I didn't finish this book. I got a whopping 58 pages into it and gave up. I should've stopped 20 pages ago. Nothing is happening. Farmer marries former Disney mermaid. Has two children. Dies of heart attack. Former mermaid/Cinderella finds God. Older son is a spoiled rich brat who gets himself sent to boarding school by rebelling with drugs, sex, and alcohol. He's screws around, might be bi. He meets beautiful model. They get married. Move into a basement apartment in NYC. He wants to be an actor. Seriously, that was all 58 pages summed up. BORING. No idea where the story is going, and frankly I don't care.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Monday, October 12, 2015
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
This novel was on Amazon's list of best books of the month. I am warning you, it's not for the faint of heart.
I've read some of Slaughter's work before, but this one is definitely the creepiest and goriest (is that a word)? There were a few spots I skipped ahead because I wasn't too keen on the details of sexual violence. I also considered not writing a review for the blog, but I would bet the ALA would be disappointed in me. The world ain't unicorns and rainbows. The reality is that the violence against women portrayed here exists in our world. Ignoring it doesn't make it go away.
Julia was nineteen when she disappeared. She was a college student, out for a few drinks with friends, when she vanished on the walk back to her dorm. At the time, the police dismissed her disappearance as a free spirited girl off on her own adventure. Her father never gave up looking for her. His obsession led to his divorce and estrangement from his other daughters.
Lydia, the next oldest, is the troubled child. Drugs, sex, alcohol. She is hooking for drugs when she discovers she is pregnant. Dee's birth straightens Lydia out. She uses knowledge from her father's veterinary practice to get a job as an assistant groomer. A few years later, she owns a home and her own mobile grooming business. Her daughter Dee wins a scholarship to an elite prep school, she has a steady boyfriend (a mechanic named Rick), and a plethora of pets.
Claire, the baby, is married to a wealthy businessman, Paul Scott. He is more computer nerd than Wolf of Wall Street, and Claire finds him "safe" (compared to the men her sisters ran around with). They do not have children nor pets in their gated mansion. Claire need not work, but spends her time volunteering.
The sisters have not spoken to each other in nearly twenty years, when Claire and Paul are held up leaving a bar. Although they give the man their money, phones, and jewelry, he stabs Paul, who then dies. It becomes clear to the reader something is really messed up when Lydia tells Rick she is happy Paul is dead and then attempts to urinate on his grave.
Claire returns from the funeral to find her home broken into (as 300 guests are set to arrive for the memorial). The FBI wants to question her, her husband's business partner is threatening her for files, and the local PD seems to be brushing her off. As Claire digs into Paul's things, she begins to unravel a web of lies and discovers Paul is not who he says. It is much, much worse than the embezzlement she suspects.
I won't spoil anything further. Just be aware there are some pretty gruesome scenes of sexual violence. I am happy to say, though, karma wins in the end.
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
Tweet what you're reading #whhs #read
Submit your reviews to "The Westie Review" in The Rostrum
I've read some of Slaughter's work before, but this one is definitely the creepiest and goriest (is that a word)? There were a few spots I skipped ahead because I wasn't too keen on the details of sexual violence. I also considered not writing a review for the blog, but I would bet the ALA would be disappointed in me. The world ain't unicorns and rainbows. The reality is that the violence against women portrayed here exists in our world. Ignoring it doesn't make it go away.
Julia was nineteen when she disappeared. She was a college student, out for a few drinks with friends, when she vanished on the walk back to her dorm. At the time, the police dismissed her disappearance as a free spirited girl off on her own adventure. Her father never gave up looking for her. His obsession led to his divorce and estrangement from his other daughters.
Lydia, the next oldest, is the troubled child. Drugs, sex, alcohol. She is hooking for drugs when she discovers she is pregnant. Dee's birth straightens Lydia out. She uses knowledge from her father's veterinary practice to get a job as an assistant groomer. A few years later, she owns a home and her own mobile grooming business. Her daughter Dee wins a scholarship to an elite prep school, she has a steady boyfriend (a mechanic named Rick), and a plethora of pets.
