lit*chick

10 on Tuesday: Lit*Chick Weekly Reader

Didn't you used to love getting your newsprint copy of the Weekly Reader? This is my version...a sprinkling of bookish news and some quick thoughts on what I've read this week.

1.   Mockingjay (Book 3 in Hunger Games series) by Suzanne Collins - the spoiler free version: first thought, it was kind of slow. Definitely not as much action as we've seen in the first two books. I'm also on the fence about some big plot bummers and what I perceive as a lackluster finale from Katniss the heroine.  It was a satisfying although frustrating end and I know I'm going to be thinking about it for a while.

2. Loved this list at Publishers Weekly with 20 indie sellers - I added many to my list.

3. Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart - did not disappoint. An excerpt:

"That night Katherine gave up trying to talk sense into Anna. That night she did not try to argue her twin sister out of her garantuan joy; she did not try to save her. It was then that Katherine decided to begin to look the other way on purpose, but this time without anger, without the intent to prove a point. She decided to stop protecting Anna, so that she might love her more truly.

It was a decision she had made. She didn't forsee the consequences." (p.94)

4. Slogging through Anna Karenina for bookclub. I know it will be worthwhile and I'm determined to finish, please tell me it gets better...I'm only on page 150. Help.

5. Read and LOVED   Starting from Scratch by Susan Gilbert Collins - Hope this one doesn't get lost in the shadow of the more heavily marketed Simply from Scratch. Both about cooking and grief...this one gets it just right.

6. As usual I'm reading more than one book...besides AK... The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman - don't know if I'll finish. Also Lorrie Moore's A Gate at the Stairs. I already know from trusted reading friends that it's a bit spotty, but her writing can be impeccable and worth it for those little nuggets of goodness. 

7. Same goes for Anne Tyler - finished Noah's Compass. Even though I wasn't pro-Liam (the main character) her writing made it worthwhile.

8. Grabbed the new Ivan Doig - Work Song - at the library and didn't realize it's continuing the story of Morrie Morgan, the teacher from The Whistling Season (so good). I love those kind of surprises.

9. Headed to Cricket afterschool so KWB could pick up  39 Clues Book 10: Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

10. Started Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel on Kindle. I'm getting the hang of e-books and the balance between those and good old fashioned paper. Paper is still winning, but only because I like to share them.

10a.I have joined Twitter. Still holding out on FB. And digging in on that one. Follow along @litchickcafe.

10b.There will be a giveaway here tomorrow, sponsored by our friends at Penguin Group.

The End.

Review: The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

The Stormchasers: A Novel by Jenna Blum, 384 pages. Available now in hardcover from Dutton Adult.

How far would you go to protect a sibling—and at what cost to yourself?

As teenagers, Karena Jorge had always been the one to look out for her brother Charles, who suffers from bipolar disorder. But as Charles begins to refuse medication and his manic tendencies worsen, Karena finds herself caught between her loyalty to her brother and her fear for his life. Always obsessed with severe weather, whose wild and magic energy seems to mirror his own impulses, Charles begins chasing storms, and his behavior grows increasingly erratic . . . until a terrifying chase with Karena ends with deadly consequences, tearing the twins apart and changing their lives forever. 

Two decades later, Karena, now a reporter for the Minneapolis Ledger, gets a call from a mental health ward in Wichita, Kansas, to come pick up her brother, whom she hasn’t seen or spoken to for twenty years. She soon discovers that Charles has lied to the doctors, taken medication that could make him dangerously manic, and disappeared again. Having exhausted all her reporter’s resources to track him down, Karena realizes she has only one last chance of finding Charles: the storms. Wherever the tornadoes are, that’s where he’ll be. Karena joins a team of professional stormchasers—passionate adventurers who will transform her life and offer her a chance to love and redemption—and embarks on an odyssey to find her brother before he does more damage to himself—or to somebody else.

On the surface, tornadoes and bipolar disorder do not seem to have much in common, however they are skillfully woven together in Jenna Blum's latest. There was a lot I liked about this book.The first half was a total ride - the science and skill and brazen hunt for tornadoes. Beyond the surface thrill of stormchasing, another chase - the mystery of Karena's lost brother Charles, where did he go, why is he hiding, and then the search set in the midst of tornado alley. Even if you aren't already interested in weather, it is an absorbing read.

