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Friday, January 06, 2017
Atmospheric and Addictive, Antarctic Survival Story Definitely Worth the Read
9:15 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"In Antarctica, every decision is weighty, every outcome either a tragedy or a miracle" (29).
A professor of marine biology at University of Oregon, Deb Gardner lives for the few months out of the year when she heads south to study penguins. The 39-year-old feels more at home in the harsh Antarctic climate researching her favorite creatures than she does anywhere else. For the past few years, her trips have had an added bonus: Keller Sullivan. It's during these annual trips that they rekindle their romance, a relationship that doesn't leak into their real lives in the U.S.
In exchange for passage to her research site, Deb is playing tour guide on the Cormorant. Keller is supposed to be on the boat as well. When he doesn't show, Deb starts to worry. Then the Cormorant receives an emergency signal from a nearby cruise liner in trouble. She soon discovers that Keller is on board—that's when she starts to panic. In such a perilous, unforgiving landscape, the Australis—along with her passengers and crew—is surely doomed.
A researcher turned rescuer, a desperate Deb will do anything to save the man she loves. Will their romance end before it even really begins? What will happen to the panicked people stranded in frigid waters far from any hope of salvation? Can life prevail at the frozen edge of the world?
The premise behind My Last Continent, a debut novel by Midge Raymond, hooked me immediately. I enjoy survival stories set in remote locales where characters must battle extreme weather and other impossible obstacles in order to triumph. This story certainly offers that, but it's not as flashy a tale as I expected. Which is a good thing. The slow-building plot appealed to me. It helped me really understand the book's complex characters, intriguing location, and cautionary themes. The animal/Antarctic facts added to the story, giving it depth but never bogging it down. Most of My Last Continent's action comes at the end, which is perfect because, by then, the reader truly cares what happens to Deb, Keller, and their associates. The tension all comes to a head in the book's taut, terrifying conclusion. An engrossing, atmospheric novel, My Last Continent is definitely worth the read. I loved it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me [at least thematically] of Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, January 03, 2017
Moo A Gentle, Heartwarming Tale of Kindness
2:23 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Reena, a 12-year-old who's just moved from the city to rural Maine, isn't sure what to expect from her new home. Blueberries, lobster, boating—that's about all she knows of the state. Farming is not on the list. But when Reena's parents suggest she and her brother offer to help their cantankerous neighbor, Mrs. Falala, with her animals, that's exactly what she finds herself doing. Zora, the old woman's ornery cow, quickly becomes Reena's arch nemesis. No matter what she does, nothing seems to go right. Reena's fed up with it all—Maine, Mrs. Falala, the animals, everything.
Then a strange thing happens. The more time Reena spends helping her neighbor, the more invested she becomes. Can a little kindness win over both a stubborn old woman and her disobedient cow? How about a city girl with a bad attitude? Reena is about to find out ...
Told in a blend of poetry and prose, Moo, a new middle grade novel by Sharon Creech, is a sweet, tender story about the magic that can happen when we dare to step outside of our comfort zones. The characters are likable, the book's format intriguing. Fun word art makes the text come alive, making it more meaningful. Overall, the tale is a gentle one. Not super exciting, but engaging nonetheless.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Moo from the generous folks at HarperCollins. Thank you!
Atmospheric Shetland Thriller Another Exciting Installment in Compelling Mystery Series
8:17 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Red Bones, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Shetland books. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
Hattie James, an English post-graduate student working on a PhD in archaeology, is as surprised as anyone when she discovers human remains at her Whalsay dig site. The locals are intrigued—is this an ancient skeleton or one with a more recent pedigree? When an old woman is killed nearby, accidental though the death seems to be, the spot seems cursed. Not long after, Hattie's dead body is discovered in one of the trenches at the site. Everyone knew the intense young woman loved Shetland—did she commit suicide so she'd never have to leave it?
Three deaths in the same locale cannot be coincidental. Detective Jimmy Perez knows there's something more to the story. But what? What did Hattie dig up? Did her discovery lead to her death? Perez is determined to find out whose bones were buried at the site and what, if anything, they had to do with the other deaths. In the process, he'll discover lurid secrets kept bottled up by tight-lipped islanders. Can he use this insider's knowledge to crack the puzzling case? With his girlfriend away in London, Perez has all the time in the world to solve it ... or does he?