Claire, the baby, is married to a wealthy businessman, Paul Scott. He is more computer nerd than Wolf of Wall Street, and Claire finds him "safe" (compared to the men her sisters ran around with). They do not have children nor pets in their gated mansion. Claire need not work, but spends her time volunteering.
The sisters have not spoken to each other in nearly twenty years, when Claire and Paul are held up leaving a bar. Although they give the man their money, phones, and jewelry, he stabs Paul, who then dies. It becomes clear to the reader something is really messed up when Lydia tells Rick she is happy Paul is dead and then attempts to urinate on his grave.
Claire returns from the funeral to find her home broken into (as 300 guests are set to arrive for the memorial). The FBI wants to question her, her husband's business partner is threatening her for files, and the local PD seems to be brushing her off. As Claire digs into Paul's things, she begins to unravel a web of lies and discovers Paul is not who he says. It is much, much worse than the embezzlement she suspects.
I won't spoil anything further. Just be aware there are some pretty gruesome scenes of sexual violence. I am happy to say, though, karma wins in the end.
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
Tweet what you're reading #whhs #read
Submit your reviews to "The Westie Review" in The Rostrum
Thursday, October 8, 2015
The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
I really had to push myself to get through this book. It was a recommendation from Amazon and is a Newbery Medal winner. I was waiting for something to happen. The novel is written in the form of a diary and reads like a memior. The problem was that nothing exciting seemed to happen in the main character's life.
Joan is a farm girl, replacing her deceased mother as being in charge of the household duties like cooking and cleaning, taking care of her father and brothers. Her father pulls her out of school, demanding she focuses on her work rather than an education. When she asks for money (the egg money from selling the chickens' eggs, that typically goes to the woman of the household), her father refuses. Joan goes on a "strike" and as punishment, her father burns her books. Joan runs away to Baltimore.
Joan is taken in by an Orthodox Jewish family; she lies about her age and uses the alias Janet. She finds conflict with her own faith (Catholic) and city versus farm life.
There are definitely some philosophical moments, things like women's rights, intellectual and religious freedom, what makes a family, respect, financial responsibilty. But nothing happens. Nothing.
Have to say, not a book I'd recommend!
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS. Tweet what you're reading using #whhs #read. Submit your reviews to The Rostrum via email.
Joan is a farm girl, replacing her deceased mother as being in charge of the household duties like cooking and cleaning, taking care of her father and brothers. Her father pulls her out of school, demanding she focuses on her work rather than an education. When she asks for money (the egg money from selling the chickens' eggs, that typically goes to the woman of the household), her father refuses. Joan goes on a "strike" and as punishment, her father burns her books. Joan runs away to Baltimore.
Joan is taken in by an Orthodox Jewish family; she lies about her age and uses the alias Janet. She finds conflict with her own faith (Catholic) and city versus farm life.
There are definitely some philosophical moments, things like women's rights, intellectual and religious freedom, what makes a family, respect, financial responsibilty. But nothing happens. Nothing.
Have to say, not a book I'd recommend!
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS. Tweet what you're reading using #whhs #read. Submit your reviews to The Rostrum via email.
Monday, October 5, 2015
The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
Stieg Larsson died in 2004. His "Millennium" series, probably better known as the Lisbeth Salander trilogy, was published after his death from a heart attack. A fourth novel remains unpublished. I feel this novel is being marketed as that "fourth" novel. In fact, an entirely separate author wrote this one, hired by Larsson's publishing company, likely to keep the Salander name fresh as the fourth novel remains embroiled in court battles over Larsson's estate and works. It was a mistake.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remains one of my favorite books. Its sequels, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, were not as good in my opinion. Larsson died without finishing any of them. According to his fiance, there are rough outlines of what would be 10 Salander novels on his computer. I do not believe he intended the novels to be published at all, and that books 2 and 3 were nowhere near complete as thought.
Now we have a problem in that many questions left unanswered have been, even though they may not fit in with what Larsson had planned! The biggest being Lisbeth's sister Camilla.
Wholly unimpressed. Waaaayyyyy too much fluff, not enough Lisbeth.
Tweet what you're reading and share it with The Rostrum!
