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For all Austen fans, there's a lot to like about this book. Sittenfeld's smart writing is once again on display and with Austen's P&P tale as her muse, not much can go wrong. However, reading this truly makes you appreciate how masterful the original P&P really is and how Sittenfeld's modern refreshes of the story are hardly necessary. Not everything *works* in this book, some of the reimagining is far too silly and contrite. However there's a lot fun in this and it's such an easy read, you'll be hooked from beginning to end.

Decent read for the week of Christmas, nice message but a message I've heard many times before.

This is my favorite so far of the four, but my friend Angie told me that five is her personal favorite and I've just started reading it, so I might change my mind. The action and drama is terrific without being too much. I'm really enjoying seeing the kids grow up and act their age (whiney though it may sometimes be), and I'm so happy that I decided to give the series another shot and finish it up.

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see full review @ Katie's Corner Okay, let's start with a confession. I rarely do it, but here it is essential. The truth is I should have written the review back in Dec 2015 or at least Jan 2016. Why? I finally finished reading it around that time, plus I had Millennium Snow scheduled to go in February (it's by the same author) however, this and that happened and I just didn't get to it. Another truth is that I started the manga only after finishing the anime. And truthfully it would have been better to end it where it ended in the anime. I just wasn't feeling the same fun vibe from it. Reading it became something like an obligation rather than something that should have brought me happiness or at least laughter. If you are not accustomed to this story, let me introduce to you some main characters. Haruhi - a poor girl who goes a scholarship into a super elite school. But because of some incidents she is wearing boy's uniform and after ending up in 8ml yen debt starts "working" at the school host club. Nope, you've heard it right. There's a host club on the school grounds and it's very popular due to its eccentric but charismatic members. The most fun character is surely Tamaki aka the club presidents. His mood swings as well as "fatherly love" towards Haruhi is too much fun to read about. Surely when he realizes that he's in love with her, you just have to see his face. There are many adventures, humour and glittering life of high school host club. Are you ready to get swept from your feet? Get to know the members of Ouran high school host club and have fun exploring the high school life with Haruhi and others. Enjoy it to your fullest and don't forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don't miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading! XOXO Katie

A certain basic familiarity with the Warring States period of Japanese feudal history would be useful delving in this well researched study. The tale is dramatic and spicy (but not too spicy) in turns. This is not just the story of a single life (one without very much documentation for much of it) but a series of separate, but linked, dramas played out over the course of about 40 years. The author and researcher--the scholar--gives us a carefully weighed description of each piece of the story, a care much like the kind of private storytelling by the attentive proprietor of a Japanese inn who takes the trouble to visit each guest's room personally. Many photographs in the book of scenes from the life of the subject were taken 'by the author'! This speaks better than anything of the care that the author treats the material of the tale. ****** spoiler alert *********** One of my favorite stories from this book was the tale of the father of the subject, one of the only subjects in the Emperor's realm to possesses detailed knowledge of certain literary works--a valued scholar. When the Emperor learns that a siege of the castle in which the scholar has decided to return to in order to defend a friend endangers the life of this scholar, the Emperor orders special envoys be sent to the fighting with the instructions--"Save that man! He is the only one who knows about these books!" It practically brought tears to my eyes.

What a cute story! I loved the angst and struggle that Cade and Brooklyn go through to come together. I loved their relationship and am looking forward to more of their story!

Check out my review @ witchpluscat.blogspot.com

I loved it can't wait to get my head into more of Monica Burns books :)

Story: 3 stars Art: 4 stars I adore the Binky graphic novel series for young readers but this one is not the same caliber as the others, due to the switch of protagonists. The humor in the books depends strongly on Binky's cluelessness, and Fluffy Vandermere is not as endearing a character. I really hope to see more of Binky at some future point.

Aliens!!! Hot Aliens!!! My interests were pretty peaked when this came out. I definitely knew I had to read this, considering Armentrout is known to write hella great paranormal romance novels! Lets just start off by saying how funny and addictive this book was, from the start when Katy met Daemon, to Dee in the parking lot... I loved it! Daemon really is hot, sexy, and stab-worthy!! I have never been more infuriated by a character than Daemon. He is the arrogant, 'too cool for this' type of guy and just a straight out jerk when he meets Katy. Dee, being his twin sister isn't having any of this and makes him play nice. Thank you Dee!! This was such a thrilling ride, from hot jerks, to evil aliens trying to kill them, then lots and lots of touching... yes, definitely worth the read. Of course, having spend time with Dee and unfortunately, Daemon, Katy starts to notice off things about the pair. Also the fact theres ANOTHER twin family that's always around them. When Katy gets attacked by the Arum, a race of beings dedicated to wiping out Daemon and his kind, Daemon then reveals himself to protect her. Unfortunately that results in Katy being marked by the alien magic he used, lighting her up for all and any alien/Arum to see and track. Way to go Daemon. Of course, Armentrout adds in some high school drama, and Katy isn't the only female that's close to Daemon either, just so happens to be his on and off again alien girlfriend, yikes. I cringe every time Ash is in the picture, because we all know who's going to end up with Daemon so... This was such a quick, fun read and so worth it! I loved this book and the series, so GO CHECK IT OUT!! IF you liked this review, check out more YA and other genre books on my blog! http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca

To start with, Petersen's artwork for this comic is phenomenal. It has a storybook feel to it, but with a depth that's reminiscent of Medieval woodcuts. It's a pleasure just look at it. His storytelling is also interesting, with each issue being a self-contained story, and each new chapter advancing and reiterating the plot. Because of the small pages, Mouse Guard can feel a bit shallow, but when you look at the full story, its beauty and depth comes alive.

It's hard for me to rate this book, because it's very clear when you come to the end that the second volume will be a continuation of the same story. Still, I will say that Valente is very clever (and sometimes maddening) in the way she has entwined all these stories together. I can't wait to start the second volume, but at the same time, I'm a little leery of going into the lion's den again!

This collection is a side companion of the Infinite Crisis story. In this one, Lex Luthor is organizing all the villains into one group to devise an attack against the Justice League. A small collection of villains do not want to join and they form their own group. In true comic book fashion, these two groups clash. I read the main story of Infinite Crisis and I am attempting to read its side pieces. This one was a pleasant surprise as I did not think this was up my alley. I am not the biggest DC fan but I knew a little information about the characters that form the Secret Six. The only one I didn't was Catman who ended up being the main character. To my surprise he really stood out and I took a liking to him. The collection had the deceptions and battles one hopes to see in a collection. I enjoyed the one on one battle between Deadshot and Deathstroke. As of the artwork I thought it was excellent even though the reader can tell it is a little dated. I have read several stories associated with the main story and this is one of the better ones. The serious DC fan will really like this one as this collection has a bevy of villains. One doesn't have to prior knowledge of this universe to enjoy it though.

