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Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Raw, Real Medical Memoir Compulsively Readable. Really.
4:56 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
From a young age, Emily Wing felt different from the kids around her. Her emotions seemed out-of-whack, making her feel alternately aggressive, angry, anxious, lonely, and sad. Impulsive behavior and frequent dizziness also plagued the little girl. Starting therapy at six helped a little. Mostly, though, she found solace only in writing stories. "Words never let me down," she recalls. "With words, I never let myself down" (62). A near-fatal accident at 12 led to a discovery that went a long way toward explaining Emily's feelings of otherness—doctors found a tumor the size of a grapefruit growing at the base of her skull. This "miracle" find changed the life of pre-teen Emily, who was determined to overcome the lingering, debilitating effects of the brain tumor to fulfill her dream of becoming a successful author.
In the fickle world of YA lit, memoirs are a rare breed. Cruise the teen shelves at the library or bookstore and you'll find only a few. That's one of the reasons All Better Now, a new memoir by YA novelist Emily Wing Smith is so refreshing. It's unique, yes, but it's also honest, funny, heartbreaking, and hopeful. A tale like this could so easily veer into a sappy, platitude-filled story; it doesn't. It's uplifting while remaining both raw and real. Teens, especially, will appreciate Smith's forthrightness. No matter their age or experience, readers' hearts will go out to young Emily, an entirely empathetic heroine with a wholly compelling story. All Better Now is not the kind of book I usually describe as compulsively readable, but in this case, it's true. I devoured it in one sitting. Hand this one to teens—or anyone, really—who enjoys a quick, enlightening read that will make them look at the people around them with new eyes and a more compassionate heart.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of Small Steps by Peg Kehret and This Star Won't Go Out by Esther Grace Earl)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, non-graphic mention of mature subjects (prostitution, sex, child molestation, male anatomy, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of All Better Now from Amazon using a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Dark, Disturbing Mystery a Compelling (But Depressing) Read
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"'Don't go pokin' through other people's closets, son. Them skeletons can be real mean" (40).
Even on her best days, Althea Leary can be unpredictable. Jasper, her 9-year-old son, loves it when she's warm and playful. When she's moody or angry, however, he knows to stay out of her way. Jasper is naturally confused when, instead of going to work in Detroit one morning, his mother drops him off at his uncle's farm in the country. Althea's smiling, trying to make the outing sound exciting, but Jasper senses something frightening beneath her false grin. When she rushes away, he worries. When she doesn't come week after week, he gets scared. Where has his mother gone?
Jasper's not the only one asking that question. Everyone, including a persistent detective, wants to know where Althea's hiding. Jasper can't understand what's going on. His mother is just his mother. People are calling her a troublemaker, a hussy, saying she's gotten herself mixed up in something dangerous. But what? And why? As Jasper does some snooping of his own, he stumbles on some startling truths about his mother. His search for her takes him into a crumbling old house, some seedy city establishments, and even the mysterious Indian reservation near his uncle's farm. Somewhere, someone knows the truth about Althea. Jasper can't rest until he finds it, finds her. Bad men are looking for his mom. He has to get to her first. Even if it means risking his life to do it.
The Buried Book by D.M. Pulley is a dark, disturbing mystery set against a bleak 1950s backdrop. Jasper's innocence at the beginning of the book makes a stark contrast to this setting. The boy remains a sympathetic hero throughout the novel, even though his purity is scraped away day by day as he journeys to hell and back in order to make some very adult discoveries. His experiences make for difficult reading. More than once, I wanted to shove this book away, but the mystery at the heart of The Buried Book brought me back. I was as curious as Jasper to know what had happened to Althea. Although the story's big reveals didn't end up being all that startling—or even satisfying—I kept flipping pages just so I could see how the story ended. Despite that, I found the story so depressing overall that I kind of wish I had skipped it altogether.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Buried Book from Lake Union Publishing in return for being part of the book's tour with TLC Book Tours. Thank you!
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
TTT: And Still They Languish ...
8:03 AM
Believe it or not (not!), I started this blog ten years ago this month. Crazy. It's evolved a lot since then, as have I. Weirdly enough, in all those years, my enthusiasm for book blogging has not waned. I still think it's a grand old time. Will I still be doing this ten years from now? Probably. Here's to another decade of BBB!
I've been inhaling books for a lot longer than ten years so you'd think that I'd have read every book on my TBR
Top Ten Books That have Been On My TBR List Since Before I Started Blogging:
1. Atonement by Ian McEwan (2003)—This Booker Prize-nominated novel seems to be about many things: writing, a crime that changes people's lives, war, and I'm not sure what else. Lots of people love it and I've yet to read it or anything by McEwan for that matter.
2. Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick (2006)—I bought this book at Borders back in the day. I've been meaning to read it ever since. My Bailey (Bayley) ancestors did not come to America on the Mayflower, but they arrived in Plymouth soon after the famous ship docked. Mayflower is supposed to be a fascinating account of the Pilgrims and their journey to the New World. Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea has also been on my TBR list for some time.
3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2004)—This story about an autistic teen investigating the death of a neighborhood dog sounds quirky and interesting. I've seen lots of praise for it over the years. And yet, still it languishes on Ye Olde TBR ...
4. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (2006)—A sweeping multi-generational tale about fathers and sons, this novel came out the year I started blogging. Still haven't gotten around to it.
5. The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst (2004)—This tale about a man who tries to make sense of his wife's death by performing experiments to teach his dog to speak sounds ... unusual. Also heartbreaking. I'm still curious about it. One of these days I'll finally get to it. Maybe.
6. Eragon by Christopher Paolini (2001)—Admittedly, I'm not a huge dragon/fantasy fan. Still, so many people love the Inheritance Cycle series that I need to at least give it a go. The fact that Paolini wrote the first book when he was just 15 is another reason to check it out.
7. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (2002)—Like many people, I've only read one book by Zusak—The Book Thief. Some of my most trusted book blogging friends (I'm looking at you, Suey and Jenny) think he's written more than one great novel. I need to see for myself. This particular Zusak has been on my TBR list for far too long. It's about time I just read I Am the Messenger already!
8. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1998)—I love post-apocalyptic books, but for some reason I just can't ever get very far in this one. Not because it's not intriguing, just because I always get distracted by newer, shinier books.
9. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (2004)—I've heard so many great things about Roach's books, this one in particular, that it's a wonder I still haven't read her. I need to remedy that right away.
10. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (1992)—I was completely swept away by Outlander when I read it way back when. Why I didn't grab this sequel immediately I'm not sure. I'll have to read Outlander again before I can continue on with this series, so who knows if it will ever actually happen? I like big books (and I cannot lie), but re-reading has never been my favorite thing.
So, there you have it. What do you think? Have you read any of these? Do you consider any of them must-reads or can they linger on the TBR list? I'd love to have a look at your list. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
(All book images from Barnes & Noble)
Dark, Twisty Thriller as Surprise-Filled as the Thames Itself
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for A Dark and Twisted Tide, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Lacey Flint mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order. Actually, in the case of this author, I recommend reading her books in order of publication to avoid spoilers about secondary, but recurring characters.)
After investigating several harrowing cases with a London homicide team, Detective Constable Lacey Flint has had enough. She now works for the city's Marine Unit. As if patrolling the water all day isn't enough, she's also moved into a houseboat on the Thames. Much to her surprise, the intensely private Lacey actually enjoys being part of the floating community with its laidback lifestyle and quirky residents. She's even taken to wild-swimming in the Thames, a dangerous hobby that appeals to Lacey's reckless side. Add in a satisfying relationship with DI Mark Joesbury and the former homicide detective is about as happy as she's ever been.
Then Lacey makes a gruesome discovery. Considering the Thames is infamous for producing at least a corpse a week, Lacey shouldn't be shocked to bump into a dead body during one of her clandestine swims. Still, it's a surprise to find the shrouded remains of a young Middle Eastern woman bobbing in the water. And that's only the first one. After several similar finds, it becomes obvious that someone is trying to get Lacey's attention. Drawn once more into a puzzling murder mystery, she scrambles for answers while a sinister presence stalks her every move. Already paranoid, Lacey's also hearing disturbing rumors about Joesbury. With both her personal and professional lives in turmoil, she's got to figure out what's going on. And fast. Before her own corpse becomes the next to surface out of the murky depths of the River Thames.
Fresh is not an adjective normally associated with the Thames, but in this case it fits. That's because the unique riverboat community setting in A Dark and Twisted Tide breathes fresh, new life into Sharon Bolton's already-excellent Lacey Flint series. It adds an extra element of color and intrigue that makes this, the fourth installment, stand out. Like its predecessors, A Dark and Twisted Tide also features interesting characters, vivid storytelling, and enough plot twists to make your head spin. My only complaint is that Joesbury is more off-scene than on in this one. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this riveting thriller.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Lacey Flint series, including Now You See Me; If Snow Hadn't Fallen [novella]; Dead Scared; Lost; and Here Be Dragons [novella])
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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