's how the Versatile Blogger Award works: 

• Thank and link back to the award giver. 
• List 7 things about yourself. 
• Pass the award on to 15 other bloggers you've recently discovered, and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason. 
• Notify the bloggers and let them know they've been awarded!

So, 7 things about me: 

1) If I have read the book, I will hate your movie. Period. Full Stop. And, I will probably look down on people who say they liked it. 

2) I despise cutesy nicknames like hubby, mani/pedi. They have a real name people. Use it. 

3) Somedays, I wish my life were a musical.

4) I never watch TV. But, I watch The Bachelor(ette)... It's kind of embarrassing. 

5) I'm a major gum chewer. Stride is my favorite brand. They have the best packaging. 

6) I share emotions with literary characters if they are well written, even in books I don't particularly like. 

7) My BS is in Psychology and I hate it when people give me a weird look when they find out and ask if I'm going to Psychoanalyze them. Why would I bother analyzing you for free when I could get paid good money to do that?!    

7 1/2) Since I mentioned Psychoanalysis I must also say that I HATE it when people just assume psychoanalysis covers all things Psych related and uses the term to describe everything. Not even close! There are so many therapies out there. Do NOT lump them all together please. Ok, thank you. (If you really want me to go all Freudian on you, I can... and I can guarantee that I will make it as awkward and uncomfortable on you as possible.)

Blogs I would like to recognize- I feel it goes without saying that I enjoy the content of each of the blogs mentioned. So, the little asides are just what gives them that little extra.

1) Bascombe Mania because I think it really is the most versatile blog I've ever visited.

2) Cynspiration because I'm not overly crafty myself, and this helps me pretend. 

3) Adventures of Cecelia Bedilia cuz it kinda makes me smile. 

4) Day in Customariness because I really like the random tree photos. Ashley loves trees.

5) The Book Rat because the picture just makes me happy.

6) Along for the Ride cuz the main picture shows some of my favorite books. And... it's a picture of books. :)

7) in which a girl reads because the title just kinda makes me happy.

8) Reading Nook because I really, really want one. (A reading nook, that is.)

9) Three Cheers for Literacy because I'm a fan of literacy. Really. And, the title makes me want ice cream... 

10) Who, What, When, Where, Why because I thought she forgot the How, and then, I saw this. Fantastic... 

11) Crazy for Books because I loved the Blog Hop she hosts each week.  

12) Maw Books Blog because even though I didn't participate this time, I love the Bloggiesta!

13) Tina Says... cuz I just wanted to, okay?

14) The Introverted Reader because I love the mountains, her background and fairy tales.

15) Rhiannon Hart because I absolutely adore dystopian lit. 

So thanks again Becky! I hope you all head over to check out all the great blogs listed here. There's a little bit of something for everyone here! 

Review: The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

A thousand thanks to Lori at The Next Best Book Blog. She hosts pretty regular giveaways on her blog, and I was lucky enough to be the recipient of The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry in a recent giveaway. It's not the type of book that I normally pick up for my self, but I'm very glad I was given the extra motivation to read this one.

The Map of True Places is about a woman struggling to figure out who she is. Our heroine, Zee is young (late 20s early 30s young) and by all outside appearances, she should be loving her life. She seems to have it all going for her, but through various cataclysmic events, she realizes that many of the choices she's made are not so much what she wants for herself, but what everyone else wants from her.  This sets Zee on a whole new path to self discovery as she tries to determine what it is that she wants. She needs to learn to stop allowing the past to rule her life and find her own place within her future as she tries to care for her ailing father. 

You know how your parents always told you that looks weren't everything when you started dating? Or that people become more attractive to you over time, and never mind that you don't find them at all attractive now, give it time, you might 'grow into' them? That's a little how I felt reading this book. I knew by page 2 that the writing was going to bug me. The sentence structure was weird, many segues felt off balance (on accident, not purpose) the literary devices were overused, awkward and just plain obnoxious (effervescent medicine... really? Really?!) and I felt like I was reading a high school sophomore's attempt at creative writing. That feeling stayed with me for the whole of part one, and a little ways into part two.

 I'm not trying to say the Brunonia isn't a good writer. I know people who love or would love her style or writing. I'm just not one of them. As I read, the story became more interesting for me, and as I began to become more involved in the lives and stories of Brunonia's characters, I began to ignore the flaws (or quirks) that had so annoyed me in the beginning and I began to truly enjoy the book. That's pretty common for me. If I really like the story the author is telling, I tend to overlook much of the less than stellar writing. (I'll still notice if it's awful, but if it's not too bad I'll ignore it.)