Being a secondary school teacher, reading adolescent literature is both a necessity and a perp. I became interested after seeing this book being carried by several students and being read while other work should have been completed. I decided to see why it was so popular. While planning to only read the first, I was quickly on the road to completing the trilogy. It is a fantastic story. I was able to identify with Meggie's childhood and her love of books. This story is an original with just enough Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson to take me back to my own first loves in the book world. The characters are amazing, magical and most especially now my friends. This is a series that so clearly demonstrates a love for the written word. A wonderful way to spend time lost in the beautiful and captivating world of the In Weaver.

see full review @ Katie's Corner

I feel like reviewing each issue as I go, so take that, reader. Fables: Chapter #1 -- "Old Tales Revisited":There are times when everything is stacked against a work. For me, that time comes most often when everyone and everything is telling me that I should and will adore the work in question. Fables is my case in point. It is a multi-award winning, literature based satire/allegory that multiple reviewers, whom I trust, and friends have recommended, but Fables cannot survive that weight (at least not in this first chapter). I finished "Old Tales Revisited" baffled by the fuss. I found it not at all original (I know, I know, how can it be when it is playing with fairy tales? But "Fractured Fairy Tales" from Bullwinkle and Rocky were original, so it is possible), not at all entertaining, and not at all worth my time. Thus, I will, of course, be continuing with the next issue right away (probably tonight).Fables: Chapter #2 -- "The (Un)Usual Suspect":So the investigation has begun and Bigby, the humanized Big Bad Wolf, is being fleshed out as a character. We see him hanging out with an embittered Pig of the Three Little Pigs fame, and we get some dumb jokes about "ham & eggs," and that is precisely what this comic is shaping up to be so far: an excuse for dumb jokes and "fabulist" stupidity. It's off-putting, and it constantly pushes me out of the world. What Willingham most needed was a strong editor to cut through the crap because the mystery of Rose Red's murder (kidnapping?) could have been okay. Here's the other thing ... why is it that when a mash-up occurs from one genre to another it is always a mash-up with Mystery? I'm guessing because it is easy. But wouldn't it be more interesting, more unique, more worthy of praise to mash-Fables-up with something less used and abused? I think so. Finally, I am hating Snow White, and digging Prince Charming. Less of the former and more of the latter, please.Fables: Chapter #3 -- "Blood Tells":My real problem with this series is beginning to coalesce. It is not fully formed, and it could be overturned by future chapters, but my problem with Fables at the moment is that the modernized Fables aren't working for me. I am sure Bill Willingham thinks it's clever to put the Fables in the modern world, but why, I wonder, would the Fables have to fight their natures? Surely they could just be who they were in the past in the modern world, using the modern world to further their initial desires, to bring their fables and fairy tales into modernity. He flirts with that with one or two characters, but the bulk of the characters go against their nature, and it certainly seems that way with Bigby (the main character?) at the moment. Perhaps this has something to do with the Adversary, but I know nothing of him/her/it at the moment, and all I see are characters not staying true to their natures. It ain't working for me.Fables: Chapter #4 -- "Remembrance Day":The segregation of the human (or passably human) and the inhuman in this book pisses me off. Not only does it have the stink of that old stand-by of fantasy -- racism -- about it, but it is also lazy story telling. It doesn't have to be this way, and at this point not enough is being done to explain the segregation. All it does is raise questions for me. Why, for instance, must the Fables live in New York, or any big city for that matter? Why can't the inuman Fables in the New York Zoo, or within a self-contained, wizard enclosed (you know, like Bluebeard's castle in an apartmen), city positioned menagerie? No good answer for either of these questions, yet segregation is put forward as a necessity, and even the law. Is this intentional commentary? Or is this just something the author thought was clever without consideration of its potential subtext? I am leaning towards the latter. There's one more chance for Willingham to capture me as an ongoing audience member, but I won't be making any wagers in that direction.Fables: Chapter #5 -- "The Famous Parlor Room Scene (Sans Parlor)":I noticed this on the cover of my book last night before I read Chapter 5: "[Fables is] a top-notch fantasy comic that is on par with Sandman." ~~Variety. I say, "Fuck off!" to that. That's like saying My Little Pony is on par with Swamp Thing. Trust me. Variety is wrong (even if this series gets better).Fables: Supplemental #1 -- "A Wolf in the Fold":Perhaps there is more going on in Bill Willingham's brain than what makes it into the first Fables arc (which doesn't surprise me, but it may drive me further in the series). Included in this first volume is an origin story about the Wolf's importance in the escape from the Adversary and his long term love for Snow White. It's is much, much better than the graphic novel that preceded it, and I think if that had been the story proper I'd have loved the first shot of Fables rather than the annoyance I felt. Too bad this tale was only a background story. It's better than the story Willingham chose to tell.Fables: Shameless Advertising #1 -- "The Price of a Happy Ending":It's the first excerpt from another work in the greater Fables universe, wherein a fire breathing Raven talks a pair of Fables into some covert black ops in the war, black ops that will alleviate some of the necessary genoiced. It's tantalizing, certainly more interesting in these few pages than the first arc of the series proper, but I think Chris's statement in the comments is still a more compelling reason to continue.Fables: Shameless Advertisng #2 -- "Animal Farm":Hmmm ... this looks much more promising, and since it is the direct continuation of "Legends in Exile" I can actually see myself giving this a crack. I like that Willingham is addressing, to some extent, the disparity between the city dwellers and those on the farm. I am not sure that he is conscious of the racism yet, but I've a feeling he may be; if not conscious then it is depressingly present in a way that will kill the story for me entirely, but this bit of advertising may actually have worked for me.Fables: Shameless Advertising #3 -- "Fairest":So the ad for the comic focused on the Princesses begins with the Prince of Thieves sneaking through a camp of goblins to smoock a princess or two. Cool art. Don't care.

The Call of the Wild follows the life of Buck, a Saint Bernard and Scotch Shepard mix, from his kidnapping to becoming a sled dog. Written entirely from Buck's perspective the novel offers a different viewpoint of the Klondike Gold Rush. Buck, a domestic pet, quickly adjusts to his life as a working dog and the toils of his new role, possibly due to the feeling of familiarity of sitting by the fire with old masters. London's prose allows the reader to establish an emotional connection with the canine narrator from the beginning and holds that connection as we wish Buck to succeed against each trial thrown at him. Overall this was a very well told, emotional tale which tugged at the heart strings and threatened to make the reader tear up at each twist of Buck's fate. After reading The Call of the Wild I can't wait to read London's companion novel White Fang. I highly recommended this to all, especially dog lovers.

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I'm a sucker for good thrillers, and some of LB's knock me out -- this one did for sure. All kinds of weirdness and AHA moments that turned out to be what I thought they were...great fun. I will definitely look at his other books that I haven't gotten to yet, and and new ones. Quirky, memorable characters.

I am really on the fence about this book. There were parts that I thought I'd like and there were parts where I didn't like it. The whole time I read it I felt like I should be loving this story and I just couldn't love it. I don't know if it was the violence, the writing style of the uneducated kid or the fact that the kid just seemed so darn blind to everything that was going on. It just seemed like any kid would have figured it out by the time it really happened. I don't know I'll have to see what I think of the second book.

Quaint

The first time around, I found X-Necrosha way too hard to understand because its deep, deep continuity. The second time around, I was able to enjoy the story more. It's only drawback was the artwork going overly murky at times [8/10]. The New Mutants bit was also quite good [8/10]. The Legacy/Proteus story is unfortunately largely a big fight, though it's got some nice character bits here and there [6/10]. The Indra & Cuckoo story that finishes off the Legacy inclusion is much more interesting, and a nice look at where the Rogue Legacy could go if not for all these damned crossovers [7/10].

I enjoyed this one as much as her first book, if not more. I love the setting of the zoo and all the background knowledge Ann Littlewood has as a former zookeeper.

