Foggidawn goes WAY beyond 75 books! Thread 3 for 2012

Okay, the year is drawing to a close, but I think there's still time for one more thread. In case this is your first visit here, I'm foggidawn, and this is my second year in the 75-book challenge. I'm a children's librarian and voracious reader, and will read 200+ books in 2012. I tend to read a lot of children's and YA, a fair amount of fantasy, and a few classics, cozy mysteries, chick lit, memoirs, inspirational fiction, and anything else that catches my attention.

You can check out my first thread here,
and my second thread here.

I have reviewed many of the books I have read this year -- my reviews are here.

I also have a blog -- much of the content is duplicated from this thread, but occasionally I post other things there. You can check out my blog here.

Here's what I've read so far in 2012:

1. The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit
2. Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii by Robin Jones Gunn
3. Wildwood by Colin Meloy
4. The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True by Gerald Morris
5. You Against Me by Jenny Downham
6. Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore
7. The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure
8. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
9. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
10. Chime by Franny Billingsley
11. Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
12. One Good Knight by Mercedes Lackey
13. Level Up by Gene Luen Yang
14. Drawing from Memory by Allen Say
15. Legend by Marie Lu
16. The Crimson Thread by Suzanne Weyn
17. Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London by Andrea Warren
18. Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
19. Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
20. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
21. Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
22. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
23. Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin
24. One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson
25. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith
26. Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
27. Dumpling Days by Grace Lin
28. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
29. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
30. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
31. This One Time with Julia by David Lampson
32. Silver Birch, Blood Moon, edited by Terri Windling and Ellen Datlow
33. Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham
34. Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn
35. Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross
36. Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
37. The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
38. Girl Meets Boy, edited by Kelly Milner Halls
39. Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones
40. Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer
41. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
42. A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper
43. Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley
44. The Thirteen Hallows by Michael Scott and Colette Freedman
45. Chalice by Robin McKinley
46. Faking Faith by Josie Bloss
47. The Humming Room by Ellen Potter
48. Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik
49. i heart bloomberg by Melody Carlson
50. The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George
51. Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
52. The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith
53. All Men of Genius by Lev Rosen
54. Caddy's World by Hilary McKay
55. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
56. The (Not Quite) Perfect Boyfriend by Lili Wilkinson
57. The Moon Over High Street by Natalie Babbitt
58. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
59. Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
60. The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
61. Storm Runners by Roland Smith
62. The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell
63. The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
64. A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
65. Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier
66. The Incorrigible Children of Aston Place, Book III: The Unseen Guest by Maryrose Wood
67. Starters by Lissa Price
68. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
69. The Printer's Devil by Paul Bajoria
70. The Goblin Gate by Hilari Bell
71. The Goblin War by Hilari Bell
72. Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff
73. Fever by Lauren DeStefano
74. The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker
75. The Fairy Ring: or Elsie and Frances Fool the World by Mary Losure
76. Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti
77. Pure by Julianna Baggott
78. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
79. Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal
80. The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey and Peter Gross
81. The List by Siobhan Vivian
82. Magic Under Stone by Jaclyn Dolamore
83. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy Sayers
84. Unnatural Death by Dorothy Sayers
85. Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers
86. Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
87. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy Sayers
88. Finally and Forever by Robin Jones Gunn
89. Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers
90. Five Red Herrings by Dorothy Sayers
91. Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect by Gloria Whelan
92. Merits of Mischief: The Bad Apple by T.R. Burns
93. Have His Carcase by Dorothy Sayers
94. Divergent by Veronica Roth
95. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
96. Same Sun Here by Silas House and Neela Vaswani
97. Forgive Me, I Meant To Do It: False Apology Poems by Gail Carson Levine
98. Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke
99. The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen
100. The Princess of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen
101. Black Heart by Holly Black
102. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
103. The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze
104. Homesick: My Own Story by Jean Fritz
105. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
106. A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix
107. Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
108. Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery
109. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
110. Flora Segunda by Ysabeau Wilce
111. Flora's Dare by Ysabeau Wilce
112. Pants On Fire by Meg Cabot
113. Flora's Fury by Ysabeau Wilce
114. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
115. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
116. Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
117. Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl
118. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
119. The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle
120. The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers
121. Magic for Marigold by L.M. Montgomery
122. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
123. Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri
124. Deadweather and Sunrise by Geoff Rodkey
125. Well Witched by Frances Hardinge
126. Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck
127. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
128. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
129. Fair Coin by E.C. Myers
130. Quantum Coin by E.C. Myers
131. Gilt by Katherine Longshore
132. Among Others by Jo Walton
133. Catch & Release by Blythe Woolston
134. The Cat Who Could Read Backward by Lilian Jackson Braun
135. The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun
136. The Cat Who Turned On and Off by Lilian Jackson Braun
137. The Cat Who Saw Red by Lilian Jackson Braun
138. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
139. The Cat Who Played Brahms by Lilian Jackson Braun
140. The Cat Who Played Post Office by Lilian Jackson Braun
141. The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare by Lilian Jackson Braun
142. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue by Lilian Jackson Braun
143. The Cat Who Went Underground by Lilian Jackson Braun
144. The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts by Lilian Jackson Braun
145. The Cat Who Lived High by Lilian Jackson Braun
146. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal by Lilian Jackson Braun
147. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain by Lilian Jackson Braun
148. The Cat Who Wasn't There by Lilian Jackson Braun
149. The Cat Who Went Into the Closet by Lilian Jackson Braun
150. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast by Lilian Jackson Braun
151. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle by Lilian Jackson Braun
152. The Cat Who Said Cheese by Lilian Jackson Braun
153. The Cat Who Tailed a Thief by Lilian Jackson Braun
154. The Cat Who Sang for the Birds by Lilian Jackson Braun
155. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
156. Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson
157. Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway
158. How To Fight, Lie, and Cry Your Way to Popularity (and a Prom Date): Lousy Life Lessons From 50 Teen Movies by Nikki Roddy
159. Bewitching by Alex Flinn
160. Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
161. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett
162. Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
163. Goblin Secrets by William Alexander
164. The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman
165. Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
166. The House on Durrow Street by Galen Beckett
167. The Mark of the Golden Dragon by L.A. Meyer
168. Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
169. The Unfortunate Son by Constance Leeds
170. The Spy Princess by Sherwood Smith
171. The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede
172. May B. by Caroline Starr Rose
173. The Undertakers: Queen of the Dead by Ty Drago
174. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
175. In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
176. Splendors & Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
177. Viva Jacquelina! by L.A. Meyer
178. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
179. The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
180. Mr. and Mrs. Bunny--Detectives Extraordinaire by Polly Horvath
181. See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles
182. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
183. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
184. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
185. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
186. The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde
187. Every Day by David Levithan
188. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
189. Mystic City by Theo Lawrence
190. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
191. Roderick Rules by Jeff Kinney
192. The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
193. Dog Days by Jeff Kinney
194. The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney
195. Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
196. Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin
197. The 100-Year-Old Secret by Tracy Barrett
198. The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
199. The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab
200. Floors by Patrick Carman

Note: Titles in bold are my favorites so far this year. Titles in italics are rereads.