Red Bones, the third book in Ann Cleeves' mystery series set in the Shetland Islands, is another compelling, atmospheric thriller. Blending an intriguing plot with complex characters and fascinating glimpses at island culture, it's an engrossing read. Although the story builds slowly, it's never boring. I cared about its people and was surprised by the identity of the killer. I've enjoyed the first three books in the Shetland series; I can't wait to see what happens in the last four.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Shetland series [Raven Black; White Nights; Blue Lightning; Dead Water; Thin Air; and Cold Earth]; also reminds me of Peter May's Scottish thrillers)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (one F-bomb, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Sunday, January 01, 2017
I'm Up for a Challenge. I Think.
10:04 PM
I don't know about you, but I have always enjoyed participating in reading challenges. They're fun, they encourage me to branch out in my reading, they create a sense of community, etc. etc. Even though I totally suck at actually completing the challenges, I like attempting them. So, here are the two I'm going to tackle in 2017:
2017 Dystopia Reading Challenge - hosted by Tracy and MC at Cornerfolds and Claudia at My Soul-Called Life
Since I love dystopian literature, I'm going to go for broke and try for the Leader badge, which requires reading 16+ books. Here's what I'm thinking:
1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
2. Wool by Hugh Howey
3. The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood
4. Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
5. One Second After by William R. Forstchen
6. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
7. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
8. Born by Tara Brown
9. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
10. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
11. Consider by Kristy Acevedo
12. Bluescreen by Dan Wells
13. Starflight by Melissa Landers
14. Frost by M.P. Kozlowsky
15. Vicarious by Paula Stokes
16. Replica by Lauren Oliver
The 2017 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge—hosted by Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy
For this choose-your-own-adventure challenge, you can choose from two different checklist tracks for your reading. I'm going to do the "Reading for Fun" one, which includes the following categories:
1. A book you choose for the cover—The Secret Ingredient of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell
2. A book with a reputation for being un-put-down-able—The Missing Hours by Emma Kavanagh
3. A book set somewhere you've never been, but would like to visit—The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
4. A book you've already read—Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
5. A juicy memoir—My Story by Elizabeth Smart
6. A book about books or reading—The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
7. A book in a genre you usually avoid—Maus by Art Spiegelman
8. A book you don't want to admit you're dying to read—Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
9. A book you were excited to buy or borrow but haven't read yet—The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
10. A book about a topic or subject you already love—Trials of the Earth by Mary Mann Hamilton
Wish me luck!
2017 Dystopia Reading Challenge - hosted by Tracy and MC at Cornerfolds and Claudia at My Soul-Called Life
Since I love dystopian literature, I'm going to go for broke and try for the Leader badge, which requires reading 16+ books. Here's what I'm thinking:
1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
2. Wool by Hugh Howey
3. The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood
4. Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
5. One Second After by William R. Forstchen
6. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
7. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
8. Born by Tara Brown
9. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
10. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
11. Consider by Kristy Acevedo
12. Bluescreen by Dan Wells
13. Starflight by Melissa Landers
14. Frost by M.P. Kozlowsky
15. Vicarious by Paula Stokes
16. Replica by Lauren Oliver
The 2017 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge—hosted by Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy
For this choose-your-own-adventure challenge, you can choose from two different checklist tracks for your reading. I'm going to do the "Reading for Fun" one, which includes the following categories:
1. A book you choose for the cover—The Secret Ingredient of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell
2. A book with a reputation for being un-put-down-able—The Missing Hours by Emma Kavanagh
3. A book set somewhere you've never been, but would like to visit—The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
4. A book you've already read—Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
5. A juicy memoir—My Story by Elizabeth Smart
6. A book about books or reading—The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
7. A book in a genre you usually avoid—Maus by Art Spiegelman
8. A book you don't want to admit you're dying to read—Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
9. A book you were excited to buy or borrow but haven't read yet—The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
10. A book about a topic or subject you already love—Trials of the Earth by Mary Mann Hamilton
Wish me luck!
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