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remains one of my favorite books. Its sequels, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, were not as good in my opinion. Larsson died without finishing any of them. According to his fiance, there are rough outlines of what would be 10 Salander novels on his computer. I do not believe he intended the novels to be published at all, and that books 2 and 3 were nowhere near complete as thought.
Now we have a problem in that many questions left unanswered have been, even though they may not fit in with what Larsson had planned! The biggest being Lisbeth's sister Camilla.
Wholly unimpressed. Waaaayyyyy too much fluff, not enough Lisbeth.
Tweet what you're reading and share it with The Rostrum!
Friday, October 2, 2015
Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran.
Eh. That's my review. Eh.
I saw this book on display at the circulation desk of WHPL when picking up a hold. The cover looked interesting, as the dust jacket sounded. Figured, why not?
Sita is the oldest daughter of a widower in India, prior to British rule, in the mid 1800s. Treated like a son, allowed an education and physical activity, she has already hit puberty, thus an arranged marriage is likely out of the question. Her mother dies in childbirth with her younger sister. Sita's grandmother attempts to sell her into a brothel, but her father rejects the plan and vows she will earn a spot in the queen's all-female guard.
Sita trains with a neighbor and becomes skilled in archery, firearms, knives, swords, and combat. She swears her allegiance to the queen and passes the trial with flying colors.
Sita is an outcast, as she is from the villages, not the city of Jhansi, like most of the other members of the guard. Nonetheless, she becomes one of the queen's favorites and guides her mistress through the birth and death of a child, the king's infidelities (with other men), and lastly, wartime.
Here are some of the issues I had in reading:
The novel is written with Indian names and spellings (rightfully so). I had a hard time keeping straight who was who with the true names, so I gave everyone pseudonyms.
Sita's grandmother pissed me the heck off. Get off your high horse lady and protect your granddaughters.
Why did the king need to be a closet gay? Was it really necessary? Would that not have, in reality, shamed the queen? Would it not have made Jhansi look weak? How would homosexuality be OK, but an unmarried daughter not be OK? It really felt like "here's a current topic, let me throw it in". The real king (and this is a fictionalized account of a true story) might really have been gay, and frankly, I don't care. It just didn't feel needed in this particular version of the story.
Shakespeare? Sita was well-versed in Shakespeare? The author states this is fact in her notes. Again, maybe so, but it felt wholly unrealistic.
So, eh. Just eh.
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
Read something you like and want to share it with WHHS? Email me your review to appear in The Westie Review corner of The Rostrum!
I saw this book on display at the circulation desk of WHPL when picking up a hold. The cover looked interesting, as the dust jacket sounded. Figured, why not?
Sita is the oldest daughter of a widower in India, prior to British rule, in the mid 1800s. Treated like a son, allowed an education and physical activity, she has already hit puberty, thus an arranged marriage is likely out of the question. Her mother dies in childbirth with her younger sister. Sita's grandmother attempts to sell her into a brothel, but her father rejects the plan and vows she will earn a spot in the queen's all-female guard.
Sita trains with a neighbor and becomes skilled in archery, firearms, knives, swords, and combat. She swears her allegiance to the queen and passes the trial with flying colors.
Sita is an outcast, as she is from the villages, not the city of Jhansi, like most of the other members of the guard. Nonetheless, she becomes one of the queen's favorites and guides her mistress through the birth and death of a child, the king's infidelities (with other men), and lastly, wartime.
Here are some of the issues I had in reading:
The novel is written with Indian names and spellings (rightfully so). I had a hard time keeping straight who was who with the true names, so I gave everyone pseudonyms.
Sita's grandmother pissed me the heck off. Get off your high horse lady and protect your granddaughters.
Why did the king need to be a closet gay? Was it really necessary? Would that not have, in reality, shamed the queen? Would it not have made Jhansi look weak? How would homosexuality be OK, but an unmarried daughter not be OK? It really felt like "here's a current topic, let me throw it in". The real king (and this is a fictionalized account of a true story) might really have been gay, and frankly, I don't care. It just didn't feel needed in this particular version of the story.