Aaaaaand . . . once again, I am way behind on reviewing the books I've read. Reviews to come for:

What Came from the Stars
Ironskin
The Casual Vacancy
Drama
Throne of Glass
Starry River of the Sky
Wise Child
Monstrous Beauty
The Horse and His Boy
Team Human
The Emerald Atlas

Hey, foggy! The only ones I've read of your pending reviews are Wise Child and the C. S. Lewis Narnia book.

Oh, how great! I did not know Gary Schmidt wrote another book. I'm going to see if my library has a copy...if not, I like his works so much that I'll buy the book.

As always, I enjoy visiting here.

(201 books read)



For fans of Gary Schmidt's writing, What Came from the Stars seems like a bit of a departure from form. For one thing, it's science fiction.

On a faraway planet, the last brave heroes of a doomed race are besieged. While the Valorim warriors hold the door against the O'Mondim invaders, Young Waeglim forges the Art of the Valorim into a chain and, with the last of his strength, sends it out among the stars, far away from the scene of the battle, to a little blue planet in a distant galaxy. The chain falls from the stars into the atmosphere, and from there into the Ace Robotroid lunchbox of twelve-year-old Tommy Pepper. When Tommy Pepper picks the chain up and puts it on, he develops certain unexpected artistic skills. Also, it transforms the supremely embarrassing Ace Robotroid lunchbox into something cool and spacey-looking. Tommy has worse problems than an embarrassing lunchbox, though: his mother has recently died, his younger sister is not talking to anyone any more, and his father is locked in a battle with developers who want the seaside land where the Pepper family's house sits. Their troubles increase when strange, unseasonable storms start ravaging the area, and houses in the town are vandalized in strange and disturbing ways. Tommy alone seems to realize that the storms and vandalism are because of the O'Mondim, who have come to Earth to reclaim the Art of the Valorim. Can Tommy stand firm against the invaders and do what is best for both his planet, and the other planet so far away whose fate is now inextricably linked with his own?

The main problem with this book is the first six pages. Schmidt opens the story with a detailed description of that last desperate siege. In a visual medium, it would be gripping. Unfortunately, in text, it is pretty much incomprehensible. Appropriately, Schmidt has created an entirely new language for the alien race -- but when you are reading a block of text that is rendered in an epic style, with every third or fourth word a made-up one, it is pretty tough going. Once the story shifts to Earth, it's a lot more engaging. I'm just concerned that the average kid, upon picking up this book and looking at that impenetrable block of text, will put the book down and move on to something more accessible. I know I nearly did!

Once you get past that first chapter, the going gets easier. Tommy and his father are engaging characters, and though Tommy's school friends are sometimes difficult to distinguish from one another, his teacher is brilliant and fun. Making Tommy's sister silent due to grief is an interesting decision, but one that I know I've seen in other books, which lessens the impact. The story moves along, trying to tie in the Cardiff Giant hoax with the alien races, which didn't quite work for me. So, while I liked the book, I wouldn't say that it's one of Schmidt's stronger works.

#4 & #5 -- Welcome, Roni and Linda! Glad you made the jump from the last thread! :-) Roni, Wise Child was a new read for me, recommended by @bluesalamanders I think, but The Horse and His Boy is one I've read many times. Linda, you can see my review for the new Schmidt book above -- I'll be interested in your opinion of it.

My local library has a copy and I've reserved it. Hopefully I can claim it tomorrow. I absolutely loved Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Okay For Now and The Wednesday Wars.

Oh dear; so many good ideas for reading here. Dangerous thread!

Happy new thread!

(202 books read)



Ironskin by Tina Connolly is a fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre with a slight post-apocalyptic vibe to it. Sound interesting? It is.

Jane is ironskin -- one of the scarred survivors of the Great War. She was hit in the face by a blast of fey magic, and without the iron mask that she wears, everyone around her would be affected by rage seeping from her wound. When Jane sees an advertisement for a governess position to Dorie, a little girl born during the Great War, worded in a way that makes it clear that the child is somehow different, Jane thinks she knows what to expect. When she arrives at the half-ruined manor house on the moor, however, both Dorie and her father are much more enigmatic than Jane could ever have expected. Her life there will prove challenging, but ultimately, it might just set her free.

For someone who is not really much of a Jane Eyre fan, I sure do seem to read a lot of retellings of that story lately -- this makes the third in the past few years. (The other two, if you're curious, are Jane by April Lindner and The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett, which is not a straight-up retelling, but certainly incorporates large chunks of the plot. And I also read Jenna Starborn by Sharon Shinn some years ago, so that would make four.) I like the original well enough, but I never loved it the way some people do. On the other hand, that might enable me to appreciate retellings without constantly comparing them to the original. Then again, that's exactly what I'm about to do, at least a little bit.

First of all, this isn't a straight-up retelling, so don't expect it to match up on every point. In some ways, this is a good thing. For instance, this is the first Jane Eyre retelling that I've read that actually makes the child into a fully-fledged character, rather than a vehicle to get Jane and Rochester in the same general area. I thought Dorie was interesting and realistic, and I was truly interested to see if Jane would be able to help Dorie control her unique abilities. In other cases, however, it is not such a good thing. For instance, in this story Jane has a flighty sister named Helen, who bears absolutely no resemblance to Helen in the original. This took me out of the story more than once as I tried to find some connection between the two Helens.

As for the story itself, I thought it started out with a nice blend of action and exposition, though it dragged a bit in the last half of the book. And I had a little trouble buying the romance -- it suffered at the expense of Jane's character development, which is not necessarily something to complain about. It appears that there will be a sequel to this story, and while I'm not sure if I will pursue it or not, I thought the author did a good job of tying up enough loose ends to make a satisfying conclusion, while still leaving open possibilities for future plot developments.

(203 books read)



Evaluating The Casual Vacancy by J.K Rowling on its own merits, without mentioning certain other works by that author, is a nearly impossible task -- but I am going to attempt it.

In the village of Pagford, the town council is split into two warring factions. When council member Barry Fairbrother dies, various members of the community immediately begin scheming about who will fill his vacant seat. In the ensuing chaos, secrets are exposed, careers are launched and ruined, and relationships are forged and broken.

If I had to pick just one word to describe this story, it would be "bleak." It's a very dark book, and there's no light at the end of the tunnel. I felt like I spent the whole book mucking around in the seedy underbelly of human nature.

The characters were, I think, the real strong point of the book. They were all thrown at the reader at once, which made it a little hard to distinguish them from each other at first, but I thought it was interesting how my perception of some of them changed over the course of the story. The main instance of this was Barry Fairbrother. He's not very sympathetic there at the very beginning, but as you learn more about him, he becomes more likable. Then again, perhaps that comes of being dead -- maybe we get the idealized version of Barry from his friends' memories.