There is a shift that occurs once Charles is found. As Blum puts the daily toll of bipolar disorder on display, the revelation of the long held secret seems a tad clumsy. I thought the insight into living with mental illness was spot on.  I can't pinpoint when it soured for me, possibly the buildup to the long held secret. Or maybe once the ride slowed down, I wanted one more loop. Whatever the issue, I cannot argue with Blum's ability - she is a true storyteller.

For a cool interview with author Jenna Blum check out Bloggin' 'Bout Books

Author's website: http://www.jennablum.com

The End.

10 on Tuesday: Summer Recap

 
1. The end of summer is upon us. As you read this, the first day of school has come (and gone). And I am totally okay with that. Bring it on, fall.

2. We moved this summer, in case you are new here or missed all the lamenting over packing and staging the house for sale. Aforementioned woes were aired here from January through June. A word about unpacking - it may actually be worse than packing. And we are still a work in progress, except for the bookshelves. :) (i have taken a bit of grief about that.)

3. The blog got two new reviewers! This has been a huge help since my writing mojo was left at the old house. Trish is covering mostly southern fiction with some historical fiction and lighter reads as well. Colleen is my ya expert, she specializes in dystopian, but is willing to read whatever I send her. Welcome again, Trish and Colleen!

4. Right after the move I had a little surgery. It threw a little wrench into the last two weeks of July, since it came as a surprise (aka emergency). All is well, thanks.

5. Between moving and recovery I lost the ENTIRE month of July. Gone. Never getting it back. A month  best forgotten.

6. I have been known to refer to seasons by certain foods...this will be the Summer of Pesto. We (Evie, Owen and I) have been putting it on everything. yum.

7. I don't think I've taken more than a handful of pictures since June. And apart from the outside of the house, no pics of the new home either. Basically the whole summer has been undocumented. Sigh.

8. We did have a lovely albeit pricey getaway at the Chesapeake Hyatt Resort in Cambridge. I can't recall when I was last served pina coladas poolside, but it was more than 12 years ago. And that alone was worth it.

9. I broke my new phone. I had it a little over two months. Not good. Not good at all.

10. KWB is in middle school. He is my first baby. He grew almost 3 inches this summer (to about 5'3")and his feet....I can't even talk about it. May the Lord have mercy on us all.

The End.

Review: Undercover by Beth Kephart

  Undercover by Beth Kephart, 288 pages. Available in paperback from HarperTeen.

I first discovered author Beth Kephart through the writings of her neighbor Andree Seu, who happens to be my favorite essayist. They would exchange their writing with one another via packages on their respective front porches. And Andree calls Beth her writing teacher so I figured it would be best to check out a beloved writer of a beloved writer. Beth Kephart may be best known for her book A Slant of Sun: One Child's Courage, a memoir about raising her son who was on the spectrum before there was a spectrum. Her non-fiction is beautiful and eloquent - rare attributes in the memoir genre. I was vaguely aware she was writing ya fiction and began stumbling upon reviews for Undercover.

This review is a long time coming. I read this book early in 2009 and started writing the review last October. Much like Evie's scrapbook, which remains empty, I am afraid I cannot do it justice. Admittedly daunted by trying to express my thoughts on this one..so here goes.

Undercover is everything young adult literature should be - bittersweet normalcy. Elisa is a word girl, she has a gift. How is she using it?  By writing verse for boys not in love with her - a modern day Cyrano.  She lives in her head, her home life is less than idyllic (but  refreshingly normal), and she yearns to be seen  while at the same time treasuring her time alone skating in the woods. There is no angst, no shocking revelation, no melodrama, no smoldering glance - just pure truth and insight into the mind of a teenage girl with all that particular season of life includes. The achingly lovely prose caused me to read much of the book with a well of tears in my eyes. I practically grieved over Elisa's tender heart, knowing and remembering the universal baggage that comes with that age, particularly for quiet girls.

