Audiobook Review - The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Title: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Narrators: Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell
ISBN: 9780143144182
Audiobook Length: 18 hours, 19 minutes
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis:

"Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.
Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed."

Thoughts: What more can be said about The Help than has already been said? It has received numerous accolades and much gushing since it was first released in 2009. It has also received negative press as well. Ironically, both are deserved. Over two years after its release date, one cannot ignore the criticisms because they are justified. However, the positives about the novel – the story itself, the characters, the historical events – lessen the impact of the criticism and still allow a reader to enjoy this fun and entertaining story.

The biggest fault of The Help is its perpetuation of the Mammy paradigm – African-Americans who are only too happy to care for and essentially raise the children and run the household of their wealthy, white owners/employers. Because this was written by a white woman of privilege, she cannot understand the dangers embraced by Aibileen, Minny and the other maids, or even the dangers they faced on a daily basis by virtue of their skin color in a historically racist community. To assume that she does understand their thoughts, their motivations, their true feelings on any subject, especially raising their employer’s children, is presumptuous and arrogant. Ms. Stockett, in an afterword to the novel, mentions how important her own relationship with her nanny was to her, but then she uses that to justify and stereotype all African-American nannies as eager and nurturing. While a reader is left with no doubt as to the genuine fondness Ms. Stockett has for her nanny, one is hard-pressed to make the leap to generalizing about all such situations. More importantly, no white woman will ever be able to truly comprehend what it was like to be an African-American in the South in the 1960s.

While The Help has received rave reviews for its print version, it truly shines on audio. Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, and Cassandra Campbell perfectly embody their characters, especially Octavia Spencer – which makes sense since she plays Minny in the movie version as well. The listener gets a true sense of each person’s character - her feelings, her mettle. This is something more than just the words on the page, and audio version is better for these additions. Similarly, the four distinct voices help the listener differentiate between the main characters, something which has been touted as problematic in the print version. The audio performances only enhance an already enchanting story.

The Help is fundamentally a great story. Of that there can be no doubt. All of the characters are sympathetic, entertaining, and simply enjoyable. However, the fact remains that a Caucasian woman is telling a story about a society and a culture about which she has no hope of ever truly understanding or empathizing. While Ms. Stockett stresses the importance of the relationship she had with her African-American housekeeper while growing up, she can never and will never know how her housekeeper felt. While she does not glorify housekeeping in the South during the 1960s, she does create relationships that she cannot know were ever genuine. Because of this, The Help remains difficult to embrace in its entirety. One can enjoy the story for its fictional elements and the emotions it creates, but a reader should remain keenly aware that this is just one person's side of the story. If only Ms. Stockett would have thought to have a co-author. A story about the African-American experience in 1960s Mississippi written by an African-American woman would have made The Help truly amazing.

Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Review - The Search by Nora Roberts

Title: The Search
Author: Nora Roberts
ISBN: 9780399156571
No. of Pages: 496
Genre: Romance, Suspense
Synopsis:

"To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life-a quaint house on an island off Seattle's coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescues. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare...

Several years ago, Fiona was the only survivor of the Red Scarf serial killer, who shot and killed Fiona's cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.

On Orcas Island, Fiona found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. But all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. He's the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon's house, and he's at his wit's end.

To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can't handle. Simon, however, is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he's a rugged and in-tensely private artist, known for the exquisite furniture he creates from wood. Simon never wanted a puppy-and he most definitely doesn't want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to his hormones.

As Fiona embarks on training Jaws, and Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona's life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands..."

Thoughts: After almost 200 novels - she releases her 200th novel this year - fans of Nora Roberts have gotten very familiar with her formula for success. They know that they will always receive a kick-ass heroine, a gorgeous man who supports more than rescues, a suspenseful mystery, drop-dead scenery, and more than one pulse-racing scene. What sets The Search apart from the rest is the addition of four very goofy and absolutely lovable dogs.

