Review - Back and Deader Than Ever by Lisi Harrison

Title: Monster High #04: Back and Deader Than Ever
Author: Lisi Harrison
ISBN: 9780316099172
No. of Pages: 262
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Comedy
Synopsis:

"The RADs are free and Draculaura (Lala) is flashing her fangs with pride. But when Daddy Drac pays her a surprise visit everything goes batty. Mr. D. thinks RADs should have their own school, but Lala isn't ready to give up the rights they fought so hard for.

It's father against daughter in a battle for Salem's student body. Despite the many challenges, Lala is determined to save Merston High. But she might die twice while trying."

Thoughts: Young fans of the Monster High series will rejoice at the release of its latest novel in the series. This fourth novel, Back and Deader Than Ever, focuses on everyone's favorite vegetarian vampires, Draculara, known to her friends as Lala. With the unexpected and hulking presence of her father, she finds herself thrust into a very unwelcome spotlight as she searches for some way to garner his attention and affection. While she's trying to do that, Frankie is looking to find her place in this new RAD-loving world, and Melody finds her true passion. And of course, they remain fabulous while doing so.

As an adult reader, I'll admit to struggling with this latest novel. The entire plot seems contrived to allow Lala her own chance in the proverbial spotlight. While the messages remain empowering, the story itself seemed flat. As a character, Lala does not have the same spark/enthusiasm/unique voice that makes Frankie sparkle. As a role model, Lala is the weakest of the four main characters, as her inability to stand up for herself within her new relationship with Clawd Wolf will attest. Her lessons learned are less profound than Frankie’s and Melody’s continue to be. At the same time, Cleo’s queen bee attitude is more pronounced than it deserves, and Blue’s Australian idioms are extremely over the top. Even Melody’s story seems overwrought this time. It is as if the philosophy behind writing this latest novel was to take the portions that worked well in the previous books and multiply them tenfold. Given how satisfactorily the last novel ended, one cannot help but wonder whether Back and Deader Than Ever is a victim to the series’ success and any pressure to write more stories beyond the original story arc. Some stories are meant to conclude naturally, and one cannot help get the feeling that this is true of the Monster High series in general.

That is not to say that the target audience will not enjoy Back and Deader Than Ever. In the merchandising world of Monster High, Lala is one of the main characters and seems to get a larger marketing push than even Frankie does, which makes the fact that she is the fourth character to be able to tell her story is all the more surprising. Fans will love the closer look at Lala’s vegetarian lifestyle, her comfortable life living with her uncle as well as her intimidating father. It is unfortunate that Lala is not as memorable or as strong a character as Frankie, Cleo or Melody.

Acknowledgments: My daughter's. All my daughter's.

Audiobook Week 2012 - Listen Up!

Where do you learn about great audiobook titles? Find reviews? Buy your audiobooks? Share your secrets with the rest of us!

Discovering great audiobook titles is a lot like discovering great books in print. I rely heavily on word of mouth from my favorite bloggers. Just like printed books, the popular audiobooks generate buzz, and that buzz is usually what piques my interest in adding it to my audiobook wish list. I will do the same for books in print that generate buzz, especially if a publisher approaches me about listening to the audio version of a popular novel. Many of my review audiobook copies came to me because I had heard a lot of positive buzz about a novel that was just released in hardback.

If I am unsure of an audiobook, I will jump onto Audiobook Jukebox and check to see what others have said about a novel. This is a great site that collates all of the audiobook reviews across the web and makes them easily accessible for anyone looking for opinions specifically on audiobooks. The list of audiobooks reviewed increases every single day, so I know that the likelihood of me finding at least one other person who has listened to a book is great. There really is no need to look elsewhere for reviews.

As for buying audiobooks, I may be adverse to Amazon, but I’ll admit to a bit of hypocrisy because I buy my audiobooks solely from Audible. The cost savings from Audible versus iTunes or any other full-priced site is just too great to ignore. Audiobooks are just too darn expensive! Besides, Audible allows me to take my audiobooks with me wherever I am without the hassle of having to download the files to an MP3 player. I share my Audible account with my husband, who uses it for his own commute. The convenience and prices override most of the guilt I feel about catering to Amazon and their evil ways.