This is a genre most recently pandering to the Twilighters (don't get me wrong, I got sucked in too), but Beth Kephart's writing raises the bar - it's smart and hopeful. And there is no better feeling than book anticipation - I am currently savoring the stack of her other ya titles on my shelf. I may review them or simply enjoy them without the pressure of forming my thoughts into words. So consider this your call to action. Her latest book Dangerous Neighbors should be on my doorstep tomorrow.

For those of you saying, "wow, this gushfest is odd and unintentionally creepy. she has lost all subjectivity." I say yes, yes I have. Although there is no need to be afraid. I am not alone in my adoration of Beth Kephart. She is a friend to many book bloggers, here are their reviews of Undercover:

Bermudaonion

Presenting Lenore

Devourer of Books

My Friend Amy

And then of course, there's Beth Kephart's Blog. Which if you aren't reading already you really should be.

The End.

Trish's Review: Simply From Scratch by Alicia Bessette

Simply from Scratch: A Novel by Alicia Bessette, 313 pages. Available now in hardcover from Dutton Adult.

Zell Carmichael is a young widow grieving for her husband Nick, who was killed in post Katrina New Orleans.  She spends her days alone in her apartment wearing her husband’s camouflage apron and speaking “pirate-speak” to her Greyhound, Ahab.  When a minor baking incident forces Zell to evacuate her home she meets her nine-year old neighbor, Ingrid - a smart, lonely girl who believes that T.V. celebrity chef Polly Pinch is her mother. Ingrid's obsession spurs Zell to enter Polly Pinch's baking contest. More than just baking, Simply from Scratch deals with grief, healing and the unexpected relationships people form.

When Lit *Chick asked me to review this book I had high expectations. I was intrigued by the title, insert description and cover (I know, I know!).  For some reason I was expecting something similar to one of my favorite books, Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos. (Her endorsement may have been the culprit. - Mel) Unfortunately, Simply from Scratch fell short. I felt the reader was falsely led by the characters to believe there was some big secret surrounding Nick’s death. I was waiting for a big reveal that never came.  Also, as a foodie, I was slightly disappointed with the lack of baking and preparing for the competition. Lastly, I felt that one major character that “disappears” mid book was unnecessary and made the story change for me. (I won’t elaborate because this could be a spoiler.)  On the positive side, I enjoyed the growing relationship between Zell and Ingrid and how they were unexpectedly helping each other with their own sadness. I would give this book 3 stars.

Check out the author's website: http://www.aliciabessette.com - if you're interested the first chapter is available to read.

Melanie adds: I too thought this would be a fun, light, foodie read and was intrigued by the post-Katrina storyline.  There wasn't much baking (although a recipe is included) and I had a hard time connecting with Zell.  The mystery surrounding Nick's death was clunkyand as Trish mentioned the reaction to the "missing" character didn't ring true. I couldn't help but grin during the scene with the baby bouncing on grandpa's knee to the rhyme "Trot Trot to Boston" - we have done it with all our littles. I get a  soft spot for stories that contain a familiar element, especially one so special and specific.  The strength of Simply from Scratch is in exploring the idea of grief in community - how sorrow affects many, not just the person closest to it. Still an enjoyable read, and with adjusted expectations, worth a look.

Many thanks to Dutton Publicity for a review copy.

Review- Admission: A Novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Admission: A Novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz, 464 pages. Available now in paperback from Grand Central Publishing.

from the back cover:

For years, thirty-eight-year-old Portia Nathan has hidden behind her busy- and sometimes punishing- career as a Princeton University admissions officer and her less than passionate relationship. Then suddenly, the piece of her past that she has tried so hard to bury resurfaces, catapulting her on an extraordinary journey of the heart that challenges everything she ever thought she believed. Soon, just as Portia must decide on the fates of thousands of bright students regarding their admission to Princeton, so too must she confront the life-altering decision she made long ago.

Maybe it is because I have a fascination with Princeton or maybe I'm just curious about the college application and selection process (looking ahead five years). Not that Admission in any way encourages Ivy League applications, in fact it is a bit of a cautionary tale. Only an insider could have the knowledge necessary to write this type of book, but in order for it to be done well, respect for the job is also essential. The author skillfully handles this combination of reverence and reality without it seeming like a cheesy expose, and manages to weave a compelling character in its midst. 