In each of her novels, Ms. Roberts presents some little-known facet of society. She has showcased actresses, bush pilots, waitresses, homemakers, store owners, artists, and so many more. A reader always finishes one of her novels with a better understanding of the heroine’s chosen profession and another part of the country. In The Search, Ms. Roberts tackles dog training, canine search-and-rescue, and the mind of a serial killer. It is an unusual combination but one that works well. In fact, one may successfully argue that the dogs are the true stars of The Search. Jaws steals every scene he is in, while Fee’s three dogs charm their way into the reader’s heart with little more than an unwavering loyalty and fierce protective mode. Dog owners everywhere will be able to laugh the dogs’ antics and at Simon’s frustrations about Jaw’s destructive modes, his hyperactivity and the just-as-sudden need for a nap. Ms. Roberts captures the relationship between dog and owner perfectly, and the result is a truly heartwarming tale that helps one appreciate his or her own dogs.

Ms. Roberts’ novels are always a comforting pleasure. Her story formula very rarely wavers but it never fails to be successful. A reader knows what to expect but that never detracts from one’s enjoyment. In fact, it is a testament to her skill as an author that one is continually drawn into each book’s world, where the scenery comes to life and a reader feels that s/he unequivocally knows each character personally. The dialogue remains refreshingly honest and realistic. While the characters may be drop-dead gorgeous, they are comfortingly human. Therein lies Ms. Roberts’ power. The Search is yet another testament to why Ms. Roberts remains one of the most successful authors of all time.

Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

It's Monday! What are you reading? - February 27th edition

Hosted by Sheila from Book Journey, this is a weekly event to share what we've read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

Finished Last Week:



Of these, the only one I truly enjoyed was The Healing. The rest? Not so much.

Currently Reading:

The first one is going to be on this list for a while as it is a book club selection that has been split into six parts. The book club reaction has been very subdued so far, which really surprises me. 

Currently Listening:

At 48+ hours, this one is going to take me a while.

Up Next:

As always, I reserve the right to change my mind, depending on how I feel on any given day.

What are you reading this week?

The Sunday Salon - February 26th

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone is enjoying their day, either relaxing or finding it as productive as possible. We here in the Shannon household have had a rough week. It started out with a bang and a 9:30 AM phone call at home while I was taking a vacation day on Monday to let me know that the new company owners are closing the Cincinnati R&D facility. Interestingly enough, they are keeping open the two manufacturing facilities right next to this facility, so Jim still gets to keep his job here in Cincinnati. Mine, however, will be eliminated by the end of the year at the latest. I was given the option of putting my hat into the ring for potential positions at the company headquarters in Beloit, WI. Yay.

The way things stand right now, I did state that I would be willing to relocate. The powers that be know that they will also have to move Jim as well if this happens. We have no idea what our future positions will be however, which is nerve-wracking. We already had a realtor come through the house to let us know what we need to do to be able to sell it fast. Hopefully, we'll get more information soon so that we can start moving forward with our lives. I feel like it has been on hold since the announcement was first made.

To add insult to injury, the last four books I have finished have been just plain bad. Ugh. Expect some rather unhappy reviews soon.

If you didn't see my Fabulous Friday post this week, Jim and I have officially started our juice fast. After watching Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, we both thought a juice fast would be a great way to start fresh. Both of us have gained way too much weight over the past year and no amount of diet or exercise was working. We needed a way to reset our bodies, and after much research, a juice fast seems like the best way to do that. Then, we had the brilliant idea that since Lent was coming up soon, and as semi-practicing Catholics tis is the season for self-sacrifice, we should go on this juice fast during Lent and kill two birds with one stone. We officially started on Wednesday. During that time, Jim has lost 4.02 percent of his body weight and I've lost 4.52 percent of mine. The cravings are gone, and our energy is definitely back. We were able to go grocery shopping yesterday without being tempted. I'm not going to bore you with anymore of the gory details, but I had to share this just once. The rest of the journey is going to be on my Tumblr account if anyone is interested.