** spoiler alert ** This book is amazing!!! I never thought it would turn out the way I did...and I can't wait for the next book in the series. The characters in this book...had me going in all sorts of directions... Layla...who I was really pulling for to win the competition...had me hating her...and then wondering where her life will go in the next story... Tommy...had me loving him from the very beginning...seemed to fizzle a bit...I wanted more for his character in this story...but I know his life is going places...at least I hope so when the next story comes out... And finally, with Aster...I truly hated her at the beginning...but now...want to be there for her to support for what I am sure is about to happen to her... Not only did the characters have me going in many directions...but so did the plot...it had me gripping the edge of my seat the entire time...I WANT TO KNOW MORE...NOW!!! I truly can't wait for the next book...and YES...there better be another book!!!

this book was just not for me....

This was such a cute book!

Murders right and left, nephews involved in dubious activities and a major break in her romantic life is just another novel in the ongoing story of Deborah Knott, Colleton, County, North Carolina judge. A carnival comes to town and soon there are two murders and Deborah also finds a long lost relative. What else can happen---well a real surprise! As usual, this book is loaded with colorful and warm characters and an interesting mystery. Deborah once more aids in the investigation of the murders and the twists at the end are quite intriguing. An easy and enjoyable read. Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott character is very entertaining!

There are no words. There will never be sufficient words ever again.

I've read "Can You Keep a Secret" and I remember staying up so late, shaking with laughter on my bed while reading it. I gave it 5 stars, I think. When I read the synopsis of "I've Got Your Number" I just knew I was in for another sleep-deprived night. My advice: Do not read it in public. I was on the bus and I had to restrain myself from laughing. I couldn't put it down, and I kept smiling at myself even when I wasn't actually reading it. Like now. While reading, I was either laughing in my head (or aloud, if I'm by myself) because Poppy is so darn funny, or wincing because she's also so panicky and careless and really, really meddlesome. Kinsella creates characters that are so simple and relatable. OK, not every girl can be as stupid as Poppy but you know, everyone gets his/her moments. Specifically, "inferior" moments. And Sam, Sam is your seemingly-typical-boss type but in the end, you realize he's not typical at all. I love that Kinsella added a "corporate controversy" twist in the story; it made it more interesting and exciting. I love all the characters, I can imagine them vividly. This should definitely made into a movie. When that happens, I will be one of the first to see it in the cinema. :)

I find I just love Billy Collins work! I have had little experience with contemporary poetry until a few years ago... I originally bought a copy of this book off the Remainder Shelf at a local Indie to give to a friend for her 90th birthday... As it happened, I read the entire volume on the plane as I was flying out to her party, at which point I utterly fell in love with this funny, vibrant and engaging poet. Now I own several this one and several other of his books and welcome every opportunity to read some more! My father, his own father a poet, is one of those older Americans that can recite poetry he learned in Grade School - back when poetry mattered in the American landscape of education - Frost, Whitman, the Greek poets, the many Japanese Haiku poets and so many others whose names I can't recall but whose work I've heard recited many times over the decades. But I grew up and generally became bored with poetry, although the beauty of Haiku was probably the only version of poetry that was not lost to me throughout my life... the simple form of this lovely work always amazes me. But I must thank Mr. Collins for bringing me back to the land of expressing wonderful or powerful or emotional things through poetry... something I enjoyed at various points in my life, particularly in my childhood, but never really got into as an adult - until now!

i love this series so much & i'm so sad that it's over but i couldn't have asked for a better ending! this was definetly my favorite in the series, and despite it being over 800 pages it didn't drag at all! i'm glad i still have stars above to look forward to because i'm not ready to let my tlc children go!!!!

An enjoyable addition to a mystery series that I've been reading for many years.

Daredevil has seen a boost in popularity as of late, thanks to the overall positive response to the Netflix original series. Whereas the online series is successful in portraying the duality of Daredevil--the angsty vigilante versus the good-natured lawyer--this graphic novel adaptation by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale is a little lacklustre. Yellow is Loeb's retelling of Daredevil's origin story, told through a framing device of Matthew Murdock writing a letter to his first love Karen Page. This is typical for the Loeb/Sale Colour series, which includes Hulk: Gray and Spider-Man: Blue. The story recounts Matthew's childhood accident which leads to his blindness, his father's murder, and his rise to vigilantism, but its focus is on Matthew's relationship with Karen. Where this graphic novel falls apart is in the narrative. In Yellow, so much focus is placed on developing the emotional story that the action is treated as an afterthought. It felt as if Loeb was attempting to re-create Daredevil as the Marvel version of Batman, which just doesn't work. Though the two characters parallel each other in a lot of ways, their moral cores (the most fundamental part of developing a superhero character) are radically different. I'm also not a huge fan of the art. The first single issue for this series was published in 2001, yet the art looks as if it's from the 1950s. I think it's a missed opportunity on Sale's part. The bright, clean pages seem to be in complete opposition to the darker, more emotional tone Loeb is attempting to achieve. It makes the series come off as disjointed. Due to the issues with both the narrative and the art, I can't recommend this series. But if you're looking for good Daredevil fiction, I suggest picking up Daredevil: The Man Without Fear by Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. cross posted from The Other Press

Too Blue for Logic by Marianne Jones 'Too Blue for logic' is an exquisite collection from North Walian writer Marianne Jones. From the opening stanza of the first poem 'New Year' The temple bell resonates across the snow. Midnight - time to begin afresh I pull the oil heater closer notice your sideways glance. to the closing stanza of Momiji This is a time of clearer sight, of pruning out, remaking charts not on a shrinking scale but grand when roses, running, waves and light brighten against the borderland. You know you're in the presence of a poet who notices fine details even when the subjects of the poems are of sadness, of a ruined marriage, of having to flee from Japan. You, whom I trusted once - husband, sadist, adulterer you sit black-suited, back upright From Hallowe'en There are consolations The lily I put near the entrance still lights up a corner like a blessing From House in the East She comes home to Wales, to a landscape both familiar but also changed in her absence. I scanned the landscape like a foreign tongue and found a noun I knew, a farm upon a hill, embedded in an alien syntax From Change Some of my personal favourites amongst the poems are the ones which remind me of my childhood holidays with my grandparents on Anglesey but the poems will appeal to anyone with memories of the sea, of going looking for summer even if they don't expect to find it behind a fence/at Penysarn.

Maggie Stiefvater's writing is so vibrant and makes my heart feel like it's being squeezed to death. I love, love, love her writing! I gave SHIVER a 4 out of 5 stars because the one problem with this book was it's absolute lack of urgency. I mean come on! I had so many questions and wanted Grace to fight and push more for answers and a cure, but there was just a lot of love and being together- which was beautiful, but there was surprising little tension and action in most parts of this book. I guess I expected it to be a bit more 'exciting'. Having said that, the beautiful writing more than made up for it!

