The best decade!!

The Eighties: A Bitchen Time to be a Teenager!

By: Tom Harvey

Genre: memoir

Pages: 256

Published: 2012

Read: December

2 out of 5

I was excited to read this book because I have always considered myself to be a  child of the 80's - even if my high school years was more in the 90's.  This book was not nearly as funny as I expected - my favorite part was the pictures - how could one forgot the ridiculously fabulous clothes and hairstyles of the 80's.  Even though I could relate to some of the stories and memories - the Cabbage Patch and Garbage Pail kid phase, music - ghetto blasters, etc - I felt most of the stories would only be memorable to Tom himself - or his friends. This book was a case of "You had to be there" or it just wasn't as funny. Although I did appreciate a memoir about an ordinary person of the 80's versus someone famous, unearthly rich, or so successful he didn't need the book deal. Another great aspect of the book were the appendixes at the end - what great memories!

Harvey has written another book, Don't Fight with the Garden Hose and Other Lessons I've Learned Along the Way - visit his website at www.authortomharvey.com

A Librarian's Story

Librarian's Night Before Christmas

By: David Davis

Genre: picture book

Pages: 32

Published: 2007

Read: December

5 out of 5

Truly amazing!  Great humor and very entertaining. I believe being a librarian myself enhanced my enjoyment of this book; however any book lover will enjoy the quirky humor and may even laugh out loud. It starts with the sad reality of the deterioration of financial downfall of libraries everywhere, but soon the humor of Davis and the entwining of classic authors and fantastic illustrations draws the reader into the fabulous institutions called the library! A co-worker even brought to our attention that the featured library illustrated in the book looks very similar to our own library. I do feel though that adults will enjoy this storybook more than children since the humor and content may be over the children's head. 

Author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson - one of my favorites

Every Day

By: David Levithan

Genre: YA paranormal

Pages: 322

Published: 2012

Audiobook: 7 CD’s (8 hours 26 minutes)

Read: December

3.5 out of 5

This story was very unique, but not quite dystopian which was pleasant.  The concept is very out there and it took me a while to allow my imagination to accept the possibility of A’s experience.  This is probably an easily task for young adults and the very reason dystopian novels are the desired genre these days.  I believe the audiobook version enhanced my reading experience because the narrator was so enlightening. There were a couple “days” in A’s life that I felt were extremely far-fetched and weakened the story, but I very much joined the ended even if not “Happily Ever After”.

Have you ever Wondered??

Wonder

By: R.J. Palacio

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Pages: 315

Published: 2012

Read: December

4 out of 5

I loved this book. I loved August’s strength. I loved his sister’s honesty, even if not spoken directly to August. I loved his friends and their support for August, but still they were honest to themselves about the difficulties they felt with the friendship. All of these aspects of Wonder made the story that much more realistic and true for me. The story wasn’t sugar coated and as a person with a slight disability I understood some of August’s feelings and the dreaded stares.  I feel every middle school child, boys and girls, should have to read this book – both the bullies and the bullied.

Read another graphic novel...WOW

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

By: Nunzio DeFilippis

Genre: Graphic novel

Pages: 64

Published: 2008

Read: December

2 out of 5

I never knew that this story was originally a short story (1922) written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, but then I am not an avid reader of the classic genre.  I enjoyed the movie (2008) that was adapted from this story, but this graphic novel is not very satisfactory.  Because I have not read Fitzgerald’s short story, I can only compare it to the movie and judge it by itself.  The drawings were mediocre and the story was vague and boring – there was no climax or the spectacle as in movie; rather just the undramatic facts.  So the most exciting aspect, for me, was the discovery that Fitzgerald had written a story with such an intriguing plot back in 1922.

A Winter Mystery

Winter’s Bone

By: Daniel Woodrell

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 208

Published: 2010

Read: December

2 out of 5

I was shockingly disappointed in this book. It may have been I built up my anticipation too much, but I think it was actually the author’s writing style I couldn’t get into. It definitely had a grabbing beginning and plot; I just lost interest in the middle. The last 20 pages or so caught my attention again and I felt satisfied with the ending. My favorite part of the novel was a sideline story about Ree’s best friend, Gail. Even though I didn’t care for the book, I can see why others would enjoy it. The plot is fascinating and Ree is a very strong female character which I love to see in novels.  I am going to watch the movie and compare to see if indeed it was the writing and not story itself I didn’t enjoy.