Shakespeare? Sita was well-versed in Shakespeare? The author states this is fact in her notes. Again, maybe so, but it felt wholly unrealistic.
So, eh. Just eh.
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
Read something you like and want to share it with WHHS? Email me your review to appear in The Westie Review corner of The Rostrum!
Monday, September 28, 2015
Voyages of the Pyramid Builders by Robert Schoch
If you've followed this blog for a while, you know I have a thing for the "Unexplained". I'm eagerly awaiting the return of The Curse of Oak Island on History and I never miss a new Ancient Aliens. I've really been fascinated lately by cross-cultural similarites between ancient civilizations. These are peoples separated by vast expanses of land and sea (and time periods), but bear remarkable similarities, more than can be discounted as just coincidence. One such example is the building of pyramidal structures.
The author is a contributor to Ancient Aliens, although there are no mentions of ancient astronaut theory in the book. He is also a Yale educated geophysicist and professor at Boston University. More than likely, if you've ever watched anything to do with the Great Sphinx, you've seen him on TV.
Schoch takes the reader through time, examining ancient cultures from Egypt, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, North, and South America. Yes, of course he talks about the pharaohs and the Mayans, but there are many other ancient cultures who built pyramids and pyramid-like structures throughout the world. Schoch argues there are too many coincidences among these ancient cultures to believe they existed in complete isolation from each other.
He theorizes, and backs up with evidence from various fields of science and expertise, that cross-oceanic travel existed long before Columbus (more on that in a minute!) and the plethora of "explorers" (we know money was the real driving force behind exploration and the subsequent exploitation of Native cultures) who came to the New World. Human DNA, plant and animal species, structures (like pyramids and towers), oral/pictorial/written myths and legends, and methods that resemble others from around the globe at a time that conventional textbooks tell us was impossible. It was an in depth and thorough argument that, despite dates and names galore, holds the reader's interest.
Alright, how did I come across this book, since it's from 2003 and not in our library (school or public)? Well, going back to Oak Island and Ancient Aliens for a second, we know that the Micmac, a branch of the Algonquin, bear a symbol that strongly resembles the Knights Templar flag. We also know their oral legend talks about the white gods who arrive by sea, predating Columbus. This alludes to the Vikings having long before had charted their way into North America (hello, football team and Leif Erickson day). We still don't know who built the Money Pit on Oak Island or why. Inscribed stones in Nova Scotia and Minnesota have very similar writing (read about this further in anything by Scott Wolter or watch his show on History America Unearthed). My family once owned land not too far from Oak Island. I have Penobscot, another Algonquin tribe, heritage. You could call me obsessed. I'm okay with it.
I think I've rambled enough on this review (really, it's hard to review non-fiction when you really like the topic and agree with the findings; it's much easier when it's bad or wrong). The thing is, now I've got a bunch of other books to track down that Schoch mentions. I do hope there are updated versions with new information.
Have you read something awesome lately? Tweet it with #whhs #read. Drop off or email your typed review to The Westie Review, a featured column in our school newspaper, The Rostrum.
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
The author is a contributor to Ancient Aliens, although there are no mentions of ancient astronaut theory in the book. He is also a Yale educated geophysicist and professor at Boston University. More than likely, if you've ever watched anything to do with the Great Sphinx, you've seen him on TV.
Schoch takes the reader through time, examining ancient cultures from Egypt, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, North, and South America. Yes, of course he talks about the pharaohs and the Mayans, but there are many other ancient cultures who built pyramids and pyramid-like structures throughout the world. Schoch argues there are too many coincidences among these ancient cultures to believe they existed in complete isolation from each other.
He theorizes, and backs up with evidence from various fields of science and expertise, that cross-oceanic travel existed long before Columbus (more on that in a minute!) and the plethora of "explorers" (we know money was the real driving force behind exploration and the subsequent exploitation of Native cultures) who came to the New World. Human DNA, plant and animal species, structures (like pyramids and towers), oral/pictorial/written myths and legends, and methods that resemble others from around the globe at a time that conventional textbooks tell us was impossible. It was an in depth and thorough argument that, despite dates and names galore, holds the reader's interest.