Reviewed this week:

• Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel
• Puddn'head Wilson by Mark Twain
• Cemetery Girl by David Bell
• Bad Marie by Marcy Dermansky

I hope everyone had a better week than I did. Here's to a much better one for everyone! 

Mini-review Saturday - Cemetery Girl and Bad Marie

Title: Cemetery Girl
Author: David Bell
ISBN: 9780451234674
No. of Pages: 400
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Synopsis:

"Four years after Tom and Abby's 12-year-old daughter vanishes, she is found alive but strangely calm. When the teen refuses to testify against the man connected to her disappearance, Tom decides to investigate the traumatizing case on his own. Nothing can prepare him for what he is about to discover."

Thoughts: Unlike more recent abduction stories, Cemetery Girl explores what happens with those left behind. Tom and Abby must deal with their loss, grief and indecision to move on after four years. Just when things appear to be getting better, they must then deal with the very real phenomenon of Stockholm Syndrome, which is almost more debilitating and frightening than when a child’s fate is unknown. David Bell does an excellent job of capturing Tom’s wildly cycling emotions. Similarly, adult readers will empathize with Tom’s desperation to save his daughter at any cost and confusion over her need to go back to her captor. It is what is left unsaid that is truly frightening and what lends story its power. Cemetery Girl is a disturbing and breathtaking glimpse into the destruction wrought by abductions and a story that makes the reader thankful it is a work of fiction.
Acknowledgements: Thank you to the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association for my copy!


Title: Bad Marie
Author: Marcy Dermansky
ISBN: 9780061914713
No. of Pages: 240
Genre: Literary Fiction
Synopsis:

"Bad Marie is the story of Marie, tall, voluptuous, beautiful, thirty years old, and fresh from six years in prison for being an accessory to murder and armed robbery. The only job Marie can get on the outside is as a nanny for her childhood friend Ellen Kendall, an upwardly mobile Manhattan executive whose mother employed Marie's mother as a housekeeper. After Marie moves in with Ellen, Ellen's angelic baby Caitlin, and Ellen's husband, a very attractive French novelist named Benoit Doniel, things get complicated, and almost before she knows what she's doing, Marie has absconded to Paris with both Caitlin and Benoit Doniel. On the run and out of her depth, Marie will travel to distant shores and experience the highs and lows of foreign culture, lawless living, and motherhood as she figures out how to be an adult; how deeply she can love; and what it truly means to be 'bad'."

Thoughts: After hearing so many people rave about Bad Marie, citing it as one of their favorite reads of the year or of all time, I was expecting to love Marcy Dermansky’s book more than I did. While it was good, it was not so completely wonderful that I immediately started pushing it on others or would even list it among my top ten list for the year. Marie is a character who attempts to shock others in order to make herself feel more important, which makes her rather pathetic in my opinion. Her inability, or more likely unwillingness, to act according to her conscience is depressing, especially as it ultimately leads to her endangering the life of a little girl. I can appreciate the journey Marie is on trying to reconcile herself back into society after her stint in jail, but there was something about Marie that I could not overcome. Unfortunately, the book requires a close connection being the reader and Marie in order to be successful. Rather than being drawn into her story and being able to empathize with her, I found myself watching her antics from afar, horrified at both her actions and her justification for them. Without a relationship to Marie, the book simply falls flat.
Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Fabulous Friday - February 24th

I debated long and hard about what was going to make this a fabulous Friday. I've spent the last few days in bed sick with some sort of mutant cold/stomach thing. My job is being eliminated (more on that later) and we might have to move. It hasn't been the best of weeks. Then, I stepped on the scale.

Jim and I started juice fasting on Wednesday as something we are going to do for Lent, as a way to reset our bodies. Having any sort of illness during the first few days of fasting is absolutely miserable, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. However, after two full days, Jim is down almost eight pounds, and I have lost seven. Not to mention that we both feel more alert, are getting much more restful sleep, and just feel better.