What about you? Where do you purchase audiobooks? Is there a site that is just as inexpensive as Audible without ties to the evil giant? How do you find out about great audiobook titles?

Fabulous Friday - June 29th

Do you hear the hallelujahs being shouted up and down I-90 in Wisconsin and Illinois? Because we have a closing date!! The hell of living in a hotel finally has an end date. Thank goodness.

What makes this a Fabulous Friday for you?

Audiobook Week 2012 - What Makes a Good Narrator?

Who are your favorite narrators and why? What do you look for in a narrator? Have a preference between male or female narrators?

It is no secret that narrators can make or break an audiobook. Their performance - and it definitely is a performance - can enhance the innate tension and drama as well as highlight the emotions swirling around the narrative. Then again, they can take the emotion and tension and hide it so thoroughly a listener never stands a chance in discovering it. Similarly, an audiobook performance is an intensely personal experience. The narrators are speaking to the listener, and to the listener alone. Their words are being intimately whispered into a listener’s ear. If it is not the right fit, the experience goes from very private and close to pure torture.

I want narrators that enhance the narrative, that add the right amount of inflection, reflect the ongoing emotions of a character, and are doing more than just reading the words on a page. Good narrators are involved with the story in a way that a reader cannot, and they bring the story to life that is akin to seeing the story on stage. They paint pictures with their interpretation of the author’s words. Narrators who do this are narrators to whom I will flock over and over again.

That does not mean I enjoy every one of their performances. It does mean that I am more likely to choose an unknown or untested audiobook they narrate because they are narrating. I let the story decide the perfect narrator. I love Grover Gardner but his performance on Before Versailles left me disconcerted because his voice just did not fit a young and vibrant French court. Simon Vance’s voice is absolutely gorgeous and beyond sexy, but I found his voice too soothing for the slow progression of A Secret Kept.

So, who do I enjoy whispering sweet words into my ears? James Marsters will probably top that list. His performances reading Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series are absolutely perfect, in my opinion. He is the embodiment of Harry, and I will not enjoy the series any other way than by listening to it. Amanda Ronconi narrating the Jane Jameson series by Molly Harper also tops my list. Again, she nails the main character and makes this fun series even more enjoyable. Grover Gardner, Simon Vance, Scott Brick, and Davinia Porter are all masters of narration, but I also like discovering hitherto relatively unknown narrators, like Amanda Ronconi, Susan Bennett, and even Isabella Sciorra. The relatively unknown narrators provide some of the best, most-surprising performances, and at the end of the day, a narrator’s performance, is all that truly matters when it comes to audiobook enjoyment.

Do you agree or disagree? Who are some of your go-to narrators? Who do I need to check out ASAP?

Audiobook Review - Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore

Title: Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story
Author: Christopher Moore
Narrator: Susan Bennett
ISBN: B001GPJWCU
Audiobook Length: 9 hours, 22 minutes
Genre: Science Fiction, Comedy
Synopsis:

"Jody never asked to become a vampire. But when she wakes up under an alley dumpster with a badly burned arm, an aching back, superhuman strength, and a distinctly Nosferatuan thirst, she realizes the decision has been made for her.

Making the transition from the nine-to-five grind to an eternity of nocturnal prowlings is going to take some doing, however, and that's where C. Thomas Flood fits in. A would-be Kerouac from Incontinence, Indiana, Tommy (to his friends) is biding his time night-clerking and frozen-turkey bowling in a San Francisco Safeway. But all that changes when a beautiful undead redhead walks through the door...and proceeds to rock Tommy's life — and afterlife — in ways he never thought possible."

Thoughts: Christopher Moore’s Bloodsucking Fiends is a rollicking novel that happens to have a vampire as the main character. Its subtitle is "A Love Story", and this is more accurate a description than lumping it in the vampire oeuvre. While there are quite a few pages devoted to Jody's vampiric self-education, and the Big Baddie just happens to be her sire, the rest of the story follows Jody's overall growth into a self-sufficient woman and her burgeoning relationship with the very sweet Tommy.

