The one where I actually praise an adult book

I'm editing this post so I can join in on Book Club Friday! Here's what I'm reading currently...

That's right. I'm about to talk up one of the most talked-up books out there. This is impressive because I don't read adult books. I'm an aspiring young adult and children's librarian, so I typically only read young adult books (of which there are many, wonderful books).
However. Guys. If you haven't read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (and the other 2 books in the Millennium Trilogy) then you're seriously missing out. Most likely you have actually read these books, because I'm typically the last person to pick up popular books because I don't like to read what's popular now, but that's OK.

I originally picked up this book from the library because I saw a preview for the new movie, and thought it looked interesting. Previously I had no idea what the book was even about, so I hadn't give it much thought. For the few of you who don't know, the book is about a journalist researching an unsolved, 40 year old murder. There are many, many more aspects to the book than that, but that's the general plot.
I listened to the first 2 books because I don't usually do well reading books that are slow to start, and this one definitely is. Though the first disc was slightly boring (as is the first 70 pages of the book, so I hear), it picked up after that, and never stopped. The second book, The Girl who Played with Fire, though not nearly as eventful, was just as exciting a read. I also listened to this one, but plan to actually read the final book.

Like I said, I know I'm behind the times, but The Girl with the Dragon tattoo was the best adult book I've read since Sphere, by Michael Crichton. And that's saying a lot, coming from me. So if you've somehow missed out, or put it down within the first 100 pages, pick it up again, skip ahead and get reading!

{Side note, did you know that the author passed away shortly after submitting the manuscript for the final book? It's too bad, because I think he would have written some excellent books after this.}


Have you read these books, or seen the movie (or movies, as all 3 were also produced in Sweden)? What do you think?

Book review: Uglies

Today's book review comes courtesy of the closing Borders in our town. Geoff and I stopped by a little over a month ago when it first started its final clearance sale, and I picked up this series, the first of which is a book called Uglies. {The other books are Pretties, Specials and Extras, but I won't bother reviewing those...you have to read Uglies first!}

Uglies could be considered a dystopian novel, because it's set in a world where everyone is gorgeous and, typical to many dystopian novels, everything is very well controlled by the government. Children, called Littlies, are born in the community, and move into a large dorm when they're 12 years old, when they become "ugly". They loose their littlie cuteness and, basically, move into puberty which, of course, no one can consider particularly pretty. On their 16th birthday exactly, Uglies are turned into Pretties, whose only job for the next few years is to relax and have fun.

When we first meet our main character, Tally Youngblood, she is alone, because her best friend, Peris, has already become a Pretty. Peris is only about 4 months older than Tally, but that means 4 months of solitude, since only Pretties can live in Pretty-ville, where Peris lives. Tally is forced to remain Ugly until her 16th birthday, when she can finally join her friend.

Then, Tally meets Shay, who opens her eyes through "Ugly tricks" to the outside world. Shay doesn't believe in the Pretty operation, and tries to convince an unwilling Tally to run away and, gasp, remain Ugly forever. When Tally refuses, and Shay runs away alone, Tally's dream of being Pretty is soon held over her head and she is forced to choose between two best friends...being with Peris forever, or betraying Tally.

I love this series not just because it's a dystopian novel, but also because of the whole concept. When I first started reading, I kept trying to imagine an Ugly, imagining just how ugly they really were until I realize that I'm an Ugly. We all are, because Uglies are normal looking. It's the Pretties that are abnormal, and, as Shay says constantly, all look the same. It's fascinating to me, the control the city holds, and the price they put on beauty.

Book review: Poison Study by Maria Snyder

Poison Study came highly recommended, and since it is both young adult and part of a series, I borrowed it from the library with high hopes. High hopes which were semi-dashed. I'd give this book three stars because while it was good, I wasn't enamored. (It just so happens that friends on Goodreads did enjoy it a lot, which goes to show that everyone's different, so don't take my opinion!)

Yelena lives in a world where there are no excuses and no second chances. We first meet her on the day she is to be executed for killing a man. However, since she is the next to be executed and the Commander's food taster recently died, Yelena is offered the choice of death by hanging, immediately, or the unknown death of being a food taster. She takes the latter.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is the way the story unfolds, piece by piece, through memories and, as she gets more comfortable in her new role, stories that Yelena tells Valek, the Commander's right hand and her "supervisor". As the book goes on we learn why exactly Yelena killed the man she did, and how an innocent girl was forced into murder.
Though I wasn't overly excited with the book, the story was interesting and the writing well-done, so I do recommend giving it a try. If you do like it, there are two other books in the series, Fire Study and Magic Study, which I may check out at a later date...when I'm not so busy weeding through my to-read list!

Have you ready this book? What did you think of it?

Book review: Graceling

I first discovered Graceling when I was at school in Alabama. Every year we received hundreds of books, both young adult, children's and picture books to review. At the end of the year, the young adult professor (also who I was a graduate assistant for during my last semester in school) would hold a book sale, and sell the books that he didn't want to keep. All the profits went towards a multicultural conference that he led each year.
To make a long story short, Graceling was among those books. It intrigued me, as it was a fantasy, so I picked it up...and was lucky enough to get Fire, the companion novel at the next book sale.