So, today's Fabulous Friday is a shout-out to juice. This is not your everyday orange juice though. This is kale and spinach, broccoli, cucumbers, and celery. Sounds disgusting but half the fun is trying out combinations that will give you the right amount of nutrients and actually taste good. I'm not going to argue because it is definitely working.

What makes this a Fabulous Friday for you?

Review - Puddn'head Wilson by Mark Twain

Title: Puddn'head Wilson
Author: Mark Twain
ISBN: 9780393925357
No. of Pages: 488
Genre: Classics
Synopsis:

"Puddn'head Wilson (1894), written in a more sombre vein than his other Mississippi writings, was Mark Twain's last serious work of fiction. It reveals the sinister forces that, towards the end of his life, Twain thought to be threatening the American dream. The central plot revolves around the tragedy of "Roxy," a mulatto slave whose attempt to save her son from his fate succeeds only in destroying him."

Thoughts: Nobody quite combines comedy and tragedy like Mark Twain. His ability to mock the most unfortunate of situations makes even the most scathing of social commentaries enjoyable reading. Puddn'head Wilson is a perfect example of this with its discussion of race and privilege in the South.

Twain accomplishes two goals with this particular work. When discussing the reversed identities, he hits right at the heart of racial prejudice. Tom’s treatment of Chambers, and eventually his mother, is absolutely appalling, especially as the reader understands the true situation. His sense of entitlement because he is “white” is as disgusting to modern readers as it is telling of the difference in mindset between the 1850s and today.

What is fascinating is Twain’s use of the beginnings of forensic evidence in murder trials. The polite interest that turns into overt mocking that then switches to apt fascination is spot on in society’s acceptance of any new scientific methodology. While presenting this new, objective methodology, Twain also continues his biting commentary on the subjectivity of a jury that is hampered by close-mindedness and social stigmas. The crowd’s reaction when they understand that a “white” man of privilege could commit such a horrible crime is humorous in true Twain fashion while simultaneously horrifying at their ignorance.

Puddn'head Wilson is a fascinating look at a society long past. In fact, modern readers can appreciate Twain’s message more than his contemporaries could because we have the benefit of hundreds of years of ingrained social messaging about the equality of races. It begs the question of what Twain’s contemporaries thought about this social commentary. Would they have appreciated what Twain was mocking? No matter what era in which this novel is being read, Puddn'head Wilson provides plenty of fodder for discussion and contemplation, as befits a true classic.

Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Audiobook Review - Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel

Title: Lunatics
Authors: Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel
Narrators: Dave Barry, Alan Zweibel, Mark Thompson, Sean Kenin, Orlagh Cassidy
ISBN: 9781611760576
Audiobook Length: 7 hours, 3 minutes
Synopsis:

"One of them is a bestselling Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist. The other is a winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor. Together, they form the League of Comic Justice, battling evildoers in the name of . . . Okay, we made that line up. What they do form is a writing team of pure comic genius, and they will have you laughing like idiots.

Philip Horkman is a happy man-the owner of a pet store called The Wine Shop, and on Sundays a referee for kids' soccer. Jeffrey Peckerman is the sole sane person in a world filled with goddamned jerks and morons, and he's having a really bad day. The two of them are about to collide in a swiftly escalating series of events that will send them running for their lives, pursued by the police, soldiers, terrorists, subversives, bears, and a man dressed as Chuck E. Cheese.

Where that all takes them you can't begin to guess, but the literary journey there is a masterpiece of inspiration and mayhem. But what else would you expect from the League of Comic Justice?"

Thoughts: Philip Horkman and Jeffrey Peckerman never imagined the wild ride their lives would become after a girls’ soccer game on fateful Sunday. As opposite as two people could be, they are forced together into the most bizarre situations, having to rely on the other in order to survive. The resulting story, Lunatics, is as entertaining as it is improbable. Better yet, it is made even more entertaining because of its improbability.