An interesting review in the New York Review of Books of Percival Everett's Assumption and the approach of my niece Claire's sixth birthday came together recently to bring this book to my attention. In the course of compiling an Everett bibliography, I discovered that he had written a children's book, and it worked out that my trusty LA County library had a copy. So here we are. The story tells of the travails of three unnamed cowpokes who capture a herd of "ones" but then have to go and track down a "one" that escapes from the corral. This is a story that requires illustration as the text alone doesn't convey half of the message. Left with the unadorned words, you'd be bored. Combined with Dirk Zimmer's wonderful artwork, however, Everett's prose takes on a life that illustrates the wrongness of confining some "one" against their will. If I had easy access to a decent scanner, I'd scan pages 10 and 12 to show what I mean but I'll try to describe it in words that will (hopefully) peak your interest & get you to acquire a copy yourself. On page 10, the text says: "Then they saw one. And another and a big one. It was a herd." By themselves, neutral in context. The illustration shows a dozen+ "ones" walking peacefully along, unaware of the cowboys lurking behind the rocks on page 11. There's a couple holding hands, some kids playing. Most every "one" is smiling (except for a disgruntled "one" but I think he's jealous of the lovers). Turn the page and it's a far different scene. Again, the prose is neutral - "They rode into the herd and threw hoolies over one, then another, until they had captured many" - it's the picture that gives them context. The cowpokes have struck, and chaos reigns. The lovers cling to each other in terror, the children (one having been lassoed) are vainly fleeing up a hill, and the disgruntled "one" is being hog-tied. Not every illustration is one of terror. One of my favorites is on page 22. The cowboys are climbing up a mountainside and one of them is struggling with his mount, who's decidedly reluctant to continue. And beyond the initial conceit about the use of "one," Everett has other amusing plays on words. My favorite among these occurs when the cowboys are scaling the mountain. They're using a convenient set of stairs but come to a gap so one is sent down to find a stair to close it: "He went to a hole in the ground and dropped down the loop of his lariat. He pulled up a stair. It was a stairwell." (Perhaps it doesn't rise to the level of wordplay in The Phantom Tollbooth but I liked it.) I wound up not getting a copy for my niece. Not because I didn't like the book but because Claire is too old for it now. If I had discovered The One That Got Away a couple or three years ago, a copy would be winging its way to Buffalo. So - for what it's worth coming from a 44-year-old divorce with no children - I would recommend this book, primarily to the 2-5-year-old crowd but also to any "one" who likes well illustrated children's literature.

We were a bit slow to warm up to this book. But the heavy machinery, action words (diggers are good at dig, dig, digging...) and colorful illustrations won us over. Each page features one heavy machinery worker and ends with "They can work all day." I like it that the last page is about "They can rest all night". As fun as the action is, my little guy also needs to learn how to get to "brakes on, engines off". We've had this a couple of months (the longest our library will allow, so I'm adding it to our wishlist.

A collection of very short poems arranged by the seasons. The illustrations are interesting and bright, but I didn't fall in love with it.

Maas is wicked. This book just wrecked my being. :'(

Sad Girls has an excellent plot, full of drama and unexpected turns that kept me turning the pages quickly. It nails adolescence, capturing all its angst, uncertainly and pain. But the prose is full of cliches and unnecessary sentences. After a great line, "My mother had a way of making everything seem ten times worse than it actually was," Leav keeps going. "She watched me like a hawk, scrutinizing every move I made..." For every beautiful line ("tombstones jutting up from the ground like crooked teeth") there is a paragraph of flat dialogue or tired phrases (like "rushing rivers"). Annoyingly, the growth of protagonist Audrey depends on male characters who entrance her. The power of love and female friendship are strong themes, but one always seems to win out over the other and it's the wrong one, IMO.

Man I wish I hadn't read this yet so I could enjoy it again.

This is a nice little collection of poems by Billy Collins, a poet that I was introduced to by a college professor. Collins' poetry is very concise and to the point, and he uses his writing to speak with past poets and poems (including Philip Larkin, Wallace Stevens, Robert Frost, Raymond Chandler, Thomas Hardy, Emily Dickinson, and Walt Whitman). My favorite poem of the collection is "Tension," in which Collins explores the writer's use of the word "suddenly" to create tension.

I am one of the lucky ones who won a copy of this here on Goodreads and can't wait to get started! I loved The Lost Recipe for Happiness by this same author. Edited to add... I just finished this book, and I was so moved by it that I had to come right to Goodreads to post my review. I spent about seven hours today, devouring this book, and I enjoyed it so much. It had everything I look for in a book...wonderful characters that I felt an instant connection to, a location that makes me want to book a flight to New Mexico tomorrow, a little bit of mystery and a little bit of love, and an ending that brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my lips. There was a strong theme of food throughout this book, just as there was in The Lost Recipe for Happiness and as a food lover, I really enjoy such an element to a story. Although I am not a great cook, I sometimes think that I would love to be, and this book awakened in me that yearning. I also wish I were better at photography, and that was another pastime found in this book that makes me want to sign up for a class and improve my skills. And most of all, I am sucker for happy endings, and the happy endings that this book gave me made it well worth giving up my entire day to lose myself in its pages. I look forward to more winning books from this author...she has a fan for life.

These books are so much fun! WHAT I LIKED: -This picked up right where the last book left off and hit the ground running. -More mermaid lore! This took place mostly in the mermaid world, and I enjoyed meeting more characters and seeing more mermaid interactions. -Any miscommunication between characters was resolved fairly quickly and none of the drama felt overly drawn out. -On the same note, this book was short and fast paced. It didn't feel like anything was added in just to make it longer. -The characters we know and love from the first book are back in all their glory. They are such a funny, loveable bunch of characters and I was happy to see them again. WHAT I DISLIKED: - Yes, sometimes Galen seems a lot like Edward Cullen in his over-protectiveness. He has his reasons, and I understand them, but it still can get annoying. Overall, I loved this book just as much as the first one. These are great books to get anyone out of a reading slump. So fast paced and fun. I cannot wait to round out the series with Of Neptune.

This was more of a 3.5 for me. It rather reminded me of a Dan Brown (Robert Langdon series) novel in the story and the main character. An entertaining story.

** spoiler alert ** Bad writer constantly tries to break into writing world. Acts like he's owed something. Eventually abandons cat, dumps girl (but doesn't dismember her), and gets lost in the woods. Book stops. Somewhat better than it sounds, because the writing is engaging.

See review of Sarah - I might be hooked.

Requires some intuitive adult supervision, but the ideas are fantastic

Most counting books go to ten...but this simple gem just takes the reader from one to three and back. So much goes on in the two word statements: One house Two mice Three cookies Young readers will use the visual clues to predict what is coming next....oh, no! Adorable!

Poems take the form of the background and tell pieces of a story about a dog and a cat who don't get along but are forced to hide out under a picnic table during a rainstorm. For example, the clouds are formed from bubbly white words that describe that they are building and getting ready to make a storm.

Number three this week is a sequel. It's Zombie in Love 2+1 by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Scott Campbell. And this is published through Atheneum Books for Young Readers. In the first Zombie book we found that zombie found someone to love, a partner, a soulmate. And now, wouldn't you know, they have a baby. And there are so many wonderful puns in this book, including one of my favorite which is at the very end. The baby is playing with the father's nose and there, of course, is a line that says, "Aww! He has his daddy's nose." Which is perfect! Come on? It's like The Naked Gun (movie). It's wonderful! The mom and the dad just don't feel like this is the right baby for them because the baby doesn't cry and the baby doesn't sleep through the day. But wouldn't you know that Kelly's work in her storytelling and Scott's beautiful work in his illustrations pull off a really wonderful, charming zombie book that is equal parts gross and hilarious, so definitely check out Zombie in Love 2+1. This review appears on an episode of the "Best Book Ever [this week]" segment of the Let's Get Busy podcast. Check out the original post here: http://lgbpodcast.blogspot.com/2015/0...

