Finished: March
Pages: 273
Things to remember:
The way you feel when you finish a book that makes you feel confident in yourself, your abilities, your hope for love.
Being able to imagine a world with that much magic.
The desire for a certain kind of affection, that is bittersweet because you are alone, and cannot adequately imagine believing in it.
Wanting desperately to change, but having some sense of peace with life's decisions for the few hours after you finish reading.
The contradiction of loving and hating a book, an author, a genre.
Buying a house with extra room for hope.
Willa, one of two main characters, tells the other "Happiness is a risk. If you're not a little scared, then you're not doing it right" (238).
There was a strange but universal understanding among women. On some level, all women know, they all understood, the fear of being outnumbered, of being helpless. It throbbed in their chests when they thought about the times they left stores and were followed. The knocks on their car windows as they were sitting alone at red lights, and strangers asking for rides. Having too much to drink and losing their ability to be forceful enough to just say no. Smiling at strange men coming on to them, not wanting to hurt their feelings, not wanting to make a scene. All women remembered these things, even if they had never happened to them personally. It was a part of their collective unconscious.
I like this quote because I agree with it wholeheartedly. I think that all women do have this radar, or they should. I tried to explain to one of my guy friends why I wouldn't walk around late at night by myself, and he didn't understand at all, but saying the same thing to a female friend, she didn't blink an eye.
This time the story was about a ghost, though the ghost didn't seem to be a particularly harmful one. He made people speak truths that they didn't want to say, but nothing else that seemed particularly malicious. I would have liked to have seen that explored more. The book could have been longer. There could have been more mystery. I feel like this time the secret came out too early and I didn't care enough about the old ladies to really mind that they killed someone. I did like that Claire showed up from Garden Spells, but I felt like that was more a pat on the head than necessary for the story.
It was a decent book, it just didn't seem as fleshed out and magical as the others have been.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Book 17: My Name is Memory
Finished: March 20
Pages: 11 CDs (342)
I figure it counts because it took up quite a bit of my time driving home from Denver. I saw it in the bookstore several times, but it wasn't until I was standing in a Borders that was closing that I actually decided to read it. The idea sounded just preposterous enough that the story would keep my interest on the (excruciating) drive home.
Here's the premise: girl meets boy at school, instantly intrigued by him, feels like she knows him somehow. The night of the senior dance, they meet and he talks to her for the first time, and explains that he knows her because they've known each other in past lives, she just doesn't remember. He calls her by a different name, totally freaks her out, and spends the next five or six years living in the shadows, reliving his past lives and trying to avoid seeing her. It's been a while, so I don't remember her name, maybe Lucy? (Just checked goodreads, that's her name, and his is Daniel.) Lucy slowly has a series of events, including a psychic reading and a hypnosis session, that awaken feelings that she might just be this Sophia he kept calling her. Then there is some conflict involving Daniel's brother, who is evil, and pretends to be Daniel when he meets Sophia, and takes her off to Mexico, and she goes with him even though she doesn't really like him. Lucy/Sophia is rescued by Daniel and he takes her to a monastery to keep safe while he goes to find and fight his evil brother.
The end of the book left me very angry, because it was a total cliffhanger, and there was no indication that this was a series. Goodreads and amazon.com reviews have now led me to believe that it will be a series, rather than a stand alone, but the book could have easily been a complete idea if she had spent less time having Daniel repeat himself when he is the narrator. I did enjoy some of his memories, and some of the stories that he told, particularly the parts about his interaction with Sophia in previous lives, but other parts seemed totally extraneous. But let's be honest, it's a story about someone who can remember all his past lives back to the year 200 A.D. or so. I can't imagine that all of the parts are supposed to make sense.
For a book written by the author of the Traveling Pants series, I suppose I shouldn't have expected brilliance, but over all the ending of the book left me too angry to appreciate the rest of the story, or even its ability to hold my attention for 17 hours striaght. I just couldn't get past the fact that I wouldn't know what happened next.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Pages: 11 CDs (342)
I figure it counts because it took up quite a bit of my time driving home from Denver. I saw it in the bookstore several times, but it wasn't until I was standing in a Borders that was closing that I actually decided to read it. The idea sounded just preposterous enough that the story would keep my interest on the (excruciating) drive home.
Here's the premise: girl meets boy at school, instantly intrigued by him, feels like she knows him somehow. The night of the senior dance, they meet and he talks to her for the first time, and explains that he knows her because they've known each other in past lives, she just doesn't remember. He calls her by a different name, totally freaks her out, and spends the next five or six years living in the shadows, reliving his past lives and trying to avoid seeing her. It's been a while, so I don't remember her name, maybe Lucy? (Just checked goodreads, that's her name, and his is Daniel.) Lucy slowly has a series of events, including a psychic reading and a hypnosis session, that awaken feelings that she might just be this Sophia he kept calling her. Then there is some conflict involving Daniel's brother, who is evil, and pretends to be Daniel when he meets Sophia, and takes her off to Mexico, and she goes with him even though she doesn't really like him. Lucy/Sophia is rescued by Daniel and he takes her to a monastery to keep safe while he goes to find and fight his evil brother.