As the authors, Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel work well together. Each brings his own unique brand of humor to the story, creating two very distinct characters that feed off of their differences. The story is told from the two differing perspectives, creating distinct separations in tone and mood. The differences in storytelling, and perspectives, make Lunatics an absolute delight as the reader gets the pleasure of discerning the truth behind the two narratives while enjoying the banter between them.

As narrators, Dave Berry and Alan Zweibel are absolute perfect. Each embodies his character with the ideal amount of sarcasm or earnestness, crassness or patience, as required. Because they best know the comedic moments, the audio performance is even more hilarious than just reading the book. Truly, the sound effects – the mimicking of Brian Williams, Tom Brokaw, and various reporters around the globe as well as the various sound effects made by Peckerman – can only be appreciated on audio and do nothing but enhance the overall experience.

Lunatics lives up to the hype by being one of the funniest and goofiest novels in a long time. Peckerman and Horkman are a modern-day Odd Couple with a great repartee that boosts the wickedly funny narrative. Due to the coarse language and some graphic frat-humor scenes, it may not be for everyone; those who are not bothered by that however will find themselves hard-pressed to not laugh out loud multiple times either while reading or listening to it. Lunatics is a great way to wind down in the evenings or get away from the stress and idiocy of a typical work day.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to Penguin Audio for my review copy!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - February 20th edition

Hosted by Sheila from Book Journey, this is a weekly event to share what we've read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

Finished Last Week:




The first of these was an audiobook, which I absolutely loved. The second was a review book that left me rather meh.

Currently Reading:

The first one is going to be on this list for a while as it is a book club selection that has been split into six parts. The book club reaction has been very subdued so far, which really surprises me. 

Currently Listening:

At 48+ hours, this one is going to take me a while.

Up Next:

As always, I reserve the right to change my mind, depending on how I feel on any given day.

What are you reading this week?

The Sunday Salon - February 19th

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. My parents are in town, and I'm taking a vacation day tomorrow (since my daycare has decided to celebrate Presidents' Day by taking the day off too). We'll be taking everyone to one of the museums downtown later today - we haven't decided which one yet, but the kids are really looking forward to it. I can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon...outside of reading that is.

For those who wished Connor well on his little bet, the well wishes were much appreciated. Unfortunately, he lasted five days. Now, to be fair, we decided that he'll get the chance to try again in March. It was definitely an eye-opener for him, especially as he had a tendency to focus on the bigger, weekly chores instead of the smaller, daily ones that were the point of the exercise. We'll see next month if the lesson was learned.

Well, it's been an exciting few weeks in the family, both immediate and extended. Two weekends ago, my parents came home after a weekend away to find that they had been robbed. All TVs, computers, jewelry, gift cards, and some other odds and ends were all gone. Thankfully, no one was in the house, not even the dogs. The robbers did not even destroy or damage the house. While my parents are understandably shaken with a horrible feeling of being violated, they took only things. The entire situation could have been so much worse. As terrible as it is, we have to count our blessings. Things can be replaced; life cannot.

The town of Monroe, Ohio is in a bit of an uproar lately. It turns out that the former treasurer of the school board opted to use the funds from the building fund to pay for general expenses rather than let the board and the community know that the schools have been operating in a deficit. In order to pay the building fund, cover all expenses and the loans the district had to take out to pay payroll, the district needs to raise over $4.4 million before June. It's an absolute mess. As of right now, the district is officially under a state fiscal watch, although the district needs to vote to move to a fiscal emergency before the end of March. This means the state would then implement a committee to find a way to make additional cuts, more than the $2.2 million that have already been cut, and raise the $4.4 million that the state would loan the district but would need to reimburse them. The cuts that have been made are absolutely heartbreaking, so much so that I've volunteered to become part of the finance sub-committee. I'm afraid that I have committed myself to a second job, especially since the finances are still being straightened out and the true damage has yet to be calculated. If anyone has any ideas on how a community of approximately 12,000 can raise that much money quickly, I am all ears.