In fact, the vampires in Bloodsucking Fiends provide more humor than horror. If one were to take away the vampiric elements, the heart of the story remains the same but the humor disappears. Jody is fairly squeamish for someone who exists by drinking blood, and one cannot be accused of murder without the "dead" body of his girlfriend found stuffed into a freezer.

In Bloodsucking Fiends, Mr. Moore satirizes more than just vampire stories. Stylistically unique, his satire of romance novels is strangely reminiscent of Jane Austen and her skewering of society and popular culture during the Victorian era. Both Austen and now Mr. Moore highlight just how trivial popular culture can be.

Susan Bennett does an admirable job narrating Bloodsucking Fiends. With only one female character and at least ten male characters, a female narrator could have been disastrous. Any doubts about a female narrator are foundless, as Ms. Bennett proves more than capable of embodying Jody, Tommy, the Emperor, and the rest of the cast. She switches back and forth between Jody and the various male characters with aplomb and manages to make each character unique and distinctive without straining her voice or the reader's credulity. Also, she balances the correct amount of snark and worry that permeates Jody, as well as Tommy's earnestness, throughout the novel. The entire story sparks under Ms. Bennett's performance.

Leave it to Mr. Moore to make vampires fun again. As a fledgling vampire, Jody is by turns absolutely hilarious in her naivete and extremely vulnerable. Tommy never loses his endearingly sweet Midwestern earnestness, and the Animals provide a much-needed comedic counterpoint to that goodness. Together, theirs truly is a love story. Decidedly silly, Bloodsucking Fiends is immensely satisfying.

Acknowledgments: Mine. All mine.

Audiobook Week 2012 - Audiobook Week Meme

Current/most recent audiobook: I just finished GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn and started PROVEN GUILTY (Dresden Files #8) by Jim Butcher.

Current/most recent favorite audiobook: GONE GIRL was absolutely phenomenal. I'm still speechless.

Favorite narrator you’ve discovered recently: Julia Whelan from GONE GIRL was wonderful. She was able to portray an entire gamut of emotions with seemingly little effort.

One title from your TBL (to be listened) stack, or your audio wishlist: 11-22-63 by Stephen King. I have it. I want to listen to it. I don't know why I haven't started it yet.

Your audio dream team (what book or author would you LOVE to see paired with a certain narrator, can already exist or not): I think there are many audio dream teams. Wil Wheaton with Ernest Cline in READY PLAYER ONE. Davina Porter with Diana Gabaldon with the Outlander series. James Marsters with Jim Butcher on the Dresden Files series. Tim Curry and Alan Cumming with Bram Stoker in DRACULA. Kristoffer Tabori with Jeffrey Eugenides in MIDDLESEX. I'm not certain I can dare to predict genius like that.

Your turn!

Audiobook Review - Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

Title: Dead Beat: Dresden Files #07
Author: Jim Butcher
Narrator: James Marsters
ISBN: 9781101222300
Audiobook Length: 15 hours, 14 minutes
Genre: Science Fiction
Synopsis:

"When a killer vampire threatens to destroy head of Special Investigations Karrin Murphy's reputation unless Harry delivers the powerful Word of Kemmler to her, he has no choice. Now Harry is in a race against time to find the Word before Chicago experiences a Halloween night to wake the dead."

Thoughts: In books past, Harry Dresden - Chicago's only wizard-for-hire - has tackled deranged wizards, vampires, werewolves, fallen angels, ghosts, demons and the Fae and miraculously survived against impossible odds. About the only thing left for him to face would be zombies. Enter Dead Beat, Jim Butcher's seventh Harry Dresden novel.

With its focus on the walking dead, Dead Beat takes an interesting existential turn. From those who would do anything to conquer death to those who welcome it as the next great adventure, a la Dumbledore, Harry explores his own thoughts and fears about the issue. His thoughts are weighty for such a fun series, proving that there is more to Harry Dresden than sarcasm and and overly large sense of duty.

