Normal is boring anyways…

The Last Exit to Normal: a novel by Michael Harmon

Ben’s life is far from normal – and has been that way since the day his father informed Ben and his mother that he was gay. Ben’s mother took off, leaving the fourteen-year-old Ben to not only come to terms to his father’s sexuality, but also with the abandonment of his mother.

Ben acts out. His grades drop. He gets drunk, does assorted drugs (before settling on weed as his drug of choice), and gets in to all sorts of trouble.

But that was then. Three years later - after making a deal with his dad to clean up his act for a year to be able to obtain his drivers license, Ben gets caught up in one last mistake with his old friends. This causes his father and his “momdad” to make the decision to move from big city life in Spokane, Washington, to very small town life in eastern Montana. It’s a major adjustment for Ben, who must learn respect for himself and for those around him.

I love Ben’s since of humor and style, as well as that of Edward (his “momdad”). The conflict between Ben and his father rings true, as does the non-nonsense attitude of Edward’s mother, Miss Mae.

Story was great – but a little too tidy in places. The ending was almost fairytale like…which I found annoying. Beyond that, I really did enjoy the book.

The west is still wild

Late last night I finished reading Ghost Medicine by Andrew Smith. Wow. This is an excellent book, and one that I couldn’t wait to get back to reading. As can be noted by my 2:30 a.m. bedtime last night.


Troy Stotts is about to leave his childhood behind forever.

The summer of his sixteenth year is a summer of challenges and changes. It is a summer of loss and of love.

It begins with the loss of his mother, after a long battle with a fatal illness, and ends with the death of three boys. The tale between is rich with deep friendships and the politics and animosity of small town life in the west. Troy’s life will never be the same.

This was a book group pick from last month that is carrying over to our next meeting.

Books for a variety of ages...

Heartsinger by Karlign Stoffels - Perhaps something was lost in translation. This book was originally published in Dutch. It is the tale of two teenagers who have a magical gift of song. One is the singer of sorrows. The other is the singer of joy. This is also the tale of several of the people who they sing for – including a princess who does nothing but sit and look at herself in the mirror all day.

*yawn* Why did I think this sounded like a good book? I did finish it…but it was only 134 pages long.

For last month’s book group, I read Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve. The premise of the tale is an interesting one – the story of King Arthur as seen through the eyes of a child raised by Merlin (or Myrddin as he is called in the book). The story falls short, though, leaving the reading wanting more….something. Too often the text seems so flat.

I also finished the book 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass. Now, this is a story that I really enjoyed. Written for that tween group, it is the story of Amanda and Leo. Both were born on the same day. After overhearing Leo say something unkind, Amanda leaves their 10th birthday party – and doesn’t speak to Leo again. A year goes by, and the two are going to celebrate their birthdays separately for the first time in their lives. After a lackluster day, Amanda wakes up the next morning – not to the day after her 11th birthday, but to relive the unhappy birthday all over again! Can Amanda figure out why she keeps reliving the same day over and over again, or will she be cursed to relive her eleventh birthday for the rest of her life?

The story’s basic plot reminds me of the movie Groundhog Day. That’s not a bad thing…I like that movie! Well written and an overall fun book, this story is about forgiveness and friendship. It is one of my favorite books so far this year!

I’m still listening to Drums of Autumn, and am nearly halfway through! I am reading Ghost Medicine by Andrew Smith (a book club pick – and an excellent story) and Wintergirls (also a book club pick – which I just started). I think I am going to return The Shadow in the North. I’m just not getting into the story at all.

Living spiritually....and enough with the vampires!

I finally finished Obsidian Butterfly by Laurell K. Hamilton. It seems like I’ve been reading it for months. Perhaps because I have been? While not really a lengthy book, I was having a hard time making myself finish it - mostly because I am over the character and the crazy storylines. While I understand that a reader should expect gore and graphic scenes in a series whose main character hunts vampires and raises zombies for a living, I think that in this novel the author went a bit too far. Namely the scene in the hospital nursery.

So, this is the last book I plan to read in the Anita Blake vampire hunter series. I might try Hamilton’s other series…but not for a while!

The other book I finished reading on Monday was The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs. This was an impulse buy. Recently, Borders had their educator appreciation week. As a public library employee, I can also use the 25% discount. Awesome! I think the hubby and I spent about $85 on books the weekend he was home!