A Uplifting Christmas Story....NOT

The Christmas Jars

By: Jason F. Wright

Genre: Christmas fiction

Pages: 122

Published: 2005

Read: December

1 out of 5

I had a major problem with this book. I know Christmas stories usually include a sad, tragic event and then a miracle or redemption occurs to provide the reader with the warm fuzzy Christmas spirit. This book was not like that ALL. The protagonist, a journalist, is selfish and all her actions are to enhance her career and own self-worth. Then to redeem herself, she apologizes – but even that was to enhance her own career as her apology appears as an article on the front page, which she doesn’t hide was her goal. With that said, I still enjoy books even if I don’t like or even loathe the characters however in this case, I feel the author actually believes it’s a heartwarming story and the character redeems herself. I felt the story did JUST the opposite and proved that some people are incapable of unselfishly giving no matter what! 

By the author of Smile!

Drama

By: Raina Telgemeier

Genre: Juvenile Graphic novel

Pages: 233

Published: 2012

Read: December

2 out of 5

I think this is one of those books that needs to be read when you are the same age as the protagonists.  While I do remember the drama of my own junior high years, I just found this book silly. I was looking forward to reading it after reading Telgemeier's other graphic novel, Smile which I really enjoyed. Her artwork is good and the colored illustrations is a nice change of pace from the black-and-white of most graphic novels. However, I was disappointed in the story after reading Smile. Ironically, Smile is a biographical graphic novel :) I would recommend this book to junior high girls, especially reluctant readers.

A good adult fiction

The Rosie Project

By: Graeme Simsion

Genre: fiction

Pages: 304

Published: 2013

Read: December

4 out of 5

This was a very quick read as I finished it in two days. Being completely different than anything I have read in a while probably enhanced my enjoyment. I can imagine writing a character with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) would be a difficult task since you have to remember to continue the repetitive processes in every scene or the author loses creditability. The storyline reminded me a lot of As Good As It Gets with Jack Nicholson, but not as depressing. In fact, the movie is referenced within the book. My major disappointment is that in the author biography it states that he is currently working on a sequel. I do not feel this novel needs a sequel and may actually ruin this one for me, similar to my thoughts on many movie sequels.

This is his first novel, but he has written many articles. Visit his website at www.graemesimsion.com

And another biographical graphic novel

My Friend Dahmer

By: Derf Backderf

Genre: Biographical graphic Novel

Pages: 224

Published: 2012

Read: December

4 out of 5

I was very surprised when I started this book to discover it was actually written and drawn by an elementary friend of Jeffrey Dahmer. So after never reading a biographical graphic novel, I read two in one week.  I can’t say I enjoyed one more than the other and I felt both did enough reliable research to be considered biographical in nature.  Dahmer’s story also included a major gap in his story, however the author did not know him then and similar to Cash’s story the public definitely has heard that part of his life. I guess you can say I enjoy biographical graphic novels more than ones of other genres. 

YET Another Paranormal YA novel

Unthinkable

By: Nancy Werlin

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 392

Published: 2013

Read: December

3 out of 5

I choose to read this novel because it is a companion to Impossible (2008). I remember loving Impossible, but I think that was because it was before EVERY YA book was paranormal in nature. I am shocked to see I gave Impossible a 5 star rating because although Unthinkable was just as well written it is definitely not 5 star material. I would, however, highly recommend both books to lovers of the paranormal genre, I need to read something different. I think it is time to get back to adult fiction for me – at least for a little while.

Check out all of Nancy Werlin's books at http://www.nancywerlin.com/.

A Bibliographical Graphic Novel

Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness

By: Reinhard Kleist

Genre: Biographic Graphic Novel

Pages: 224

Published: 2009

Read: December

4 out of 5

Even though I knew his music and remember where I was when I heard he died (2003) I didn't become a big fan of Johnny Cash  until I saw the movie, Walk the Line (2005).  I was very excited when a friend of mine handed me this book.  I have never read a biographically or nonfiction graphic novel; I found it very original and artistically drawn. However, I was largely disappointed because the story skipped from Johnny and June's first kiss to Cash's recording of, I See a Darkness (1999). I feel this gap is an essential part of Johnny's life both musically and with his relationship with June Carter and would have added a great detail to the book.  Therefore, as with most graphic novels, I felt I was only reading half the story.  I also enjoyed how the story incorporated some of his songs into the graphical story.

A Child Fights Through...

Love, Aubrey

By: Suzanne LeFleur

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Pages: 272

Published: 2009

Audiobook: 5 CD’s (6 hours)

Read: December

3.5 out of 5

A tragic accident leaves an 11 year old and her mother without their family. Then, the mother cannot handle the pain and disappears. While Aubrey struggles with losing her family and then being abandoned by her mother, she writes letters to several individuals always signing them “Love, Aubrey.”  This is the second novel of LeFleur’s that I listened to. Although having different narrators they were both awesome audiobooks. I have not read any of her books, so I cannot compare audio to the physical book, however the audio definitely held my attention throughout. I would recommend this novel to any child who has unexpected lost a family member or adult role model.

Her website is SuzanneLafleur.com