If Harry has learned one thing over the years, it is that he cannot battle the forces of evil alone. What is better than fighting an army of dead people than with the help of someone who specializes in dead people? Dead Beat reintroduces us to Dr. Butters, polka lover, county coroner, and one of the best side characters in the entire series. He has some of, if not all of, the best one-liners ever. More importantly, one cannot help but smile and cheer him on as he struggles to reconcile his very pragmatic, scientific, and cowardly mind with the very unscientific, unbelievable, and scary magical world into which he is unwittingly thrust. Polka will indeed never die.

I cannot say any more about James Marsters as narrator than I already have. I have gushed and cooed and fan-girled all over this site about his ability to channel and become Harry Dresden. Suffice it to say that he does not disappoint in this seventh novel in the series. In fact, he was single-handedly able to cheer me out of what was quickly becoming a fairly horrible week. God bless James Marsters and his impeccable narration.

After seven novels, the entire series has definitely hit its stride. Novices to the series can pick up the storyline with any of the novels, but only long-time fans will catch and understand the references to past cases, foes, and battles. Because of this history, Harry has become more than a wizard slash private detective. As he grows in his powers, so too do his inner struggles of good versus evil, black and white, life and death. This growth and almost constant character development not only prevents the entire series from stagnating but actually creates more drama and tension than all the mystical life-or-death battles Harry could ever face. Dead Beat remains an exciting addition to the Harry Dresden canon and leaves readers eagerly anticipating what Harry will do next.

Acknowledgments: Mine. All mine.

Audiobook Week 2012 - So You Want to Review Audiobooks...

Discuss the essentials of audiobook reviewing. What do you make sure to include? What do you want to see when you read other people’s reviews?

The most essential part of any audiobook review is of the overall auditory experience. This is the first thing I read when reading others' audiobook reviews, and it is the first thing I write when writing my own reviews. Were any sound effects included? Did they detract or enhance the story? How was the narrator? Was his or her voice age-appropriate or character-appropriate? Did s/he use different inflections to differentiate between the various characters? Was that effective? Would you listen to the narrator again? Was the editing seamless or glitchy? Did you find it difficult or anxious to continue listening? An audiobook is more than just the words written on a page, and a good review will explore these differences. A narrator or poor editing can ruin the most exquisite story, so I feel it is important to share your experiences. While everyone's tolerance for mouth sounds or poor editing will be different, at least your own opinions will give readers a better idea of what to expect.

What are your thoughts on audiobook reviewing? What are your must-haves?

Audiobook Review - The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

Title: The Shoemaker's Wife
Author: Adriana Trigiani
Narrators: Adriana Trigiani and Annabella Sciorra
ISBN: 9780061791376
Length of Audiobook: 18 hours, 19 minutes
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis:

"The majestic and haunting beauty of the Italian Alps is the setting of the first meeting of Enza, a practical beauty, and Ciro, a strapping mountain boy, who meet as teenagers, despite growing up in villages just a few miles apart. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local priest in a scandal, he is banished from his village and sent to hide in America as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Little Italy. Without explanation, he leaves a bereft Enza behind. Soon, Enza's family faces disaster and she, too, is forced to go to America with her father to secure their future.

Unbeknownst to one another, they both build fledgling lives in America, Ciro masters shoemaking and Enza takes a factory job in Hoboken until fate intervenes and reunites them. But it is too late: Ciro has volunteered to serve in World War I and Enza, determined to forge a life without him, begins her impressive career as a seamstress at the Metropolitan Opera House that will sweep her into the glamorous salons of Manhattan and into the life of the international singing sensation, Enrico Caruso.

From the stately mansions of Carnegie Hill, to the cobblestone streets of Little Italy, over the perilous cliffs of northern Italy, to the white-capped lakes of northern Minnesota, these star-crossed lovers meet and separate, until, finally, the power of their love changes both of their lives forever."

Thoughts: Adriana Trigiani's latest, The Shoemaker's Wife, is a sweeping saga that takes readers from the Italian Alps to New York City to the bracing weather of the Minnesota iron range at the beginnings of the twentieth century. Twenty years in the making, it is the fictionalized story of her own grandparents' love story. The story follows the lives of Enza Ravanelli and Ciro Lazari, two children born in the Italian Alps and each of whom find their way to America. While there, they find success through hard work and each other through patience and a deep and poignant love. It sounds simple, but the ensuing story is just gorgeous in its scope.