Alright, how did I come across this book, since it's from 2003 and not in our library (school or public)? Well, going back to Oak Island and Ancient Aliens for a second, we know that the Micmac, a branch of the Algonquin, bear a symbol that strongly resembles the Knights Templar flag. We also know their oral legend talks about the white gods who arrive by sea, predating Columbus. This alludes to the Vikings having long before had charted their way into North America (hello, football team and Leif Erickson day). We still don't know who built the Money Pit on Oak Island or why. Inscribed stones in Nova Scotia and Minnesota have very similar writing (read about this further in anything by Scott Wolter or watch his show on History America Unearthed). My family once owned land not too far from Oak Island. I have Penobscot, another Algonquin tribe, heritage. You could call me obsessed. I'm okay with it.
I think I've rambled enough on this review (really, it's hard to review non-fiction when you really like the topic and agree with the findings; it's much easier when it's bad or wrong). The thing is, now I've got a bunch of other books to track down that Schoch mentions. I do hope there are updated versions with new information.
Have you read something awesome lately? Tweet it with #whhs #read. Drop off or email your typed review to The Westie Review, a featured column in our school newspaper, The Rostrum.
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten
Wow. Just wow.
One of the reviews on Amazon called this YA novel a "serious mindf*ck". I think I have to agree with that sentiment.
This was on Amazon's list of best YA picks for autumn. I requested it from WHPL, and I can say it's now on the WHHS LMC wish list.
June and Delia were best friends since elementary school. Then one night Delia, June, and June's boyfriend Ryan get drunk. Ryan and Delia imply they have a sexual history that June did not know about. Later, while June is puking, they may resume doing so. Both deny it, but Delia won't look June in the eyes.
As Delia falls further and further into drug and alcohol abuse, June chooses Ryan and distances herself from her former best friend.
Then, over the Christmas and New Year's break of their junior year, Delia kills herself. She douses herself and her stepfather's woodshed in lighter fluid and sets herself on fire. There is nothing left but her titanium chain (which doesn't melt).
June knows Delia was terrified of fire. She and Delia's current boyfriend Jeremiah doubt Delia really killed herself and believe she was murdered. But who killed her? Ryan? Her new best friend Ashling? Her pervert stepfather? Her hormonal and pregnant mother? Her dealer? Is Jeremiah hiding something?
There are a million twists and turns in this short novel. I promise you, you have NO IDEA what really happened to Delia or what the fall out from her death will be. And the ending was a pure O.M.G. moment.
Some other notes: The Westie Review, our student driven book discussion group, will have a corner in our student newspaper The Rostrum! Any and all students are welcome to join either or both! Email me or see me in the LMC if you are interested!
One of the reviews on Amazon called this YA novel a "serious mindf*ck". I think I have to agree with that sentiment.
This was on Amazon's list of best YA picks for autumn. I requested it from WHPL, and I can say it's now on the WHHS LMC wish list.
June and Delia were best friends since elementary school. Then one night Delia, June, and June's boyfriend Ryan get drunk. Ryan and Delia imply they have a sexual history that June did not know about. Later, while June is puking, they may resume doing so. Both deny it, but Delia won't look June in the eyes.
As Delia falls further and further into drug and alcohol abuse, June chooses Ryan and distances herself from her former best friend.
Then, over the Christmas and New Year's break of their junior year, Delia kills herself. She douses herself and her stepfather's woodshed in lighter fluid and sets herself on fire. There is nothing left but her titanium chain (which doesn't melt).
June knows Delia was terrified of fire. She and Delia's current boyfriend Jeremiah doubt Delia really killed herself and believe she was murdered. But who killed her? Ryan? Her new best friend Ashling? Her pervert stepfather? Her hormonal and pregnant mother? Her dealer? Is Jeremiah hiding something?
There are a million twists and turns in this short novel. I promise you, you have NO IDEA what really happened to Delia or what the fall out from her death will be. And the ending was a pure O.M.G. moment.
Some other notes: The Westie Review, our student driven book discussion group, will have a corner in our student newspaper The Rostrum! Any and all students are welcome to join either or both! Email me or see me in the LMC if you are interested!
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