tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22606106578567941912024-03-12T18:56:03.286-07:00YA Lit in 100 Words or LessYA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.comBlogger235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-24100464751777513262015-02-01T20:30:00.001-08:002015-02-01T20:30:04.098-08:00First Frost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cHBKn1inWYw/VM75yVwEz1I/AAAAAAAAA0c/hkI1xFd9X0c/s1600/first%2Bfrost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #990000;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cHBKn1inWYw/VM75yVwEz1I/AAAAAAAAA0c/hkI1xFd9X0c/s1600/first%2Bfrost.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>First Frost </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Sarah Addison Allen</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Sequel to <i>Garden Spells</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Women's Fiction</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Years ago, I enjoyed reading the unique and whimsical novel, <i>Garden Spells.</i> In the following years, I have read and enjoyed each of Sarah Addison Allen's books as they were released. I was happy to hear that <i>First Frost</i> was a follow-up to <i>Garden Spells</i>, returning to Bascom, NC and the Waverley family. </span><br />
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<b style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Review: </b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This novel mostly follows Bay, Sydney, and Claire. Bay is navigating her teenage years and Claire is struggling with her new business, while Sydney is hoping for a new baby. The novel is about each character's search for happiness in everyday life. The writing is simple yet elegant and the characters enoyable to spend time with, so go pick up<i> First Frost</i>--unless you haven't read <i>Garden Spells</i> first! The elements of whimsy and magic and the evocative setting Allen is known for are present in this lovely little novel.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.sarahaddisonallen.com/">Author website</a></span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-28688922803891298492015-02-01T20:14:00.000-08:002015-02-01T20:14:36.690-08:00The Happiness of Pursuit<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review: </b>This was our book club pick for January and led to a thoughtful discussion to start off the year. Chris outlines criteria for what makes a "quest" and suggestions for how you can find happiness in your life through pursuing quests. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Along the way, you can read about interesting quests people have undertaken, both at home and around the world. The book shows you how you could makeover your life and do that huge thing, like travel around the world, or that smaller thing close to home, like knitting hats for charity, both examples from the text. A fast and enjoyable read that will inspire you and make you think about how to improve your life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://chrisguillebeau.com/">Author website:</a> has interesting blog posts</span></div>
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YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-75346250763817606392014-11-09T18:59:00.000-08:002014-11-09T18:59:07.082-08:00The Shadow Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Shadow Year</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by Hannah Richell</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Women's Fiction</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b> I was engrossed in this book all last weekend, sitting on the porch for hours, reading.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> In present day, the story follows Lila, who inherits a house by a remote lake in the Peak District of England and decides to renovate the house to process her grief.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> The book also follows a group of friends who, after leaving college, decide to live off the land for a year and squat in the same cottage in the 80s. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I loved the setting descriptions, hint of mystery, and the way the two storylines interacted. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now I want to read Richell's debut novel: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Author website:</b> http://hannahrichell.wordpress.com/the-shadow-year/</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Pursuit of Happiness, One Celebrity at a Time</span></b></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by Rachel Bertsche</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Bertsche finds herself spending too much time on the Internet,</span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> comparing herself to celebrities, but decides to use them for inspiration instead of self-loathing.