Book Review: The Fever by Megan Abbott

The book opens in a small town and is narrated from the point of view of the Nash family (Tom, Eli, and Deenie – mother, Georgia, is out of the picture due to an affair, on her part).  Deenie loses her virginity at the start of the novel, goes to school and avoids her best friend Lise – she doesn't want to tell her about having sex with a boy that she works with (we later find out why).

During their first class together, Lise has a seizure type episode and is sent home. Deenie worries about Lise and goes to her house to see if she’s ok. When Deenie arrives, she finds out that Lise was taken to the hospital because her heart stopped. By the Deenie gets to the hospital Lise is unconscious.

The next day Deenie’s other close friend, Gabby, has a similar episode during a school recital and is also taken to the hospital. Lise’s mom starts a campaign against the HPV vaccine that all girls at the school were given in the recent years.

Deenie also had the vaccine, she’s not convinced that it’s the cause; she is worried because Deenie, Lise, Gabby, and another girl at school, Skye, were all swimming in a highly contaminated lake the week before. But to further complicate matters, neither she nor Skye has been afflicted.

Then a number of other girls at school became ill as well.

When I heard about this book, I was instantly interested because 1) I love mass hysteria and 2) Megan Abbott is great at writing about messed up teenagers. The wrap-up of the book is great. However, similar to my comment in my last review of Abbott’s work, her characters don’t have much depth.  The narration slips between three completely different characters, but I often had to go back and figure out who was talking. 

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Book Review: New Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

New Watch is the fifth installment of Lukyanenko’s Night Watch series – if you haven’t read the Night Watch series, stop right now and go read it, it’s amazing. Russian science fiction, what more could you ask for? 

While at the airport, Anton, sees a young prophet who says that the plane he is about to fly on will crash. Anton uses his abilities to persuade the child’s mother to skip the trip so that the prophet will survive. When the prophet meets Anton, he says, “You are Anton Gorodetsky, because of you, all of us…all of us…”

Anton reports back to Gesar, and finds that the plane did not crash though the probability of it crashing was almost certain. Something is protecting the boy. Gesar sends the Night Watch to find the boy and protect him until he can make his first prophecy. However, the Twilight sends out a creature, referred to as the Tiger, to kill the boy, ensuring that the prophecy is never heard by humans. If the prophecy is heard by humans, it will come to fruition.

Gesear brings the prophet to the Night Watch headquarters in Moscow. They try to speed up the boys prophecy, but they cannot kill the Tiger. If they fight the Tiger, they will die. The only thing that will stop the Tiger, is the utterance of the prophecy.

Anton recruits his daughter, Nadya (an absolute enchantress), to assist in getting the boy to speak his prophecy. She does her best then leaves just as the Tiger arrives at Night Watch headquarters. When the boy comes out of his room, he has spoken his first prophecy and no one has heard it, so the Tiger leaves.

However, the prophecy was recorded and only Anton knows this.

Now Anton must decide if he should listen to the prophecy, if so, he will be hunted by the Tiger. But because of the first experience with the prophet, Anton knows that the prophecy may have to do with him.

This was a fantastic read. The story is highly narrative, we spend a lot of time in Anton's head. We watch Anton struggle to understand his part in this world. He knows that in the end good and evil cancel each other out. Given this, really, why do we need Others? 

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Book Review Quickie: By Blood We Live by Glen Duncan

Another amazing installment in The Last Werewolf Series. As the book opens, we are narrated by Remshi (vampire from book 2). Remshi has been in hibernation for 2 years, unknown to him. His human mate, Justine, is explaining what has happened in the past 2 years when they are attacked by Militi Christi, a new organization which replaced the now defunct WOCOP. Remshi kills the attackers, but Justine is fatally wounded. This allows us to see a vampiric transformation in Duncan's world.

Meanwhile, Talulla is living with her pack. Her twins are 3 year olds now, and she remains with Walker. The day we are reconnected with Talulla, she receives a call from a vampire, Olek, and receives a package (Quinn's journals - which you may recall have been sought after since book 1). Olek promises Talulla a cure, if not for her, for her children. But she isn't sure that she wants to be cured. Wulf, though it torments, has given her life. 