This is a magical mirror. You look at it and see yourself, depicted three millenniums ago. Such a wondrous gift from our ancestors.

Wow! This had a lot of plot twists and the story never lagged. Will Robie and Jessica Reel are an awesome combination and I look forward to more books featuring them. I won't even try to explain the plot because I might spoil a surprise or two.

Children's chapter book series about a frog and mouse police force in the forest. A little too obvious with lessons and morals. Translated from the original Swedish. This third series installment isn't as good as the second book, A Complicated Case, for two reasons. The warmth of the friendship between the two police detectives is missing. Also, the mystery isn't at all mysterious since readers know all along who is visiting the police station and where the two missing children are playing. Even young readers need some suspense, especially in a book that is supposed to be a mystery.

This is a great beginning to the series. It shows off its noir elements and distinct style while give you a compelling story. And Marv is probably my favorite character from the series.

** spoiler alert ** DELIRIUM <>. Ansia,difficolta a concentrarsi,bocca asciutta,perspirazione, mani sudate, capogiri ,disorientamento,aumento del battito cardiaco infine angoscia,struggimento,agonia e Morte! Questi sono gli inequivocabili sintomi del "Delirium amoris nervosum". Nella Portaland distopica di Lauren Oliver il mondo teme ogni giorno il contagio con questa terribile malattia il delirium,infatti i confini tra gli stati sono chiusi da km di recinzione elettrificata e sorvegliati da soldati armati. Ed e qui che vive Lena con gli zii e le cuginette orfane come lei; quasi 18 enne timida,spaventata e con un grande peso sul cuore ovvero il suicidio della madre a causa del delirium,una colpa che si porta addosso come un marchio indelebile. Lena cerca di vivere un vita tranquilla,sempre attenta a non dire bugie o a manifestare sentimenti ed emozioni pericolose,,,,,,non vive in realta perche mentre mostra una facciata controllata e limpida conta i giorni,ore e minuti che la separano dalla procedura,cioe la (miracolosa) cura che la rendera libera dal contagio! Verra valutata da esperti che la accoppierano ad un individuo con il quale potra vivere la sua esistenza in maniera sicura e secondo la legge e sopratutto senza il dolore e l'angoscia che la tormentano! Questo e tutto quello in cui crede,quello che le e stato mostrato da sempre e cio che ha imparato dal libro di Sssh,,,,,UNA TERRIBILE BUGIA! Lena non sa la verita,si limita a sopravvivere in attesa che la cura attenui il suo senso di inadeguatezza e infelicita,,,, intanto vive i suoi ultimi mesi prima della procedura come una normale adolescente insieme alla sua amica Hana, studia,corre e fa progetti per il futuro. Ma qualcuno le apre gli occhi,la mente ed il cuore,,,,,,Alex un ragazzo che ha gia subito la procedura quindi (innoquo)!!!!!! Lui poco alla volta,nonostante la diffidenza di lei,riesce a mostrarle la prigione nella quale sono costretti a vivere incuranti della verita. Le bugie,i soprusi,la finta protezione che la cura offre a chi vi si sottopone. Il mondo di Lena si sfalda,,,adesso sa che per lei c'e una SCELTA ,,,,, <>. Libro di Sssh pero non ci dice che l'amore trasformera il mondo intero in qualcosa di piu bello! Lena si infetta,,,,si innamora di Alex, capisce l'importanza della scelta e del suo futuro che di certo non sara piu quello di un automa con gli occhi velati,,,,stringe le mani di Alex e corre verso il suo destino, sicura,felice e LIBERA! Questo romanzo e un uragano di emozioni,,,,questa societa asettica e terribilmente sottomessa a regole marziali ,,,,lo stato catatonico di chi la abita,,,,un infinita di albe e tramonti che si susseguono in maniera ritmica,ordinata e uguale fa paura e orrore! Si puo barattare l'amore con la tranquillita di una vita ordinaria? " L'amore, la piu mortale tra le cose mortali: ti uccide sia quando ce l'hai sia quando non ce l'hai. Ma non e esattamente cosi. E' colui che condanna e il condannato; il giustiziere; la lama; la sospensione di pena all'ultimo momento; il respiro affannoso; il cielo infinito sopra di te e il 'Grazie, grazie, grazie, Dio'. L'amore ti uccidera e ti salvera". Sono letteralmente infettata da questo romanzo,,,,non potrebbe essere altrimenti Alex e Lena novelli Giulietta e Romeo in un mondo distopico,vivono il loro amore impossibile e meraviglioso con tenacia e dolcezza. Lo stile della Oliver e fluido e delicato immediatamente mi trovo a vivere la mancanza di sentimenti come Lena e man mano attraverso di lei vivono ed esplodono prepotenti in me! Il finale che mi fa urlare <<<<<< voglio Pandemonium>>>>>>>> mi ha uccisa!!!! 5 stelline meritatissime

Loved reading this very magical and fascinating series where the main characters are children who show such a sense of adventure and are fearless! Loved seeing Brinley evolve from a simple fourteen year old living on earth to the magemother, feeling and completely shouldering the responsibility with such love for her mages. Hugo had a difficult character to grow into and adapt to but i think he did his best with such difficult odds against him particularly getting through the trickery of Shael. I loved Tabitha and her utter allegiance to Brinley. The mages where great with all their different roles and characteristics however i had a problem with the very sexist title of one of the chapters whereby Hugo is said to scream like a girl, this is such a stereotyped image of girls i would be angry to see any daughter of mine read such a title and i was also disappointed when the fight which was taking place at a magical level throughout the books between light and dark is turned into a God issue. These Gods return to the world and take over and Hugo gives up his free will and decides to do what they want!! Such a disappointing ending in my opinion!! Just when everyone was doing so well and they fought so hard the final credit goes to the Gods!!

A cartoon and an explanation of what the cartoon was about. To be honest, it's a bit overpriced for 212 sparse pages - but its fun to see what they thought of Lincoln and Davis - and no doubt would help someone with a term paper .....

I've always enjoyed Ian McKewan, and really liked his foray into children's literature (that also appeals to adults) with this book. While some of the stories and the concept itself was not necessarily unique, his spin on all of Peter's daydreaming experiences was very unique and somehow more classical. I read it aloud to my kids and we all enjoyed it very much.

My public library has a section just for new books and lately that's where I've been heading. And that's just where I found Prairie Thief by Melissa Wiley. It's a fun, easy story about a young girl whose father is unjustly accused of stealing from their neighbor. While her dad is in jail, Louisa is forced to live with those same neighbors. She finds a friend in the niece, but the mother is cruel and her two young sons annoying. A combination of historical fiction and fantasy, Louisa finds protection and a solution when she stumbles upon a brownie living in the nearby hazelnut grove. It's a sweet story, great for 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders.

Easy bubble bath read....

As per usual, loved it! These have been one of my all time favorite series of books. Just great, great stuff. Mullaney is a great choice to continue the tradition begun by Sapir and Murphy many years ago.