"Admissions work is something people just find they're good at. Or they don't. Or they may be good at it, but they discover it's very difficult for them emotionally. It does affect you. You're very aware of what's out there, and the stress these kids are under. And they're very deserving. You want to say yes to them all, but you can't. People either make their peace with that or they need to do something else." (p.105)

Portia was restrained yet still likable as she struggled to balance her work and keep her past a secret. Ms. Korelitz reveals the somewhat predictable secret in flashbacks that also serve to give more of Portia's background, yet still keeps the outcome fresh. I liked Portia's wit and intelligence and appreciated her reserve as it contrasted with her unraveling as the story progressed.

I must admit one of my favorite parts of the book were  the fictional essay excerpts that began each chapter. It certainly gave an added dimension to understanding Portia's work as well as being entertaining.

"Hello admissions officer! I'm sure you are tired from reading all these essays! Take a break, have some coffee. I'll be right here when you get back." (p.251)

Even though I figured out the secret and had suspicions about where the story would lead, I was still riveted - a testament to Korelitz's storytelling ability. The combination of setting and character proved to be a winner. And reading about college admissions stirred up those memorable emotions of dread and excitement that surround this rite of passage.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the review copy. For more about the author, visit her website: http://www.jeanhanffkorelitz.com

The End.

Colleen's Review: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

The Disreputable History of Frankie Laundau-Banks by E. Lockhart, 352 pages. Available in paperback.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is intelligent, thought-provoking, sensitive, and best of all, funny. It's a story of a young girl coming to realize how her life has forced her into a position of powerlessness. Frankie's overprotective mother calls her by the demeaning nickname "Bunny Rabbit." Her father clearly wishes she was a boy. Her older sister is condescending. In her second year of boarding school, Frankie falls in love, and when she realizes that her boyfriend is part of an all-boy secret society, she infiltrates the Loyal Order of the Basset Hound and uses its patriarchal dynamics and a stolen 'alpha' identity to become its unknown, unacknowledged leader, only to have the whole thing blow up in her face when her secret is exposed.

This book was well thought out, inspirational, and hysterical. Lockhart did a great job developing characters and keeping this reader interested and entertained. However, the author tended to ramble on about certain topics having no real plot significance which contributed to the occasional slow point. This book was such an interesting read. The Disreputable History uncovers the reality of being a true feminist in a teenage relationship, but also manages to include hilarious pranks and typical teenage awkwardness. I will say that I didn’t completely agree with how Frankie deals with the issues presented throughout the plot, but what I did like was her spunk and desire to break down the wall of a secret organization, then be part of it. I think the central point of a girl not taking no for an answer, might get lost in all the wordy and lengthy writing, but it’s absolutely worth reading. I would suggest it to anyone looking for a confident heroine with a mix of pranks, love, feminism, and laughter. If you’re looking for further reading with a similar vibe I would certainly recommend the Gallagher Girl Series by Ally Carter, beginning with I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You.

also checkout author E. Lockhart's blog: The Boyfriend List

Tricia's Review: On Folly Beach by Karen White

On Folly Beach by Karen White, 416 pages. Available in paperback.

On Folly Beach is the story of Emmy Hamilton as she searches for a new beginning while uncovering another family's past. After her soldier husband is killed in Afghanistan, Emmy moves to the barrier island of Folly Beach, South Carolina. She purchases the local bookstore, Folly's Finds, with the agreement the previous owner's older sister Lulu will remain to sell her bottle trees.(Bottle trees were said to have been brought to the American south by African slaves, as part of a tradition to ward off evil.)

Not only does Emmy inherit Lulu, but also a mystery found in the margins of books stashed in the attic of the old shop. These secret messages from World War II compel Emmy to uncover more about the author's identity while dealing with her grief.