The end of the book left me very angry, because it was a total cliffhanger, and there was no indication that this was a series. Goodreads and amazon.com reviews have now led me to believe that it will be a series, rather than a stand alone, but the book could have easily been a complete idea if she had spent less time having Daniel repeat himself when he is the narrator. I did enjoy some of his memories, and some of the stories that he told, particularly the parts about his interaction with Sophia in previous lives, but other parts seemed totally extraneous. But let's be honest, it's a story about someone who can remember all his past lives back to the year 200 A.D. or so. I can't imagine that all of the parts are supposed to make sense.
For a book written by the author of the Traveling Pants series, I suppose I shouldn't have expected brilliance, but over all the ending of the book left me too angry to appreciate the rest of the story, or even its ability to hold my attention for 17 hours striaght. I just couldn't get past the fact that I wouldn't know what happened next.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Book 15: The Girl in the Green Sweater
Finished: March 10
Pages: 288
The Diary of Anne Frank is much better. I found this memoir to be repetitive, though the story should have been very interesting. In Poland, three families survived the occupation of Lvov by living in the sewers, saved by three sewer workers, including Leopold Socha, a former thief. The girl in the green sweater is the narrator, Krystyna Chiger, and her green sweater, was given to her by her grandmother, who did not survive the liquidation of Lvov to join them in the sewers. The green sweater now hangs in the Holocaust museum in Washington D. C., which is pretty cool.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Pages: 288
The Diary of Anne Frank is much better. I found this memoir to be repetitive, though the story should have been very interesting. In Poland, three families survived the occupation of Lvov by living in the sewers, saved by three sewer workers, including Leopold Socha, a former thief. The girl in the green sweater is the narrator, Krystyna Chiger, and her green sweater, was given to her by her grandmother, who did not survive the liquidation of Lvov to join them in the sewers. The green sweater now hangs in the Holocaust museum in Washington D. C., which is pretty cool.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Book 14: Clockwork Angel
Finished: March 1
Pages: 479
So, I have an confession to make. I love steampunk. I'm relatively sure that I have made this obvious on other occasions, like when reading The Somnambulist, and while this book isn't pure steampunk (it has too many elements of fantasy: werewolves, vampires, etc.), it certainly is the most I've seen in any young adult book so far.
This series is a prequel of sorts for The Mortal Instruments series that I read last year. This story takes place in Victorian London, with all the trappings and atmosphere to go with it. The foggy, rainy streets are the perfect location for a society bent on protecting normal people from "Underworlders" (previously identified werewolves, and vampires). It's got a little Sherlock Holmes, a lot of historical fiction, and some fantasy all rolled into one, and I like the vibe of these books, not to mention the characters themselves a lot more than the related series, The Mortal Instruments series, that I read last OFYP week. Even the girl characters, who seem to be little shrinking violets have backbone, which is nice to see. I think that she's really getting into the swing of things with this series. I look forward to the next one, which should be out in a few months.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Pages: 479
So, I have an confession to make. I love steampunk. I'm relatively sure that I have made this obvious on other occasions, like when reading The Somnambulist, and while this book isn't pure steampunk (it has too many elements of fantasy: werewolves, vampires, etc.), it certainly is the most I've seen in any young adult book so far.
This series is a prequel of sorts for The Mortal Instruments series that I read last year. This story takes place in Victorian London, with all the trappings and atmosphere to go with it. The foggy, rainy streets are the perfect location for a society bent on protecting normal people from "Underworlders" (previously identified werewolves, and vampires). It's got a little Sherlock Holmes, a lot of historical fiction, and some fantasy all rolled into one, and I like the vibe of these books, not to mention the characters themselves a lot more than the related series, The Mortal Instruments series, that I read last OFYP week. Even the girl characters, who seem to be little shrinking violets have backbone, which is nice to see. I think that she's really getting into the swing of things with this series. I look forward to the next one, which should be out in a few months.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Book 13: Special Topics in Calamity Physics
Finished: February 27
Pages: 528
I really wanted to like it.
It is one of those novels where I want to be the kind of person who recommends it because, I don't know, it is the kind of book that I would recommend. I want to like "smart" books. I mean, I want to sound extra smart when I say, "Oh, I loved this book, and so will you" and then we would both be in the secret club of people who like and "get" it.
Sadly, this is not the case, and I fear it never will be. Are there things that I loved about this book? Yes. Without hesitation, yes. I love that there is a quiz at the end, and that the chapter titles are great works of literature that you should have read (which I have, mostly.) and that there are some really badly done illustrations. I particularly love that most of the quotes that she offers up to her reader are made up, citation and everything.