I havent finished it

I'M NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING *weeps uncontrollably* Could this book be any cuter? I mean SERIOUSLY! I cannot even handle the amount of feels I am experiencing at this moment. I literally just closed the book and I'm practically shaking because of how much I loved this! It was the perfect ending to an adorable series. Lara Jean and Peter experienced the typical highs and stresses of your senior year of high school; worrying about where you'll go to college, juggling relationships with the upcoming life changes. Growing up is hard and it's a shock when you finally make it through all of these important milestones. But level-headed Lara Jean takes it all like the crafty, baking champ that she is. I can't believe I will no longer be volunteering at the Belleview with Lara Jean or helping her bake or going to watch Peter play in lacrosse games. Her relationship with her family is still so strong, even as her father gets more serious with his girlfriend (and neighbour) Trina. I will miss these characters oh so very much! I would love to see another book (I'll even settle for a novella, which is not something I'm normally into!) that shows Peter and Lara Jean's life update! I NEED MORE! They are just the cutest! Now I'll just be comparing every guy to Peter Kavinsky (but let's be real, no one compares to him gY~%0)

Apparently the protagonist in this book (Carolyn Sullivan) has figured in a series of NT's books? Not clear, but the jacket implies that. In any case, Carolyn's best buddy and fellow probation person is murdered, and then Carolyn's buddy's husband is murdered, and then Carolyn nearly murders the one she thinks is the murderer - oh, and the dead husband was accused of molesting his and Carolyn's wretched teenage daughter, who is a totally disgusting person and Carolyn has a boatload of Catholic guilt so when this disgusting junkie ho is tossed out by her Dad (before he gets it) Carolyn takes her in, but of course the little skank steals money and a car and an iPod (onto which a year's worth of downloads were lovingly installed by Carolyn's child, who is pretty much ignored as Carolyn goes around solving the crime(s)). What made me nuts is that about every half a chapter or so, one of the people in the PD and/or the probation dept. would summarize the chronology of who killed whom and why, and it was just too much of a device to keep us guessing. I wanted to just say "yeah whatever" and get on with my reading and not have to wade thru ANOTHER detailed theory. but what do I know? About halfway thru, I was thinking it was Carolyn's fiancee...and what about the red herring of her daughter's new boyfriend, who used to play football? Am I the only one who kept waiting for it to come out that she had hooked up with the refugee from N'Awlins? Anyway, it was a quick read, kept my interest, glad I didn't buy it, and now on to the next diversion...

I came across this book during a grab-Starbucks-browse-Barnes&Noble getaway from my children. An hour of drifting through the aisles, jotting titles to add to my Paperback Swap wishlist, sipping a hot espresso truffle - heaven. St. Lucy's was sitting face-out on the shelf, and for better or for worse, I am drawn to books that I judge by their covers. This one features the illustration of a little girl in a white and red pinafore riding the back of a shaggy brown wolf. The girl's pudgy pink hands pull at her short, unkempt hair. I knew how she felt. The author of the collection of short stories is the rather beautiful wunderkind Karen Russell, who was 25 years old at the time of printing. I didn't expect much, but having recently entered a short story contest, I realized how little I knew about crafting a short story. And how I really don't like short stories. With a penitent heart, I took the book home and began to read. In the ten stories, Russell whisks us away to the darker side of the Florida Everglades and to the plains of the Old West and to an Eskimo ice cap. She lovingly presents characters grotesque and disturbing, who act in grotesque and disturbing ways. Families run theme parks for wrestling alligators or exploiting Giant Conch shells, brothers seek their sister's ghost in underwater caves, orangutans perform at an ice rink, and, yes, wolf-like girls are reformed by nuns. These stories may be surreal, but what's far more astonishing is Russell's magic with words. Russell unabashedly expects the best of the English language and refuses to settle for less. Her phrasing is orgasmic. Now the thunder makes the thin window glass ripple like wax paper. Summer rain is still the most comforting sounds I know. I like to pretend that it's our dead mother's fingers, drumming on the ceiling above us. I shadow the spirit manatees, their backs scored with keloid stars from motorboat propellers. I somersault through stingrays. Bonefish flicker around me like mute banshees. Somewhere, an Avalanche is about to happen without us. Rangi must know this before I do, and the dead bear in eyes comes racing towards us across old snow. And sometimes, if she sits long enough, it happens. Beneath the hum of her own blood, beneath the hum of the world itself, she thinks she can hear the faint strains of another song. It's a red spark of sound, just enough to cast acoustic shadows of the older song that she has forgotten. Words fail me to describe this book. I grasp at adjectives like "satisfying," "complex," " bizarre." Russell's book is the reason the word "phantasmagorical" exists. I think about sucking your own blood from a paper cut or pouring salt on a slug. Reading St. Lucy's is like drinking a glass of thick, perfectly aged red wine and being fully sated in both hunger and thirst. This is a book writers should read, readers should read, adventurers should read. It's not for the timid, but neither is it for the fearless. It's for all of us who are in between.

ktb yHml fkr [email protected] tshkhyS llkthyr mn l`ll lmwjwd@ fy lmjtm`

I really liked this book. I felt like it had a good amount of twists and turns, likable characters and good resolution. This might be my second favorite of Jojo's behind Me Before You.

This is the second book in a series, and I think it's best to read these books in order. Isaac and David have fled their Amish community in Zebulon, Minnesota, and are living with Isaac's brother Aaron. Aaron had left Amish life ten years ago, and has completely adapted to the 'English' life. He got a college degree and is now a teacher, and married to a Filipino woman who is a physician. They live in San Francisco, and are fully willing to support a David and Isaac until they can support themselves. They also fully accept Isaac and David being gay. This book is told from David's POV, and David is truly struggling. By leaving he abandoned his mother and four younger sisters. He was the only man of the family and he fears that they are struggling. He is too scared to write and find out however. Adjusting to English life is difficult in some ways, and not in others... Isaac smiled sadly. "It's amazing, isn't it? How quickly we get used to breaking the Ordnung. Practically everything we do here is against the rules. But once you start, it's easy." "Easy not to think about it, at least." For when he thought about it, David remembered how hard things were in Zebulon. His chest tightened as he imagined how Mother and the girls would be struggling without him. Who would break the ice in the well, or chop the wood for the stove? Or-- As the cable car dropped off its passengers and did a loop around the turntable to face the way it had come, David shook his head as if he could shake free his thoughts. He could never go back. Only forward with Isaac. Being in San Francisco and seeing openly gay people is a huge culture shock. Isaac and David have believed their love is a sin, but witnessing other men embracing and even kissing helps them to better accept each other. "I want to worship you," he whispered. Isaac was beautiful and good, and David wanted him to know it. Groaning, Isaac dragged David's head down for a hard kiss as he spread his legs and wrapped them around David's hips. Isaac gasped, "It doesn't feel wrong. Does it?" David could only shake his head, desperate for them to be naked so he could experience the heat and sweat of Isaac's body against him. Since that first night among the trees with loyal Kaffi standing guard, touching Isaac--loving Isaac--had only ever felt right despite everything. Not only because of how good it made David's body feel, but in the way it reached into his soul through every pore. In every shared moan and smile, in every tremble of limbs and press of lips, he was whole. Their love is strong, but distance does begin to grow. Isaac decides to go to school, and David nervous to begin a carpentry business on his own. Everything this place is foreign, and David is embarrassed about how little he knows and understands. "I'm so glad you're here. If you'd stayed, I don't know what I'd do. I'd miss you so much I wouldn't be able to stand it." "I'll never leave you, Eechel. I'm right here. Go back to sleep." He kissed Isaac's head. David stared at the faint pattern of the street lamps through the blinds, shadows and light spreading over the walls and ceiling. His earlier resolve grew stronger with each little shuddering breath Isaac took. No more procrastination and naps. He'd get his business up and running so he could take proper care of Isaac. He would keep him safe and happy. He wouldn't disappoint him. As Isaac burrowed close, David petted him and murmured a lullaby he hadn't heard in years." David's struggle is intense and silent. He's afraid to confide in anyone, to reveal his fears which leads to panic attacks, and further separation from Isaac. Isaac wants David to meet his friends from school, but David is ashamed that he will appear stupid to them, and continually puts it off. Plus, other men are showing too keen an interest in David, and Isaac suspects David wants someone else. There are lots of hurt feelings, lots of empty liquor bottles and lots of tears, but things end on a strained (but POSITIVE!!!!) note. I can't believe I love gay Amish romance, but I totally do. This series has me hooked. The feelings are so raw, and there's a good amount of sexytimes. I am anxious to see how David and Isaac move forward, together, in the next book.