A typical immigration story, both Enza and Ciro's struggles put future generations to shame. Their childhood poverty, their amazing work ethic, and their willingness to sacrifice everything for family are certain characteristics that today's generations simply cannot fathom. Working twelve hours days for minimal wages, going hungry to send money in support of family members - these are things today's children have been taught not to accept. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, The Shoemaker's Wife is a wonderful reminder of the steps the nation had to take to bring us to this point. It is the hard work and dedication of immigrants such as Enza and Ciro that provided future generations with the creature comforts and decent work environments that exist today. Yet, Ms. Trigiani does not preach her point. She lets Enza's and Ciro's actions speak for themselves, and readers will find themselves sitting up straighter and working harder out of deference to two such devoted characters.

Enza and Ciro are two characters that leap from the page. They are so well-written and realistic, there is no difficulty imagining them walking the streets of New York or picnicking on the banks of Minnesota lake. Ciro's exuberance for life is intoxicating. He brings a smile to readers' faces through his genuine good nature and enthusiasm, while his fears and worries become the readers' own. Conversely, Enza's practical nature and refined gentleness help readers strive to become better people. Her complete devotion to her family and the satisfaction she feels in making beautiful things and making others happy are inspiring. Their devotion to one another is simply beautiful. A reader feels privileged to be included in such a touching story about love and sacrifice.

For the audiobook , Ms. Trigiani freely admits to being actively involved its production. Since The Shoemaker's Wife was a novel twenty years in the making, the audiobook experience had to be perfect and authentic to the story, hence the two narrators. Annabella Sciorra is the perfect choice for young Enza and Ciro. There is an innocence to her performance that mirrors their own relative inexperience in the world at large. When Ms. Trigiani takes over the narration, the listener knows that the story is about take a serious turn. Enza's and Ciro's world gets more complicated and more adult, and Ms. Trigiani's voice reflects the wisdom that comes with experience. While Ms. Sciorra's narration is all careful piety and youth, Ms. Trigiani's narration embodies the family ideal. Of the two, Ms. Sciorra's voice is the more pleasing to the ear, but one can understand and overlook the scratchiness of Ms. Trigiani's voice and less-polished narration when one remembers how near and dear this story is to her.

Adriana Trigiani has not only done it again, she has far surpassed anything she has previously written. She not only captures the excitement and constant changes which define the new century, she infuses each location with reverence due to careful attention to detail and the ensuing absolutely breathtaking descriptions. The effort and care she took to recreate the stories told to her by family members shines from every page. Enza and Ciro embody the changing times with their endless energy, determination, and willingness to work. Their devotion to one another will bring readers to tears. The Shoemaker's Wife is the type of novel which immerses readers so completely into its world that all other cares, worries, chores, and other demands of life fade to nonexistence. Like a good Italian meal, it demands to be savored and enjoyed slowly, allowing readers to absorb each delicious description and scene, and thoroughly enjoy it they will.

Acknowledgments: Thank you to Beth Harper and Harper Audio for my review copy!

Audiobook Week 2012 - My Audiobook Year

Are you new to audiobooks in the last year? Have you been listening to them forever but discovered something new this year? Favorite titles? New times/places to listen? This is your chance to introduce yourself and your general listening experience. 

Hi, I'm Michelle and I'm an audiophile. I have been listening to audiobooks for over two years now, and they have quickly become one of my favorite methods of reading. In fact, it has become almost impossible for me to work without listening to some form of audio pleasure. Thankfully, my new job is nothing but spreadsheet manipulation which means PUH-LENTY of time for listening. In the past few months, I discovered how much more enjoyable it is to exercise while listening to a book as distraction. There is no other way for those minutes spent on a treadmill, bike, or walking outside to all but completely disappear. I wish I had discovered this sooner. Can you imagine how many pounds I would have lost listening to The Stand or any one of the Outlander series books?