Since I didn't share the list last week, here's the list of everything that has been reviewed over the past few weeks:

• The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton
• Obedience by Jacqueline Yallop
• Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper
• Death Watch by Ari Beck
• The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
• The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins
• Bending the Boyne by J. S. Dunn
• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Spin by Catherine McKenzie
• Wake by Lisa McMann
• Envy by Gregg Olsen

With that, I'm off to enjoy the rest of the day and capitalize on the day off tomorrow. Have a great Sunday. Happy reading!

Mini-review Saturday - Wake and Envy

Title: Wake
Author: Lisa McMann
ISBN: 9781416974475
No. of Pages: 224
Synopsis:

"For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody- notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does — they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant...."

Thoughts: Being able to fall into people’s dreams, to see their deepest and darkest desires, is not something I would wish on an enemy. Yet Janie handles herself with aplomb, making Wake an enjoyable read. Lisa McMann’s signature style allows the reader to get a good understanding of Janie and her struggle with her power without bogging down into details or overly descriptive passages; this also makes Wake a very fast read. Janie is a fun character with a very different problem, one that makes it difficult for her to navigate her way through the tricky halls of high school. Of all the superpowers to have, Janie’s is probably one of the worst ones. A reader is immediately drawn to her fragility but her willingness to fight to control her powers. Wake is not necessarily a departure from similar stories but is enhanced by Ms. McMann’s ability to weave a story.
Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.


Title: Envy
Author: Gregg Olsen
ISBN: 9781402789571
No. of Pages: 304
Synopsis:

"Crime lives — and dies — in the deceptively picture-perfect town of Port Gamble (aka “Empty Coffin”), Washington. Evil lurks and strange things happen — and 15-year-olds Hayley and Taylor Ryan secretly use their wits and their telepathic “twin-sense” to uncover the truth about the town's victims and culprits. Envy, the series debut, involves the mysterious death of the twins' old friend, Katelyn. Was it murder? Suicide? An accident? Hayley and Taylor are determined to find out — and as they investigate, they stumble upon a dark truth that is far more disturbing than they ever could have imagined."

Thoughts: Billed as a true crime mystery, Envy definitely has a “ripped from the headlines” feel with a slightly supernatural element. Unfortunately, for such a tragic story with very tangible motives and actions, the twins’ telepathy is seemingly out of place. It is almost as if Olsen was trying to attract readers specifically drawn to the paranormal genre and felt obliged to add this plot device, even though the story does not need it. While enjoyable, I am getting tired of the paranormal plot device and wish YA authors would do something unique by not including it in their stories. Envy would have been a perfect story for this bit of originality. What exists instead is a creative story with an all-too-familiar otherworldly element that feels like a crutch more than a necessary narrative element. Envy is enjoyable but does nothing to separate itself from the hundreds of other YA stories with a paranormal aspect.
Acknowledgements: Thank you to the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association for my copy.

Fabulous Friday - February 17th

Most of the time, parenting involves a lot of guessing and worrying that we are getting it right. Sometimes, the stars align to show you just how well you are doing. This was one of those moments.

That's my girl.

What makes it a fabulous Friday for you?

Review - Spin by Catherine McKenzie

Title: Spin
Author: Catherine McKenzie
ISBN: 9780062115355
No. of Pages: 446
Genre: General Fiction
Synopsis:

"Kate's To-Do List:
Go to rehab
Befriend/spy on "It Girl"
Write killer expose
Land dream job
Piece of cake!

When Kate Sandford lands an interview at her favorite music magazine, The Line, it's the chance of a lifetime. So Kate goes out to celebrate—and shows up still drunk to the interview the next morning. It's no surprise that she doesn't get the job, but her performance has convinced the editors that she'd be perfect for an undercover assignment for their gossip rag. All Kate has to do is follow "It Girl" Amber Sheppard into rehab. If she can get the inside scoop—and complete the thirty-day program—they'll reconsider her for the position at The Line. Kate takes the assignment, but when real friendships start to develop, she has to decide if what she has to gain is worth the price she'll have to pay."

