foggidawn reads in 2016, thread 1

Happy new year and welcome to my first thread of 2016!

Hi, I'm foggi, and this is my sixth year in this group! I'm a children's librarian in a medium-sized Ohio town and a voracious reader. I have eclectic reading tastes, but do read a lot of children's and young adult literature, both for work and because I enjoy it. I usually read about 175 books a year; sometimes TV watching cuts into my reading time (I like discussing what I watch here, too, so come chat with me about Downton Abbey when it starts back up in a few days)!

I blog at http://kidlitgeek.blogspot.com -- if you are so inclined, come check it out! I mostly cross-post my book reviews there, but occasionally create new content for the blog that does not appear here. The blog has been pretty quiet these past few months because I've been pursuing various other activities, but I plan to dust it off in mid-January.

(from Matilda's Cat)

In each new thread, I like to spotlight one of my favorite picture book illustrators. This time, my featured illustrator is Emily Gravett.


(from Dogs)

Her work is delightfully fun and engaging, and I always appreciate her sense of humor.


(from Orange Pear Apple Bear)

Like other illustrators I've mentioned, animals often feature in her books, but they are never saccharine -- rather, there's often something a little subversive about them!


(from Wolf Won't Bite!)

If you've never encountered her work before, you should definitely take a look! Here's her website, or you can always look for her books at your local library!


(from The Rabbit Problem)

I thought I'd take a moment at the start of this thread to look back at some of the best books I read in 2015. Here are my top five at the moment, though I might answer differently if I were making the list tomorrow, or last week.

1. The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall
2. The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
3. The Martian by Andy Weir
4. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
5. The Just City by Jo Walton

Got you starred!


Happy New Year!

Happy New Thread for a Happy New Year!

I love the Wolf Won't Bite illustration!

Happy New Year, Misti!

Got you starred, Misti! And as usual, I apologize in advance for all my indiscretions. :P

Happy new year, foggi!

Happy new year. Love those illustrations - especially the knife thrower. The bear looks unconvinced...

Happy New Year Roni, Leah, Marie, Stephen, and Blue -- good to see you all! ETA: And Charl, who slipped in while I was posting!

Happy new year, lovely pictures at the top from Emily Gravett, I love the big and tiny dog :-)

Welcome back!

Happy New Year to you!!! I so look forward to reading your threads and noting your children's illustrated recommendations!

Happy new year, Foggi. Looking forward to dodging your book bullets again this year. ;)

Happy New Year! The illustrations are wonderful.

>2 foggidawn: Emily Gravett

I didn't recognize the name, but I have read a couple by her. I really like Again!, I have a thing for dragons, and it is perfect for book lovers or anyone who has ever had to read to kids. The kids also really like Monkey and Me.

Thanks for visiting, Anita, Jim, Linda, Micky, Jennifer, and Karen! Looking forward to an exciting new year of sharing reading recommendations.

I'm resolving this year to make note of books on this thread as I finish them, rather than letting them pile up in huge stacks awaiting review. That may mean that I only briefly note some titles, rather than giving each book a full review -- and it may mean not posting cover images sometimes, especially if I am traveling and without access to a proper computer.

(1 book read)



The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas by Madeleine L'Engle -- Vicky Austin is excited for Christmas, especially since she is playing the angel in the nativity play, but worries that her new baby brother or sister will come early and cause her mother to spend Christmas in the hospital mar her joy over the season.

This is a brief, simple story (so brief that I almost didn't include it in my count) that will be best appreciated by fans of books about the Austins. I've always been fonder of Kairos (the Murry family) than Chronos (the Austin family), but any L'Engle is good. The holiday details in this story exude coziness, and I'm not quite ready to give up Christmas just yet (it's only the eighth day thereof -- and I'm still on vacation), so this was a pleasant way to spend an hour on the first afternoon of the new year.

17: I think that's a great resolution! At least you won't have that looming pile of books weighing on your mind all the time. :)

Have a wonderful bookfilled 2016, Foggy. xx

Happy 2016, Misti! Looking forward to following your reading again this year.

Thanks for visiting, xymon, Paul, and Mary!

>20 Ape: Yes, and you all won't have to read multiple posts of me moaning about it!

(2 books read)



Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys is a companion to the author's earlier work, Between Shades of Gray. It follows Lina's cousin Joana, who faces her own harrowing journey through the turmoil of war. Joana is traveling with a group of refugees, desperately fleeing East Prussia as Soviet soldiers close in. Each member of the group carries his or her own secrets, some of which could be deadly in the wrong hands. And not all of them will survive the journey...

This story is just as harrowing and gripping as its companion work, and through it I learned about a massive tragedy with which I was unfamiliar. Just when you think you've heard about all of the horrors of World War II... Despite the occasionally grim details, I highly recommend this book, especially to fans of historical fiction.

>24 foggidawn: I recently heard the first time about the German refugees and the ships in the Baltic sea, a documentary on TV "Het Duitsland van mijn moeder" (My mothers Germany), where a daughter of someone who's family lived for centuries in East-Prusia, went there to discover her roots & followed the path her mother went as refugee. I'll keep this writer in mind, hope this one will be translated into Dutch too (Between Shades of Gray is translated).

>25 FAMeulstee: I was amazed to learn about a tragedy of that scope, of which I was entirely unaware. Makes you think, doesn't it?

Stopping in to drop off a star! Good call on the resolution. I think almost every year, I let the books pile up and then never even comment a word on the ones I've read in the second half of the year. Then I'm frustrated because I haven't had a chance to discuss some fantastic books with people. So, I like your resolution -- even a few words ("terrible!" or "amusing!", etc) on how the book left you feeling afterward can be nice to see!

Hello! Dropping off a star. I've been thinking about reading the Penderwicks book. Perhaps I will!

Sandy K

Hey there :) Looks like some of our interests overlap so I'm here to see what you end up reading in 2016!

Happy New Year!

Downton Abbey is back! I'll try to find time tomorrow to type up all my thoughts, but it was just full of delicious promise for a lovely final season, wasn't it?

Yes, it was! I'm very happy to see it back too.

>31 foggidawn: It is great, but a bit sad that it is the final season...

>18 foggidawn: Oh, how wonderful ... a book by Madeline L'Engle that I don't know! On the tbr pile it goes.

Hi Foggi! Happy New Year!

Thank you, everyone who has visited my thread lately -- Faith, Sandy K, Melissa, Rachel, Jennifer, Anita, Linda, and Nora!

I'm taking a break from being crazy busy (and maybe just plain crazy); not going to write about Downton yet, but don't worry, that's still on my radar. Right now, I'm celebrating because I got a callback, and I never get callbacks! (Non-theatre people, that's like getting a second interview for a job; the director is narrowing down the field.) I went to an audition last night, fully expecting not to be cast because there are only three parts for women in the show and with community theatre, the director may already have people in mind for certain parts, and I've never worked with this director. I still probably won't be cast, but I'm super flattered to have been called back! Of course, this puts into disarray my plans for tomorrow evening... and I'm still trying (and mostly failing) to prepare for the conference I'm attending this weekend. Not to mention packing for said conference, and unpacking from my recent vacation, and work, and life, and... yeah, I expect my brain to explode any minute now. It's all good stuff, though. And I didn't want to post about the callback on Facebook, because I'm friends there with at least two other people who auditioned for the same role, and three or four more who auditioned for other parts, so I'm posting here instead. Feel free to ignore my yammering away about non-book-related stuff!

Happy New Year, and congratulations on the callback!

Ooh, congrats on the callback! Exciting!

Yay, a callback! How exciting!!!

I starred your thread, and congrats on the callback!

Break a leg (if people still say that?). Hope it all goes well.

A callback IS exciting!

Yay, callback!

Congrats on the callback! Good luck, or break a leg, or whatever the appropriate phrase is!

Break a leg!

Oh well done on getting a call back. I'll echo everyone else and say 'Break a leg' too.

Just dropping by to wish you Happy New Year, as I attempt to catch up on threads.

ETA - love those illustrations; hilarious!

Thanks, Zoe, Amber, Faith, Rachel, Charlotte, Roni, Marie, Blue, Kriti, and Humouress! I'm still waiting to hear back, but I feel like it went well.

Now I am at a conference, getting ready for a few busy days of committee work. It's going to be great! And if we get our work done quickly, there's also the exhibit hall, my favorite thing at these conferences, because free advance copies of books! I'm probably not going to pick up as many as usual this time, but I will definitely get at least a few!

Congrats on getting a callback! Hope you get cast! And if not, it's good that you feel that you did well.

Sandy K

FREE ARCS!!!!!!!! Gosh, those really ARE the best things at conferences. I'm 100% with you there. I came home with *cough* 45 free books from the goody room at RWA2015.

...oops.

>49 dk_phoenix: I've done worse (better?) than that at previous conferences, but this time I'm flying, which does impose a bit of a limit.