</span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Author of </span><i style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">MWFSeeking BFF</i><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">, also recommended--see my </span><a href="http://ya100words.blogspot.com/2012/02/fun-and-funny-memoir-about-friendship.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">review</a><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">. My book club of twenty-something young women loved it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review: </b>After losing her job, Rachel pursues a writing career at home, but finds herself in a rut. She studies then emulates Jennifer Aniston's steps to a sexy body, Tina Fey's work ethic, and Jessica Alba's "honest" pregnancy. She aspires to Beyonce's total package, Jennifer Garner's marriage, Julia Roberts' serenity and Gwyneth's kitchen. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Once again, I love the author's sense of humor, approachable yet reflective writing style, and sprinkling of scientific studies with personal anecdote. Her reflections on women and perfectionism were wise, while the experiences with fertility and pregnancy deepened the memoir. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Author Website</b>: <a href="http://www.rachelbertsche.com/">http://www.rachelbertsche.com/</a></span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-32409716299411045032014-07-06T16:53:00.002-07:002014-07-06T16:53:34.193-07:00Summers on Nantucket are Back: The Matchmaker<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>The Matchmaker</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Elin Hilderbrand</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Yes, it is summertime, and that means it is time for Nantucket summer days and nights by way of Elin Hilderbrand novel!</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre</b>: Women's fiction, Popular Fiction</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review: </b>What if you were semi-happily married and then the love of your life emailed you? And he was moving back to your hometown after almost 30 away? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So begins the story of Dabney and long-lost love Clendenin, her economist husband Box, and her confused daughter Agnes. The novel follows these four perspectives, but mostly, this is Dabney's story. Got-her-life-together-but-not-what-Dabney.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The setting: great! The desciptions of food: loved 'em! Characterization: real and unique Plot: engaging and believable.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Definitely tuck this book into your beach bag! But beware, it is not fluff--get ready for suspense or even tears. </span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-70789481545316820172014-06-13T11:37:00.002-07:002014-06-13T11:37:39.156-07:00Someday, Someday, Maybe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>By Lauren Graham</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Popular Fiction</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b> I am always hesitant to read a novel written by an actor or pop culture persona. However, this novel was well-written and a lot of fun to read. Individual sentences are funny and Graham captures the hope and lack of confidence and anxiety of trying to make it in acting. Anyone starting out in their career, especially creative careers, should be able to relate. This novel is fairly light with strong characters and moments of surprising depth. I loved the mid-90s period details, from scrunchies to Doc Martens. Your heart will be warmed by Franny's journey!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Other news:</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The book is being <a href="http://www.spoilertv.com/2014/02/the-cw-development-slate-for-20142015.html">developed into a pilot</a> for the CW called <i>Unfamous</i>. Will it become a series?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There is also a <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/actress-lauren-graham-talks-sequel-novel-in-a-reddit-ama_b84026">sequel</a> in the works</span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-17739104925981455472014-05-13T19:05:00.001-07:002014-05-13T19:05:27.197-07:00Close My Eyes<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre</b>: Mystery</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: This novel had an interesting premise. An unknown woman
knocks on Gen’s door to tell her that her stillborn baby Beth is still alive.
The novel is compelling for awhile. There were probably 100 more pages than
necessary; by the end I was skimming just to find out what happened. To
create a more suspenseful novel, the writing should have been tightened. Often
ideas were repeated; the main characters doubts if she should trust Art, her
husband, or Lorcan, a handsome stranger, were stated and restated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Final thoughts:</b> The novel was hailed as similar to <i>Gone Girl,</i> but it was not quite there.