All these things aside, the ending was so ridiculous that it ruined everything up to that point out of sheer ridiculousness. So, I am disappointed, but at least a little I was disappointed in myself, as if it was my fault that I didn't like it.
Good reading,
Caitlin
Pages: 528
I really wanted to like it.
It is one of those novels where I want to be the kind of person who recommends it because, I don't know, it is the kind of book that I would recommend. I want to like "smart" books. I mean, I want to sound extra smart when I say, "Oh, I loved this book, and so will you" and then we would both be in the secret club of people who like and "get" it.
Sadly, this is not the case, and I fear it never will be. Are there things that I loved about this book? Yes. Without hesitation, yes. I love that there is a quiz at the end, and that the chapter titles are great works of literature that you should have read (which I have, mostly.) and that there are some really badly done illustrations. I particularly love that most of the quotes that she offers up to her reader are made up, citation and everything.
All these things aside, the ending was so ridiculous that it ruined everything up to that point out of sheer ridiculousness. So, I am disappointed, but at least a little I was disappointed in myself, as if it was my fault that I didn't like it.
Good reading,
Caitlin
Book 12: A Sweet Disorder
Finished: February 20
Pages: 418
Eh. It was alright, but I'd rather just read Phillipa Gregory, because this is the same idea but much more poorly written.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Pages: 418
Eh. It was alright, but I'd rather just read Phillipa Gregory, because this is the same idea but much more poorly written.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Book 10: Almost a Crime
Finished: Gave up on February 15
Pages: I got to page 427
I read more than half, I think that makes it count considering more than half is 400 pages.
If I had to read about one more meeting, or working lunch, or phone conversation about fundraisers and sponsorship, I thought that I was going to die. I should have kept track, because there is no way that I am going back through this stupid book to find out how many I read about. Any time that Octavia complained about being a bad mother, all I could think was "Yes, you are a bad mother. What's wrong with you?" I saw through the affair very quickly, and was disappointed by the trite-ness of it. I mean, the best friend? Really? I think it would have been much better if it had been the best friend's mother, or something like that.
I skipped to the end, I'm not ashamed to admit it, and reading the last 20 pages, I didn't recognize half the characters, and I found that to be rather unfortunate considering the number of characters who had already been introduced.
I think that with good editing this book could have been entertaining, but there was too much extraneous and Dickensonian information that it would never hold my attention.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Pages: I got to page 427
I read more than half, I think that makes it count considering more than half is 400 pages.
If I had to read about one more meeting, or working lunch, or phone conversation about fundraisers and sponsorship, I thought that I was going to die. I should have kept track, because there is no way that I am going back through this stupid book to find out how many I read about. Any time that Octavia complained about being a bad mother, all I could think was "Yes, you are a bad mother. What's wrong with you?" I saw through the affair very quickly, and was disappointed by the trite-ness of it. I mean, the best friend? Really? I think it would have been much better if it had been the best friend's mother, or something like that.
I skipped to the end, I'm not ashamed to admit it, and reading the last 20 pages, I didn't recognize half the characters, and I found that to be rather unfortunate considering the number of characters who had already been introduced.
I think that with good editing this book could have been entertaining, but there was too much extraneous and Dickensonian information that it would never hold my attention.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Book 11: The Ring of Solomon
Finished: February 16
Pages: 398
I was so happy to see this novel come out because I read the first three books back in 2006, and I was sad to see the series end. I still love Bartimaeus and his snarky use of footnotes. Rather than the ridiculous and unnecessary footnotes of other books we have read (cough cough Someday my Prince will Come cough), these set up the characterization of Bartimaeus as rude, uncivilized, yet underneath his creepy, let's face it, downright demonic attitude, he can have a real sweet side. Bartimaeus is a djinn, living in a world that is partially based on ours, but where spirits can be summoned by magicians.
It's a funny, light-hearted romp in the world of ancient Egypt and Jerusalem, and people who have studied that part of history will find some really amusing inside jokes. It's not really advanced literature or anything, but definitely better than many of the young adult books out there.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
Pages: 398
I was so happy to see this novel come out because I read the first three books back in 2006, and I was sad to see the series end. I still love Bartimaeus and his snarky use of footnotes. Rather than the ridiculous and unnecessary footnotes of other books we have read (cough cough Someday my Prince will Come cough), these set up the characterization of Bartimaeus as rude, uncivilized, yet underneath his creepy, let's face it, downright demonic attitude, he can have a real sweet side. Bartimaeus is a djinn, living in a world that is partially based on ours, but where spirits can be summoned by magicians.
It's a funny, light-hearted romp in the world of ancient Egypt and Jerusalem, and people who have studied that part of history will find some really amusing inside jokes. It's not really advanced literature or anything, but definitely better than many of the young adult books out there.
Good Reading,
Caitlin
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