Congrats, Misti! I'm glad you clarified what a callback is, because at first I thought it was similar to a hollaback. :P

Also, good luck with that whole "not going to bring home many books" thing. *cough*yeahright*ahem*

>50 foggidawn: It should have imposed a limit on me, too. There's that whole, ahem, weight limit thing...like I said...oops. :P LOL

Looking forward to your freebie report!!!! TAKE ALL THE BOOKS!!!!

>52 dk_phoenix: Last year at a con, I came away with only four free books, but one of those books weighed over a kilo. I just barely snuck in under the weight allowance for my luggage.

I'd still never say no to free books :-D

Belated congrats on the callback!

Is it ALA midwinter already or are you at a different conference?

Hi, foggi! Just stopping by to drop a star to a fellow Ohioian.

Just curious about your thoughts for the Newbery tomorrow? My son and I are partial to A Night Divided by Jennifer A Nielsen.

Yay for your callback! I hope it went well. And your conference as well.

Hope you had a great weekend.

>48 sandykaypax: Thanks! I did not, in fact, get cast, and I'm perfectly okay with that -- the timing was not great for me doing a show right now, and the audition was a really positive experience in itself.

>51 Ape: Yeaaaahhhh... About that. I will post pictures and titles later, but I was, perhaps, not the model of restraint that I was in San Francisco. I think I can get them all in my suitcase and carry-on...

>52 dk_phoenix: Oh, I did! Or, at least, I took a lot of them.

>53 archerygirl: Wow, that's a heavy book! Also, thanks for visiting!

>54 MickyFine: Yep, Midwinter is early this year, and that's where I am.

>55 rretzler: I'm so glad you asked! Because I've been busy, I have not done my usual blog posts predicting the Youth Media Awards, but I do have lots of thoughts and feelings about them! For Newbery, I'm loving The Hired Girl, Listen, Slowly, and The War That Saved My Life, but my long-shot favorite is The Penderwicks in Spring. I would be so thrilled if it won. I did enjoy A Night Divided very much, though not quite as much as the ones I listed. If it gets called out this morning, I will not be sad!

I don't feel that I can speculate on the Caldecott this year, as I am serving on another award committee, one where there is potential for overlap. (If anyone is curious about which committee, message me -- I don't want to post it publicly, as that feels like giving away the last shreds of privacy or anonymity that remain to me, and while I trust you guys, I don't trust anyone who might run across this thread with a random Google search.)

>56 The_Hibernator: I have had a great weekend and a wonderful conference, thanks!

I'm so excited for the Youth Media Awards press conference, which is probably why I'm awake at silly o'clock in the morning and unable to get back to sleep. If anyone else wants to watch it, you can find the link to the live stream from the ALA website, www.ala.org . It starts at 8am Eastern Standard Time.

Oooh, I can't wait to see the photo with all the books you grabbed!!! I feel like Twitter is keeping me updated with what's going on at the conference, it's pretty great...

(3 books read)



Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix is a delightful fantasy of manners.

Lady Truthful Newington -- Newt, to her rowdy crew of male cousins -- is looking forward to her first London season, but everything changes one dark and stormy night when the Newington Emerald, the family's most precious (and magically powerful) jewel disappears. Determined to track down the thief, Truthful disguises herself as a man and searches London for clues. During her quest, she meets Major Hartnett. She can't deny her attraction to him, but he's of the firm opinion that all women are heartless and deceitful -- what would he say if he learned of her disguise?

This is a terrifically fun read inspired by Austen, Heyer, and O'Brian. It's different from anything else Nix has ever written, but in no way inferior. Recommended to readers who enjoy both fantasy and Regency romances.

>59 foggidawn: To be found in my Best Books of 2015 under the category of Best Regency masquerading as a Fantasy (there are two others in that category).

>59 foggidawn: Well, that's an immediate book bullet! Onto the wishlist it goes.

What do you think of the Newbery award winners this year? And, how about the selections for the Caldecott prizes?

I haven't read any of them. Usually, by the the announcements are made, I've read most. Not true for this year.

>60 ronincats: I think your review was how that book got on my TBR list in the first place.

>61 _Zoe_: Enjoy!

>62 Whisper1: You're going to love Last Stop on Market Street, I think! I'm pleased for it, and glad the committee was obviously paying attention to atypical books. I'm also pleased about The War that Saved My Life, which was a favorite of mine last year. It didn't fall in my top five, but would certainly be in my top ten. I haven't read Roller Girl, but I will soon. I didn't care for the frame story in Echo, so it's probably my least favorite of the Newbery books this year, but still an enjoyable read, and I know a lot of people are pleased about it. I'm sorry not to see The Hired Girl and The Penderwicks in Spring, but the former just won the Scott O'Dell award for historical fiction, and the latter is part of a beloved series, so both should do well even without the big awards.

As for the Caldecott, I like all of their choices. Waiting is just so lovely, and Voice of Freedom is spectacular. I'll have to take another look at Trombone Shorty, which I read a while back but don't remember well. And Finding Winnie is a gorgeous book. There are some others I would have loved to see honored, but I think these choices are very strong.

>59 foggidawn: You got me. It's on my wishlist. I have a real problem resisting the combination of fantasy and Regency romance.

>59 foggidawn: On to the TBR list it goes...

I hadn't heard of any of the Newbery and Caldecott award winners this year, though I suppose that's not a surprise given how long I've been working in adult rather than children's services. I've got holds on both the winners.

60: Regency romances pretending to be fantasy novels? Oh geez, now I can only look at the Fantasy section as a potential minefield. Eep. The cover is beautiful though. :)

>66 Ape: OR, you could look at the historical romance section as a potential goldmine.

But there is romance and acts of erotic passion! *Shudders*

>64 archerygirl: I know, right? So good, when it's done well (as it is in this book).

>65 bell7: One nice thing about a picture book winning the Newbery is that it won't take you more than 15 minutes to read this year's winner!

>66 Ape: It is a nice cover. And I'd think, if you truly wanted to avoid any kind of romance, the fantasy section would already be a minefield.

>67 norabelle414: I like the way you think!

>68 Ape: Really, there's hardly even any kissing in this one; it's quite tame.

That's like handing me a brownie and saying there are hardly any thumb tacks in this one. Not very comforting... :P

As promised, the book stack:


I've done better, but I've also done worse. Really excited about many of these! (Also, I've already read two of them, so those reviews coming shortly.)

Impressive stack!

(4 books read)



The Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass -- Castley's family is different. Her father believes, and teaches his family, that he is the recipient of divine revelation, and in consequence, only he and his family are going to heaven -- and only if they follow him with complete obedience. Castley and her five siblings live with their parents in a ramshackle house, selling junk their father finds on the side of the road in order to make enough money to buy food. They are alternately feared and ridiculed by the townspeople, and lately Castley has started wondering if their father's doctrine is really true, or if there's another way to live. What would it be like, to live like normal people? But she can't leave without her family, especially not without Caspar, the brother her father says she will be bound to for all eternity. As circumstances grow worse for the Cresswells, tension mounts. Their father declares that, perhaps soon, it will be time for them to go on to their eternal reward. Castley's not ready for heaven -- not yet. She's only just started exploring the possibilities of life in this world, and she's not ready to give it all up.

This chilling portrayal of a deeply dysfunctional and abusive family is a gripping read. I'm not sure the title quite matches up with the content (what plot?), and the ending left me with a few questions. Still, this is definitely a compelling and well-written book. I'd recommend it to V.C. Andrews fans.

(5 books read)



Immaculate by Katelyn Detweiler -- Mina never asked for a miracle. She's a straight-A student with a caring family, a great boyfriend, and two best friends who have known her practically all her life. When a strange old woman comes into the pizza shop where she works, Mina tries to be patient, despite the fact that it's almost closing time. But the old woman's bizarre conversation takes a turn for the alarming, and Mina finds herself saying anything to get the old lady out the door. She tries to put the encounter out of her mind -- but that proves impossible once the symptoms start to show. Mina, a girl who has never once slept with a boy, is pregnant. In the months that follow, some people believe her, others brand her a liar. A few practically worship her while others hate her. Friendships crumble, grades slip -- and Mina has to wonder: why her? Why now?

The interesting concept is what drew me in to this book, and the questions raised by that initial encounter were enough to keep me reading even through some flaws: the dialogue is stilted in places, and the younger sister is a little too perfect to be true. My main problem, though, is with the ending. None of the big questions are answered. It feels like it's setting up for another book, but I'm afraid I'm just not interested enough to continue with the series. Read this one only if you find the premise fascinating and you're okay with some ambiguity at the ending.

>69 foggidawn: That's definitely a plus as I try to keep up! I read The Crossover last year, but I'm afraid that's it... no honors, no winners from other years...

>71 foggidawn: Oooohhh I am soo jealous you have Glass Sword! I have Traveler and Cruel Crown at home to read soonish.

Do you have a theme of covers with girls lying down outside? :)

>75 bell7: Apparently so.

So sad about Alan Rickman today. I really thought he would be one of those actors we'd be seeing onscreen well into his nineties, that he would play Dumbledore in twenty years or so when they decide to remake Harry Potter. Such a loss.

Always.

>57 foggidawn: I'm sorry you weren't cast, but still, it's a boost to get a call-back.