I found that I liked the storylines featuring the teens better than the ones with the adults -- perhaps because I read too much YA literature? Sukhvinder was probably my favorite character in this book.

On a purely technical level, I found that the perspective shifted around abruptly without any clear indicators, sometimes in mid-paragraph. I'd be reading about Miles and Samantha, and suddenly I'd be reading about what Howard was thinking or doing, and I'd have to backtrack to see if Howard was there with Miles and Samantha, or whether the narration had just wandered over to him (and it was usually the latter). I never had this problem with (ahem) other books by this author, so I'm not sure why it was such an issue in this one.

I also thought that the storylines all intersected too neatly. All of the teens had parents who were major players in the plot, and there weren't many tertiary characters -- no casual friends on the outside edges of the story, etc. Even the other council members were barely even mentioned. It was just all so tidy, at least in terms of plot. There was only one small child in the entire book and he was just there for a big dramatic episode at the end of the story.

To add to that, I felt that Rowling tackled too many Issues. Drugs? Check. Rape? Check. Child abuse? Check. Political corruption? Check. Bullying? Check. Suicide? Check. Unhappy marriages? Check. Obesity? Check. Mental illness? Check. Teen sex? Check. Cutting? Check. Welfare reform? Check. Shall I continue? Every character was loaded up with secrets and problems, and it just seemed like too much. I think this could have been a shorter, simpler book with just as much, or perhaps more, of an emotional punch.

All in all, I don't feel that reading this was a waste of time, but I'm not entirely sure that I would read more adult novels by Rowling.

(204 books read)



Drama by Raina Telgemeier is a cute and fluffy graphic novel about the drama that goes on both onstage and off in a middle-school theatre department.

Callie loves the theatre -- she's an aspiring set designer who loves all things Broadway. Though working with a middle-school budget and limited technical capabilities, she's determined to create a top-quality set for the upcoming school musical. When she meets two talented brothers who are also theatre fanatics, it starts to look like romantic sparks will fly for Callie backstage, but what will her other friends think of Callie's new relationships?

This was a quick read (as one would expect from a graphic novel) and lots of fun. It made me nostalgic for my own days of backstage drama. My only critique was that I thought Callie and her friends had more technical skill (and more freedom with the equipment) than most middle-school theatre students would have. I could be completely wrong about that, though. I'll definitely recommend this to graphic novel fans who are growing out of the Babymouse series and looking for something else just as enjoyable.

204 books read! What an accomplishment!

(205 books read)



Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas has lots of great elements, including a female assassin. I really wanted to like it, but in the end, it pales in comparison with similar stories.

Celaena Sardothien was the most deadly assassin in Adarlan -- before she was captured and sent to the mines. For the past several months, simply surviving one more day has taken all of her strength. When Prince Dorian comes to her with a proposition that would take her out of the mines and allow her to eventually regain her freedom, she accepts his terms: she will compete against twenty-three other fighters to earn the position of King's Assassin. Celaena is taken back to the city, heavily guarded, and trained to compete in the challenges. Once in the city, however, Celaena finds that she faces more dangers than the ones posed by her competitors. Someone, or something, is killing fighters in gruesome ways, and Celaena's guard detail may not be enough to protect her from this mysterious threat. Moreover, both the prince and his Captain of the Guard pose another kind of danger . . . to Celaena's heart.

There's a lot of action in this book, even though the competition for the King's Assassin position gets sidelined in favor of the other storylines. The worldbuilding is also strong. On the other hand, the language is stilted at times, and the romance never hooked me. I also couldn't buy Celaena as the most famous assassin in the world; she took too many foolish risks and was bad about not watching her back. Inconsistencies in the writing compounded this problem -- for instance, Celaena makes sure that her door hinges squeal so that nobody can sneak up on her, but a few pages later, one of the Love Interests enters her suite without waking her from sleep.

Even with these issues, I might have enjoyed the story if it hadn't reminded me so strongly of another book with many similar elements, but also better writing and character development. If the description of Throne of Glass intrigues you, I'd actually recommend that you read Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

#9 -- Ah, my evil plot to increase everyone's TBR list is a success!

#10 -- Thanks for stopping by!

#14 -- Thanks! My total is actually up in the teens by now, but I am wretchedly behind on writing reviews, even after finishing up these few tonight.

(206 books read)



Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin is a lovely little book which incorporates Japanese folklore and mythology with a young hero's quest.

Rendi is running away from home, but when the merchant whose cart he was hiding in discovers his presence, Rendi is stranded in the tiny village of Clear Sky. Worse, every night his sleep is disturbed by a pitiful moaning sound: the sky mourning because the moon is missing. Rendi may be the only one who has noticed that the moon is gone. Is it because he, like the moon, is not in his proper place? Through the stories shared by the villagers and visitors to Clear Sky, Rendi will go on an introspective journey that will lead him to the point where he is able to share his own story -- and, yes, to find the missing moon in an unexpected place.

This book is a companion to the Newbery Honor-winning Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and I found it just as charming. The two books feature different protagonists, and stand alone perfectly, but they also work beautifully together.

I rec'd. a message from Zoe today telling me about this book. Thanks for your excellent comments. I'll be sure to look for this one. I absolutely loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

(207 books read)



Wise Child by Monica Furlong is one of those books that I am amazed not to have discovered earlier. It is the sort of book that I would have relished as a teen -- I relished it now.

Wise Child finds herself on her own after the death of her grandmother. Her mother has long since left the village, and her seafaring father cannot be depended upon to provide for her well-being. The village priest asks the parishioners to take Wise Child in as an act of charity, but the whole village is surprised when Juniper, the village witch, offers to take the child in. Under Juniper's care, Wise Child learns about herb lore and healing, and real magic as well. Wise Child learns to love her unusual guardian. But when the tide of sentiment in the village turns against Juniper, will Wise Child and Juniper be able to avoid a terrible fate?

There's wonderful character development here, as well as some very nice worldbuilding. I would like to have a while to explore Juniper's house, which strikes me as a very comfortable and satisfying dwelling. Wise Child comes across as a little bit spoiled at the beginning of the book, but even so I found her sympathetic and interesting. Definitely recommended -- and thanks to @bluesalamanders for recommending it to me.

Wise Child has been on the tbr list since 2009. Your lovely comments prompt me to read it soon.

(208 books read)



Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama is a story about mermaids, but probably not like what you're thinking. In this book, the mermaids are generally dark and vicious, even when they don't mean to be. Also, there are vengeful ghosts.

I keep trying to find a good angle from which to summarize the plot of this book, and I can't seem to do it. There are two interwoven stories, one in the present and one in the past, and of course the events in the past have a great deal of impact on the events in the present. The intricacy of the plot is a testament to the quality of the writing -- I didn't get lost or bogged down in reading it. There were a few things that were a little difficult to buy (the romance, for one -- I'm getting awfully picky about the romantic plots in books, aren't I?), and I think most readers will see certain twists coming before the main character does, but that's all part of the fun.