Thoughts: Everything about Spin can fool one into thinking that this debut novel of Catherine McKenzie is yet another YA novel about a troubled teen. In fact, it is anything but. Instead, it fills a niche for Gen Y, those who are struggling to establish themselves in the workplace and continue to drift through life thanks to a miserable economy and high amounts of personal debt. It draws on the fascination with celebrity gossip and turns a scathing eye on those who are willing to do anything to be the first to break a story about the celebrity du jour, while presenting a fascinating look at the fine line between partying and addiction.

Kate is the girl who does not want to grow up. Still passing herself off as a twenty-something grad student, she has no real job and no real desire to do anything but enjoy the next night out with her friends. Her opinion on alcohol is scarily realistic, and her ability to ignore her conscience is all-too-accurate. Yet, for someone who does some pretty horrific deeds all in the name of landing her dream job, she is exceedingly vulnerable while simultaneously providing much-needed comic relief for a story that could become too intense without it.

Catherine McKenzie does an excellent job balancing the seriousness of her messages – the seriousness and struggles of addiction, the damaging fascination with celebrity watching – with the heartwarming character development elements of the story. Kate’s and Amber’s struggles are not meant to be fun, and yet SPIN is not meant to be a tragedy. There is a breeziness to Ms. McKenzie’s writing that lessens the more depressing elements and provides some much-needed hope to the entire story.

Spin flirts dangerously close to being overly trite and saccharin-sweet. What prevents it from crossing that line is Kate’s growing awareness that she just might have an alcohol problem after all. Her increasing self-awareness and battle with her inner demons adds a level of gravitas that does not exist in YA, as her demons are decidedly adult. In a society which glorifies alcohol, partying, and celebrity watching, Spin forces the reader to pause and reconsider these popular pastimes and the damage they are causing. It is a powerful message wrapped up in an easy-to-swallow, enjoyable package.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to NetGalley and Mary Sasso of William Morrow and Company for my review copy!

Review - The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Title: The Secret Garden
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett
ISBN: 0440777062
No. of Pages: 261
Genre: Classics, Children
Synopsis:

"Mary Lennox doesn't want to move to England to live with her uncle, but she has no choice. At first she hates her uncle's cold house, the gardens and moors that surround it and the servants with their funny way of talking. And at night she hears a child crying, but the servants insist it's only the wind. Curious in spite of herself, Mary wanders the house and gardens and discovers that both are full of secrets."

Thoughts: The Secret Garden is a wonderful reminder of the healing power of nature, laughter, and love. It is an affirmation of the existence of magic as well as simply a beautiful story. The lessons told within are simple and yet profound and appropriate for everyone. This is anything but a children’s story.

The Secret Garden is one of those novels I read as a child but did not remember in its entirety. In fact, while I could recall the beginning of the story quite well, I could not dredge up any memories about how it ends. Knowing my younger self, this is indicative of the fact that I must not have enjoyed the story as much as others have. Flash forward thirty years, and my experience of The Secret Garden is much different this time around. What did not resonate with me as a child definitely hit home as an adult flirting with middle age.

There is something about Mary’s and Colin’s transformation that is soothing to the soul. The remedy to their ailments is so simple and yet so profound. Today’s society has lost its connection to nature and to a simpler lifestyle, but the benefits of such cannot be denied. The pleasures of life are numerous, but we have to take the time to notice them. Happiness truly is as simple as good friends, good food, and fresh air.

If you have not had the opportunity to read The Secret Garden as a child, all is not lost. It is one of those novels that loses nothing over time. In fact, as our lives become more complicated and stressful as we get older, The Secret Garden becomes more than a children’s novel but rather a cue to take a step back and remember the uncomplicated truths which make childhood so special. It opens the reader’s eyes to the magic that exists all around us all the time.

Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Review - Bending the Boyne by J. S. Dunn

Title: Bending the Boyne
Author: J. S. Dunn
ISBN: 9780983155416
No. of Pages: 322
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis:

"Circa 2200 BCE: Changes rocking the Continent reach Eire with the dawning Bronze Age. Well before any Celts, marauders invade the island seeking copper and gold. The young astronomer Boann and the enigmatic Cian need all their wits and courage to save their people and their great Boyne mounds, when long bronze knives challenge the peaceful native starwatchers. Banished to far coasts, Cian discovers how to outwit the invaders at their own game. Tensions on Eire between new and old cultures and between Boann, Elcmar, and her son Aengus, ultimately explode. What emerges from the rubble of battle are the legends of Ireland's beginnings in a totally new light."

Thoughts: In 2000 BCE, the world was rapidly changing. On a remote island near the North Sea, an entire culture of astronomers, or Starwatchers as they call themselves, will have their entire lifestyle threatened by a group of invaders from across the big seas. These invaders, in their searches for copper, tin, and gold, bring with them foreign ideas such as land ownership, power struggles, and violence. As the two cultures fight for control of Ireland, two people attempt to do everything in their power to bring peace and cooperation between the two societies. Bending the Boyne is their story.

Bending the Boyne is a great reminder of what societies can learn from each other when they are not too busy trying to enslave or destroy each other. It brings to mind what conquered societies must have felt about the confusing strangers who refuse to understand their ways and who insist that their foreign ways are better than anything previously established in the area. The use of fear tactics, foreign instruments, and in this case long knives made of metal, horses, and the like were powerful weapons against a peaceful society. Dunn has an amazing ability to create sympathy for the Starwatchers as they struggle to maintain their beliefs and rituals against a constantly changing world.

The details are where Bending the Boyne shines brightest. The descriptions of smelting, copper mining, ocean travel, and other aspects of this ancient era are extremely realistic. A reader experiences Cian’s wonder at the advancement he sees on his travels, while simultaneously empathizing with Boann’s confusion at the harshness and ignorance of her adopted people. As for the Invaders, one can all too easily understand their ruthlessness as they are driven to find more copper or gold in an effort to gain more riches. This era comes to life under Dunn’s careful research and comprehensive descriptions.

While one has no doubt that Dunn was extremely thorough in his research and in his descriptive passages, the very nature of some of the rituals and celestial movements create certain verbose and difficult-to-understand scenes. A reader would be advised to have a star chart handy when reading to ensure that s/he understands exactly which stars and their movements are being discussed at any point in time. Thankfully, these descriptions do not detract from the overall story too much, but understanding them is vital to understanding the crux of the clash between the Starwatchers and the Invaders.

Bending the Boyne is an absolute fascinating look at Bronze Age Ireland. The cultural clashes that occur between the natives and the Invaders set the tone for later invasions both on Ireland and throughout the world over the years. Dunn’s research is meticulous and in such detail that the reader does not need to visit the sacred sites in order to feel completely awed by the knowledge garnered by the Starwatchers and all of humanity at such a primitive time. In fact, one can go on Dunn’s website and see images of the actual artifacts used by Boann, Cian, and the rest of the cast of characters. This realism built into the descriptions makes this one story that is less fiction and more historical. In spite of some of clunky passages, Bending the Boyne is a captivating picture of a bygone era about a culture that has long been considered mysterious and which has provided some of the more memorable artifacts on the Emerald Isle. Dunn has successfully created a book that allows readers to step back in time to experience the Bronze Age for themselves.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to Christina Montero from Seriously Good Books for my review copy!

It's Monday! What are you reading? - February 13th

Hosted by Sheila from Book Journey, this is a weekly event to share what we've read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

Finished Last Week:

Currently Reading:

Currently Listening:

Up Next:

As always, I reserve the right to change my mind, depending on how I feel on any given day.

What are you reading this week?