She did do a great job crafting realistic characters as well. I don't think there was a single character I always liked, or one that I wholly disliked, which is great, because I don't know many real people that have never bothered me... However, I never really felt that emotional connection to the characters, and often I didn't feel like the characters felt their emotions either. It's really easy for a character to tell me that they are stressed, but it's another thing entirely for my to have already felt that. That feeling was missing through a lot of this story. 

Although there were some things that bothered me about this book, overall I did really enjoy it. It's a step away from what I normally read, and I'm grateful for that. Sometimes I need a push to get me reading something new. I read this book in two short sittings and liked it enough that I will probably look into more from this author in the future. I don't love the realistic paranormal fiction, so I doubt I will read The Lace Reader, but I'll keep my eye on her in the future. 

Review: Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

I have always loved fairy tales. I love losing myself in the worlds and ideas that fairy tales create, and they have always had a special place in my heart and on my shelf. The best fairy tales are always the ones that take the original story and crafts something new and wholly unique from them.

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix is my kind of fairy tale. Ella is basically hardcore, and she does it on her own. This fairy tale has no magic, no helpless heroine, no overly heroic prince (although he kind of tries- creepy!) and our Ella is SMART! (Sadly, the prince does have the personality of a noodle, and a dry one at that.) Ella doesn't sit around crying into the ashes of the fire her stepsisters left for her waiting for a magical solution to her problem. She decides she wants to go to the ball, finds an old gown, alters it and goes. No magic required. Once at the ball, the prince, of course, does decide he is in love with her, cannot live without her, and must bring her to his castle immediately for their happily ever after and Ella is, of course, ecstatic. Aside from the no magic part, this book still sounds very much like the typical Cinderella story. But the brilliance of this story comes after the 'ending.' Most of Just Ella takes place after the ball but before the wedding and we get to see what happens when you commit to spend your life with someone you've known for five minutes. (Like when you buy something really pretty (Ooooh, shiny!) and then get home and realize you hate it, but the store won't take it back).

Ella tries really hard to find her happily ever after. She has what every girl in the kingdom wants (the prince to marry and a lifetime of ease and luxury in the palace ahead of her.) She thinks she should be happy but she slowly begins to realize that she is not and that she doesn't know if this life can be right for her. She sits down with the prince one night before their wedding, and tries to talk to him about her concerns, and address the problems she is facing. I won't spoil the ending for you. That's the best part of the book. You'll have to read it yourself if you want to know how that conversation goes.

I loved this story because it isn't just the traditional Cinderella story. It's more practical, more true to life and addresses the issues I've always had with the story (weak heroine, true love at first site etc.) to craft a story that goes beyond the original. It's pretty awesome, but one that is definitely geared toward younger readers. So keep that in mind when you read it. 

Review: Inside Out by Terry Trueman

Before I review this book, I feel like I should mention that my Bachelor's degree is in Psychology and one of my undergrad professors was a practicing Psychiatrist with a specific focus on Schizophrenia. So, although I do not claim to be an expert on the subject, I do believe I know a little more than the average person, or the average google search.

 Alright. So, that being said, we can move on to what I thought about the book. Inside Out by Terry Trueman initially caught my attention because the author received a Printz Honor in 2002. After reading the summary, the story line about how a schizophrenic 16 year old boy handles being involved in a hostage situation intrigued me enough that I bought the book.

This book had so much potential. Schizophrenics, especially paranoid schizophrenics (Zach), are notoriously dangerous and unstable. So, it is easy to imagine how volatile this situation could potentially be.

Well, I would really like to ask Mr. Trueman what type of research he did before he wrote this book, because I don't think he did much. Zach's character was written with a believable disorder (although I don't know that I would label all of his symptoms schizophrenia) but the rest of the research was lacking. There are several references to how quickly Zach's medication takes effect or wears off. The problem with this? Anti-Psychotic medication takes anywhere from 2 to 4 WEEKS to become even moderately effective. It is also not something that generally wears off instantly. It takes more than a couple of hours to cause a sudden and severe relapse. But, according to this book, anti-psychotics are wonder meds that work instantly to begin alleviating symptoms and wear off just as fast to bring them back.

Then, there is the ultimate conclusion with those two teenagers. Just so you know, the job of the police department is to solve the crime, gather clues, and arrest suspects, NOT to decide whether to try the offenders as adults or juveniles or make any decisions about the actual trial. That would be the DA's office. I mean, seriously people... How hard would it have been to call the local precinct and check on that?!