As with all Karen White's novels, I really enjoyed On Folly Beach. I loved that Emmy owned a bookstore, and the mystery element with the old books.  I am a big fan of southern fiction with the eccentric characters and gorgeous scenery and was not disappointed. Emmy came from Indiana and I appreciated the description the first time she saw the ocean.

"She'd seen oceans in movies, and in her mother's photographs, but now standing in front of the great Atlantic, she felt the pulsing of the waves, felt the power and breadth of the water as it bled out into the horizon, endless and liquid like the earth's lifeblood. It made her feel alive, unlike anything she'd felt under the broad flat skies of home.As she stared out at the dark vastness, her veins seemed to pump with the ancient rhythm of the waves, giving her kinship to every person who'd ever lived by the water, yet at the same time making her feel very, very insignificant." (pg.130-131)

Melanie adds:  I had never heard of bottle trees, and appreciated their history and significance in the story. Here is a  link to pictures and a store that sell these unique sculptures - Bottle Tree Store. If you are interested, I encourage you to search further...and if you buy one send me a picture!

the end.

Colleen's Review: My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares, 336 pages. Available in hardcover from Riverhead Books.

This enchanting tale enlivens the imagination and takes the reader on a hopscotch journey through time. The possibilities of past lives and immortal memory joined with a love that “transcends time” lures the reader into Daniel and Lucy's story of love within a multitude of lives for them both, but those of which only Daniel has the ability to remember. As the story builds, Lucy and Daniel's points-of-view alternate with the chapters, keeping the reader involved with both characters and the overwhelming inner conflicts they each have to work through as they mature. Daniel's connections from centuries past, some helpful and some deadly, come to influence their lives and their future.

It is without saying that this story’s plot line is extremely creative. The Time Traveler’s Wife meets Twilight.” Although this provides a near perfect description, do not be fooled, vampires are nowhere to be found! This book has the sporadic energy of The Time Traveler’s Wife and is reminiscent of the Bella/Edward relationship in Twilight. Once I understood the concept, I was awed by the geniusness of the notion. However, I was disappointed by the execution as the story unfolded. This book starts slow with little to drive the reader further along. The climax does not really begin to take shape and excite until ¾ of the way through the novel and turns out to be a bit predictable. And finally, the main character Daniel takes on an unbelievable devoutness to his love Lucy, which ultimately is a bit unnerving and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. However his first person accounts of his life through history give an authenticity to the events, making them worldly and interesting. Despite all this, there is a major point that pushed me to finish this story - how could it possibly end? Answer: a complete cliffhanger, suggesting a sequel will certainly follow. All in all, Melanie and I concluded that the concept deserves 4 stars but the actual writing is more like 2 stars, so it averages out to about 3 stars.

Thanks Colleen...I would like to add I may have incorrectly assumed this was a teen book, but after reading it the content seems more suited for ya. There is an interesting blog post here about this new "genre". - Melanie

Review - Commuters: A Novel by Emily Gray Tedrowe

Commuters: A Novel by Emily Gray Tedrowe, 400 pages.

"It was a small-town June wedding, and the bride was seventy-eight."

I love how the first line of this story is so succinct yet reveals what is to come. When Winnie Easton marries wealthy businessman Jerry in her small town of Hartfield and they purchase one of the town's largest homes, there is no shortage of opinions. The ripple effect includes their own family - Winnie's daughter, Jerry's daughter and grandson - whose reactions are all examined as Jerry's health begins to decline.

The multigenerational aspect first attracted me to this book, although I wrongly predicted how large a role the community has in the story.  This is a tightly woven family drama that explores how certain members respond and adapt when the elders marry. It was a thoughtful look at how expectation and hope intermingles with love and complex family dynamics. I enjoyed the author's prose immensely particularly her ability to capture the small moments and movements that occur in daily living with a sparse elegance. Commuters was a solid first novel by Emily Gray Tedrowe and I look forward to reading more of her work.

If you are interested, Emily Gray Tedrowe will be discussing Commuters with Erica from Book Club Girl TONIGHT on Blog Talk Radio. at 7pm. I always benefit from hearing an author talk about their work and encourage you to tune in.

Thank you once again to TLC Book Tours for the review copy. More reviews of this book can be found here.

The End.