If you are desperate for a new mystery, you might want to read it, but for me
it wasn’t a true thriller. As I read, I wished I had a Laura Lippman book, with
fast-paced, clean prose, in my hand. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-20166973614042528392014-05-07T19:47:00.002-07:002014-05-07T19:48:14.842-07:00Seating Arrangements<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Seating Arrangements</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Maggie Shipstead</b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Seating Arrangements</u> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was the "book of the summer" in 2012, but I read it last month :)</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Literary Fiction</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: As the book begins, Winn Van Meter is headed to a Nantucket-like island, his summer house, and his older daughter Daphne's wedding. When he arrives, daughters, bridesmaids, wife, and sister-in-law have taken over his home. The book submerges you into the world of the WASPs. The novel's told from the perspective of Winn, who is sometimes sympathetic, other times just annoying. He is not the most likable character, and sometimes I got bored with him and it was hard to read, yet the writing itself is exquisite and the characters well-drawn. Livia, the younger daughter getting over a heartbreak and merely tolerating the wedding, was most interesting to me. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Extras:</b> Shipstead won a prestigious <a href="http://www.swansea.ac.uk/dylan-thomas-prize/">International Dylan Thomas Writing Prize</a> as a result of this book.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I watched part of this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzFXJil6i7Y">author discussion</a> which mentions the book's genesis. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I also appreciated the <a href="http://shelf-life.ew.com/2012/12/07/seating-arrangements-maggie-shipstead-interview/">interview</a> which noted Shipstead was aware that readers might be turned off by Winn's "first-world problems" of golf club waiting lists and such. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">**Out of her two books, I would recommend <i><a href="http://ya100words.blogspot.com/2014/05/astonish-me.html">Astonish Me </a></i>over this one.**</span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-59884535706444362882014-05-07T10:31:00.002-07:002014-05-07T10:33:28.716-07:00The Lost Sisterhood<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>The Lost Sisterhood</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Anne Fortier</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre</b>: Fiction</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Review</b>: While this book is long, it was definitely worth it. It follows Diana, a young Oxford academic who studies the origin of Amazon women. She is asked to go on a mysterious mission and can't resist tracking her beloved Amazons and trying to show that they really did exist, they aren't just mythology. Along the way there are adventures, vivid setting descriptions, and romantic moments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The novel's other thread follows Myrina and her sister throughout the ancient world from North Africa to Greece to the Troy of myth. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I really liked the strong female characters and learning some history as well!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There is an interesting interview at the website on the homepage: <a href="http://www.annefortier.com/">http://www.annefortier.com/</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She talks about how her next book is set in Paris!</span></span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-13171825854841051652014-05-07T10:25:00.001-07:002014-05-07T10:25:12.416-07:00Astonish Me<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Astonish Me</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Maggie Shipstead</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">I loved this book--surely it will win best novel of the year awards!</i></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre</b>: Literary Fiction</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: The novel opens the doors into the minds, the doubts, the fears, and the joys of aspiring ballerinas. If you enjoy entering the minds of the artists and reading poetic prose, check out this book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Joan falls in love with principal dancer Arslan, a celebrated Russian defector but knows she is only meant to be a Corps dancer, so she is secretly happy when she finds she is pregnant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The story cuts between the 1970s through 2000s and follows Joan, Arslan, Joan's son Harry and his best friend Chloe, and Joan's friend Elaine. There is almost no way to describe the story, the writing style, the characters--just read it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Author website:</b> <a href="http://www.maggieshipstead.com/">http://www.maggieshipstead.com/</a> </span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-20325704783432833812014-04-30T09:23:00.001-07:002014-04-30T09:27:17.655-07:00Still Life with Bread Crumbs<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Still Life with Bread Crumbs</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Anna Quindlen</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>If you want to feel like you are in a log cabin, cozy by a fire, read this book. Picking up another Anna Quindlen novel is like that. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Fiction</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: This is a novel by an author who is comfortable with her powers and her style, but not relaxed. She reveals truths about the human condition, about loneliness and love--she doesn't shy away from tragedy, but doesn't make it about tragedy, but about living. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <i>Still Life with Bread Crumbs</i> follows Rebecca Winter, a photographer, once famous, in a precarious financial situation. She moves to a cabin in upstate New York and she's just scraping by. Hiking in the woods, she searches for new inspiration as an artist.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A world away from life in Manhattan, she learns new things about herself and gives herself another chance at life after sixty. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Want to read more?</b> </span><i style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://ya100words.blogspot.com/search?q=rise+and+shine">Rise and Shine</a></i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> and </span><i style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Every Last One</i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> are both searingly powerful novels, blended with a sense of humor and the meaning of family.</span><br />
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YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-6543275012001020212014-04-23T09:25:00.002-07:002014-04-23T09:25:49.933-07:00The Invention of Wings<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Invention of Wings</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Sue Monk Kidd</b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Go read this book. Drop any of the other books you are reading and GO!</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Historical fiction</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: <i>The Invention of Wings </i>is a window into the early women's movement and the abolition movement. Hetty "Handful" is a house slave in the home of the Grimke family in Charleston, South Carolina. She and her mother are expert seamstresses and truly artists. At a young age, Handful is "given" as a birthday gift to 11-year-old Sarah. The trouble begins when Sarah Grimke teaches Handful to read. Their difficult and powerful friendship will change Sarah's life. The book is complex and provides no easy answers. It fictionalizes the lives of two sisters who existed but are not well-known in history, who later become feminists and abolitionists, Sarah and her sister Angelina Grimke. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The characterizations are lovely and heartbreaking. This book will be a classic.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I read all of the articles on Oprah.com about Sue Monk Kidd and her writing process. Check <a href="http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Oprah-Talks-with-Sue-Monk-Kidd-About-The-Invention-of-Wings">this one</a> out</span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-46347729305195092252014-04-09T11:54:00.001-07:002014-04-09T11:54:28.876-07:00Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDN38rw7Ueo/U0WUyNwA2eI/AAAAAAAAAws/XTla56wL6xU/s1600/leanin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDN38rw7Ueo/U0WUyNwA2eI/AAAAAAAAAws/XTla56wL6xU/s1600/leanin.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></span></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Lean In </span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by Sheryl Sandberg</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Nonfiction </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Recently, my book club read this book, and it was one of our best discussions of the past two years!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Before I started reading this book, I wondered: would it be relevant to me if I don' t care about moving up the corporate ladder? Were the criticisms I'd read in news articles valid?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: The book <i>was </i>relevant to me, and most criticism that I'd read before was unfounded. Sandberg qualifies many of her statements, states her advice is not intended for everyone, and </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">notes her faults</span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">. The book is well-researched yet accessible with contributions by a sociologist and expert on gender and work.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> The text includes easy-to-digest advice, like "sit at the table" and "Don't leave before you leave," and interesting anecdotes from Sandberg's life. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A major idea that resonated: men and women both deserve true choices. Men should be able to stay home with children, and women should have a true choice between working in the home vs. in the workplace, instead of having two jobs. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Read it, discuss it, live it!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://leanin.org/"><br /></a></span>
<a href="http://leanin.org/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">http://leanin.org/ </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span></a>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-2748623657781506832014-04-08T11:11:00.001-07:002014-04-08T11:11:59.221-07:00Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry</span></b></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by Rachel Joyce</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre</b>: Fiction</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: A man is settling into his retirement by sitting in a chair. One day, he receives a letter from an old friend, Queenie--she is dying of cancer in Berwick-upon-Tweed. He sets out for the postbox to post a letter to her and keeps walking. And walking. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In <i>The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry</i>, an ordinary man finds it in himself to do something extraordinary. He walks from the South of England to the North, hoping that Queenie will wait for him. The walk is more than a walk--it is a transformation. Along the way, he must deal with his fears, regrets, memories. He remembers happiness and wrenching sadness. There was a strange part in the middle where a weird group of followers join the walk--I could have done without that part. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">By walking away, he moves closer to himself and his wife Maureen. A beautiful little novel. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A photo of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/feb/18/berwick-upon-tweed-travel-tips">Berwick-upon-Tweed:</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/feb/18/berwick-upon-tweed-travel-tips"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E3oEA6fuCqY/U0Q4u-JqQUI/AAAAAAAAAwM/7TVz3meIDM4/s1600/Berwick-upon-Tweed--Engla-008.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<i>This review is over 100 words--sorry!</i>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-83011990038706276452014-04-07T22:23:00.003-07:002014-04-07T22:23:17.450-07:00The Winter People<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Winter People</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by Jennifer McMahon</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>If you are in the mood for a creepy ghost story, look no further!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Suspense</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: 19-year-old Ruthie lives an isolated life in rural Vermont with her mother and younger sister Fawn. They make their home beside Devil's Hand, a rock formation with a dangerous history, and dark and spooky woods. Many people have disappeared in the woods, and one day Ruthie wakes up and her mom is missing too. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The novel switches between present day and the past, between Ruthie in the present and Sara Harrison Shea in 1908 and her daughter Gertie (who died too young) who reportedly knew the way to create a "sleeper" and bring the dead back to life. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The stories are expertly woven together and the mood is sufficiently chilling! Don't read this one right before bedtime. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You can read my review of another one of McMahon's novels, <i>The One I Left Behind</i>, <a href="http://ya100words.blogspot.com/search?q=mcmahon">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Out of all of her novels, I recommend <i><a href="http://jennifer-mcmahon.com/books/island-of-lost-girls/overview/">The Island of Lost Girls. </a></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-76641309475489808072014-03-25T09:52:00.004-07:002014-03-25T09:54:44.710-07:00Death Comes to Pemberley<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by P.D. James</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #444444;">P.D. James gives new life to your favorite Austen characters, without being the least bit cutesy or gimmicky (like many other Austen copycats).</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre</b>: Mystery</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: What a perfect adaptation of Jane Austen's writing style with the ultimate twist for mystery-lovers--a murder mystery at Darcy's Pemberley! It was lovely to read about Elizabeth Bennet's life after <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, as she settles into domestic life and Pemberley. She and Darcy are still in love after several years.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> And of course, the night before the ball, a dead body turns up and the dashing, devilish Wickham is stirring up more trouble. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">New characters populate the story as well, while the descriptions of the woods and the estate are as enlivening as another character.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Fact: Can you believe it? At age 91, author P.D. James she has written 20 books and she is still working!</span><br />
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<b style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">On the screen</b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">: The book has been adapted to a mini-series on the BBC: I hear it comes to the U.S. in Nov. 2014.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0722629/">Matthew Rhys </a>from <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2149175/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1">The Americans</a></i> plays Darcy. </span><br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/PhmgTlVXbxw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-40744532161839261482014-03-18T10:09:00.001-07:002014-03-18T10:09:13.956-07:00A Circle of Wives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mdw8DxcaCxw/UyZE3j6UdaI/AAAAAAAAAu4/1-_X1uv7pVs/s1600/circle+of+wives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mdw8DxcaCxw/UyZE3j6UdaI/AAAAAAAAAu4/1-_X1uv7pVs/s1600/circle+of+wives.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Alice LaPlante</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Mystery?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> If you are going to read one book by LaPlante, read <i>Turn of Mind</i> (see my review below). It is much more original and shocking and suspenseful than <i>A Circle of Wives</i>. However, if you have already read <i>Turn of Mind</i>, go ahead and check out her latest novel, just don't compare the two.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Review</b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>A Circle of Wives </i>is a murder mystery, but not very suspenseful. </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A do-gooder plastic surgeon dies in a hotel room in Palo Alto, and his three wives, Deborah (the original suburban wife with empty nest syndrome gone awry), M.J. (paradoxical hippie/accountant), and Helen (pediatric oncologist, wife #3) meet at the funeral. Rookie detective Samantha is on the case but not great at solving real crimes. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Each wife is a distinct character and I wanted to read until the end, but I was not desperately turning pages. The novel addresses the question: "How could she not have known?" and posits realistic answers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My review of <a href="http://ya100words.blogspot.com/search?q=turn+of+mind">Turn of Mind</a>.</span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-85167720074521974712014-03-15T10:22:00.001-07:002014-03-15T10:22:21.014-07:00After I'm Gone<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">After I'm Gone </span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by Laura Lippman</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>How does one man's disappearance ripple through the lives of his three daughters, wife, and mistress?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre</b>: Thriller/Mystery</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Review:</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> Laura Lippman delivers the suspense and truths about marriage and family in her eighth stand-alone novel. Cold case detective Roberto "Sandy" Sanchez sees a compelling picture of Julie Saxony and decides she will be his next case. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">However, the story is really about three sisters, Michelle, Rachel, and Linda and their mother Bambi who were abandoned by father Felix when he was threatened with prison time for his illegal activities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We get a glimpse into their lives for decades, as Felix left and Julie Saxony disappeared ten years later, then her body turned up even later--cut to the present and Sandy's investigation, we follow the life stories of extraordinary and unpredictable women. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Bonus</b>! Our favorite PI Tess Monaghan (of Lippman's book series)and her husband Crow and daughter Scout make a guest appearance, which I enjoyed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Laura Lippman's Website:</b> <a href="http://lauralippman.net/all-books-in-order/">here </a>you can read all series titles of the Tess Monaghan Series</span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-57071966013412907532014-02-28T20:35:00.000-08:002014-02-28T20:35:52.149-08:00The Paris Wife<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Paris Wife</span></b></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by Paula McLain</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This novel is literary yet warmly, emotionally resonant--recommended for book clubs! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre: </b>Literary Fiction</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b> Hadley is a Midwestern young woman in search of adventure when she meets 21-year-old Ernest Hemingway. They fall in love through letters, and decide to get married. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Soon, they set out for 1920s Paris, where Ernest will launch his writing career over the next five years. Set in America, Paris, Spain, and Austria, this novel follows Hadley, Ernest, and later, their baby son. Hadley is a strong, intellectual character in her own right. McLain does not overshadow her with Ernest's personality, and readers understand the nuances of a woman caught between eras, between wife and the chic woman of the 20s. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Extras: </b>I enjoyed <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/features/paula_mclain/photo-gallery/">this photo gallery </a>on Paula McLain's website</span><br />
<br />YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-42793655851815801322014-02-15T10:52:00.002-08:002014-02-15T10:52:12.699-08:00Rise and Shine: A Story of Sisters<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Rise and Shine</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Anna Quindlen</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Can't wait to read other novels by <a href="http://annaquindlen.net/">Anna Quindlen</a>!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Literary Fiction</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review</b>: Weighty and wonderful and funny. Serious and literary without being annoying. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This novel is essentially a story about sisters. 40-somethings living in NYC, but their relationship is relatable for all ages. Meghan is a mega-watt celebrity, star of morning show <i>Rise and Shine</i>. Bridget is the younger sister, a social worker in the Bronx. They are both devoted to Meghan's son, Leo. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As you read the summary, you think Meghan's "falling apart" on air, sabotaging her career, or her failing marriage, will be at the core of the novel. But there is so much more there. Read to find out! </span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-75938263084938083822014-02-13T08:55:00.001-08:002014-02-13T08:55:51.054-08:00Quiet: great nonfiction read<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Quiet: The Power of Introverts </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">in a World that Can't Stop Taking</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by Susan Cain</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GpfPJ4vhz_Y/Uvz4OhvVr_I/AAAAAAAAAt4/FcVtWtFGiHM/s1600/quiet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GpfPJ4vhz_Y/Uvz4OhvVr_I/AAAAAAAAAt4/FcVtWtFGiHM/s1600/quiet.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review: </b>Cain explores the lives of introverts through case studies about people she has met and interviewed. She studies the research from neuroscience, personality psychology and social psychology and presents it succinctly and insightfully for the reader. She traces the history of the "extrovert ideal," and discusses how this manifests in businesses and schools. Finally, she provides practical advice on raising introverted children and thriving as an introvert in relationships and career, and points out a few things extraverts can learn from us introverts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This powerful book was years in the making and could be a revelation to closet introverts!</span></div>
YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-52805219141086375442014-02-07T19:24:00.001-08:002014-02-07T19:24:16.254-08:00The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7TwRrxv_z4g/Uu6w1TdlC3I/AAAAAAAAAto/2TSwa7M2NW0/s1600/flvai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7TwRrxv_z4g/Uu6w1TdlC3I/AAAAAAAAAto/2TSwa7M2NW0/s1600/flvai.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<b><i>The Dead in the Vaulted Arches</i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>A Flavia De Luce Mystery</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Alan Bradley</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b> The whole village waits beside Flavia, Daphne, Ophelia, and Father at Buckshaw Halt train station for the arrival of Harriet, Flavia's long lost mother. Suspicious cousin Lena appears on the scene, and Aunt Felicity reveals secrets of the past. Flavia has a dream to bring her mother back to life, and she finds out more about her mother's life and her own. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Although the story has elements of mystery, this novel is more character-driven and more emotionally resonant than the other books in the mystery series, and I loved it. The novel subtly shows how Flavia's relationship with her family changes. </span></div>
YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-47960221087712701882014-02-02T12:54:00.001-08:002014-02-02T12:54:51.929-08:00Every Day <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Every Day</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by David Levithan</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SH2IqxuSQCU/Uu6wLegT17I/AAAAAAAAAtY/eU3ORklpWsg/s1600/every.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SH2IqxuSQCU/Uu6wLegT17I/AAAAAAAAAtY/eU3ORklpWsg/s1600/every.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre</b>: YA fiction</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review:</b> Every day, A. wakes up in a different body. Each person is the same age as him, but may live nearby or hours away. A.'s life has always been like this, and accepting it is all that can be done. That is, until A. inhabits the body of Justin and meets Rhiannon, falling in love with her during a perfect day at the beach. Can living such a strange life lead to true love or only loss? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is an inventive story with a complex array of emotional pitfalls and possibilities for deftly-drawn characters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> An intriguing read!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6K5TUJ5MAOY/Uu6wTpogS6I/AAAAAAAAAtg/9n9k-KGTlE0/s1600/everday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6K5TUJ5MAOY/Uu6wTpogS6I/AAAAAAAAAtg/9n9k-KGTlE0/s1600/everday.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Read about his latest books at the author's website: http://www.davidlevithan.com/</span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-79795527852972769032014-01-19T19:20:00.001-08:002014-01-19T19:20:10.109-08:00The Cutting Season<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>The Cutting Season</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Attica Locke</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genre</b>: Mystery/Thriller</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Author Attica Locke is a former screenplay writer handpicked by Dennis Lehane for his new <a href="http://www.dennislehane.com/imprint">publishing imprint</a> for her first novel, <i>Black Water Rising</i>. </span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><b style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Review:</b><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Cutting Season </i>is set near a sugar cane plantation in Louisiana. Caren and her daughter Morgan live above the library while she manages the historical reenactments and events at the plantation. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Are the ghosts of the past finally catching up to the plantation? When a dead body turns up by the old slave cabins, Caren struggles to clear the name of one of her staff and things get complicated when Morgan's father reappears to help. Caren wonders if the murder of her ancestor, Jason, hundreds of years ago could be related to the recent mystery. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> A suspenseful, eerie, well-paced novel.</span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260610657856794191.post-35219010920314785342014-01-19T09:33:00.001-08:002014-01-19T09:33:37.595-08:00The Apartment<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>The Apartment</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Greg Baxter</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVSZQcLpGek/UtLrgS9wGPI/AAAAAAAAAsg/9yZbg4RUsOM/s1600/apart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVSZQcLpGek/UtLrgS9wGPI/AAAAAAAAAsg/9yZbg4RUsOM/s1600/apart.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review: </b>This is the literary novel at its best and at its worst. It is ruminative (which I like), but it takes itself too seriously at times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> A man is looking for an apartment in an unnamed European city. Saskia, a local, shows him around the city. He enjoys the Christmas markets, the snow, and the sense of hope involved in starting life again and looking for an apartment. There are flashbacks to his past life in the Army and as a civilian contractor in Iraq. There are long tangents about art, which I found annoying, even though I love art. </span>YA Lit in 100 Words or Lesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237779681158224067noreply@blogger.com0