>59 foggidawn: Ooh that looks good. Uh-oh; BB!

>60 ronincats: I need that link Roni :0)

>70 Ape: But consider, Stephen, how many thumbtacks you usually find in your brownies. So it should be fine, right?

>71 foggidawn: Ooh, I want to be a librarian in the US, so I can get free books at ALA conferences. I see you stuck to your limits. Not.

Here's the link: http://www.librarything.com/topic/210719#5395936

And these are the books in that category specifically:

Best alt. history regencies masquerading as fantasy:
The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter
Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix

What an incredible book haul! Where will you put them all? Many thanks for listing both the Caldecott and Newbery award-winning books.

I love visiting here! It is deliciously dangerous. I always come away with information and books to add to the ever expanding TBR list.

>79 ronincats: I loved Sorcerer to the Crown! Prunella is such a marvellously wonderful character.

>77 foggidawn: I've been in a total funk all day because of the news. Alan has been a favorite of mine since I was 9, not only because he played so many great characters but because, even as a baddie, he was always just so human. ;(

HuffPost just had a headline that for a whole generation "Alan Rickman will always be Severus Snape," but I think it would be more fair to say "Severus Snape will anyways be Alan Rickman." JKR picked him personally to play Snape because she knew he could pull off the complicated emotional journey with snark and understated glory.

71: *Jaw Drop* AMAZING! :)

78: You are absolutely right. So lets eat brownies, and not reading books about scary things. Like adult relationships.

Hi! I'm pretending that I'm going to keep up with both updating my own thread AND reading other people's :D

I'm not even pretending...

AHHHH! Your book stack is AMAZING!!! Sword and Verse! Glass Sword! Also... It Ain't So Awful, Falafel?!?! Hahahaha. I've never heard of that one but suddenly I must read it.

>71 foggidawn: Have fun reading!

>59 foggidawn: The teenbrarian at work was telling me about this one and your review has sent it straight to The List. Thanks!

>59 foggidawn: I love Garth Nix!

>71 foggidawn: Wow. That's an impressive stack of books. I haven't read any of them.

>73 foggidawn: The Cresswell Plot looks really good.

>74 foggidawn: Strangely similar cover to >73 foggidawn:

>78 humouress: Hey, I managed to get them all home, so that was sort of sticking to my limits, right?

>79 ronincats: I will have to take a look at those, thanks!

>80 Whisper1: Two words: creative stacking. No, really, I don't know where I will put them all. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with books right now. I really ought to buy a new bookshelf, but where would I put it?

>81 archerygirl: Yep, definitely need to take a look at that one.

>82 leahbird: You're so right about that. I loved so many of his roles, and they were all very different.

>83 Ape: Mmm, brownies.

>84 kgriffith: and >85 humouress: I am also pretending this, and failing at it this week.

>86 dk_phoenix: Such a great title, isn't it?

>87 thornton37814: Oh, I am!

>88 MickyFine: Enjoy!

>89 The_Hibernator: Those two covers are oddly similar, aren't they?

It's been a busy week . . . month . . . whatever. Thanks to everyone for stopping by!

(6 books read)



Waylon! One Awesome Thing by Sara Pennypacker

For Waylon, fourth grade is shaping up to be, well, less than awesome. It all started when Arlo, the undisputed king of the fourth-grade boys, decided to divide the boys up into teams. At first, Arlo said he wanted Waylon on his team, but now he seems to have changed his mind. What if Arlo doesn't put Waylon on either team? Also, Baxter Boylin, troublemaker extraordinaire, has returned to school. What if Arlo puts Waylon and Baxter on a team by themselves? Waylon has always loved science facts and finding the "one awesome thing" every day, but now he's having trouble finding anything awesome about school.

I was so sad to see the end of the Clementine series, and I'm so excited to see this new collaboration by Pennypacker and Frazee. This series features a different main character from the same class, so Clementine and other familiar characters make cameo appearances, but Waylon (once described by Clementine as "the scienciest kid" in her class) is the star. And I have to say, this first book is pretty great. In fact, I suspect that this series is just going to keep getting . . . Even! More! Awesome!

(7 books read)



Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson -- It all starts when Astrid's mom takes Astrid and her best friend Nicole to the roller derby. Astrid immediately falls in love with the sport, but Nicole is less enthralled. When Astrid decides to sign up for a summer roller derby camp, Nicole declines, electing to attend dance camp instead with Rachel, a girl Astrid has never gotten along with. Does this mean that Nicole and Astrid aren't friends any more? And what will become of Astrid's roller derby dreams when she encounters the rigors of training?

This Newbery Honor winner is a fun, fast read that will appeal to fans of Raina Telgemeier's graphic novels. I enjoyed it, and I learned a lot about roller derby, as a bonus!

(8 books read)

Storyteller's Sampler, edited by Margaret Read MacDonald, is a book sent to me for review elsewhere. It's a good multicultural collection, if you have an interest in oral storytelling or world folklore.

>92 foggidawn: Roller Girl looks far too energetic for me on a Sunday morning Foggy!

Hope you have a great Sunday.

>94 PaulCranswick: A bit too energetic for me, as well! I enjoyed reading about it, but that's as far as it will go for me.

Hope you have a great week ahead!

>96 The_Hibernator: Thanks, and I hope you do, too!

Hi There! After reading some Newbery and Caldecott 2016 winners, here is what I think

I liked Echo, but was very disappointed with a hurried, slap a happy face on the ending.
I liked Roller Girl, but in some ways it seemed trite.
I liked Trombone Shorty very much!
I loved Waiting. I liked the softness of it; I liked the dreamy slow quality of patience and ...."waiting."

>98 Whisper1: Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I agree about the ending of Echo -- and I also felt that the frame story was weak in comparison with the three stories that make up the bulk of the book. And I like Roller Girl, but it's certainly not as weighty as most Newbery books.

(9 books read)



Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor -- Mourning the death of her mother, Hope travels to Scotland to visit family she has never before met. She learns that her mother's side of the family hides a fantastic secret: they can harness the power of the earth's ley lines in order to travel through time. Even more incredibly, Hope learns that her mother is not dead, just trapped in the past. If she wants to save her mother, Hope must travel back in time to the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine. It won't be easy, but Hope is willing to do whatever it takes. The past can be a dangerous place, though . . . and her mother's family are not the only time travelers out there. . . .

This is a very enjoyable read, with great characters and a gripping plot. While I'm not sure I completely buy into the mechanics of time travel as described in the world of this book, those details didn't bother me while I was reading. I'd recommend this, especially to fans of Outlander. While it's likely that this will become a series, the story wraps up sufficiently in order to make for a satisfying reading experience.

(10 books read)



Once Was a Time by Leila Sales -- Charlotte Bromley believes in time travel, and so does her best friend Kitty. After all, Charlotte's father is a scientist, and the British government has recruited him to do secret research on the subject to aid the war effort. Charlotte's father believes that portals sometimes appear, seemingly at random, and nobody can know where or when one might end up if one were to enter such a portal. Charlotte doesn't think she would enter one, even if she were to see it, but Kitty thinks it would be a great adventure. However, when the two girls' lives are suddenly in danger, it is Charlotte who slips through the portal that miraculously appears, leaving Kitty behind. Where will Charlotte end up -- and will she ever be able to return to her own time?

I really liked this book in spite of a few flaws. The dialogue and characterization are extremely strong, and the story is engaging. While reading, I had a nagging feeling that the plot relied too much upon coincidences, though the ending wrapped up at least some of them. I also felt that Charlotte was allowed to do some things she would not have been able to do in the real world, things not related to the science fiction aspects of the story. Still, I would recommend this, especially to those who enjoyed When You Reach Me.

I did not intend to read two time travel stories back to back -- it just worked out that way!

Oh - I was just about to recommend another time travel to you. I've just started Ruby Red because I actually pulled the second book, Sapphire Blue, off the shelf to read, but I thought I'd refresh my memory first. I enjoyed it the first time, and this time around too.

>102 humouress: That one does look interesting!

(11 books read)



Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White -- After their mother dies, Liberty and her little sister are reunited with their father, who left them when Liberty was a preschooler. When he abandons them at a truck stop in the middle of the desert, Liberty knows that it's up to her to take care of her sister and get the two of them to safety. Liberty loves to learn about the ways animals adapt in order to survive. Maybe she will find some survival strategies of her own.

This is a good, solid read. The two sisters are believable characters and the setting is also strong. The episodic plot is fast-paced. Readers who enjoy books like Homecoming and Waiting for Normal should take a look at this one.

(12 books read)



Attachments by Rainbow Rowell -- a reread; just as enjoyable as before!

Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen Whiteis now on the tbr pile. Thanks for your great review!

(13 books read)



Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo -- A wealthy and powerful man has a job that needs to be done. It won't be easy. In fact, some might say it's impossible. But if Kaz can pull it off, the rewards will be enormous. Kaz pulls his team together: Inej, Jesper, Nina, Wylan, and Matthias. They've never worked together before, and some of them hate each other, but Kaz needs the unique skills and knowledge that each of them brings to the table. Will it be enough?

