A good choice for a summer read...

One Mountain Away

By: Emilie Richards

Genre:  Adult Fiction

Pages: 480

Published: 2012

Read: June

3 out of 5

This is not my typical choice of book to read. However, it is a soft, predictable summer read that many women will enjoy.  I did feel it was a quick easy read that still had some quality interwoven throughout the story. Although I don't regret reading it and plan to read the rest of trilogy, I prefer more thought-provoking novels.  Because I am reading this for a book club, I appreciated the numerous discussion topics Richards provided on family issues and relationships. While I didn't love it, many women who welcome a predictable happily-ever-after story that continues in two more novels may just love this book.

I can't believe this book is a nominee for Teens' Top Ten of 2014

Love in the Time of Global Warming

By: Francesca Lia Block

Genre:  YA Sci-Fi

Pages: 240

Published: 2013

Audiobook: 5 discs (5 hrs and 27 mins)

Read: June

1 out of 5

OH, MY! I hated this book. Maybe it was because I never read Homer’s Odyssey, but I struggled sticking with it.  I felt the story was more about Pen complaining (AKA – harsher word) about how she was a horrible (AKA – typical) teenager to her parents and now after the Apocalyptic she regrets it instead of a story of her survival after the Apocalyptic. For most of story, she was just a whiny teenager. Then you add the fact that I listened to the audio, which although very distinct voices didn’t seem to fit the characters. One of the characters she befriends sounds like a creepy, old man trying to having a sexy voice versus someone only a couple years older then Pen. What shocks me most is that this book is one of the 25 nominees for Teens’ Top Ten of 2014. I don’t get it and I hope one of my teens reads it this summer so I can discuss the attraction.

A Pleasant Surprise

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

By: Barbara Kingsolver

Genre:  adult nonfiction

Pages: 370

Published: 2007

Read: June

3 out of 5

I read this book only to help a co-worker with her new garden book club. We both thought I would hate it. I have never gardened and don’t particularly enjoy the task. Plus, I am aware I am not as health food conscious as I should be. I did hate it at the beginning but not because of the reasons I thought. I felt Kingsolver’s voice came across as conceited and she often made snide remarks directed to those readers that don’t have her same beliefs. However, I ended up being pleasantly surprised by this book. As I read on I learned a lot and she seemed to cool her opinions quite a bit. I look forward to trying most of her recipes. My favorite section of her book was Camille’s (her oldest daughter) journal entries. She provided great insight to her feelings on the new way of living her family was attempting. The entire family admitted it was very time consuming and sometimes hard to avoid their favorite food. In the end, I was inspired.

Here is a picture of my copy after I read it and took notes:

Yet, another Dystopian...

The 5^th Wave

By: Rick Yancy

Genre:  YA Dystopian

Pages: 480

Published: 2013

Audiobook: 10 discs (12 hours and 42 minutes)

Read: June

3 out of 5

I am very glad that I listened to the audio version versus reading the book.  This is for several reasons – I am so over dystopian, but had never listened to one so it was a good change of pace; the story was read by two narrators which I love because it distinguishes between the characters and enhances the story; and I have been driving for long periods of time lately so I was able to focus on the story. I don’t know if it is because I am female, but I definitely enjoyed Cassie’s version and narration better than the male characters. I believe the high popularity of this particular dystopian novel is because of the alternating perspectives between the female and male characters, so it held the interest of both teen boys and girls. Curious as to way, Yancy started and ended with Cassie’s perspective though.  I would probably have given the book a higher rating myself IF I read this before reading so many other similar dystopian novels since I didn’t find too much unique about it.

A memoir by Andre Dubus III

Townie: A Memoir

By: Andre Dubus III

Genre:  Memoir

Pages: 387

Published: 2011

Read: June

3.5 out of 5

I am undecided whether I would have enjoyed this novel as much if I wasn't such a big fan of Dubus III.  Although it's definitely a story on it's own and you don't need to have read anything of his first, I was mesmerized by one of my favorite author's childhood.  His upbringing was very interesting and I was shocked at moments by his personal life - he is a fighter, literally.  He is also a phenomenal big brother, something I always desired.  I am only giving it 3.5 stars because I enjoyed his fictional novels more, so Townie could not have a higher rating and I found 3 misspellings and grammatical errors, which should have been caught by him or his editor.  With all that said, if you are a fan of Dubus III, read this. If you read this first and enjoyed it, make sure to pick up some of his fictional novels.

A graphic novel version of one of my sister-in-law's favorite novels

The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel

By: Paulo Coelho

Genre:  Adult/YA graphic novel

Pages: 208

Published: 2010

Read: June

3 out of 5

The original novel, The Alchemist, is one of my sister-in-law’s favorite books.  She has been wanting me to read it for years and I have been fighting it. I didn’t think it was a story I would enjoy and I would end up suffering until the end. So when I discovered that there was a graphic novel version, I thought it would be an excellent way to try the story without committing too much time. While I didn’t love the book, I definitely think anyone a fan of The Alchemist and Paulo Coelho should read it. It was very well done and even Coelho states in his intro that he is happy with outcome. I also felt the graphics were phenomenal and give kudos to Daniel Sampere. 

A YA book in verse

Coaltown Jesus

By: Ron Koertge

Genre:  YA fiction/verse

Pages: 128

Published: 2013

Read: June

2.5 out of 5

As a reader, I had some problems with this book. Because it was written in verse, I felt I was missing a lot of the story; I have not felt this way with other books in verse. However, with the premise of story and being a very short book I craved more detail and depth. I also found it hard to following who was speaking in some sections. As a Teen Librarian, I think this book may help some teens understand their own grieving of a close peer, whether friend of family, that has past away. This is also a great short story and easy read for reluctant readers. Teens most likely aren't as much of a critical reader as I am and not even notice my annoyances with the novel.

My music Idol

Johnny Cash: The Life

By: Robert Hilburn

Genre:  Biography

Pages: 688

Published: 2013

Read: June

3.5 out of 5

I love Johnny Cash. He is definitely one of  my music idols. However, this biography was a little too much detail and redundant; not really the author's fault there was just a period of Johnny's life that not much exciting happened. He had some hits, some flops, some drug related relapses but I felt reading about each and every one was extremely boring...for this particular period of his life I wish I read the cliff note version.  I learned a lot I didn't know with two of the most profound aspects being his strong friendship with Bob Dylan and some songs I never heard.  I also could not believe how determined he was too continue to record and perform so late in his life when his health was deteriorating so quickly.  A huge Johnny fan and avid reader would probably enjoy this book, otherwise I would recommend a shorter biography.

Bean, A strong-willed girl...

The Silver Star

By: Jeannette Walls

Genre:  historical fiction

Pages: 267

Published: 2013

Audiobook: 7 CD’s (8 hours)

Read: May

4 out of 5

I enjoyed Walls 2 other novels (The Glass Castle & Half Broke Horses, a biography and true-life novel, respectively), so there was no surprise I adored this one as well. The first two books I read and this one I decided to listen to the audiobook.  A narrator can really enhance or diminish my enjoyment of a book. Walls does a fabulous job at reading her novel and uses great expression – you can tell she believes in her story.  Bean (Jean) Holliday is a very strong-willed girl and doesn’t let people stand in her or her sister’s (Liz) way. Yet, she still manages to be respectful, for the most part. I love stories that cast women in a strong role and whom stands up for what they believe in, especially in the historical fiction genre.  The writing style reminding me a lot of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.