I realize this is a pretty vague review, but if you think complicated plots involving vicious mermaids and unquiet spirits might be your thing, this book is for you.

#18/20 -- Thanks for stopping by! My goodness, two book bullets in one night? Don't worry, I'm only writing one more review before bed, and I am 99% certain it's a book you've already read. ;-)

(209 books read)



The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis is not my very favorite of the Narnia books, but it always ranks in the top three. Unlike other Narnia books, this book does not feature characters traveling from our world to Narnia, but is set in Narnia throughout. Shasta, a young slave boy in a seaside town in Calormen, escapes being sold to a cruel master by running away with that very man's prize warhorse -- a Narnian Talking Horse, though the cruel master didn't know it. On their way, Shasta and the horse Bree meet up with Aravis, a high-born Calormene girl, and her own talking horse Hwin. Together, the four companions face the dangers of the city and the rigors of the desert, foil a secret plan for a Calormene invasion of Narnia, and discover the secret of Shasta's heritage.

If you've never read the Chronicles of Narnia, this is not the obvious place to start. (I always recommend starting with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.) This book actually takes place during the period of time covered in the last chapter or so of LWW, in the geographical region south of Narnia. It has plenty of adventure and humor (Bree, the proud warhorse, is often unintentionally funny), really good characters (if you're looking for a strong female lead, Aravis is probably the best the series has to offer), and a great scene between Shasta and Aslan near the end.

I've been reading the Chronicles of Narnia with my young cousin for the past two years. I hold to the original publication order, so we have finished five books now, with two still to go. We read them sporadically, whenever I come for a visit, so there are sometimes gaps of a couple months in between chapters (I try to find good stopping places, and have gotten pretty good at summarizing and recapping before starting up again). I remember listening to my dad reading the books to me when I was about my cousin's age, and I want to pass that experience along.

Thanks for the heads up on the Grace Lin book--I absolutely loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and so am excited about this one.

I enjoyed Juniper and Wise Child too. I have the third of the series, written much later, in my tbr pile but have heard it is not as good (Colman).

Although it is not currently PC, I have always enjoyed A Horse and his Boy a lot!

#24 -- Hope you enjoy Starry River of the Sky! I will probably read Juniper at some point, though I've heard the same thing about Colman. And I feel quite the same about The Horse and His Boy, as you can see!

Similar to Roni; but two BBs for me, if I can find them! I'll look out for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Wise Child.

Of course, I went through all the Narnia books as a child. I think I was initially surprised that the usual protagonists didn't have much of a showing, but I did like The Horse and his Boy, which gave a different perspective.

Great reviews and reads, Foggi! I did not like The Horse and His Boy when I was younger and first read The Chronicles, but I recently did a reread and it is one of my favorites.

Glad to see that my feelings about Throne of Glass are justified! I got to read a sneak-peek of the book on Figment (one of my writing sites) and the writing bored me. The heroine didn't really strike me as assassin-y at all, but I always wondered if I was too quick in my judgment. Thanks!

And wow, 209 books! You are amazing, Foggi!

The Horse and His Boy ended up being one of my favourite Narnia books. It wasn't so much on the first read-through, but somehow it shifted eventually.

#26 -- Hope you like them when you find them!

#27 -- Yes, I couldn't buy her as an assassin, either. Have you ever read Poison Study? I think you would like it . . .

#28 -- Funny how that happens, isn't it? I find that true with music; sometimes I have to hear a song a few times before I really appreciate it.

I'm glad you liked Wise Child, foggi!

(210 books read)



I thought Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan might be just a spoof of Twilight and other swoony vampire books -- but I was impressed to find that it is more than that.

Mel is firmly on Team Human. Sure, she lives in New Whitby, a town renowned for being vampire-friendly, but Mel has no desire to meet vampires, hang out with vampires, or (especially) become a vampire. She'd rather die. On the other hand, her best friend Cathy has always been fascinated by vampires. When a hot vampire guy enrolls in Mel and Cathy's high school, Mel fears the worst. Cathy is smitten with the newcomer, and he seems to return her interest. Mel is determined to save Cathy from a fate worse than death, whether Cathy wants to be saved or not. Mel is also investigating the mysterious disappearance of another friend's father, so she has a lot on her plate. Life gets even more complicated when she meets Kit, a human raised by vampires. Between Kit and Cathy, Mel is starting to rethink her position on vampires -- perhaps they're not all completely evil -- but she's still not about to let her best friend make the worst mistake a human can possibly make!

First of all, this book does bring the funny. There's the obvious question of why a centuries-old vampire would want to attend high school, and plenty of humor surrounding Kit's quirky adopted family. What really impressed me, though, was Mel's character development, and the way she comes to grip, over the course of the novel, with her own prejudices. It's handled lightly, of course, and that's all for the best -- the book would have been ruined if it came over all message-y. So, kudos to the authors for both writing something that gently mocks vampire romance, but is also worth reading in its own right.

(211-213 books read)

   

I picked up secondhand copies of Welcome to Camden Falls, Needle and Thread, and 'Tis the Season by Ann M. Martin for my young cousin (the one I've been reading Narnia with), and decided to read them before passing them along. I was a big fan of the Baby-Sitters Club books when I was a pre-teen, so I was interested to see what this new series was like.

When Flora and Ruby's parents die in a car accident, the girls have no choice but to move to Camden Falls to live with their grandmother. They're not excited about leaving their home and friends, but they soon embrace small-town life, with the help of a couple of new friends.

This series doesn't have the structure and focus of the BSC series -- though the girls do embark on projects, often involving their grandmother's sewing and crafting store, the stories meander a bit more. That's not a criticism, just a comparison. Martin does tackle some heavier issues than one might expect for a middle-grade series by including a character whose parents are alcoholics, and whose father is verbally, and possibly physically, abusive. To an adult reader, the series seems almost too neat in its construction -- the prefect small-town business district with its collection of unique shops, the carefully balanced neighborhood diversity, the range of issues encountered by the girls, through which they learn the appropriate lessons . . . it's remarkably tidy, and feels almost sanitized. The characters are a little flat: Flora is the arts-and-crafts loving homemaker type, Ruby is a performer, Olivia is smart, Nikki is an artistic animal-lover . . . and that's about all there is to say about them.

Will I still pass these books on to my cousin? Of course. The issues I've mentioned are ones unlikely to bother the young readers for whom the series is written. So, while I feel no desire to read more in the series, I can still appreciate that it will hold some attraction to young readers. I can also see why it has not been as wildly successful as its predecessor.

I was supremely behind on your thread, Foggi, but it looks like you've been doing tons of good reading. :)

This made me look to see what happened to the Babysitters Club, and I'm glad to see that they're still being reprinted.