The remainder of the story seems to be the trials of Remshi and Talulla to come together. Remshi believes that Talulla is the reincarnation of his lost love. Talulla doesn't understand the connection she has to Remshi but dreams of him, nightly -- to Walker's dismay. 

Narration switches back and forth a bit in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the concept of Jake's narration through journals, but its not true to the characters to expect the story to be continued in this fashion. I went into the book expecting this to wrap up the trilogy, it doesn't. I think Mr Duncan has been coy with us. This is obviously leading to a continued saga.

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Book Review Quickie: The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud

Nora Eldrige is a middle-aged, school teacher near Boston. She had always thought that she would become an artist. She would marry and have a home filled with children. Instead, she does have children (her students), and she does make art (as a little passion to pass the time). She is in a complete stasis, until she meets the Shahid's. This small family completely shakes up her life. It begins with curiosity which morphs quickly into a consuming-coveting obsession.

She first meets, Reza, as her student.  He is foreign and beautiful; in desperate need to be cared for and watched over. Nora then meets Sirena, Reza's mother, who is also foreign and beautiful, but also an artist.

Sirena has the life that Nora so desperately pines for. Nora constructs reasons to see Sirena outside of school and soon they become friends. But friends in the way that you cannot fully love a wild-beautiful thing like Sirena. Nora begins to become jealous of the time the family spends without her and dwells on her feelings for them in a spiral of non-sensical thoughts. 

The story itself is not what makes this book great. Its the voice of the narrator, Nora is incredibly authentic and moving. The narration cuts a bit deep for those of us single ladies, who may find themselves as the "woman upstairs."

The hype of the book made me a bit disappointed at first, but now that I've fully digested the material I see the beauty of it. This is not the best book written, this will not change your life, read it and love it for its own merit. 

This is one of the few books that I've written in, I couldn't help myself. Messud is able to clearly explain things that I've felt myself but could never vocalize. Specifically, Nora, defines life as a fun house. She's been in the fun house for 40 years and wants to find the exit to real life. Do we all think this way? Or is it just us women upstairs? 

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BOOK GIVEAWAY!

The awesome people from Viking/Penguin have sent me an advanced copy of paperback version ofThe Unchangeable Spots of Leopards by Kristopher Jansma. They're only request is that I offer it as a giveaway on my site. 

Ok, so the first person to tell me their favorite book from Penguin will get this copy sent to you by yours truly. The paperback is gorgeous, a very handsome addition to your library. 

Book Review: The Cormorant by Chuck Wendig

Miriam Black is tired of fate. She is tired of her “gift” (her ability to see how someone will die upon physical contact). She left everything she loved, well mostly just Louis, and she once again tried to run away from herself. In Blackbirds and Mockingbird, Miriam’s life became an experiment in how to change a person’s fate. So far, there have not been any positive results.

When the book opens, we see a young man being “saved” by Miriam. The man is in a bad neighborhood, very late at night, using an ATM. He is held up by young kid. Miriam shows up and shoots the kid and, being Miriam, takes the guys money. She wants to test out her theory, that one life is exchangeable for another life in the eyes of fate. The young man gets to live his life, the kid doesn’t. But the murder haunts her, yes she was stopping a murder but for a kid to want to murder someone, what was going on in that life? What had happened to get him to that point?

Shortly after the killing, she is evicted by her housemates, after not paying rent for several months. She has nowhere to go and no money to get there. A job leads her to Florida. The job, tell a man how he will die, get paid $5,000, move along.  But it turned out that the job was a set up by an old foe that wanted Miriam within reach.

This is the best Miriam Black book so far. Wendig has no hesitance in torturing Miriam. There were points in this book that I found myself anxious about her safety; I just want the poor girl to catch a break. Though, I have to imagine that the author has a blast writing this character. Miriam has such a desire to make things right, but always seems to get in the way of her good intentions. I’m very excited about the promise of what is to come in the fourth book.