What can I say: I'm a sucker for a good fantasy heist novel. This one has seamless plotting and snappy dialogue -- Jesper's quips had me snorting with laughter more than once. The characters are complex and a real mix of good and bad, and none of them are completely and immediately likable, though I found that they mostly grew on me over the course of the novel. This book was recommended to me because I enjoyed The Lies of Locke Lamora, and I think that recommendation is a good one. If you liked that, you should try this -- and if you enjoy this, keep an eye out for that if you haven't already read it.

>105 foggidawn: I have a soft spot for Attachments. Glad the re-read was good. :)

I read and enjoyed Attachments not long ago - first time for me.

YAAAAS!!! I love that you also loved Six of Crows!!! I'm a sucker for a heist anything, really, and this books was so expertly crafted. Very tight with fantastic characters. I haven't read The Lies of Locke Lamora so I definitely need to move it higher up the TBR list.

I also recently read Landline because of how much I enjoyed Attachments. I think the latter is a stronger story, but Landline is still very good.

I normally wouldn't be able to contribute to this Rainbow Rowell discussion, but I can say that my sister recently read Eleanor & Park and really liked it, and I believe she owns 2 or 3 more of her books that she hasn't gotten around to yet. :)

>108 MickyFine: It's going to be one of my comfort reads, I'm sure.

>109 muddy21: Glad you also enjoyed it!

>110 dk_phoenix: I agree with you on all points.

>111 Ape: Look! There are no people on the cover of Attachments! That means you could read it, right?

I'm afraid it still falls under the category of "romance," which will send me into a catastrophic downward spiral into a a deep black chasm of utter despair, where I will wallow in loneliness and self-pity for days!

So, um, no, I don't think so. :P

(14-16 books read)

   

Forever With You, Home of Our Hearts, and One More Wish by Robin Jones Gunn constitute a trilogy continuing the story of some of this prolific inspirational romance author's best-loved characters. Christy and Todd are a young married couple just out of college. Over the course of these three books, they face challenges with jobs, finances, and housing. They learn to communicate and compromise, and start planning for the future, including the possibility of children. They also reconnect with many old friends known to Gunn's readers from other connected stories.

I probably would not recommend these books as a starting point for readers unfamiliar with Gunn's works -- she uses this trilogy to tie up several loose ends and catch up with many old characters. Readers who have not already "met" Doug and Tracy, Katie and Eli, Sierra and Jordan, and the many others who appear in these pages would probably be a bit confused -- like going to a party where you don't know anyone, but everyone seems to know everyone else. On the other hand, readers who are familiar with Gunn's stories will enjoy catching up with everyone. Gunn's greatest strength as an author is her skill at creating memorable, relatable characters. I felt that the writing was rather weak compared to some of her earlier works (I always feel that the Glenbrooke series is her best). In this trilogy the authorial voice veered to the preachy side at times, which I've never noticed before in Gunn's writing. I also found myself occasionally rolling my eyes at the coy references to sex. I get the feeling that Gunn was taking special pains to keep the books squeaky clean for the youngest and most innocent of her readers, but it comes across a bit stilted. Of course, none of that kept me from burning through these books in a very short amount of time. I appreciate getting some closure for several long-running story lines, and I hope to see Gunn move on to focus on creating some new characters for her readers to enjoy. (When I saw the title of this series, I joked, "What next? Christy and Todd: The Parenting Years? Christy and Todd: Midlife Crisis? Christy and Todd: The Retirement Years? Christy and Todd: Til Death Do Us Part?" I think I may be kind of over Christy and Todd.)

>113 Ape: Oh, who doesn't enjoy a good catastrophic downward spiral every now and rhen? ... oh, wait. Me, I don't enjoy that, so I can see how you might not, either.

Yeah, so I'll stick to more comforting stories, like where humanity is completely eradicated and the world is inherited by mutant insect-people. *Nods*

>116 Ape: Yeah, I think I'll stick with my romances.

...weird... :P

>107 foggidawn: Must. get. to. that. book.

>118 Ape: Thanks!

>119 rosylibrarian: It does seem to be a hot commodity lately.

(17 books read)



Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky -- Four teenage superfans of a popular boy band inadvertently kidnap a member of the band. Hijinks ensue. This was an okay read for me. The plot was engrossing enough that I finished it in a day, but I didn't like any of the characters (which may have been kinda the point, but still). I can totally see this being made into a teen movie someday.

<107 I added Six of Crows to the tbr pile. Thanks for the great review.

(18 books read)



Girls Like Us by Gail Giles -- Biddy and Quincy are both in the Special Ed program at school, but that doesn't mean that they have anything in common. When their social worker arranges for the two of them to live together after graduation, both girls have their doubts, but they will soon learn that they can be stronger together than they were on their own. This is a skillfully written book with a lot of heart. Biddy and Quincy's struggles are touching and relatable, and there are surprising flashes of humor as well. Highly recommended.

I haven't posted anything at all about Downton Abbey this season, which is a pity. I can't go back and catch up episode by episode, but I do want to give my thoughts on the most recent episode, as well as some general observations.

Daisy is getting on my nerves. Can she not be a touch gracious, even if she doesn't approve of a friendship between Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Mason? Hasn't she done enough damage already this season?

I am sick unto death of the hospital drama.

I rather like Edith's young man. Do I like him better than Michael? Hmmmm.... Also, I'm not 100% convinced Michael is dead -- perhaps he will show up, alive and well, and she will have to choose.

I'm not particularly a fan of Mary's young man. I'm just not feeling a spark. Maybe Mary's just too cold-hearted to actually fall in love again.

Speaking of falling in love, is it just me, or are they trying to pair everyone off this season? Mr. Mason and Mrs. Patmore, Edith and Mary with their beaux, there was even a hint of Andy and Daisy, and Lord Merton and Isobel is still not over apparently, not to mention the slow-burning thing between Molesley and Baxter? Nobody for Tom yet -- I half expected him to fall hard for one of the bright young things at that London dinner.

And I'm actually feeling sorry for Thomas, which is an unusual sensation. Why are they all so suddenly out to get him? I mean, he did kind of save Edith's life not too long ago. It seems that he's trying to hold on to the idea of a career in service, when everyone else is moving away from that idea.

Mrs. Hughes needs to actually talk to Carson about his unrealistic expectations, instead of just whining to Mrs. Patmore.

The costumes this season have been even better than usual.

I'm sure there's more I wanted to say, but it's gotten away from me. Your thoughts?

>123 foggidawn:

Daisy has been extra awful this season. Everyone has seen to it that she gets ahead, and she just acts awful towards all of them.

Yeah, over the hospital drama too, though I loved seeing Maggie Smith all up in arms.

I like Edith's new man too. Will be interesting when he finds out about Marigold.

I find Mary's new man quite dishy, and I was waiting for the car thing and Matthew to come out.

Everyone is parring off. And thank goodness Tom came back. I missed him, but he seems like such a different character now.

I like the turn in Thomas' character. I've always secretly rooted for him. I'm surprised he's holding on to his job so much though. A few seasons ago he wanted nothing more than to get away from service.

I want to kick Mr. Carson.

>124 foggidawn: Me too! I keep trying to wait until a time when I can do an episode justice, and then suddenly another Sunday has passed!

Daisy was portrayed at the beginning of the show as very much an immature child, which worked well at the time. However, the timeline of the show has been well over a decade now so it's weird that her character has not matured.

I'm tired of the hospital drama too, but as Marie says it was fun to see Maggie Smith get really mad. Though I was sure she was going to have a heart attack because since it's the final season I assume anyone could drop dead at any moment.

I like Edith's fella too, though I really love the idea of her being an awesome, driven, satisfied single mother in London. I feel like there wasn't any closure with Michael, too, but didn't they say they found his body at some point? I don't remember.

I'm fine with Mary's racecar driver, but I wish she would show any kind of interest in ANYTHING.

I am really, really, really against Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes. I don't feel ANY chemistry between them, especially now that Carson is being such an ass, and I think the writers were just trying to "pair the spares"

I feel sorry for Thomas in the same way that I always have. Life must have been so hard for him, being gay, but he made the choice to deal with his hard life by lashing out and being unkind, and now that is coming back to bite him.

The dresses!!! Lady Mary's dress when she surprised her boyfriend was TO.DIE.FOR.

>125 rosylibrarian: Your last sentence had me laughing out loud.

>126 norabelle414: That dress was one of the ones I had in mind. Edith has also had a lot of lovely clothes this season.

(19 books read)



Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George -- Cousins Dacia and Louisa are both excited and nervous about visiting Romania and meeting their mothers' family. There seems to be some sort of family secret, and nobody will explain it to them. When they learn the truth, it will be more shocking than they could have guessed.

This book has a lot of excellent elements, though it falls short of distinction in a few ways. I liked the two main characters, though they were hard to tell apart, at least at the beginning. I also found the love interests... interesting. I wanted to see more development of those stories, because they really took a backseat to the main action of the story. This was probably as it should be, but I think a little more attention could have been paid to that aspect of the book, because it felt a bit rushed. The pacing lagged in places, though I don't know if I would have noticed that if I had not been listening to the audiobook. I also felt that the villains were flat, entirely evil and without nuance. All that said, I did enjoy the book. Many of the secondary characters are well-written and the setting is fairly good. Mostly, I wanted a little bit more from this book, but I liked the things it did accomplish. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy books like Juliet Marillier's Wildwood Dancing.