Graceling is set in a world where some people are graced with (excuse my pun) a Grace, something that sets them apart, that they can do very well. It could be a swimming Grace, or some kind of a fighting Grace. There are some pointless Graces, but you can see that some Graces could easily be turned against people and used for evil.

Katsa, the main character, has one such Grace. Her Grace was discovered when she was only 8 years old, and accidentally killed an adult cousin who tried to touch her inappropriately. She is Graced with the ability to kill. Though Katsa, in her heart, is a kind girl, she is used by her uncle to carry out her dirty work, something she hates.

After disobeying the king and her new friend, Po's father, Katsa is forced to leave her hated uncle. She travels with Po to the kingdom of King Leck, who has a history of murder, yet, for some strange reason, no one can say anything bad about him.
As Po and Katsa travel to Leck, encountering strange things and adventures along the way, they learn more about themselves and each other, revealing their own secrets that they did not even know about themselves.

If you have read Graceling, you should also read Fire, a companion book that takes place about 35 years before Graceling. If you haven't read Graceling, then what are you waiting for? Both are excellent reads, especially if you love a good YA love story, like myself. Of course there is adventure and excitement in it as well, to keep you interested.

Gathering Blue

My favorite book, hands down, is The Giver. It's obvious because my copy of this book has been read and reread more times than I can count. I recently found an autographed copy of the book at Half-Priced Books for $4.50! I couldn't believe it. It's in almost as bad shape as my original copy, but I didn't care. My sister inherited the old copy (at her request!) so it's in good hands.

Anyway, for whatever reason, few people know about the companion novels to The Giver; Gathering Blue and Messenger. I don't remember who told me about Gathering Blue, but I am so happy they did, because the two books tie the series together. Until you read Messenger, you don't know how much you wanted to know what happened to Jonas at the end of The Giver.

Today I'm reviewing Gathering Blue, however. I cannot review Messenger if you haven't read the other two, so I will leave it be, for now. The Giver may be a review for a later time, but since so many have read it, I chose to focus on the second book in the "series", Gathering Blue.

Unlike The Giver, where Jonas' society has evolved beyond ours, Kira's society has devolved. It's a rudimentary village where people are murdered for being different, and its a dog-eat-dog world. Kira, who was spared by her mother despite a twisted leg, doesn't fit in. She's sweet, kind, and caring; willing to help a poor, scraggly boy, Matt, whom everyone else would cast off.

Kira also has a gift. When she works with thread, embroidering, something happens. The thread comes to life in her hands, and creates something magical and special. So when her mother dies, and Kira is left alone, she's taken in by the village officials, to mend the special cloak that is part of the annual storytelling that reminds the villagers of their past.

As Kira learns the art of dying and creating the threads, she learns that there is no plant that can make the color blue.
This book is about Kira's attempt to find the color blue, and the special plant that used to grow there, but does no longer.

Gathering Blue seems to leave you hanging, like The Giver does, but Messenger ties the two together in a way you would never even consider. If you like The Giver, try Gathering Blue. If you haven't read The Giver, then what are you waiting for??

The Hunger Games

 As part of my new series and attempt to read regularly again (I am, after all, a librarian), today we will be discussing The Hunger Games, by Susanne Collins. This book is classified as young adult, but
As a side note, this is an excellent article on why it's OK to read young adult books. (Thank you Elizabeth for that link!) Plus, it has an excellent title: "Are you reading YA lit? You should be" which is pretty much how I feel in a nutshell.
But I digress.

The Hunger Games is a dystopian novel (how I love those! Probably my favorite genre) which is set in a world presumably in the future, after the world as we know it has disintegrated (or fought each other to death) into a small world called Panem. Panem is divided into 12 districts,and the further out the get from the Capitol, the poorer the districts become. In the Capitol, people throw up at parties, so they can eat more food. In District 12, children frequently die of starvation. There used to be 13 districts, until the districts decided to unite and fight the Capitol, a fruitless effort that resulted in the demolition of District 13, and The Hunger Games.

The Games are the Capitol's way of reminding the districts who is in charge, and that should another rebellion occur, the Capitol would win. It keeps the districts in line, and though they are despicable, no one has attempted to challenge the Games in their 74 years. You see, in the Games 24 children, ages 12-18 (one boy and one girl from each district) are placed in an arena and forced to battle each other for the pure enjoyment of the Capitol until one Victor is left. Worse, every single district is forced to watch as their children turn to killers and, ultimately, die gruesome deaths.

It is on the Reaping day, when the names are chosen, that our story begins. Katniss Everdeen, the main character, is forced to watch as her little sister, only 12 and, therefore, her first year into the reaping bowl, is chosen. It's important to note, at this point, that the Capitol has added one more stipulation, something else to remind the districts who is in charge. Children get one entry every year they are placed in the bowl, but they are also allowed to take a monthly, meager allowance of coal and wheat, to help them through the month. For every tesserae that the children take (and they are allowed one per family member) their name is entered into the bowl again. So it is pure luck (or un-luck) that Prim's name is chosen.