Yes, Babysitters Club is still alive and well, but I have a sad feeling that Claudia no longer wears crazy eighties/early nineties clothes. Le sigh.

Blech, I hate it when they change books like that.

I'm sure Claudia still wears outrageous clothes, it's just not leggings and baggy sweaters anymore (although come to think of it, those are coming back in so maybe she is after all).

Think of it as a reboot. It's just like the Nancy Drew books I read as a kid that were published in the eighties/early nineties are very different from the first Nancy Drew books and probably a bit different from ones that are coming out now.

I wonder whether the Nancy Drew books I read were authentic or not. I thought I had read at least some of the earlier ones (in addition to whatever was recent at the time), but maybe they were fake and updated as well.

I really hope the Boxcar Children at least were the originals.

I just don't understand how updating makes sense in the long run--it feels like it's giving up on the book, saying that it doesn't have enough staying power that it could become a classic in any way, and once you've altered it once, aren't you stuck in that path? Because 10 years later, it won't be either timely or authentic anymore.

I read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys in the 70's (am I showing my age?) from my school library. They were hard back, with yellow covers (at least the back and spine - the fronts were illustrated) and I got the impression they were from an earlier era - maybe the clothes or the language, like the jalopies the kids drove.

I assumed they were original; but I recently looked up the series, and found they seem to get updated quite often ... so maybe not?

I haven't read any of the more recent BSC, or any of the updated reprints, so I'm not sure what Claudia might be wearing these days! :-)

I think the yellow-backed Nancy Drews were updated in the '50s from the original editions of the '30s, and there have been several spinoff series since then that have cast the characters in a more modern light. I also remembering seeing that at least the first few "original" Nancy Drew mysteries were reprinted a few years ago in all of their unexpurgated glory, but I didn't reread them at the time. Nancy Drew was only ever a peripheral interest to me; I preferred Trixie Belden.

As for the Boxcar Children, I've never heard of the originals being messed with (though they did get adapted into graphic novels a while back), but I always abhorred the way that the later books in the series dragged the kids into the 21st century when they were originally set in the early 1900s. It's kind of disconcerting that the kids are riding in horse-drawn wagons in the first book, and playing computer games by #78, all while still approximately the same ages they were to begin with!

(214 books read)



The Daughters by Joanna Philbin is another fun and fluffy teen read.

Lizzie Summers isn't famous . . . but her mother sure is! As daughter of supermodel Katia Summers, Lizzie learned red carpet etiquette and how to deal with the media from a young age. The problem is, Lizzie doesn't take after her mother much at all, and as an awkward teenager, those red-carpet photo sessions with her mom are misery. When Lizzie accidentally lets slip to a reporter her real opinion of her mother's new lingerie line ("a little slutty"), she becomes the kind of YouTube sensation that nobody wants to be. While she's dealing with her parents' reaction to her faux pas and the usual pressures of school, friends, and boys, she is contacted by a photographer who is interested in using her as a model -- the photographer works with real people, not supermodels, and she says that Lizzie is "the new pretty." But if Lizzie agrees to model, what will her mother think?

Though this is definitely aimed at teens who are interested in stories of the rich and famous, it is refreshingly low on Mean Girls. In terms of content, this reads closer to The Clique than Gossip Girl -- there's a little boy drama, but nothing that should make younger teens too uncomfortable. I liked that the story focused mostly on Lizzie's potential modeling career, and though she made some cringe-worthy bad decisions, I felt that they were generally in character. While the plot is a little predictable, it's no worse than most of the popular books in this genre, and I would recommend it to teens who can't get enough of this sort of thing -- though I probably won't read any more of the series.

(215 books read)



"Who Could That Be at This Hour?" by Lemony Snicket is the first book in a new series, All the Wrong Questions.

13-year-old Lemony Snicket is apprenticed to S. Theodora Markson, and together they travel to the little town of Stain'd-By-The-Sea for an assignment: to steal a certain object and make sure it is returned to its rightful owner. The job is not as straightforward as it sounds, though, and Lemony may be caught up in a bigger mystery than he had anticipated.

This book has the same feel as the Series of Unfortunate Events, though in this case Snicket is telling his own story, rather than that of the Baudelaire orphans. He still enjoys throwing in the definitions of some of the more complicated words that he comes across, and he makes veiled references to quite a few works of literature that some of his readers may recognize. (I think I got most of them, though one or two had me stumped. To tell the truth, figuring out which titles he was referring to was probably my favorite part of this book.)

The plot is weird and wacky and even less straightforward than the plots of his earlier books. Too few of the mysteries we encountered were resolved for my taste, and the end of the book left me feeling frustrated rather than satisfied. I also found that it took me longer to read the book than I expected, as I kept putting it down and going off to do other things. However, I fully admit that it might just be me, in this case -- so if you are a big fan of the Series of Unfortunate Events, you will almost certainly want to pick this book up and judge its merits for yourself.

(216 books read)



The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima is the fourth (and probably final) book in the Seven Realms series. This review may contain spoilers for earlier books in the series.

Raisa is now Queen of the Fells, and Han is her bodyguard and her appointee to the Wizard Council -- but neither of them are out of danger. The question of Raisa's marriage is fraught with tension, as both the Clans and the Wizards put forth candidates . . . and there are some who feel that they could do without Raisa at all. Meanwhile, Han's position gives him no protection from the other wizards, particularly the powerful Bayars, who would like nothing better than to have Han permanently removed from the picture. As war continues to rage in the kingdoms to the south, it appears that the Fells may fall to internal conflict rather than to invasion, though with the ambitious and ruthless Gerard Montaigne on the Ardenine throne, the southern kingdoms still pose a definite threat.

This book was a gripping conclusion to the series -- I read it quickly, finding it extremely difficult to put down. The characters and worldbuilding are strong, and the plot and pacing keep the reader engaged, to say the least. My only small complaint is that Chima occasionally used the particularly modern convention of breaking up an emphatically delivered sentence with periods. After. Every. Word. -- and, while I can accept that usage in a modern setting, I found it completely out of place in high fantasy. Other than that minor syntactical quibble, I really enjoyed this book, and will, I'm sure, reread the series in the future. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys high fantasy. Of course, if you are unfamiliar with the series, start with The Demon King -- this book definitely needs the context provided in earlier volumes.

I just started The Demon King today. Good to know it keeps up the quality.

#44 -- Yes, I found this series to be of solidly good quality throughout. While I enjoyed Chima's earlier series (Warrior Heir, etc.), I felt that she really came into her own with this one . . . or maybe I just prefer high fantasy to books with a modern setting! She's wrting a new book in the Heir series, I'm told -- I'll be interested to see how it compares to the other books in that series.

>42 foggidawn:: Oh! I'm a big fan of "Lemony Snicket", so I'll have to look for this one right away!!!

Just finished The Demon King today, and immediately put all the rest on hold at the library!