>124 foggidawn: Daisy's definitely been a brat this season but I'm still holding out hope that they'll return her to normal before the season ends (soon) and do her some justice. I think Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Mason would be a good match.

I thought Carson and Mrs Hughes were adorable until they actually got married. She needs to burst his bubble quick because he's awful right now and she's acting like a doormat.

Thomas has certainly been a terrible person in the past but it's heartbreaking to see him treated so poorly when he does try to be good. I would love to see him find some peace and happiness and turn into a real power for kindness.

And I'm also thrilled they brought Tom back. He has the best chance of helping Mary and Edith not be bitches to each other.

I have never watched Downton Abbey, Foggy, but it still doesn't stop me reveal your spoilers with a sense of apprehension.

Have a lovely weekend.

Closes eyes to all the spoilers.

Happy Valentine's Day!

(20 books read)

Departures by Robin Jones Gunn -- These two novellas are pleasant, but don't really add much to their respective series.

I'm stopping by to see what you are reading. I know you, like me, enjoy the illustrations of Jim LaMarche. I read three of his books today with his illustrations. I enjoyed them so much that I went right back and read them again, studying the delightful images.

In particular, Rainbabies was just stellar!!!


I also read another incredible illustrated book. Have you read Dream Animals by Emil Winfield Martin? If not, I think you might enjoy it.

>129 leahbird: Oh, I agree. I want to note down my thoughts on the most recent episode, but not right now. I will try to get to it before Sunday this time!

>130 PaulCranswick: Thanks! It does give my thread an oddly secretive air, doesn't it?

>131 The_Hibernator: Hope your Valentine's Day was good, too.

>133 Whisper1: Dream Animals looks lovely! I don't think I've seen that one before.

(21 books read)



Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio and Will Staehle -- Orphaned Warren is heir to the family hotel, but until he comes of age the hotel is managed by his lazy uncle Rupert and Rupert's evil wife Annaconda. Warren believes that Annaconda only married Rupert in order to get her hands on the legendary All-Seeing Eye, thought to be hidden somewhere in the hotel. Warren doesn't know where the Eye is, but he knows he'd better find it before Aunt Annaconda does!

This is a fun, quirky tale (appropriate, considering the publisher) that relies equally on text and illustrations. The secondary characters are a bit flat, and I thought the plot took some leaps in unexpected directions, but the story is generally enjoyable and the pacing is good. This tale is the sort that readers of The Mysterious Benedict Society and Floors ought to investigate.

(22 books read)



The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell -- To the wealthy elite of St. Petersburg, wolves are good luck. To General Rakov, commander of the Tsar's armies, wolves are vermin. To Feo and her mother, however, wolves are family. And when the wolves of the wealthy turn on their owners, those wolves are sent to Feo and her mother, who return them to the wild. When General Rakov imprisons Feo's mother, Feo determines to break her mother out of prison. She and her wolves make their way to the city, but along the way, they pick up Ilya, a former child soldier who dreams of being a dancer, Alexei, a teenage revolutionary, and a band of children, all of whom have seen first-hand the devastation wrought by Rakov. Feo's rescue attempt is starting to look more like a revolution!

This is a lovely and atmospheric tale. The writing style will be immediately recognizable to readers who have enjoyed Rundell's other works. I had a little trouble staying engaged in the story, but I think I was just not in the mood; I don't think the book was at fault. The characters and setting are exceptionally strong, and the emotions run deep in this book. Readers who love Russia, wolves, or good writing should pick this one up.

(23 books read)



Seven Dead Pirates by Linda Bailey -- Timid sixth-grader Lewis is sad when his great-grandfather dies, but excited when the terms of the old man's will require Lewis and his parents to occupy Shornaway, Great-Grandfather's old house, in order to inherit it. Lewis claims the tower bedroom, pleased to be sleeping some distance away from his controlling (but loving) parents. Lewis is less pleased to discover that the tower room is haunted by seven pirates! The motley crew is hoping that Lewis can help them get back to their ship, now on display in the local museum -- but Lewis is not sure he's the bold and capable lad they're looking for. In fact, he's pretty sure he's the opposite of bold and capable!

What a fun read! I just enjoyed this book all the way through. The pirates are a delight, and Lewis is believable (though he seems a bit young for his age). I'll certainly recommend this to young readers looking for a swashbuckling tale.

Whenever I say I'm going to post about Downton Abbey later, I fail to do so -- so I'd better just do it now!

Never have I so wanted to slap a character into the middle of next week! Mary, you wretch! I am hoping that Bertie comes around and realizes that Edith was working up the nerve to tell him, and that's why she was so reluctant to say yes. They have to give Edith her happy ending, right?

Edith's forgiveness speech ("Some day I might want to talk to you about dead people") was moving, but it came way too quickly on the heels of that fight. Things are starting to feel rushed, here at the end of it all.

Poor Thomas. I thought the worst when Baxter found him. I'm wondering what will happen with him in the final episode.

How did Molesley gain control of his classroom? One day they are practically dancing on the desks, and the next day they're hanging on to every word of his motivational speech.

Daisy passed her exams -- now what?

Spratt, you sly dog! That was the one plot twist that really did surprise me.

The "house of ill repute" storyline was good for some comic relief.

Predictions for the final episode:

-Edith and Bertie will be reunited by some cataclysm that forces them to get past their difficulties.

-Mary will find some permanent position for Thomas, perhaps as George's tutor? (With those two role models, George could easily become the nastiest boy in Britain in fairly short order.)

-Larry, at the behest of his sly little bride, will apologize to Isobel, but she still won't marry Lord Merton. At least, not yet. They may hint that the romance will continue to develop.

-Anna will have her baby and almost die. Bates will make a touching speech about how "I thought I was going to lose both of you." She and Bates will leave service to run a pub somewhere and raise their child.

-Tom will start up a romance with Edith's editor. There's no time for it to go anywhere, but significant glances will be exchanged.

- The dowager countess will die. Maybe her dying act will be to somehow reunite Bertie and Edith. We will all cry buckets.

Of course, I could be wrong about everything. Maybe Isobel will marry Doctor Clarkson, Tom will marry Edith, and Downton Abbey will burn to the ground. Thomas will rescue the puppy and be hailed as a hero once again. We'll have to wait and see!

>137 foggidawn: That sounds like a fun book!

>139 thornton37814: It was fun! I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Have you seen Book Scavenger? Great middle-school suspense for book-lovers who enjoy puzzles and the Blue Balliett books!

That is the biggest block of hidden text I've seen to date, I think, and I'm confident it contains your plans for world domination. If only I could click it and see!

>141 ronincats: I was just eyeing that over on your thread. I will have to check it out!

>142 Ape: You could, you know. But then I might recruit you to carry out my evil plan . . . or worse: watch Downton Abbey!

>138 foggidawn: Love! I can't believe there's only one episode left. So much to wrap up and I honestly have no clue how done of this will play out, but your guesses are good.

I finished The War that Saved My Life and loved it. Your review is great! I'm so glad it received a well-deserving Newbery honor.

>144 leahbird: I know what you mean! Going into this final season, I thought that they would have to leave Downton by the end of it -- to move away from that lifestyle. But now it doesn't seem like that's going to happen, though I suppose it still could. They've talked a little about not being able to support their current lifestyle forever, but not enough that I feel it's a pressing issue that they will have to resolve in the last episode. So I'm not sure how they are going to wrap everything up in a way that feels conclusive.

>145 Whisper1: Hooray! Glad you enjoyed it, as I did.

(24 books read)



The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly -- Soledad and her little sister Dominga moved to America with their father and stepmother, but their father went back to the Philippines for a visit and never returned. Now Sol and Ming live in a small apartment with their abusive stepmother. Ming hopes for rescue by Aunt Jovelyn, an imaginary relative that their mother used to tell them stories about, but Sol knows that the two of them will have to save themselves. Can she find a way to make Ming's summer magical?

This story has some lovely elements, like the relationship between the sisters, but it never completely came together for me. There were jumps in the plot that had me going back to see if I missed something, and threads were left dangling that I wanted to see tied up. It's a promising novel, and readers looking for stories with diverse protagonists should keep it in mind, but I wouldn't recommend it across the board.

*sigh* I'm going through a phase where I'm having a hard time really engaging with anything I read. I've read enjoyable books, but even those are not holding my interest, and my usual reading pace is slacking off. Maybe I should reread something -- but nothing sounds really appealing right now. Anybody else have phases like this? What do you do to make it go away?