Immediately Katniss volunteers to take her place, and she is off on a rollercoaster of emotions, as she is forced to fight for her life in the arena, all the while knowing her fellow tributes, especially one: Peeta Mellark, her fellow District 12 tribute. In order for Katniss to live, she must kill (and live with the consequences) not only fellow tributes from other districts, but also Peeta, whom she has begun to know, and become friends with.

The book is amazingly well-written, and sucks you in, not only with the gruesome fascination that the Games provide, but also the characters and the relationships that they build. Because at the end of the day, there can be only one victor.

Show us your life books!

This week's show us your life at Kelly's Korner is what books are you reading? I'm very excited to see what people are reading...more excited than I am to share what I'm reading!

I have to be honest with you. I'm on a cheesy, chick-lit type of book kick lately. Books are all about getting away, right? Well, I love these books because even though they're cheesy and predictable because they're the perfect escape for me!
Anyway, I'm actually in the middle of two books at the moment. The first is The Undomestic Goddess.

I picked this book up at Half Price Books last week and I love it! It's about a woman who loses her job as a lawyer, and accidentally gets hired as a housekeeper! The only problem is she doesn't even know how to turn on an oven! It's really funny, especially since she has convinced the family she's working for that she's a gourmet chef! And, of course, there's love in it!

The other book I'm reading is, yes, another chick book! It is called Romantically Challenged. I bought the Kindle edition of this book because it was only $2.99. I read it on my iPhone at night, when I don't want to turn on the light because Geoff's sleeping.

This one is also about a lawyer who is in her 30s and busy...too busy to meet someone. She's also very picky and turns down almost every guy she has a date with because of one reason or another. The thing I like about this book is that I don't know who she will fall in love with (because I assume there is going to be someone!)

They're both cute and fun, and that's what I like about them! What are you reading?
This post is linked up to Kelly's Korner.

Cookbooks, and the satisfaction of a complete set

Every time I post something about what I've found at my local thrift store, I find something else, or remember something else that I want to share with you. The latter is the case this week!

A few weeks ago I had dragged Geoff into the thrift store, looking for a mini crock pot. He wasn't thrilled, especially since despite the fact that we found what we were looking for within 5 minutes I still insisted on wandering the whole store. He wasn't happy until we looked on a shelf of pots and pans and found this:

A word on my husband. While I love to bake, he loves to cook. The Frugal Gourmet books (which are now out of print) are some of his favorites, though we only own The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American. So when we found The Frugal Gourmet Cooks with Wine, Geoff happily snatched it up. I thought maybe I had convinced him to give the thrift store a chance, finally. We browsed a little longer, and, before leaving, decided to check out the book room. That is where we found this:

It isn't in as good shape as the Wine or American cookbooks, but, nonetheless, it is part of a set and we had to have both! The best part? We paid $1.99 for each book, for a total of $3.98...much less than if we had attempted to buy them online.
And of course seeing the complete set of books on our shelf is pretty satisfying too!

So, what do you think?

A librarian from the beginning

I suppose, sometimes, that I was meant to be a librarian right from the beginning. After all, both my sister and I were named after characters from a book. I am named after Meg, from Little Women (my mom is the oldest of four girls and really related to her) and my sister is named after Laura, from the Little House books, which I was reading with my dad at the time she was pregnant.

It's interesting how little things in your life can shape you later. I love listening to audio books. I find it very soothing, and I will even (easily!) fall asleep to an audio book if I'm lying in bed and not reading it in the car. Don't worry, I don't fall asleep while driving!
This I can pinpoint to my younger years, when my father read to me. I'm sure he read many books to me, but the ones I remember best are the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I remember sitting on my parent's bed, listening, absorbing information that I can now quote because I've read and reread it so many times.

I have a little issue with books, though. I don't like to read them! Well, that's not entirely accurate. I love reading books, I just don't like reading new books. They scare me! What if I read a book and I think it'll be good, and it's not?? What then?? Therefore, I have a bad habit of reading the same books over and over again. In my defense, I have been getting better at this, but it's still a work in progress. As is noted by the books I've read in the past month:

The Giver (reread)
Gathering Blue (reread)
Messenger (reread)
The Hunger Games (reread, in anticipation of the new book coming out this August!)
Catching Fire (reread)

And, when I'm done with Catching Fire, I'm going to move onto these beauties.

Yes, those are the original books I got new, on my birthday in 1988. Just a few months before my sister was born.
What's that? They're in worse shape than my copy of The Giver?

It's possible, of course. Though, to be fair, I did keep Farmer Boy in pristine condition. Which could be because I have never read it. As a child I didn't want to read a book about a boy and as an adult...well, see the above paragraph about my issue with new books.

Anyway, I think the next month or so will be spent reliving my childhood through these books. After which, hopefully, the new Hunger Games book, Mockingjay, will be out and I can delve into a new book that I know I will love.