The Weight of Blood

The Weight of Blood

Laura McHugh, 2014

In the small Ozark town of Henbane, everyone knows everyone and outsiders are not easily accepted. Even Lucy - who's father's family has lived in the town for generations - doesn't completely fit in, thanks to her exotic mother who everyone still believes was a witch, despite her disappearance when Lucy was a baby. When one of Lucy's friends - a mentally-handicapped girl named Cheri who went missing a year before - turns up murdered, Lucy refuses to let the matter lie, especially when she begins to suspect that the murder may be linked to her own mother's disappearance. But secrets run deep in this small town, and some people are willing to do anything to keep those secrets from getting out.

This was an excellent murder mystery. Even though the reader learns part of the mystery fairly early in the book, it's still thrilling to discover the rest of the secrets, and even to see how Lucy will find out the parts that we already know. I thought that the characters were all really well-written. Lucy is a great character, and surprisingly deep despite her age. And I loved the way the author chose to have one character redeem himself in the end (I won't say more than that, because it's more fun to be surprised by it). Even the horrible characters were really interesting in the way they were written. 

I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by this author. She has a similar style of writing as Gillian Flynn, and I hope she is able to get some of the success that Flynn has had over the past few years. I think McHugh has great talent as a writer and if she can come up with more ideas like this one, I think she will do well.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Me Since You

Me Since You

Laura Wiess, 2014

Warning: Here be spoilers.

Rowan is just a normal, sixteen-year-old girl - a little more sheltered than her best friend, thanks to her father being a police officer, but still normal. When she decides to skip school with her friend and gets caught by her father, it sets off a series of events that culminates in the suicide of Rowan's father. Now Rowan has to find a way to survive as her world falls apart around her.

I first want to say that while I'm glad I read this book, I'm glad that I'm done reading this book. It was intense.

The book was very well-written. The characters were very easy to relate to and understand, which made it all the more difficult to watch - and feel - Rowan go through what she went through. I thought that Rowan and her mother were perfectly developed and very realistically written. As far as I could tell, having never been through it myself, this book seemed to me like a very realistic portrayal of what a suicide does to the surviving family and friends. 

While I would recommend this book to most people, I would most recommend it to anyone who knows someone who is dealing with a suicide in the family, more than I would recommend it to someone who is going through it. This book gives great insight into what the survivors are feeling - the depression, guilt, anger, and so much more - and what a good, supportive friend can do for them. 

A great book that packs a real emotional punch. Definitely recommended.

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy through NetGalley.

The Chaperone

The Chaperone

Laura Moriarty, 2012

After being accepted to the prestigious Denishawn School of Dancing, fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks is chaperoned from Wichita, Kansas to New York City by thirty-six year old Cora Carlisle. Cora has her own reasons for wanting to chaperone the young dancer, as she is looking to find out where she came from, before she was sent on an orphan train to Kansas as a child. As Louise goes on to become a famous silent film star, Cora begins to really live her life. 

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I always enjoy reading fiction based on the lives of real people, but this was more about Cora than it was the famous Louise Brooks (and Louise wasn't exactly a nice person to read about anyway). Honestly, it was hard to sympathize with any of the characters in this book, even through their hard times, although the characters were mostly interesting to read about. It was a well-written story in general, I just personally had a hard time getting into the story. Decent read, but could have been better.

The Museum of Extraordinary Things

The Museum of Extraordinary Things

Alice Hoffman, 2014

The Museum of Extraordinary Things is a collection of freaks and oddities on Coney Island in New York during the early 1900s. The curator's daughter, Coralie, an exceptional swimmer, is even on display as a mermaid. But with Dreamland - a huge complex of freaks, animals, rides and performers - being renovated nearby, the curator of the museum needs to find - or create - something that will once again bring in the crowds. Meanwhile, Eddie Cohen - a Russian immigrant who has abandoned his Orthodox Jewish community to become a photographer specializing in capturing criminals on film - finds himself photographing the devastating Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and winds up entangled in the mystery of one girl's disappearance. When Coralie and Eddie meet, they are immediately drawn to each other. But between Coralie's father and the criminal element surrounding Eddie, whether they can finally find happiness together remains to be seen.

I really enjoyed this book. It was my first by Alice Hoffman, but I know that I will certainly seek out some of her other books after this one. I thought that she wrote some amazingly complex and interesting characters, and I loved the way that she incorporated true events into her fictional storyline. 

When I started this book, I admit that I thought it was going to be a little more about the Museum itself, and the "freaks" it employed, but it ended up that most of them were only mentioned in passing. Only a few characters from the Museum had a real role in the story, but those few that did were very well-written and fascinating for who, rather than what, they were. 