>148 foggidawn: I've been in that phase for about a year. My nightstand is covered with books that are half finished because nothing can really hold my interest. *sigh*

>148 foggidawn: I've had that. I usually take a break from reading for a bit and watch some comfort movies/tv. Maybe some Vicar of Dibley for you?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with not wanting to read from time to time. I know I've felt the same way a couple times in my life. The thing is, I do that with everything I do in my spare time, like video games and music. I think the problem is, when you are passionate about something, and when you are surrounded by like-minded people like we are on Librarything, you feel pressured to read constantly, all the time! I don't fret about it when I don't listen to music for 3 days, or if I do the same with video games, but if I skip a day reading it feels like the end of the world. That's not really fair though, and it's totally reasonable that every once in awhile we just won't feel like reading much. My advice is to not force it, just do whatever you feel like, and you can read when you feel like reading again. :)

Tut tut. Ooh, I don't know, foggi. You may have to give up your membership of the 75ers. ;0)

>149 norabelle414: I can see how that would happen. I only have two half-finished at the moment. I'm determined to power through them, but it's taking me forever.

>150 MickyFine: That's a thought. Maybe I am just sad about Downton ending soon.

>151 Ape: Good advice, thanks. I hope I feel like reading again soon!

>152 humouress: Oh. Okay. *hangs head* I'll . . . I'll just . . . go now. *shuffles away*

No... no... Come back! I was just joking. I mean, have you seen my reading figures?

*pulls up short* Actually, don't look.

>154 humouress: Too late -- I looked!

Oh. :0/

But you came back. :0)

Foggy and Nina - hahaha. As another whose reading seems to have inexplicably ground to a halt I can empathise!

Have a lovely Sunday.

Nooooooo! You are not allowed to leave! :(

I have ways of making you stay, you know. *Brandishes pink fuzzy handcuffs* Hos this goes from here is up to you. :P

Also, don't ask why I have these.

Happened to me for a good chunk of last year, foggi! (And to a lesser extent the past few weeks.) I've had to subscribe to a "ride it out" policy, because forcing it just makes me feel worse. Choose something else you like to do to occupy your time, and eventually you'll come back the books when something piques your interest enough to draw you back. It's hard not to feel guilty (I have those "but I should be reading!" moments during those times over and over again) but... it's your life! And your free time! Find something that *does* hold your interest and do that. :)

I go through at least a month or two every year where I don't want to read, and it's shocking every time because reading is so intertwined with my identity. I've learned to not be as anxious about it when it happens though, and just do whatever interests me. Eventually I'll think about a book that's been on my shelf for a while, or a pre-order will come in, and suddenly I'm back to reading and enjoying it.

>148 foggidawn: Ah, yes. We've all been there. It happens to me when I put too much pressure on myself to read just to read. I don't know if there is a trick, because it depends on the issue. Sometimes I:

A. Stop reading cold turkey, until I miss it
B. Re-read an old favorite
C. Read something from a genre I've never read before, or something crazy I would never usually go for

I think it's important not to beat yourself up though. :)

>156 humouress: Yes, you can't get rid of me that easily.

>157 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul.

>158 Ape: I'm just gonna pretend I didn't see that!

>159 dk_phoenix: Yeah, I've been watching more movies lately than I usually do. I'm also toying with the idea of tackling an embroidery project.

>160 kgodey: Yes, I picked up a new book today and it held my attention for a little while. I'm just trying not to think too much about my usual reading pace compared to now.

>161 rosylibrarian: Good strategies! I thought about rereading, but nothing on my shelves jumped out at me. I'm not quite doing cold turkey, but if the slump continues, I just might!

(25 books read)



The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox -- An evil enchantress is stealing the souls of children, and logical Kat and her siblings must figure out how to stop her. This is a lovely, creepy tale set during WWII. I really enjoyed it (though, in my current reading slump, it took me much longer to finish it than usual). Recommended to readers who like historical fiction with some fantastical and gothic elements.

162: Ohhh, I see you brought the blindfold. Good thinking! :P

Hi there. I understand how it feels to have nothing gel that you are reading. I'm adding The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle to the tbr list.

I recently read Jane Yolen's excellent, hot off the press book What To Do With a Box . It is wonderful!

Have you read this one?

>164 Ape: . . .

>165 Whisper1: I haven't gotten to that one yet, but it looks good!

166: The ball-gag too!?

Okay, I'll stop now.

(26 books read)



The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith is the second book in the Cormoran Strike series. I actually finished it a couple of weeks ago, but apparently I forgot to make note of that here. In this book, an unpopular author is killed in a particularly gory fashion -- a fashion described in his last, provocative, unpublished manuscript. Cormoran and his assistant Robin must search out the killer before an innocent person is convicted. I thought this was just as good as its predecessor, and would recommend the series if you are a mystery fan. I listened to the audiobook, and thought the narration was very nicely done.

You know, I feel like I am in a terrible slump, but I just looked back at last year's threads, and I am at exactly the same number of books this year (though fewer posts; last year I did a better job of chatting about Downton, I think). And I'm about to add another book review...

(27 books read)



Very British Problems by Rob Temple -- I always feel slightly guilty counting a book that originated as a blog, or a series of articles, or (as in this case) a Twitter feed. A little voice in the back of my mind argues that these are not "real" books, which is silly. I mean, even before the Internet there were books of essays, or short pithy sayings, or little feel-good stories . . . and yeah, I guess I felt rather dismissive about some of those, too! This one is quick and fun, if rather slight. Having read it, I think I may actually be British -- or maybe Very British Problems and Very Introvert Problems overlap quite a bit.

Maybe you just have higher aspirations this year. You over-achiever, you.

Seriously though, if might be producing at the same speed but that doesn't mean you are just as engaged in what you are doing. Well, whatever the case, just do what feels right, and try not to worry about it too much.

Unless reading less means posting on Librarything less, in which case you better get to reading right this second. :P

>171 Ape: Maybe I've been in a reading slump for a few years now, and am just finally feeling the effects of it. Hmmm...

Well, we're in the same boat there, considering I haven't even finished the 75 book challenge since 2012. I'm not as young and enthusiastic as I was a whole 4 years ago, let me tell you.

>173 Ape:

2011: 274 books
2012: 230 books
2013: 195 books
2014: 185 books
2015: 168 books

Bit disturbing when I look at it that way. Maybe I will just forget about this little exercise!

Haha, well, I do my year-by-year stats and they are similar...y'know, except the numbers are much, MUCH smaller.

(28 books read)



Scarlet and Ivy: The Lost Twin by Sophie Cleverly is a book I'll be reviewing elsewhere, so no full review, but it's quite good. If you like boarding school mysteries, you should take a look!

>175 Ape: Well, if my current trend continues, I won't be reading at all by the time I'm 45. Somehow, I find that unlikely....

I have a hard time imagining you not reading. Unless...you mean your plans for world domination will fall into place at approximately that time...

>178 Ape: Shhhh... I don't have any plans for world domination. *looks innocent*

Downton Abbey!

I actually got to see it along with the rest of the world (well, the rest of the USA) this time -- the local PBS station did a free showing in a movie theater downtown, so I went into the city and watched it on the big screen. I'm still processing my thoughts, but all in all, I found it satisfying. A little happily-ever-after compared to the usual, but that's understandable. Loved:
-the Dowager's reaction to learning about Spratt
-Isobel and the Dowager charging into rescue Lord Merton
-Daisy's hair
-Edith's happy ending. And wow, that castle! Yikes!

Laughed so hard at Harry and Tom becoming used car salesmen!

Poor Carson. Parkinson's, I guess? I didn't see that coming, but that was one way to get a happy ending for Thomas.

Things I was right about, sort of:
-Edith and Bertie did get back together.
-Mary did find a position for Thomas.
-Significant glances were exchanged between Tom and the editor.

I was wrong about the dowager dying, Anna almost dying in childbirth and leaving service, and Isobel not marrying Merton. And I'm glad to have been wrong about all of them.

Things I expected to see more of: I thought the romance between Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Mason would progress more than it did. I also expected at least a kiss between Molesley and Baxter. Since they were pairing everyone off, you know. The latter has to be Downton's most slow-burning romance since Mary and Matthew.

Interested to hear everyone else's opinions!

>180 foggidawn: Will have to be back to click on the spoilers once I've caught up... I think I'm still back on the 3rd episode 'cause I kept forgetting it was on when Sunday night rolled around. Ah well, I have plenty going on lately and my TV watching has dropped off considerably as a result. I'll more than make up for that when the 2nd season of The 100 arrives from the library though...

>180 foggidawn: It was mostly a neat ending, but sad it was the very last episode...

>182 FAMeulstee: Yes, it's sad that it's over -- and I'm also finding that more than half of the joy of discussing it was in speculating about what would happen next. Of course, we can still do so, but we'll never have any more episodes to prove or disprove our theories!

ETA: I have high hopes for Julian Fellowes' next project, The Gilded Age.

(29 books read)



See How They Run by Ally Carter is the second book in the Embassy Row series. I wasn't too impressed with the first one, so I'm not sure why I picked this one up. The lure of a free galley, I suppose, and then the need for a fast-paced, light read. It was a mistake, though: the main character's histrionics wore on my nerves. So, learn a lesson from my experience, and pass this one up if the first book didn't do anything for you. On the other hand, fans of the first book will probably enjoy this one, too.