Lexi never thought they'd come for her, she'd seen others been taken but didn't think it would be her turn, so trying to take her own life she gets distracted by her ring that her father gave her so she flees but she doesn't stand a chance. She is taken to The Hole where everyone is branded depending on what sin they have committed, Lexi is branded blue for Lust so not off to a good start when this brings unwanted attention her way. But she is assigned Cole which from the start is just like any other guard but as time goes on she gets to see his caring side when Lexi is taking care of her dying friend, a thirteen year old girl in the hospital where she works as there relationship develops. After they witness the horrific deaths of a guard and a sinner who have fallen in love they do not want this to happen to them so a relationship is strictly off the cards. I have to admit I was torn between the relationship with Cole and Lexi, as it was forbidden to have a relationship with a guard you feared for their lives and wanted them to end it but aahhh Cole how could she? I just loved Zeus, Cole's crazy dog who also turns out to be Lexi's protector, he stole the show for me with his whackiness. Overall I absolutely loved this book and I'm so pleased that I got the chance to read it. I could not put it down and would definitely recommend this book to everyone. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for the next book.

Flat out Adorable! I find myself needing to read contemporary YA books lately. I think it may be the stand alone ones that I'm drawn to because I have so many series going that I just need something where the conflict gets resolved in one book. It was during one of these times that I picked up Flat Out Love this week. This book mixed some raw emotional and dysfunctional family issues with a college romance and threw in some mystery. I enjoyed trying to discover all the little clues that were given out throught different parts of the book, but nothing could have made me brace myself for the way I felt when It all fell into place! All I could was say Oh S***! oh S***!. I must say that I loved Matt the most in this book. I really enjoyed watching Celeste grow up and how she speaks with very adult vocabulary. If you enjoy YA contemporary and love the fun of constant facebook status updates, emails and texts, then this is one to check out for sure!!!!

This series is awful. Listed on CBD for ages 5-10, and on Amazon as 4 and up, this designation is completely off, even arbitrary. I would recommend these books, maybe, for preschool. For some reason, they decided to use rhyming verse, a literary style that greatly appeals to the preschool set. But in that format, the serious topics of missions, paganism, and the confrontation between light and darkness are addressed. This is everything I hate about cheery "christian" literature. A sing-song, happy-happy-clap-clap approach to the very real war of the ages is infuriatingly inappropriate in preparing our children to stand for the LORD. If this kind of God will never let anything uncomfortable happen to you sweet child theology is what you are looking for, Meloche's work will suit you fine. But if you are looking to raise up godly children who are equipped to know, love and serve the amazing, awesome, Creative God, do yourself a favor: Don't buy any books in this series. Excellent alternatives, which I have reviewed on Goodreads are: Christian Biographies for Young Readers (Series), Simonetta Carr https://www.goodreads.com/series/8395... Trial & Tribulation (A single book overview of Church History), Hannula https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... History Lives Series by Brandon & Mindy Withrow https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The problem with autobiography is that extraordinary people are not necessary good writers. Daniel Tammet has an extraordinary mind - he can visualise numbers, recite pi to record-breaking decimal places and learn languages with astounding ease*. This is linked to his Asperger's and also to epilepsy. Although a novel human story, this does not provide much insight into how Tammet's brain works and why other brains are not like his. I expected his unique cognition would be illuminated through precise examples and that these would shed more light on cognitive psychology. Instead, this is a human interest story and can be only enjoyed as such. *It is interesting that Tammet's rapid language learning is attributed to his uncanny ability to learn and apply rules but no mention is made of his lack of social inhibition, which is a huge stumbling block for adult language learners.

honestly? fuck this book. it has no right to be as sad as it is. it has no right to make me as sad as it made me.

This was a beautifully written book on friendship, imagination, and courage as Jess and Leslie learn to take risks. I felt I got to know both Jess and Leslie really well in short amount of time.

Emily Dickinson has never been one of my favorite poets--to me, she always came across as dispassionate and aloof--but I enjoyed most of these poems, especially the ones with which I had previously been unfamiliar.

This series has been exciting, frustrating and inventive. Elise is a truly endearing character.

There are four characters introduced, and at after they all had their chapters, I realized two things: I didn't like any of the characters and had no idea what the plot of this story was. There was no sign of how these characters could team up later. I couldn't tell how they were related to each other in the context of their world, and none of them were interesting enough to save this story for me.

Wasn't as unsettling than the first book but still a great read.

I had a hard time with this book. There were almost too many characters for me to keep straight, and I kept feeling like I was missing important chunks of the story. I am not sure if I accidently skipped over them or what.... I think I prefer the marked men series, as it is one of my favorites.

See full review for These Broken Stars at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... You know, for a person who claims not to like books about space, I sure have been reading a lot of books about it this year. And all I have to say is: oh well, tastes change and that Ms. Kaufman has an obsession with destroying spaceships (see review for Illuminae). Anyway, I digress. I won't lie and say that this book had me completely captivated, because it didn't. The first thirty pages were slow going and it wasn't until the Icarus crashed and Tarver and Lilac realized they were probably the only survivors that things got rather interesting.

3.5 stars Enjoyable, but not as good as Wicked Ride, which in turn was not as good as her Sin Brother books, or the new Scorpius Syndrome series.

Eras niista viisikoista, joiden juonen muistaa suunnilleen. Kummasti viisikko aina loytaakin taloja, joissa on huimasti salakaytavia ja niin rauhallisissa pikkukylissa sattuu ja tapahtuu... Hauskaa ajanvietetta silti.