Favorite chapter title: The Sunshine state can go fuck itself

The Cormorant was released on December 31st by Angry Robot,  please buy at your local independent bookseller.

Find out more about Chuck Wendig at Terrible Minds.

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How I Saved $600 this Year; Or, Why I use the Library ... 2013

This year, I read a total of 77 books. Forty of which were checked out from my local library. I pulled prices from Amazon, though, I purchase books at independent stores. 

Dare Me by Megan Abbott        $12.08

The Help (Audiobook) by Kathryn Stockett        $34.15

The Leopard by Jo Nesbo        $12.70

Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple   $9.22

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry  $8.09

The Giver by Lois Lowry           $7.38

Horns by Joe Hill          $12.18

Little Star by John Ajvide Lindqvist        $13.20

Messenger by Lois Lowry        $6.14

Son by Lois Lowry       $14.21

100 Months by Johnny Hicklenton       $10.49

Are You My Mother by Alison Bechdel   $11.97

Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli    $25.93

Darkroom: A Memoir in Black and White by Lila Quintero Weaver          $18.96

Fables, Vol 18: Cubs in Toyland by Bill Willmingham    $16.11

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel    $11.39

Locke and Key, Vol 1: Welcome to Lovecraft  by Joe Hill            $16.97

Locke and Key, Vol 2: Head Games by Joe Hill $15.78

Locke and Key, Vol 3: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill   $13.94

Locke and Key, Vol 4: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill $10.95

Locke and Key, Vol 5: Clockworks  by Joe Hill   $18.29

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf      $13.56

Raven Girl by Audry Niffenegger            $15.83

Saga Vol 1 by Brian K Vaugh and Fiona Staples         $7.99

Saga Vol 2 by Brian K Vaughn and Fiona Staples       $12.18

Sailor Twain by Mark Siegel      $18.29

Sweet Tooth, Vol 1: Out of the Deep Woods by Jeff Lemire       $10.47

Sweet Tooth, Vol 2: In Captivity by Jeff Lemire $11.14

Sweet Tooth, Vol 3: Animal Armies by Jeff Lemire         $11.87

Unterzakhn by Leela Corman    $17.18

Wanted by Mark Millar  $2.99

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 1)            $17.04

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 2)            $22.56

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 3)            $22.49

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 4)            $21.82

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 5)            $23.51

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 6)            $14.00

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 7)            $14.00

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 8)            $14.00

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 9)            $14.00

Let’s Pretend this Never Happened (Audio) by Jenny Lawson   $13.75

Total Savings: $598.80

This is why I love my library. This is why I donate my money and volunteer my time.

2013 Book Challenge ... FAIL

I failed my Goodreads book challenge, reading only 77 books out of a committed 100. Which totally sucks, because even though I had a very large life change, I've had more than enough time to read in the past 4 months.

I've lost my intense desire to read, which is incredibly sad to me. There have been days that I actually didn't pick up a book at all, which a year ago would have been unheard of! So in 2014, I commit myself to those 100 books and half an hour of reading every day.

Here is the 2013 Wrap-Up.

Books Read (by genre)

Fiction

Big Brother by Lionel Shriver

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding

Dare Me by Megan Abbott*

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

The Dinner by Herman Koch

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Audio) by Stieg Larrson

The Help (Audiobook) by Kathryn Stockett*

Inferno by Dan Brown

The Leopard by Jo Nesbo*

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

Story of O by Pauline Reage

Tampa by Alissa Nutting

There Once Lived a Girl Who Seduced Her Sister's Husband, and He Hanged Himself: Love Stories by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya

Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple*

SF/Fantasy/Horror:

City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

Doomed by Chuck Palahniuk

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry*

The Giver by Lois Lowry*

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Horns by Joe Hill *

Little Star by John Ajvide Lindqvist*

Messenger by Lois Lowry*

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

The Shining (Audio) by Stephen King

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

Son by Lois Lowry*

The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker

Graphic Novels

100 Months by Johnny Hicklenton*

Are You My Mother by Alison Bechdel *

Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli*

Buffy Season Nine vol 10 by Joss Whedon et al

Buffy Season Nine vol 11 by Joss Whedon et al

Buffy Season Nine vol 12 by Joss Whedon et al

Buffy Season Nine vol 13 by Joss Whedon et al

Buffy Season Nine vol 14 by Joss Whedon et al

Buffy Season Nine vol 15 by Joss Whedon et al

Darkroom: A Memoir in Black and White by Lila Quintero Weaver*

Fables, Vol 18: Cubs in Toyland by Bill Willmingham*

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel *

Locke and Key, Vol 1: Welcome to Lovecraft  by Joe Hill*

Locke and Key, Vol 2: Head Games by Joe Hill*

Locke and Key, Vol 3: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill*

Locke and Key, Vol 4: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill*

Locke and Key, Vol 5: Clockworks  by Joe Hill*

Locke and Key, Vol 6: Alpha & Omega by Joe Hill

My Brother’s Book by Maurice Sendak

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf*

Raven Girl by Audry Niffenegger*

Saga Vol 1 by Brian K Vaugh and Fiona Staples*

Saga Vol 2 by Brian K Vaughn and Fiona Staples*

Sailor Twain by Mark Siegel*

Sweet Tooth, Vol 1: Out of the Deep Woods by Jeff Lemire *

Sweet Tooth, Vol 2: In Captivity by Jeff Lemire *

Sweet Tooth, Vol 3: Animal Armies by Jeff Lemire *

Unterzakhn by Leela Corman*

Wanted by Mark Millar*

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 1) *

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 2) *

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 3) *

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 4) *

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 5) *

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 6) *

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 7) *

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 8) *

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan (Book 9) *

Non-Fiction

The Amityville Horror (Audio) by Jay Anson

Brain on Fire (Audio) by Susannah Cahalan

Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Money by Dave Ramsey

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

I Can Barely Take Care of Myself by Jen Kirkman

Let’s Pretend this Never Happened (Audio) by Jenny Lawson *

* denotes library book.

Bold denotes genre favorite.

Links are to my reviews.

Book Review: Locke and Key Vol 6: Alpha & Omega

Locke and Key, the long running comic by Joe Hill, will conclude with Locke and Key Vol 6: Alpha and Omega.  (Note: this is the team that brought us NOS4A2, so if you enjoyed NOS4A2 you may also enjoy Locke and Key, or vice versa.) 

Locke and Key is the journey of the Locke family after the brutal murder of their father. The children: Tyler, Kinsey and Bode, find themselves uprooted from their home and sent to Lovecraft, MA to the home where their father grew up.

The family is breaking apart with grief, not only have they lost their father, their mother is an alcoholic. Bode, being the youngest, tasks himself with exploring every nook and cranny of the house and soon finds a magic in the house that can bring the family back together or that can completely destroy them.

At this point, I will assume that you’ve read the series … in the prior volume, Bode’s body has been taken over by a demon that had previously been occupying Lucas’ body. Tyler and Kinsey are completely unaware of this and relax hoping that the evil that has been dogging them relentlessly for the past year is finally behind them.  Tyler, being the man of the house, never truly let down his guard. We know that Tyler has found a way to make a new key, and I’m sure each reader has dreamt up the key they would make.

The final installment is brilliant. It was perfect. Cleaver, not exactly what I “wanted” but still perfect; and incredibly heartbreaking, I suggest going into this with a box of tissues next to you. 

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Bookish Stuff You Should Know

One of my favorite series is the Millenium Trilogy (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). As many know, Larsson died after writing the 3rd book, and lovers of the series see it as an incomplete work. Larsson's notes to continue the story were found but no action has taken place.

So, the news? The news is that a fourth "Girl with" book is to be released in 2014. Swedish journalist, David Lagercrantz, is currently writing the novel, and from what I understand its completely without any of the previously mentioned notes. So either, this can be awesome or it can destroy one of my favorite series. 

Speaking of, when is Fincher going to make the Girl who Played with Fire (my favorite of the series)?? He's killing me. Its been 2 years since the first came out and it was amazing.