>100 foggidawn:, >101 foggidawn: Both of these are interesting time travel concepts that are wonderfully different from one another. I am also very enamored of both covers which are also unique.

In fact, as I reviewed your thread I was wowed by the different types of unique covers! Yes, I admit that covers have drawn me to many books I might not have previously considered.

>180 foggidawn: I felt similarly! It was a little happier than I expected, but the romantic in me ate it right up.

Yeah, the used garage thing was interesting. Man, Mary's husband is an attractive mopey guy, isn't he?

Yay, Edith. Loved the scene with Lord G and her. I really liked Bertie too. I wish we had seen more of him in the series.

The scene with the children and Barrow killed me. And he got the ending I thought was going to happen as soon as Carson's illness became apparent.

Loved that Anna called him John.

Branson and the editor. Yep! You called it, and she was totally his type.

Glad Maggie Smith got the last word. Her friendship with Isobel was one of the best things about the show.



I'm really sad it's over. It was a great cast in a beautiful location. Sometimes they had a crazy story line, but for the most part it was always really intriguing. I hadn't heard of this new series that Julian Fellowes is doing. Must look into it.

>186 rosylibrarian: Yes, the period details were phenomenal -- the clothes! the house! Everything!

>185 brodiew2: Yes, they say not to judge a book by its cover, but who can help themselves?

(30 books read)



Playing Juliet by JoAnne Stewart Wetzel -- For as long as she's been involved with the Oakfield Children's Theatre, Beth has dreamed of someday playing the role of Juliet. She knows she's not ready yet, but with a few more years of experience, she thinks she might have a chance. But she may not get a few more years of experience, because it's rumored that the theatre will have to close. Can Beth and her friends find a way to save the theatre -- or will her dream role remain only a dream?

This was a fun light read in a setting that I, as a theatre nerd, appreciated. I felt that Beth's Shakespeare knowledge was a bit beyond her years (it's a rare 12-year-old indeed who can grasp the complexities of Shakespeare's language without help), but that didn't take me out of the story. Young readers who enjoy books with a theatrical setting will eat this one up.

I don't judge books by their covers, but I certainly pick which ones I want to read that way. :)

>174 foggidawn: Do you think that the way you read nowadays has changed Foggy - do you savour reading more or have you changed what type of books you are reading or is it less enthusiasm for reading or real life or???

Figures are still impressive!

Stephen may have not made the 75 in my time in the group but he has contributed so much to the popularity of the group as a whole - it isn't all about sheer reading numbers is it?

Have a great weekend. xx

Happy Sunday! I'd love to learn more about your job. Every time I hang out in the YA or juvenile book section of a library, I think that I would have loved being a children's librarian. From experience, it was a wonderful librarian, who when I was young, set me on the path to reading.

I just discovered a new to me award. I'm currently reading How It Went Down by Kekia Magoon. Are you familiar with the Coretta Scott King award?

>190 Ape: As I recall, in your case it has something to do with whether humans are pictured!

>191 PaulCranswick: Some combination thereof, I think. Last year was atypical because I was doing a lot of other "real-life" stuff that cut into my reading time. However, I think the main culprit is the Internet, and specifically the constant access to it via my phone and tablet. I need to carve out times during my day when I don't allow myself to use those devices and see if that helps my reading stats.

>192 Whisper1: I really enjoy my job. I get to do a lot of different things, from story times and other programs for children of all ages, to answering questions and helping people find books at the children's reference desk, to helping maintain the collection and ordering new books. I must admit that book ordering is one of my very favorite parts! And to answer your last question: Yes, the CSK award is one of the ALA Youth Media Awards, announced every January, so I am aware of it in that context. I haven't made it a goal to read all of the winners yet, but perhaps I will someday!

(31 books read)



The Marvels is another tour de force by Brian Selznick, who has pioneered this particular format of illustrated novel. In the first half of the book, through illustrations, we follow the story of a theatrical family in London. The second half of the book, in text, is the story of a troubled young boy in the 1990s who runs away from school and ends up with his curmudgeonly uncle, who lives in a most extraordinary house. The two stories come together in magical and surprising ways.

I enjoyed this book more than Wonderstruck but not as much as Hugo Cabret. I've seen the three books referred to as a series, or companion novels, but they are really tied together only by format, as there is no overlap in characters or plot that I can see. I found the story intriguing, and now I have another place on the list of attractions to visit next time I go to London!

That sounds like a fun book, and I haven't read anything from this author. Thanks for the review!

(32 books read)



Canary Island Song by Robin Jones Gunn -- Finding herself at a point in her life where she is ready for a new adventure, Carolyn goes to visit her mother in the Canary Islands. There, she meets Bryan Spencer, who was her teenage crush years ago when she first visited the islands. But before she can enter into a relationship, Carolyn must deal with her own emotions related to her husband's tragic death seven years previously.

If you enjoy inspirational romance novels featuring mature protagonists, this is worth a read. I enjoyed the descriptions of Canary culture, but I thought some of the relationships between characters were a bit lacking.

>195 mstrust: Thanks! It is a good book, and Selznick has a unique style.

193: Exactly! I can't judge them and say they are bad, but I can certainly decide not to read them. *Shudders*

I loved The Marvels, too! Wonderstruck is the only one of the three that I've not read yet...

>198 Ape: *shakes head*

>199 scaifea: It's good, just maybe not quite as good as the other two.

(33 books read)



All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill -- Em used to be sweet and naive, and maybe a little self-centered. Her biggest worry was how to make her best friend James see her as more than a friend. That was then -- now, she's trying to save the world.

This is a fast-paced YA dystopia with a time travel element. I was impressed at the plotting and the pacing. The time travel wasn't exhaustively explained, but we get enough information to buy in to it, and the plot moves along quickly and keeps the reader engaged. I also liked the characters, and thought the author did a good job of showing the development from their past selves to their future selves. I have some problems with the ending, but I won't get into that here and spoil it for you (though, if you've read it, I'd love to discuss! Also, this is my book club book this month, and I'm hoping at least a couple of people will have made it through the book. However, I've come to accept the fact that this book club is actually just an excuse to hang out). Bottom line: if this type of story appeals to you at all, you should read this book.

(34 books read)



Pax by Sara Pennypacker -- When Peter's father goes off to war, Peter must go live with his grandfather, and Pax, Peter's pet fox, must be returned to the wild. Peter immediately regrets this course of action, and determines to run away and find Pax. Pax is also determined to return to his boy. But the journey will not be easy for either of them...

I knew this story was going to make me cry, and it did. The writing is strong and the characters are well-developed, the pacing is good . . . this has all of the elements of an award-winning book and an instant classic. If you can handle the emotions inherent in this sort of animal story, this is a must-read.

>201 foggidawn: Hmm, I'm a sucker for anything with time travel but I have dystopia fatigue. I'll put it on the mental maybe list for now, I think.

200: Your head is saying no but your heart is saying "Isn't it amazing how Stephen is right about absolutely everything all the time?"

>148 foggidawn: I get that way, along with everyone else it seems. There are times when none of the books that I thought would interest me do. So, I catch up on TV or play video games with my boys or make jewelry and eventually I feel like reading again. Strangely it didn't really happen to me last year but it has most other years. Sometimes it just takes a preordered book that I have been waiting for and sometimes it is just a reread of a favorite book, but always after I have let it go for awhile.

>202 foggidawn: I'm just starting to read Pax. My younger son's class is reading it so I thought I would too. Not sure that I'll be able to handle the emotions though, so I'm glad you've prepared me!

No BBs here lately, foggi! Maybe you just aren't reading the right stuff.

>203 MickyFine: It's more time travelly than dystopian, but the dystopian element is there, so saving it is a good option.

>204 Ape: Ah, nope. Sorry.

>205 rretzler: Yeah, this slump is persisting longer than any in recent memory. Maybe I do need to give it up entirely, at least for a few days. I'll be interested to see what you think of Pax.

>206 ronincats: Indubitably.

>202 foggidawn: I like the look of Pax irrespective of not understanding why anybody would keep a pet fox!

>208 PaulCranswick: I like foxes, but would not want one for a pet! In the book, the boy finds an orphaned kit.

I am once again guilty of letting books pile up awaiting review -- only three of them, so I'm going to try and get through them this morning.

(35 books read)



A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee

Things Annabel Grey wants:
-A pair of emerald green ice skates
-A pink sprigged muslin day dress
-Her mother to come back and take care of her

Things Annabel Grey does not want:
-A broomstick
-Magical powers
-A quest to save all of London from an evil wizard

Needless to say, Annabel is not going to get much of what she wants, and she is going to get a great deal of what she doesn't want. Despite her proper upbringing, Annabel has magic in her veins, and her mother has sent her to live with her two great-aunts in order to learn witchcraft. Unfortunately for Annabel, she arrives on the eve of a crisis, when Mr. Angel, a practitioner of black magic, has perfected a machine that will allow him to raise an army of shadowlings and take over the world. The only thing that can stop him is the White Wand, also known as the Moreover Wand, which lies somewhere beneath London. Only the youngest member of the Good and Benevolent Magical Society can retrieve the wand -- and Annabel is the youngest member. Accompanied by a peculiar and wild girl named Kitty, Annabel must travel along an underground river, through the Singing Gate and into the Troll Kingdom, across the Lake of Tears and past the great Wyrm . . . and she must do so before moonrise, or Mr. Angel wins!