This book read like Law and Order- Criminal Intent meets CSI-Miami as researched through Wikipedia. It was unrealistic, disappointing and inaccurate. The research was shoddy, the climax forgettable, and the ending a cop out. While not a horrible read, it is one that definitely did not live up to its potential, which makes this book an aight read that leans to the meh.

Review: Push by Sapphire

Allow me to preface this post by clarifying that a Bleh rating does not mean I hated the book. It might mean that, but the rating has so much more potential than mere hatred. 

Push by Sapphire is a perfect example of this. I did not hate this book. I did not particularly enjoy this book but I was able to appreciate it for what it was. That being said, it still made me want to throw up a little. Reading this book is not a comfortable experience. It rips you from your safe zones and forces you to feel and experience life alongside Precious whose life, when we meet her, has been truly horrific. I have no intention of itemizing the suffering and pain in her life, so suffice it to say it is one of constant trial and anguish. The reason for the partial Bleh rating is the graphic content. Although it is important for the direction of the story that we understand Precious has been abused both sexually and emotionally, I did not then, and do not now feel that the level of description was necessary. Some of the specific details the author included seemed in place merely for the shock and horror value.

On a positive note, I will say that although it was a painful reading experience, Precious was a very real character. I got to know her through her voice. Although it is difficult to read through at first, the (intentional) spelling errors brought out her voice realistically. When she begins writing in her journal, she doesn't know her ABCs, which means she cannot spell. So, she simply writes what she is currently capable of in an effort to get her message across. After I got used to reading this, I loved it because I was able to watch as Precious learned and I was able to grow as she grew, and this is what ultimately pulled the novel together for me, because there is nothing worse than reading a story about an uneducated illiterate who is nonetheless able to speak using perfect grammar and pronunciation. There is no authenticity in a story like that which generally lessens my enjoyment of the story itself.

I loved the importance this book placed on learning and education. I loved that Precious truly loved her children and wanted to make sure they had better chances than she was given. But, this is still a hard book to read. It will make you sick to your stomach. It will challenge the belief that most everyone is generally a good person. It will force you to think about parts and pieces of severe abuse that had never before crossed your mind. And, it will change the way you view the world. This book is one that will stay with you a long time, although a part of me wishes that it wouldn't.

Review: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls- The Beginning

I can't think of a better way to begin my blog about books than to begin with the book that taught me what it means to go beyond merely reading a book.

In fourth grade, right before I outgrew the ability to enjoy listening to a book rather than reading it myself, my teacher read Where the Red Fern Grows to our class. I was enthralled from the beginning, and I never lost interest. I remember sitting in class, trying desperately not to cry throughout the last section so that I could stay with the story to the end, and then promptly getting up to go to the bathroom because my 'allergies were acting up'.

This was my first exposure to a "reading experience". I had read many books before this and had many more read to me. But, it took this book to teach me that there is more to a book than simply reading the words on the page. The characters come alive in a truly well written story. The author is able to draw you into the lives of their characters. Books like this allow you to share the experiences and emotions and they are able to shape a part of your life. A book that transcends mere reading to become an experience creates characters so real you mourn their loss, share their joy and are genuinley confused when you don't meet up with them in the grocery store.

I have read this book so many times. I lost count around 40. In elementary school I read this book back to back for over a month. I remember my parents talking to me about it. I have always been a fast reader, and they were confused that it had taken me so long to read this one book. I explained to them I had already finished it twice, and just felt that I needed to read it again. It has been my default book for years. If I am trying to find a book to read and nothing immediately comes to mind, out come Billy and his dogs. We were inseperable in childhood and it's always nice to revisit old friends.

I don't really know what it is about this one book that resonates so strongly with me, but I know it's there. I'm not often a very visual reader but this book is so vivid in my mind. I watch as Billy staggers through the brambles collecting berries to sell so he can buy his dogs. I see him walking 'as the crow flies' across the Ozarks because he is so anxious to get them. I can taste the strawberry soda pop as it fizzles down his throat as if it's my first taste as well. I share his anxiety as he desperately tries to pull Little Ann from the icy waters. I experience his anguished suffering as he carries Old Dan's body home from the Cyclone Timber. I sob with him as he burries Little Ann's body next to Old Dan. And, of course, I rejoice with Billy as he realizes the red fern has grown up between the tiny graves of his beloved dogs. I have read this book numerous times at every stage of my life thus far, and it has never failed to make me cry and touch my heart. It is a beautiful book everytime I read it, and that is what makes this, Basically Amazing.