#47 -- Great! Hope you like them as much as I do. :-)

I felt the same about the new Snicket book, I enjoyed most of his Unfortunate Events books but have tired of the style. I'll keep reading the books published as Daniel Handler.
I also really enjoyed Starry River of the Sky as much as the first book.

Hello and Happy Sunday Evening

I'm writing to thank you for your recommendation of See You At Harry's. I finished it in one sitting. It is a wonderful book!

I so enjoy all your recommendations!

#50 -- So glad! I cried buckets while reading that book, but it was such a good one . . .

Terry Gross interviewed Daniel Handler for Fresh Air today. You can read the excerpts here. Thought you guys might enjoy it.

#52 -- Thanks for posting that -- Handler always does a fantastic interview. :-)

(217-218 books read)

 

The Emerald Atlas and The Fire Chronicle are the first two books in a juvenile fantasy series by John Stevens. I originally read The Emerald Atlas over a year ago, pre-publication, from an advance copy. Here's my full review of that book. Basically, I liked it, but acknowledged that it has a few issues.

Which is pretty much how I feel about The Fire Chronicle. In this book, Kate, Michael, and Emma find themselves in danger once again from the Dire Magus. Early in the story, Kate is separated from her two younger siblings. She spends most of the book trapped in another time, and there she learns more about the Dire Magus in her quest to return to her family. Meanwhile, Michael is feeling the pressure of being the oldest sibling, especially since Emma feels no compunction about ignoring his opnion and doing her own thing when it suits her. Michael and Emma, along with Dr. Pym, set out on a quest to find another of the Books of Beginning, and of course they will meet up with dangers that they couldn't have imagined as they follow a trail of clues to South America and Antarctica.

I enjoyed this book about as much as the first one. It's not particularly distinguished, but it certainly fills a niche in a popular market, and kids who love fantasy will devour this series. Its adherence to the tropes of the genre is, in some cases, its downfall. For instance, even more in this book than in the first book, Dr. Pym upholds the Wise Old Wizard stereotype. In another recent read, "Who Could That Be at This Hour?", Lemony Snicket remarks that books like this one always have a wizard who is less helpful than he could be, and that is certainly the case here. It's obvious to the reader that Pym knows a great deal about the childrens' destiny, but for some reason he's dispensing that information on a need-to-know basis, and he's the one who gets to decide who needs to know what.

On the other hand, the kids' characters are well-written, and Michael, in particular, got some good character development in this book. I can't help liking feisty Emma, and one particular part of Kate's storyline sets up interesting possibilities for the third book. Readers may want to know that The Fire Chronicle does end with a cliffhanger, so if that bothers you, hold off until the third book is published.

I felt much the same about The Emerald Atlas, which I received from SantaThing last year. I can see that it would probably appeal to it's target age ground of genre readers, but it didn't have enough layers to suit my tastes. I did hold on to it until just the other day when I did my mass purge post closet library building, but now it's happily in the donate box. Hopefully some child will be glad to find it at the library sale.

I might read The Fire Chronicle if my library gets it as an ebook loaner, but otherwise will probably pass.

>54 foggidawn:: They sound like typical siblings!

(219 books read)



Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler is a retelling of the "Six Swans" fairy tale.

Headstrong Princess Meriel spends most of her time escaping from her governess and attempting to emulate her beloved older brothers -- but when her father brings home a new wife, Meriel's life changes, and not for the better. Meriel's stepmother sends the boys away to school -- or so she says. When Meriel discovers six swans swimming on a nearby lake, though, she realizes the truth. With the help of a local family of witches, Meriel learns that she must sew shirts for each of her brothers from nettles -- and she must do so without speaking. In the meantime, her stepmother's cruel magic threatens everyone in the vicinity, and winter is fast approaching. Will Meriel be able to rescue her brothers in time?

I've always loved fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, but not all of them are created equal. This particular retelling is enjoyable enough, but does not stand out in what has become a rather crowded genre. I have a few issues with the plot (note to the squeamish: these could be considered spoilers), and they all come down to the ability of various magic-users to read minds. Meriel's ability to mind-speak with her magic-wielding friends undercuts the drama of her not being able to speak aloud while making the shirts (it feels like cheating, to be frank), and the stepmother's ability to read minds, but inability to learn about Meriel's brothers because Meriel's father thought only of his daughter . . . well, I just didn't buy it.

I'd recommend this to children who are discovering the fairy tale retelling genre for the first time, as it is a less frequently told tale (and the other retellings that I can think of are for older readers), and to fans of this fairy tale in general. Adult readers looking for a retelling of this tale, though, should look first at Juliet Marillier's Daughter of the Forest.

(220 books read)



Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke is the most charming early chapter book I've read since Clementine. Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa -- amazing Africa! -- with her extended family, including her African father, her Canadian mother, twin baby brothers Double and Trouble, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. The plot is episodic, so I can't really do this book justice with a plot summary. Though each chapter stands alone, the chapters flow nicely together. This would make a fantastic classroom readaloud, teachers! I just love Anna Hibiscus. I'll be trying hard to get my hands on the rest of the series -- which is not as easy as you might think, since the series is published by Kane Miller, an imprint of Usborne, which is basically sold like Tupperware by independent sales reps, so not available through the usual channels. This is one book that's definitely worth the effort, though!

I'm writing to recommend a book I finished a few days ago. So B. It by Sarah Weeks is wonderful. In addition, I recommend a book I read after reading See You at Harry's, Almost Home by Joan Bauer is wonderful!!!

#59 -- Thanks!

Drat! As I read your review of Anna Hibiscus, I thought that I would buy it for my school's library, as the librarian needs chapter books, and then I read the end where you talk about the limited availability. Amazon has them listed but out of stock. I'll keep an eye out for them, though.

Earlier this year I read and loved both the picturebook Anna Hibiscus' Song and the chapter book No. 1 Car Spotter by Atinuke. She's a storytelller and there are a few clips of her on youtube. Here she is reading aloud from the Car Spotter book.

#61 -- Yes, I looked them up on Amazon and noticed the same thing. I'll be making sure that the series gets purchased for my library the next time our Usborne rep comes through (the copy I read was borrowed from another library in our consortium), but Usborne's sales model does make it tricky for individuals to get their hands on the books. Perhaps you could see if the school librarian knows an Usborne rep? They often make and effort to reach out to librarians, and the librarian could put you in contact with him/her?

#62 -- I'll definitely have to read more by Atinuke.

I'm now nearly caught up from the huge backlog of October / November, which is exciting -- I don't want to be posting 2012 reviews into 2013. I've had a bit of a reading slump, mostly because of working on holiday projects, watching Season 4 of Castle (I got it from the library and had a week in which to watch the entire season, which seriously cut into my reading time), serving on a Cybils committee, and general mental exhaustion. In my spare moments, I'm reading Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers, which is a bit of a chunk. I have plans for reading mostly books that I own for the rest of the year -- I have a couple of Early Reviewers from the past few months that I need to get reviewed, and some others that I just have been meaning to read (or, in some cases, reread). I also have some audiobooks checked out for my holiday travels. It's shaping up to be a pleasant end to the year.