So, I saw this book as I was walking towards the front of the store. It looked funny and intriguing. I started reading it about 15 minutes after I bought it (while I was out eating dinner), and was instantly sucked in.

The book is a memoir (of sorts). The author decided that he might be missing something in his life by not raising his son with religion. So, he decides to do some major research…and to live life for one year by the rules of the Bible. The literal rules. You know them…thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not lie, thou shalt not wear linen and wool in one garment, thou shalt not cut your beard…

The spiritual quest is documented throughout the book. Jacobs has a crew of religious advisors, ranging from Orthodox rabbis to a “Pastor out to Pasture”. He visits a Creationist Museum in Kentucky, stays at an Amish Bed and Breakfast in Pennsylvania, and meets his infamous ex-uncle Gil in Israel.

I thought this book was excellent, and am looking forward to reading his other book, Know it All.

Current reads: Right now I’m listening to Drums of Autumn – I’m about a third of the way through…I think. Maybe just a fourth. It’s a long audiobook!! I’m reading The Shadow in the North by Phillip Pullman. I want to finish it this weekend so I can watch – and return – the BBC movie based on the book.

I have a growing stack of books in my office, and am unsure which I’ll start reading next. There are so many to choose from!

Just singing along…

I picked up this CD from the children’s music collection at one of the branches. The cover was intriguing…as was the names of some of the songs.

I love it.

Now, the group’s other CDs, from what I’ve read, are definitely not child friendly. But this one was written with kids in mind.

The group? Asylum Street Spankers. (The name supposedly comes from the nickname of an Austin street where they would often busk and the term "spanker" which is an old musician's term for "one who plays his instrument vigorously and proficiently"…according to Wikipedia, so take your chances in believing that!)

The CD? Mommy Says No!

My favorite songs from the CD? Be Like You; Sidekick; Everybody Loves my Baby; You just love me for my lunchbox…

Actually, I really like most of the songs! (Not a fan of Mommy says no!)

The sound is a bit old-timey, a bit funky and a bit jazzy. As you listen to the songs, you will find your foot tapping and fingers snapping involuntarily. You might even want to get up and dance around…with your favorite kid, of course!

So, go to your local library and ask for this CD…whether or not you have a child to dance and sing with.

catching up is hard to do!

Wow. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve updated. I’ve been meaning to update, as I’ve read several books over the past few weeks, but time has been short. There are lots of great things happening with work…which means busy has been my middle name lately!

What have I read lately?

Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt – Actually, I listened to this book. It was excellent! I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator does an excellent job of putting you in 1968/1969 Long Island and reads so you can easily tell which character is speaking.

Holling Hoodhood is convinced that his homeroom teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates his guts. As the only child in his 7th grade class who isn’t Jewish or Catholic, Wednesday afternoons mean he is the only seventh grader left still at school. Mrs. Baker starts off the year with many mundane tasks for Holling, but then decides that he can learn the great joy that is Shakespeare. Set during the late 60s, the Vietnam War plays a significant part in the tale by looming in the background and its effects on the characters.

This is one of those books that you may find in either the Children's area or with the Teen books.


Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher – When her mother becomes too sick to keep her packing house job, fifteen year old Ruby quits school and starts working in her mother’s place. Ruby loves to dance. It is what keeps her spirits up after a long day in the Chicago meat packing plant. When she learns of the opportunity to earn better money by being a taxi dancer, she decides to take the job. This places her into a slightly seedy world of dancing with patrons of a dance hall (one dance per ticket – which costs ten cents), and catching – and keeping – “fish”.

Having not heard of taxi dancers, I was intrigued when I first learned of this book. I did enjoy the tale, but thought the end was a little too nicely wrapped up and happy. I did like the author’s note at the end, explaining what prompted her to tell this tale.

Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles by Rupert Kingfisher

Every summer, young Madeleine is shipped to Paris to work in her uncle’s restaurant. Uncle Lard wants to be a famous chef, but unfortunately his concoctions are as vile as he is. Madeleine is a wonderful cook, but, after Uncle Lard figures this out, is forced to only clean dishes and never, ever cook in the restaurant.