Yes, I am one of those lucky few who can listen to audiobooks while at work. Some people listen to music. Others prefer silence. I listen to James Marsters, Simon Vance, Scott Brick, Amanda Ronconi, or a multitude of others. It is the only way to make the tedium of spreadsheet manipulation and balancing of the books dissipate. I also listen during my daily commute, but that truly is a small percentage of my overall listening times. It is amazing how quickly the day flies when absorbed in a good book while working. (You get all those brownie points for appearing so industrious.)

I tend to gravitate towards thrillers and those books that I want to read or re-read but know that I will never get around to doing so because of their length or another reason. Sometimes, it is as simple as the fact that there is a book I want to read, I have Audible credits to use, and the timing mirrors up perfectly. I do tend to avoid YA on audio because I prefer my audiobooks to have some length to them, and YA are typically easily read in a few hours. If I am going to drop some money on audiobooks, I want to get more than four or five hours’ enjoyment out of them; most of the time, YA just does not fit that bill for me. It does not mean I will not listen to YA on audio. WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson remains one of my favorite audiobooks ever, especially because two years later I am still haunted by that story. It is just a preference for longer books when choosing audiobooks to download.

Audiobooks have definitely expanded my horizons on all fronts. I “read” my first Stephen King novel thanks to audiobooks and cannot wait to read more of his works. Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series was meant for audio, as was the Outlander series, and I have no desire to read either series in print. Audiobooks have allowed me to experience the castrati, post-revolution Paris, and a future Earth. Isn't it time you add audiobooks to your repertoire?

It's Monday, June 25th! What Are You Reading?

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:



What are you reading this week?

The Sunday Salon - June 24th Edition

Guten morgen, meine geliebten Leser! I'm coming to you yet again from my parents' house in Illinois. Another work week, another hotel, yet more time as a family in three different states. It really is getting old. Hopefully, it won't be too much longer.

To that end, the household goods in Ohio have been packed and are hopefully still sitting on a trailer in Wisconsin, as opposed to having been moved to storage and increasing the likelihood of damage. The good thing is that since the moving company is so close to our new home, scheduling a delivery for either the day of or the day after our closing, whenever that will be, should be easy. Then the fun really begins.

Work was okay this week. I was extremely bothered by the fact that I received a verbal warning on Monday for wearing a skirt that HR felt was too short, even though it passed the fingertip test by a few inches. I don't know how to take that, especially as my manager expressed her opinion that even she did not feel I looked unprofessional. I'm not certain a company THAT conservative is the one for me in the long run. Also, I spent the week staring at spreadsheets again. I like numbers and like playing detective, but nine hours a day, five days a week? I don't know how long I can last if I keep doing that for too long.

Reviewed this week:

• Where There's a Wolf, There's a Way by Lisi Harrison
• The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe
• My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Next week is Audiobook Week. Expect lots of audiobook goodness, if you are in to that sort of thing. 

That's it for me. I hope you all have a great Sunday and a wonderful week. Happy reading!

Fabulous Friday - June 22

It has been one of these weeks where this is about the only good thing I can think of is the fact that it is Friday. Sometimes, that's all you need.

What makes this a Fabulous Friday for you?

Review - My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
ISBN: 9780803736993
No. of Pages: 395
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction
Synopsis:

"The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?"

Thoughts: Friendship, family, and love lie at the heart of Huntley Fitzpatrick's debut novel, My Life Next Door. Abandoned by their father when the girls were little, Samantha Reed, her sister, and her mother have forged a life of privilege thanks to her mother's trust fund. In spite of everything she has, Sam looks longingly upon their next-door neighbors, the Garretts - a rowdy, constantly-growing family the likes of which have been deemed unworthy of notice by Sam's mother. After years of watching them from afar, one of the infamous Garretts decides to take matters into his own hands, and a burgeoning relationship is born.

What makes My Life Next Door more than just another YA novel is the very real presence of the parents. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett take a very active role in each of their kids' lives, and the family flourishes as a result. Even Sam's mother, as distant and focused as she is on her political campaign, is not hidden in the background or an afterthought. This deviation from a normal YA plot device is as enlivening as it is encouraging. Finally, readers can get a feel for how truly wonderful functional families can be and not focus on how grown-up a teen is because his or her parents opt to live separate lives. The Garretts make for some of the most enjoyable scenes in the novel. They may be messy, loud, quirky, and seemingly poised to take over the world, they are also welcoming, warm, open, loving, and steadfast. This is how families should be represented.