The SS Eastland capsized in the Chicago River at 7:30am on July 24, 1915 killing 844 passengers. This novel follows the horror of the event and its gruesome aftermath through the eyes of Dee Pageau, a seventeen year-old employee of the Western Electric Company who had hired the steamer to transport workers and their families to Michigan City, Indiana for the company's annual picnic. While many stories take the reader to new and exotic worlds, this captivating historical novel recounts the tragedy of the SS Eastland in a way that transports the reader to a world before house phones, a time when ice boxes, streetcars, and milk delivery was the norm. Dee is aboard the Hurricane (top) Deck of the Eastland, chatting with her best friend Mae's brother, Karel, when the ship lists, and then capsizes. Mae was trapped belowdecks, and Karel--after ensuring Dee is safely settled on the ship's hull--dives into the putrid water to find his younger sister. Hours later, having witnessed more dead bodies than survivors recovered, shock has set in for Dee. Desperate without her childhood friend, she nearly topples into the murky depths, but is rescued (again) by a crewman--Lars. Dee is whisked off the boat and driven back to the grief-ravaged streets of suburban Cicero--home to Western Electric's headquarters and many of its employees. Then the long hunt begins to track down the missing Mae. This meticulously researched work provides a rare glimpse into a tragedy that consumed Chicago. Dee and Karol search hospital after hospital only to be ushered ever closer to the makeshift morgue. Days of mourning and wakes, enormous funeral masses presided over by the Bishop. Through this melancholy, Dee realizes that she must remain strong. Stronger than she ever had to be, before. At times, she is bolstered by Karol and Lars--both men who survived the harrowing ordeal and recognize the need for moving on with life. In the week following the tragedy, Dee returns to work--finding that only one other woman in her 30-person division had survived. The loss of so many workers propels Dee into a managerial position--but she struggles to get over the loss of so many of her friends. The development of not one, but two, potential romantic entanglements allows Dee to grow further out of her meek shell. Being a survivor will do that, too. Dee learns, like Karol and Lars, to appreciate the best things in life. Despite the gruesome event and realistic setting, the hopeful ending and clear promise of love will resonate for young and old alike. I loved this book and recommend it to all fans of romance, historical fiction and YA romance.

see full review @ Katie's Corner

I read this a long time ago, after I read the first few Ladies Detective Agency books. It was hard to get into, partly, I think, because the voice is so different. I liked it well enough to read the next one in the series.

This version of the Mayflower and Thanksgiving stories focus' on concrete details of the Pilgrims experience. The cramped quarters on the Mayflower, sparse food, uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, lack of ability to care for basic hygiene, hazardous weather and sickness give children evidences of the audacious endeavor the pilgrims undertook. Additional chapters cover the challenges of the Winter, the hope of the Spring, the joy of Summer and Thanksgiving of the Fall. The text provides concrete details of the hard work of building, tools and resources used, dangers of fire, making of furniture, planting and harvesting. Squanto, a "man who had lived near Plymouth years before the white men came" is referenced favorably as a helper to adults and playmate to children. His enslavement in England (allowing him to learn English) and the death of his tribe (due to disease) are not referenced. Instruction of children in schooling and manners, as well as the tasks included in their work are covered. The Thanksgiving feast includes accounts of the tremendous natural food sources of the area. Monochromatic teal gradient illustrations complement the text. This book is not perfect, but it is adequate to give a general presentation of the Pilgrims' story. See also Kate Waters' work (which i have reviewed).

This book is the second book featured in Tattered Cover's new program of "Very Impressive Books" and has quickly become a staff and community favorite. Cathy L says: Cornelia Nixon's novel begins in 1869 as Martha Jane Cairnes murders Nicholas McComas infront of many witnesses in Jarrettsville, Maryland, a town just below the Mason-Dixon Line and a microcosm of America in the years following the Civil War. This tale of two lovers and why it ends so badly for them is the story of neighbor fighting neighbor, old customs and quarrels dying hard, passion, friendship, and the complicated relationships between whites and blacks, all told exquisitely. ***Please look for this great book at you local independent bookstore. A store finder can be found at www.indiebound.org.***

A strong start for Diggle. Constantine's 'return to form' in the Ravenscar arc is particularly good. Though the 'Joyride' arc isn't quite as memorable, it's nice to see the new, stronger Constantine can still lose.

I LOVED this. Reading from Apollo's point of view was so fun, and I loved the cameos of the characters from past books (especially Will, Nico, and Percy!). I'm so excited for the next one!

good

7th&up. Rather liked this tale of a spoiled, kind of self-centered girl who ends up moving to a "craptacular" seaside town when her parents fall on hard times and lose their house and all their possessions. Along with a huge change in lifestyle, Madison can't even find comfort in her favorite pastime, photography, because her camera seems to have picked up a nasty habit of foretelling death. Go figure. Pretty solid characters, especially Madison- who is far from perfect, but likable nonetheless. The story turns out a little differently than you'd expect, and Snow lets Madison grow without giving in to the urge to magically transform her into a perfect teen. Altogether, not bad!

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Good book, central to early 20th century English history.

Cat Secrets are just for cats so DO NOT attempt to read this story. What? You want to convince us that you are a cat? Well, then you will need to pass a little test. Terrific little interactive reader puurrrfect for the pre-kinder-first grade set. Kids practice their listening skills while having a bit of fun pretending to be cats. Lovely read aloud. Great potential for spin off activities.

I read most of this in grade school..........a long time ago.

4.5 stars!! I love picking up a book and being totally surprised and enthralled by a new author. I could not put down Besieged once I started. It is uber-sexy, scorchingly hot, but with a fantastic story that kept my attention until the last page and left me dying for more from this author! Warning: the build up to these two having sex is just as hot as when they actually get together and this book requires a cold shower or two! My favorite kind of book! Theo is a wealthy London businessman and Lilly works for his solicitor (lawyer in the U.S.). She's smart, sarcastic, funny and drop-dead sexy. Alhtough this might sound a tad familiar, the author really does a great job with Lilly and Theo's story as well as with making the city of London a character in the book. I absolutely loved the club scenes as well as the well-written supporting cast of family and friends. Lilly and Theo have some F***-HOT scenes and they literally cannot keep their hands off each other. Theo is a confirmed bachelor, he has never even wanted to spend any time at all with a woman, let alone commit to anyone. Lilly only uses guys for sex, so they enter into a no-strings-attached sexual relationship. But Lilly makes Theo fight for her at first, she's stubborn, feisty and also very funny. She's no pushover and is painfully aware of his player status. Theo can't resist Lilly and what I loved about him is that he is totally honest with her. When he begins to develop real feelings for her, he puts himself on the line and does not play games. Never have I gone to such lengths over a woman. I'm having to convince her that she wants me for god's sake. I close my eyes and I can hear her moaning as I taste that sweet pussy of hers. Her cries as she trembles against my tongue. Oh god. My cock stiffens immediately at the memory. I realise that now I know what it is to have her...I can't go back. I will fight for her, no matter what. All in all, I highly recommend this fantastic, sexy debut by L.P. Lovell. It's modern, totally hot and has characters that I really care about and who I really bonded with. The only thing keeping this from being a 5-star read for me was the pacing and editing which will probably go unnoticed by most readers but interrupted the flow for me. I was thrilled to read that this author will be paying closer attention next time and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series. Grab Besieged, let it take you on a sexy trip to London, and enjoy! (ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest review.)

i just loved this book. even though it was not as fun to read as rebel belle. but i did enjoy all the David and Harper moments i also enjoyed hating on Alexander. i am so looking forward to reading the next book.

This is one of, if not the most, beautifully written books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Each line is masterfully crafted; heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring. Doerr writes in a way that leads one to think, "how can one man be so knowledgeable in such an array of topics?" I found myself experiencing many emotions throughout this book, yet I can't quite describe the feeling I experienced once I inevitably reached the end (and I mean this in the best way possible). "All the Light We Cannot See" is as unforgettable and powerful a novel as one can imagine, and I will forever be grateful to Doerr for creating a story that has left an indelible impression upon me.