While running an errand for a particular type of food, Madeleine comes across the odd little shop of Madame Pamplemousse. Here she ends up buying a small jar of food that changes the luck of Uncle Lard’s restaurant. This prompts Uncle Lard to decide that he must have Madame Pamplemousse’s secret recipes. He sends Madeleine to work with the mysterious woman…and to steal her secrets.

This is a cute book. There are lots of illustrations throughout, and the tale flows very quickly. I enjoyed it.

The Ruby in the Smoke (Sally Lockhart Trilogy, Book 1) by Philip Pullman – This was a quick read. I read it in just a few hours last night. It was a decent enough tale, though I think that the author has a love affair with the word “presently” (opinion comes from reading other books by him as well).

It’s 1872 London, and sixteen year old Sally has lost her father sea in what was supposedly a shipwreck in the ocean near Singapore. After receiving a cryptic note, Sally isn’t so sure that it wasn’t murder. Sally pools her resources and tries to solve the mystery of her father’s death, while also trying to stay alive herself.

I have a paperback copy of Ruby in the Smoke that is free to a good home.

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott – This was another book group pick. Set in current times, Dani and her mother are thieves. They infiltrate rich communities and steal silver from the wealthy. Dani doesn’t have the love of the game that her mother possesses, but, as it is the only thing she has ever known, she can’t figure out how to get out of the family biz. When mom settles on the small costal town of Heaven as their next hit, several things happen that Dani doesn’t count on – namely, finding a friend in the wealthy crowd and falling for a local police officer.

This was another OK book. It was good fluff, with a pretty predictable ending.

I think that is it!

Part-time Indian....Stealing Heaven

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.
This audiobook is narrated by the author. At first, I wasn’t keen on the narration; however, as the story continued on, I realized that the accent portrayed was perfect for the character. Yes…it was a little annoying, but it fit Arnold Spirit. While it’s early in the year, this book just might make my top audiobooks listened to in 2009.

Recorded Books won the 2009 Odyssey Award for this title.

http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/january2009/ymaodyssey.cfm

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
Along with Boy Toy and Hunger Games, this is a recent book group pick. Although it’s a bit fluff, and a somewhat tidy ending, I did enjoy this book.

Eighteen-year-old Dani and her mother travel from town to town, scamming the rich and stealing silver. Having never gone to school or had a normal childhood, it is all that Dani knows. That doesn’t mean that she is happy with their life of crime. While her mom gets a high from stealing silver, Dani doesn’t enjoy it.

When they arrive in a small coastal town called Heaven, Dani knows the drill. Unfortunately, she encounters a few things that are very out of the ordinary – at least in her experiences. She finds a friend amongst the rich kids. She also finds a guy who seems genuinely interested in her as a person…and who she likes, as well. Too bad he’s a cop.

As I said, it’s a bit fluff, but I did like the story. Dani does grow as the tale is told, even though her mother stays the same (which actually works well for the story…and makes it a little more real).

Hungry for a good book?

Sitting beside me is a stack of materials I need to review. Three are print books, one is an audiobook, and the last item is a DVD. We won’t discuss how long some of these items have been sitting on my desk. Let’s just say it’s been less than a month…I think.

So, without further ado…

Blue Moon by Laurell K. Hamilton
As usual, Anita gets mixed up in some sort of trouble. This time it happens when her ex-fiancé, Richard, winds up sitting in a small town jail cell in Tennessee. Falsely accused of attempted rape, Richard refuses a lawyer. This would be problem enough, but it’s just days before a blue moon – the second full moon of the month, and Richard needs to keep his werewolf tendencies hidden.

After a call from Richard’s brother, Anita – and an entourage from her boyfriend, Master Vampire/Master of the City, Jean-Claude – travel to Tennessee to make sure Richard gets out of jail in time for the full moon.

The Master of the City in that part of Tennessee is none too pleased at their arrival. That’s just one of the foes Anita and company encounter while spending time in the hills of Tennessee.

I almost didn’t finish this book. It just wasn’t up to snuff compared to the previous books in the series – especially compared to the first few. I contemplated just quitting the series after this one, as well, but did start reading the next in the series – Obsidian Butterfly. Maybe the series will recapture the magic of the first few books. I’m not going to hold my breath, though.

While I like books that are, well, a bit on the freaky side, the turn this series has taken just doesn’t ring logical and true.

This is an adult book.