This is a lovely story. The interactions between the characters are simply perfect, the plot moves on apace, and the writing is enchanting. I very much enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy of manners (Roni, I'm looking at you!) or well-written juvenile fiction (Linda, I'm now looking at you!).

(Note: This book doesn't come out until August. Normally I wouldn't taunt you all with it so soon, but I knew I liked this author, and was hoping it would help me out of my reading slump.)

(36 books read)



The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems -- This brief tale concerns a very large cat and a very small dog, who meet in Paris and help each other branch out and discover new ways to experience the world. It's a charming, if slight, book, less laugh-out-loud funny than one generally expects of Mo Willems, but containing some gentle humor. A good choice for young readers just making the foray into chapter books.

(37 books read)



The Haunting of Falcon House by Eugene Yelchin -- Young Prince Lev Lvov is finally going to take his place at the home of his ancestors. The last of a proud line, Lev dreams of noble stature and military glory. He's determined to emulate his grandfather, a true hero. However, life at Falcon House is not exactly what Lev expected: the house is dusty and most rooms are closed up, the servants are quirky, and the only other member of the family in the enormous house is his volatile aunt. Left for the night in his grandfather's study (believed by the servants to be haunted, but Lev is a true Lvov, not given to superstition!), Lev meets the only other child in the house, an odd boy named Vanyousha. In Vanyousha's company, Lev sets out to learn the secrets of Falcon House -- but what he discovers does not throw a positive light on his illustrious grandfather. Just who is Vanyousha? Why has Lev been brought to Falcon House? These are only a few of the questions that readers will uncover as they journey with Lev and Vanyousha through the dank and moldy halls of Falcon House.

Though at first it appears to be just a ghost story, this book has surprising depth as Lev learns the truth about his grandfather and decides what sort of man he is to be. Ah, Russians: even your ghost stories are more melancholy than scary! This book runs the gamut of emotions -- there are a few frightening moments, some sad ones, and a surprising amount of humor, too (I loved the scene where Lev and Vanyousha slid down the banister!) There are two twists at the ending, one of which I was expecting, and one of which surprised me. Recommended.

>211 foggidawn: Ah....Mo Willems! I really miss Gerald & Piggie! He was just starting to write those as my younger son breezed right through them...I may have to go to the library and read a few!

>210 foggidawn:, >212 foggidawn: Well, the drought in book bullets just ended!

>213 rretzler: The last Elephant & Piggie book comes out this year. But he has hinted that Piggie and Gerald may move on to other projects, rather than retiring outright.

>214 ronincats: I thought that might do it! Both of those are not released yet, though, so no immediate effect on your TBR pile.

I saw the book Pax at Barnes and Noble. It looked so good. I hate, hate it when animals die. If Pax lives, I'll read it.

>216 Whisper1: I'll put this information behind a spoiler tag, so as not to ruin it for anyone else: Pax does not die, but another animal (a secondary character, an older animal) does, and a third is badly hurt but lives.

Have a wonderful Easter.

>218 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! Orthodox Easter is five weeks later than everyone else's Easter this year, so I will save those good wishes until then. :-) But I'll add mine to yours, and say:

Happy Easter to all who are celebrating it this weekend!

(38 books read)

Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett is a whimsical little collection of Sir Terry's early stories. It made for a nice, casual audiobook, one I didn't mind stepping away from for days at a time. Not the best introduction to Pratchett for the neophyte, but enjoyable if you are already a fan.

>221 weird_O: I'm about to state a controversial opinion: I think Peeps are nasty. Fun to put in the microwave, but when it comes to actually eating them, the rest of you can have them!

Heh. I said the same thing about the peeps on my thread... :)

>223 drneutron: Ahh, a kindred spirit!

>222 foggidawn: Ooooo - what happens when you put Peeps in the microwave? I may have to buy some just to experiment. We found some sour watermelon Peeps this year - I don't eat them, but I think my sons really liked them - a change from straight sugar!

>225 rretzler: Sour watermelon? Huh. I might try those, but the problem for me has always been that Peeps have a weird aftertaste. I'm not a big fan of the texture, either. As for what happens when you put them in the microwave . . . well, I won't spoil it for you!

>226 foggidawn:, You are just too funny. I'm laughing out loud. Bill is right, Peeps are made locally in Bethlehem, PA. I pass the factory each day on my way to work. I don't like them though.

(39 books read)



Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea is the story of one fifth-grade classroom and their inspirational teacher, and what happens in the aftermath of a tragic accident. I can see why this book has achieved moderate popularity: it has the funny and heartwarming elements typical to this type of story, and with its school setting and balance of male and female point of view characters, it will work well in the classroom. I found it difficult to distinguish between some of the characters -- Jessica and Anna, for instance, have a very similar narrative voice. Still, it made for a pleasant read (well, listen, as I read it via audiobook) and I'll recommend it to readers looking for something a little bit like Wonder, as it has the same sort of setting and gentle moral tone.

>227 Whisper1: Another non-fan! Perhaps we are more numerous than I thought.

Also not a fan of Peeps. It doesn't help that I'm not a fan of marshmallow in general. Other than roasting them on a fire or using them for smores, I can't think of a single instance when I found a manufactured marshmallow product remotely edible....

Microwaving them would probably improve them a lot, at least the texture would be better.

>230 Ape: A Facebook friend posted a picture of his kids roasting Peeps over a fire, and I wondered if that would improve the flavor. Of course, my recommendation was to throw the Peeps in the fire and be done with them!

I like your idea better. :)

Hmm, I've been seeing discussions of various Easter candies around various threads and I agree that Peeps are gross. But no one has mentioned Cadbury Mini Eggs. Do you guys not get those down there? Because they are one of my favourites.

>233 MickyFine: The mini eggs are okay, but the creme eggs are what it's all about, as far as I'm concerned.

Another non-fan of Peeps here!

I love all Easter candy, but my favorite is Whoppers mini robin eggs. I will eat them until I feel sick and then I will eat some more.

>235 ronincats: We're coming out of the woodwork!

>236 norabelle414: Oh, yeah, those things are good!

My Mother in law only eats peeps if they are stale. I used to love them as a kid, but anymore not too much. Cadbury eggs are awesome by the way. I gave away most of our candy this year. Each kid got six eggs and the rest from the bags I took to work and it about vanished after two days. There are some sixlets left that about it.

>210 foggidawn: That looks like a good book. How can I get a hold of it?

Never met peeps before, and going by the colours and comments, I'm not sure I want to. Cadbury's creme eggs: when I was growing up I loved the mint flavoured creme eggs. Oh - missed an excuse to load up on chocolates. Hmm, I'm sure I can still get an egg or two. For the kids, of course.

>239 humouress: Alas, you must wait until August -- I read an advance copy. If you use Netgalley, you could see if it's available there (I would check, but have forgotten my login). Also, mint creme eggs? We don't get those here, but I am intrigued!

When I was a child, I lived in a very small town. I remember that even though it was a small borough, there were three stores that had candy counters, and one devoted sales solely for candy.

My all-time favorite candy is chocolate with bits of crushed peanuts throughout. My mother was sure to get a crushed peanut egg for each of us with our name written in icing.

Chocolate covered pretzels were great as well. One night, after many glasses of wine, a few friends and I talked about candy of the 40-60's. I remember small wax bottle shaped objects filled with colored water. Then, we mentioned watermelon slices, ju ju bees, and goobers.

I found this link:

http://www.candycrate.com/negothsibox3.html?gclid=CJWHwsvb6csCFQJZhgod7NIGuQ&amp...

>241 Whisper1: In my childhood, I would often walk from my father's office to the Carnegie library (three or four blocks away in a sleepy little town) and if I had any spending money, I would stop at a service station about halfway between the two and buy a couple pieces of candy. I don't think that little town had a candy store, at least not that I got to visit.

I guess I'm in the minority, because I never paid attention to the Peeps in my basket as a kid. My sole interest was chocolate but Mom always put a tray of Peeps in my basket anyway. As an adult, I like them. Stale, of course.
Does anyone remember those big hollow sugar eggs that had whole garden scenes inside made of sugar? They were so fancy and I was never sure if you were expected to actually eat them.

All I wanted for Easter this year was one of thees, but, alas, i was disappointed. ;)

http://www.chocolatician.com/shop/cumber-bunny

>244 leahbird: Oh no. That is more frightening than the peeps.

>244 leahbird: Well, if you'd only told us in time ....

>245 charl08: Quite.

But time should have no sway on a cumberbunny!

*shudder* I'm a bit creeped out by the Cumberbunny, tbh.

>243 mstrust: I don't think I ever saw one of those. Sounds fancy!

New thread is up -- come join me there!
http://www.librarything.com/topic/220672