This is mostly a note to myself, to remember to review Timeless and Timekeeper, The Case of the Missing Marquess, and Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings.

(221 & 222 books read)



Timeless and Timekeeper by Alexandra Monir are the first two books in a new series about a young woman who discovers that she has the power to travel through time. I'm really only going to review Timeless here, because I have to review Timekeeper elsewhere, and because it would be difficult to review the second book without spoiling the first.

Michele loves her laid-back California lifestyle, just her and her mother in a home as far removed from her mother's upper-class New York childhood as possible. When tragedy strikes and Michele must live with her grandparents in their New York City mansion, she wonders how she will be able to cope with her restrictive new lifestyle, snobbish school, and lack of close friendships. When Michele discovers an old diary, she finds that she has the ability to travel back in time. In the New york City of the early twentieth century, she meets Philip, the boy who has haunted her dreams for as long as she can remember. Michele and Philip can't deny their instant connection, but there are numerous roadblocks before them, not the least of which being the fact that they are from two different times, and Michele can't always control when she will be pulled back to the present day.

This is Monir's first novel, and there are some rough corners on this generally enjoyable story. While the writing is not as polished as it could have been, the plot is strong. Character development is minimal, and Michele and Philip's romance follows the love-at-first-sight pattern so prevalent in young adult literature right now. The ending does consititute a cliffhanger, but the sequel will be available in January 2013.

Hmm, I'd been eyeing that one because I like time travel and New York, but I'm really not a big fan of love at first sight.

I think it's generally lust-at-first-sight that evolves into something more, but those of a more...errr, conservative disposition, have difficulty coming to terms with the fact that they might be sexually attracted to someone they don't know.

ETA: Oh, errr, I think this might be my first post on this thread. Hmmm, well, hello! :)

67 Ape - I genuinely don't get sexually attracted to people I don't know, so that sort of thing is very strange to me. I can accept love at first sight in fantasy settings where magic/fate/etc might play a role, but without that - and even often with it - it strains credulity.

#66 -- The NYC setting is one of the things the author does really well. And the heroine does other things besides swoon for the hot guy while she is time-traveling. I hesitate to really recommend it to you, though, because I did find the writing a bit lackluster.

#67 & 68 -- I don't think I've ever experienced that kind of intense initial attraction, either. I'm pretty skeptical about love at first sight, I guess. And welcome to my thread, Ape!

68: There certainly isn't anything wrong with not being sexually attracted to people you don't know. What I meant to point out was that people who ARE sexually attracted to people but don't want to admit that they could be tend to say they 'fell in love at first sight.' I consider love a deep, emotional attraction to someone that is entirely impossible to conceive simply by looking at someone, and so I believe it is simply a misinterpretation of ones own sexual attraction. :)

Personally, I'm perfectly capable of finding women attractive without knowing them, but I think for different reasons than what is stereotypically applied to men of my age (or any age, for that matter.) If I see a lady reading a book in public for example, I'm pretty much immediately interested. I don't KNOW them, I'm not in love with them, and being the shy quiet social phobe that I am I'm not exactly 'sexually' attracted, but there is certainly some magnetism involved. :)

Hmm, I am a sucker for time travel so I'll put that one on the mental list for now. :)

Glitterfy.com - Christmas Glitter Graphics

I want to wish you a glorious celebration of that time of year when we all try to unite around a desire for Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All. Merry Christmas, foggi!

All the best to you!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I'm not sure how often I will be able to post for the rest of the year, but I'll drop by as I can!

Merry Christmas, foggi!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Foggi! :) My ears perked up when you mentioned time travel for Timeless, but I'm not sure I would enjoy it. The whole love-at-first-sight-kissie-kissie stuff gets a bit tiresome, even though I love some well-placed chemistry and snogging.

(223 books read)



The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer is a fun, somewhat Sherlockian story featuring a feisty female protagonist.

It hasn't escaped the notice of Enola Holmes that her first name spelled backwards is "Alone." As the much younger daughter of the great Sherlock Holmes, Enola has grown up on the run-down family estate in the care of her eccentric mother, left often to her own devices. When her mother disappears, Enola sends for Sherlock and Mycroft, hoping that they will be able to solve the mystery of their mother's disappearance. Sherlock soon returns to London, promising to work on locating their mother, but not giving Enola much hope. Mycroft, bemoaning the condition of the estate and Enola's breeding and education (or lack thereof), determines to send Enola off to boarding school -- whereupon Enola runs away and sets out on her own to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance. On the way to London, Enola stumbles upon another mysterious disappearance, and she just can't help but get involved. Perhaps a talent for detection runs in the family . . .

While I am not as much of a Sherlock Holmes aficionado as some I could mention (*cough*@erisofdiscord*cough), I did think this book was fairly well done. I liked the way Enola chose methods of escape and disguise that she felt Sherlock would not expect, and used the trimmings and trappings of a "proper young lady" to her advantage. The author obviously did her homework on the period, but she incorporated period details into the story seamlessly, without info-dumping.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the fabulous Katherine Kellgren. I first discovered her work by listening to the Bloody Jack series, which I have mentioned before on this year's threads. Kellgren does a great job of differentiating her characters, and really has a feel for light historical fiction such as this. I'll certainly be listening to more books in this series in the future.

You compliment me greatly, Foggi, and I'm glad you liked the book! The rest of the books in the series are just as good, if not better. Enola's encounters with Sherlock are definitely what kept me turning the pages.

>78 foggidawn:: That one looks like a lot of fun! I'll have to look for it. I also love anything Sherlock, so... clearly, I must read it. :D

I still have a couple of books to review, and I'll probably finish at least one more before the end of the year -- but right now, it's time for some year-end fun! Here's a book meme using titles I've read this year:

Book title meme!

Describe yourself: Friday's Child

Describe how you feel: Inside Out & Back Again

Describe where you currently live: Among Others

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Enchanted Castle

Your favorite form of transportation: The Way of Kings

Your best friend is: The Queen of Kentucky

You and your friends are: All Men of Genius

What’s the weather like: 'Tis the Season

You fear: Unnatural Death

What is the best advice you have to give: Keep Holding On

Thought for the day: Forgive Me, I Meant To Do It

How I would like to die: Kill Me Softly

My soul’s present condition: Splendors and Glooms

Love your answers, Foggi. :)

Very nice answers to the meme, Foggi. :)

Here's to a great new year ahead, Foggi!

(224 & 225 books read)

 

Slipping a few more books in under the wire! This completes my reread of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries.

Gaudy Night and Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers are notable mysteries, but fans of the series generally cherish them even more for the relationship dynamics at play.