The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is reality TV like you’ve never seen it. It’s Survivor like you’ve never imagined it. For Katniss and the other 23 tributes (a boy and a girl from each of the country’s twelve districts), it is a matter of life and death…and everyone in the nation will be watching.

Every year two teens are chosen as their districts representatives. Only one will survive and return home with fame and riches. When sixteen-year-old Katniss’ younger sister is chosen, she volunteers to go instead. Katniss has skills that may keep her alive.

Let the 74th annual Hunger Games begin.


This book has been on my “to be read” list for ages, but I hadn’t gotten around to it until last week. It was a quick read…but that might also because it is such an engrossing tale. Full of action and intrigue, I did not want to put the book down. The sequel comes out this fall. I cannot wait!

I've heard nothing but great reviews of this book. It's definitely on my recommended reading list!

This is a teen book.

Here’s the website for the series:

http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/index.htm

Boy Toy by Barry Lyga

A lot can happen in five years. Teens become adults. Middle school students become high school seniors. Baseball averages get better. The teacher who had an affair with you when you were twelve gets out on parole.

For Josh, a lot has changed…but a lot has stayed the same. Convinced that everyone knows his secret - that he seduced his seventh grade history teacher, Josh has kept mostly to himself over the last five years. He continues to get straight As, to excel in baseball, hang out with his best friend and to see his therapist on a regular basis, and occasionally takes his anger out on others, but the events of five years ago continue to eat away at him.

Then Eve is released from prison after serving less than half of her sentence. And Rachel – the girl who inadvertently uncovered the scandal – finally gets Josh to talk to her. With six weeks left until graduation, can Josh come to terms with what happened and get on with his life?

This book was crazy. Crazy because the sex scenes are mostly between a twelve-year-old boy and his 24-year-old teacher. It felt wrong to read those parts.


But that’s not my biggest beef with the story. Josh has issues. Understandable. Who wouldn’t after such a thing! My problem with the book is that the end is wrapped up all nice and neat. Too neat. And I think that takes a lot away from the story.

I’m not such a big fan of baseball that I follow stats. Josh is. That’s great. I know people who would love that. I’ll admit I kind of skimmed those parts.

This is a teen book.

The other to items will have to wait until later. Duty calls!

Come along on a fantastic voyage...

I’m nearly finished with Voyager! While I am immensely enjoying the series, I am going to take a break for a book or two. The books are wonderful…but LONG. Voyager is 36 CDs!

So, once I finish it (hoping that it will be tonight), I am going to start The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (and also narrated by him). I’ve read the book, and enjoyed it. The audiobook is the 2009 Odyssey Award winner.

I think my next audiobook will be Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy; narrated by Rupert Degas. This is another book that I’ve already read and enjoyed. It was a 2008 Odyssey Award honor.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon; narrated by Davina Porter

In the third installment of the Outlander series, Claire prepares to return to the 1700s – and to Jamie. Upon making the trip through the stone circle once again, she makes her way to Edinburgh, where she believes Jamie to be living. She does reunite with Jamie and with his family.

When their nephew Young Ian is kidnapped, the couple head for the West Indies in hopes of finding the teen.

I enjoy this story as much as I have the previous tales. The only reason I’m taking a break from the series is that the books are long – and each takes well over a month to complete.

I’m reading several books, including Blue Moon by Laurell K. Hamilton and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (a teen book). I just started Hunger Games, so I don’t have much to say about it yet.

Blue Moon is the eighth book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. It’s OK. At this point, I’m continuing the books just because they are decent enough vampire fluff, and I’m still in the mood for that type of book. I’m about halfway through this one, so I’ll wait to write more about it.

A little bird told me...

Also decided at the ALA Midwinter Meeting is the Notable Children’s Books (also called Notables). A complete list of the 2009 Notable Children's Books can be found at www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/childrensnotable/notablechibooks/index.cfm
While working the Children’s desk recently, I read a few of the picture books on this list. One had me nearly in tears.

Bird by Zetta Elliott; illustrated by Shadra Strickland

This tale is told in free verse. Bird loves to draw. His art is an escape from the sad realities of life, which includes death of close family and the drug addiction of his beloved older brother.

The illustrations are beautiful. The artist’s use of color – and of absence of color – enhances the text of the story as the reader’s eyes are drawn to the details. You can feel Bird’s confusion, pain and sorrow…and his hope.