Along a similar vein, Sam is relatively even-keeled and honest. She is the good girl - the one who has always followed directions. Exposure to the Garretts helps her to break out of her shell, but she does not rebel like she could, or probably should. Instead, she remains as serious and resolved as ever but is more able to vocalize her desires. Sam's coming-of-age story is less about the teen drama and more about her ability to handle the drama from outside forces. If only we all could have enjoyed such a relatively painless journey to adulthood.

While this is Ms. Fitzpatrick's debut novel, her writing is anything but novice. She uses some of the most gorgeous prose imaginable throughout My Life Next Door. From her exquisite descriptions of the Connecticut shoreline to the unique characters that make up the Garrett family, a reader is left with a crystal-clear knowledge of exactly what Ms. Fitzpatrick was trying to portray. While readers may want to question Sam's desire for something different when she seemingly grew up with everything, the writing prevents a reader from passing judgment on Sam, and more surprising, even later on her mother. This is not a trite novel about young love but rather a careful portrait of the choices one makes and their impact on others, one possible only through Ms. Fitzpatrick's outstanding writing.

Huntley Fitzpatrick's My Life Next Door is a gorgeous coming-of-age and love story that confirms what it means to be family. More importantly, it resets one's opinion on what it means to be considered successful. The Garretts are the type of family that everyone should be so lucky to have as neighbors and friends, let alone have as their very own. Sam and Jase's burgeoning relationship has an authenticity to it not normally seen in young adult relationships, very refreshing for readers of the young adult genre and very honest in its discussion of responsibilities and next steps. For once, the teens act less like drama kings and queens and more like the adults they are on the brink of becoming. My Life Next Door deserves to be savored and thoroughly enjoyed and is a perfect way to spend those lazy summer days. Readers everywhere deserve to fall in love with Sam and Jase and all of the Garretts.

Acknowledgments: Thank you to NetGalley and to Penguin Young Readers Group for my e-galley!

Review - The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe

Title: The House of Velvet and Glass
Author: Katherine Howe
ISBN: 9781401340919
No. of Pages: 432
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis:

"Still reeling from the deaths of her mother and sister on the Titanic, Sibyl Allston is living a life of quiet desperation with her taciturn father and scandal-plagued brother in an elegant town house in Boston’s Back Bay. Trapped in a world over which she has no control, Sibyl flees for solace to the parlor of a table-turning medium.

But when her brother is suddenly kicked out of Harvard under mysterious circumstances and falls under the sway of a strange young woman, Sibyl turns for help to psychology professor Benton Derby, despite the unspoken tensions of their shared past. As Benton and Sibyl work together to solve a harrowing mystery, their long-simmering spark flares to life, and they realize that there may be something even more magical between them than a medium’s scrying glass."

Thoughts: Katherine Howe’s second novel, The House of Velvet and Glass, inserts the reader into the upper-crust society of Boston in the 1910s. When her mother and younger sister perish on the Titanic, Sybil Allston is left to forge ahead with the requirements as set by society in her new role as head of the household and representative of the family among her set, while her brother must also live up to the expectations as set by his deceased mother and demanding father. Trapped into roles with which neither one is comfortable, each opts to assuage their grief in ways that become most disastrous. Occurring at the peak of Spiritualism and drawing on real historical figures and events as much as possible, The House of Velvet and Glass explores the depths to which a person will go in order to free themselves from the ties that bind.

The biggest strength of The House of Velvet and Glass is its writing. Ms. Howe's lush descriptions and pinpoint characterizations create vividly clear, precise imagery and utterly realistic characters. The setting envelops the reader with its gorgeous prose, while the story unfolds with stunning clarity as the background becomes another character in its own right. It is as if the reader becomes a contemporary within the posh world of wealthy Boston in the late 1910s.