In Gaudy Night, Harriet Vane returns to her college at Oxford for a reunion. She does this with some trepidation -- after all, she has not been to Oxford since she was a dewy-eyed undergraduate, and the intervening years have been marred with, among other things, a notorious murder trial and a career as a successful mystery novelist. Harriet dreads the whispers and insinuations that are sure to follow her, as well as the persistent, irritating questions about her relationship with Lord Peter Wimsey -- a relationship that Harriet herself has a hard time defining. Harriet finds that the hall of academe are still the same sanctuary that she remembers . . . until a nasty note is stuffed in the pocket of her academic gown, and she picks up a smutty drawing blowing across the quad at night. She shrugs off the incidents, but at the start of the next term, the dean calls her up asking for help. It seems that a vicious poison pen is at work, intent upon disgracing the college and distressing its staff and students. Perhaps most upsetting is the fact that it appears to be one of the staff who is sending the notes. Has a life of academic celibacy driven one of the women mad -- or is there something else at work?

Gaudy Night focuses mostly on Harriet -- indeed, Lord Peter is abroad for most of the story. He does return towards the end of the book, but while he is away and Harriet is puzzling out the mystery on her own, we get to see a lot of character growth on Harriet's part. She's been resisting Lord Peter's gentlemanly advances for years -- will this be the book where she finally puts the ghost of Philip Boyes to rest and accepts the inevitable? (Hint: the summary of the next book -- or, in fact, the title -- pretty much gives away the answer that that question!)

Busman's Honeymoon finds Lord Peter and Harriet entering into a life of wedded bliss, and evading the press as much as possible as they honeymoon in a picturesque old house in Hertfordshire. This proves impossible, however, when the body of their landlord is found in the coal cellar. It seems that Lord Peter cannot escape his calling -- but can even Lord Peter solve a case where the evidence has been almost completely obliterated by his own presence in the house where the crime took place?

These two books are a strong conclusion to the series, and I'm glad to have thought of rereading them. Perhaps in another ten or fifteen years, I'll have forgotten the plots again and will be able to enjoy another read through!

So, that's 75 x 3, a good conclusion to the year . . . except that I have four more reviews to write. I'll try to squeak them in tonight, unless I get too tired of typing. 75 x 3 + 4, I suppose!

(226 books read)



I almost forgot that I read Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau several days ago, trying out a (relatively) new ebook lending service available through my library.

Jade is dealing with plenty of typical teenage issues -- finding a bathing suit that fits her full figure, shopping for feminine hygiene products with her dad (her mother died about a year ago in a boating accident), tongue-tied conversations with cute boys, and her legs transforming into a tail when she takes a bath. (Okay, so that last one? Not so typical.) Jade is discovering that she didn't know as much as she thought she did about her mother, and about her mother's death. Can Jade learn to control her new abilities, or are pool parties going to be off-limits for the rest of her life?

This was a fun light read. I appreciate reading about a heroine who is overweight and generally okay with that (swimsuit shopping drama aside). I'm not sure if I will continue with the series, but I'd certainly recommend it to teens who like mermaids and chick lit.

(227 books read)



Cold Cereal by Adam Rex is a zany tale of magic and corporate greed.

When Scott Doe's family moves to a new town because of his mother's work, he little suspects that he will soon be caught up in a plot beyond his wildest imagination. His mother's new employer, the GoodCo Cereal Company, has been exploiting magical creatures for years. By an odd coincidence, Scott is one of a few people in the world who can see magical creatures, though he always wrote off his mysterious visions as hallucinations related to his frequent migraines. When a leprechaun tries to steal his backpack at the bus station, however, Scott starts learning more than he wanted to know about the magical creatures in the world around him, and about the dark side of GoodCo. There are plenty of questions that need to be answered, but the biggest one is, what is GoodCo doing with all of that magic they've stolen?

That's an extreme over-simplification of this novel's sprawling plot. Rex has done a fantastic job of weaving together an incredible number of plot threads, and everything does connect in the end. There's plenty of action -- the audiobook did a great job of keeping me awake on a car trip that, thanks to a major wrong turn, ended up being two hours longer than it should have been. It's obvious that there will be a sequel, though the conclusion of this book is satisfying enough that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, if complicated stories with elements of fantasy, mystery, and action-packed adventure appeal to you.

(228 books read)



The Cup and the Crown by Diane Stanley is the sequel to The Silver Bowl, which I reviewed when I read it last year.

In this book, Molly, Tobias, and a few companions travel far from Westria in search of a Loving Cup -- one of the magical goblets created by Molly's grandfather. Their journey takes them to Harrowsgode, a secluded city that does not readily welcome visitors. Molly is obviously related to one of the city's leading families, so she and Tobias are permitted to enter . . . but leaving the city proves even more difficult. Will Molly and Tobias be able to find the cup -- and even if they do, will they be able to return with it to Westria?

This book has many of the same strengths and weaknesses as its predecessor. I enjoyed reading about Harrowsgode, and thought the setting was very rich. Many of the secondary characters, on the other hand, were fairly flat. The plot moves on relatively quickly, and it's not a long book. While I enjoyed reading it, I suspect that it will not stay in my memory for long. Readers of juvenile fantasy will find this a solid, though not particularly exciting, addition to the genre -- if you're interested, I do recommend reading The Silver Bowl first.

(229 books read)



Under a Maui Moon by Robin Jones Gunn is an inspirational romance novel by one of the authors I enjoyed reading as a teen. (As a matter of fact, I have read three of her books this year).

Carissa is under a lot of stress. After 24 years of marriage, she and her husband Richard are no longer as close as they once were. When an unsettling incident with a prowler around their house is followed by Carissa unexpectedly losing her job, Carissa's life is thrown into turmoil, and she no longer feels that she can turn to Richard for support. When the chance to vacation in Hawaii drops into her lap, Carissa takes off by herself. In Hawaii, Carissa doesn't find the peaceful vacation paradise she had imagined -- her own unsettled feelings get in the way of relaxation. Moreover, Carissa meets Kai, a handsome single man of about her age, and she starts to wonder . . . is her marriage with Richard worth saving?

Gunn's affection for the island setting is clear from the loving descriptions of Hawaiian geography and culture in this book. I enjoyed reading the tidbits of Hawaiian history worked into the story. There's also an all-too-brief cameo of certain characters from the Glenbrooke series. Those were the parts of this book that I enjoyed the most. On the other hand, I didn't find Carissa a particularly sympathetic character, and too many of the plot elements felt familiar from other books by the author (particularly Whispers, Wildflowers, and Sisterchicks Do the Hula). Gunn's strongest writing is still the Glenbrooke series, and I advise readers of inspirational romance to start there.

Aaaaaaaand that's a wrap!

Happy New Year, everyone -- please follow me over to my shiny new thread in the 2013 group!

I'm running over to your new thread the second this message is posted! Can't wait to see you there.

Oh! I just realized . . .

(230 books read)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a tradition in my family -- this year I read it in the company of my parents and my brother and sister-in-law. We took turns reading aloud.