Plotwise, The House of Velvet and Glass is all over the place. It is an amalgamation of the tragic story of the sinking of the Titanic and the impact on the loved ones of the lost, a commentary on Spiritualism, a lesson on growing beyond one’s boundaries set by tradition, society, and family, and a warning about the dangers of becoming an addict. The reader is taken from Boston in 1914 to onboard the Titanic on the night of its sinking to Singapore in 1886, and the links between the three time periods is never truly apparent until the end. At many points throughout the novel, a reader will struggle to discern towards what point Ms. Howe is driving her audience.

In spite of all the issues with the plot, The House of Velvet and Glass draws in a reader and holds one’s interest. The plot itself might be confusing as it struggles to decide whether to be a character-driven novel or a plot-driven one, but Ms. Howe’s imageries more than make up for the plot’s inadequacies. Combined with its highly flawed characters and mystical elements, The House of Velvet and Glass is another excellent modern Gothic novel worth reading.

Acknowledgments: Thank you to Hyperion Voice for my review copy!

Review - Where There's a Wolf, There's a Way by Lisi Harrison

Title: Monster High #03: Where There's a Wolf, There's a Way
Author: Lisi Harrison
ISBN: 9780316099196
No. of Pages: 256
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Comedy
Synopsis:

"The frighteningly hip teenage children of the world's most famous monsters have gathered together under one roof...to brave the horrors of high school!

Always overshadowed by her six brothers and her fab friends, Clawdeen Wolf plans to finally strut her stuff in the spotlight at her upcoming Sweet Sixteen bash. But after The Ghoul Next Door goes viral, it's into the woods for the family Wolf. Clawdeen goes stir crazy lying low at her family's B&B with her annoying brothers until Lala shows up to keep her company. But is the vamp flirting with Claude?!"

Thoughts: This is the third book in the Monster High series, and this time around, readers get to see the world from Clawdeen’s eyes. Picking up hours after the final scene in The Ghoul Next Door, Clawdeen and the entire Wolf pack is in hiding from ramifications from Brett’s video. On lockdown thanks to the overprotective Alpha males in her family, Deenie despairs of ever seeing her friends again, let alone hosting her Sassy Sixteen birthday bash. In true Monster High fashion, there are the requisite misunderstandings, tough realizations, shocking truths, and a fabulous ending.

There is no doubt that I adore this series. They are completely harmless and just good monster-y fun. What is not to love about a fashion-obsessed Frankenstein teenager who was just “born” but expected to know everything, a werewolf struggling to adapt to society’s obsession with hair removal, and a vegetarian vampire? Yes, it may be silly, and the fashion obsession does become a BIT much after a while. However, there is such a great message in these stories. It offsets the more inane aspects of the books.

It is because of these forward messages that I allow my eight-year-old daughter to read the books. She knows who and what they are thanks to the dolls and other merchandising that is so popular today and shares my love of monsters (for now anyway – we shall see if it lasts through her teen years). I can have frank discussions with her about the lack of realism when it comes to the haute couture mentioned throughout each novel. The relationship stuff is benign with nothing more than kissing. She sees worse in some movies or television shows, and I can use the books to discuss more meaningful relationships, showing the Steins’ deep love for each other and their daughter. More importantly, I can point to Frankie, Melody, Cleo, and Clawdeen as role models. They are not afraid to show the world who they truly are. Their differences and their acceptance of each other are a great lesson in diversity and cultural awareness. The tension between the monsters, the normies who support them, and the normies who want to run them out of town is a microcosm of the world at large. I can talk to my daughter about Cleo’s behavior and what about it has led to her unhappiness. Clawdeen is a great example about the importance of not hiding important thoughts from parents and that ever-present pull-and-tug between parents and their children regarding their independence. I can use the NUDIs and the RADs to discuss why it is important to stand up for your beliefs. For such short, goofy novels, they really do pack a punch.

Did Lisi Harrison really intend to put so many deep thoughts into these hilarious and yet simple novels? I may never know the answer to that. I do know that they make great teaching tools for some of life’s lessons. I also get to bond with my daughter over a fun series that I probably would have read anyway just because they are about monsters. After all, who doesn’t need a good fluff read every now and then?

Acknowledgments: Mine. All mine.

It's Monday, June 18th! What Are You Reading?

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.

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