Really, my only complaint (and it is a small one) is how Coralie and Mr. Morris interpreted Jane Eyre. Given that the romance between Jane and Rochester is one of my all-time favorites, their sympathy for the madwoman and dislike of Rochester was hard for me to swallow. I see why those characters would have sympathized with her, but really, stop trying to ruin Jane Eyre for me, Alice Hoffman. (Like I said, not a real complaint, just a part of the book that was hard for me to get my head around.)

Overall, a great read. Glad I picked it up.

The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner #1)

James Dashner, 2009

Thomas wakes up alone in a dark room, with no memory of how he got there, or even who he is. But when the doors above him open, he finds himself face to face with a large group of teenage boys, all lacking memories, and all trapped inside The Glade. For two years, boys have been brought to The Glade, forced to find a way to survive, and over time the boys have created a working society. During the day, the stone walls surrounding The Glade open, revealing a maze that "Runners" investigate every day, hoping to find a way out. But when the walls close at night, being stuck in the maze means death. Always. But when a girl shows up the day after Thomas arrives, bearing a cryptic message, things start to change. And the Gladers realize that they have to find a way out of The Glade - before it's too late.

This was a fun book. I had wanted to read it for a while now, but moved it to the top of my list when I heard that there was going to be a movie coming out. I'm glad I did. This is an interesting take on the dystopia genre. There are only so many dystopian worlds that can be created in young adult literature before they all begin to seem stale, but this one had enough going for it that it kept me interested. Unique, but at the same time reminiscent of books like Divergent and Lord of the Flies. And the ending definitely left me wanting more. I'm looking forward to seeing where the author goes from here.

Medium Raw

Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook

Anthony Bourdain, 2010

Bourdain talks about how the restaurant business has changed since the days when he wrote his first book, Kitchen Confidential. 

First, a disclaimer: I have never read Kitchen Confidential. This is my first book by Bourdain, although I have seen his show, No Reservations, a few times.

I enjoy books about food and the restaurant business. I'm not really a "foodie", and I'm a barely passable cook, but I like the subject anyway. And while I'm not really a Food Network fan, I am a fan of the food-based shows on the Travel Channel, specifically Man vs. Food and Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. I have also seen Bourdain's show a few times, but in general he is a bit too bitter and a lot less fun than the other hosts that I enjoy watching. This comes through in his book as well. He's a good writer, and I found many parts of the book to be interesting and even amusing, but overall he is a little too rough around the edges for my liking. Worth reading, and I'll probably check out his other books, but I didn't love this one.

The Magicians

The Magicians (The Magicians #1)

Lev Grossman, 2009

Quentin is a senior in high school, and a genius with his pick of colleges. But he's unhappy. The only thing that brings him any happiness is imagining that his life could be like the series of books that he's been obsessed with since childhood - a Chronicles of Narnia-like tale about children who can enter a magical land called Fillory and go on adventures. So Quentin's life changes - it seems for the better - when he finds himself admitted to a college of magic - real magic - hidden in upstate New York. But learning magic isn't like it is in books - it's hard work, and it brings challenges that Quentin isn't sure he's ready for. But Quentin, it seems, is in for an even bigger surprise than the realities of magic... Fillory is real.

I've heard people describe this as a "grown-up Harry Potter", but I don't think that does this book justice, and will probably just lead to disappointment if that's what you're going into the book expecting. If anything, this book reminds me more of a grown-up Chronicles of Narnia, but set in a school for magic. And no, I don't think that either of those series are for children only - I've read both of them as adults and loved them - but while Harry Potter and Narnia are suitable for both children and adults alike, The Magicians is very much not for children.

I really enjoyed this story, but I think that the book would really have benefited from being divided into two separate books - one book describing (and fleshing out a little more) Quentin's time at Brakebills college, and one book about Fillory. It just felt to me that the story was rushed and that the author tried to cram too much action into one book. I found myself loving the school storyline, felt "meh" about the after school drama, and was fascinated and surprised by the Fillory storyline. And I think if it had been broken into two books, the author could have done each storyline more justice.

That being said, I loved this book. And while it could easily have worked as a stand-alone novel (or a two-parter after being broken up), I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see what happens with these characters. 

The Invention of Wings

The Invention of Wings

Sure Monk Kidd, 2014

When Sarah Grimke turns eleven, she is given her very own slave, a girl her own age named Hetty, but called "Handful". Sarah is appalled by the gift and tries to free her slave, but her wish is denied. As Sarah grows up, she tries to find her place in the world, eventually moving north to join the abolitionist movement. 

This was a very good book, and I can see why it's getting so much praise, although I didn't love it as much as many people I know did. I wasn't expecting the turn it took, as it became more a book about the abolitionist movement and less a book about the relationship between Sarah and Handful, which was what I was hoping for. But that was my own fault for not really looking into what the book was about. 

I didn't know that the Grimkes were real people, but I thought that Sarah's and Nina's stories were really impressive - all the more so for being mostly true. And, despite being less based in specific fact, I liked hearing Handful's story as well. Not perfect, but certainly a good book. Glad I read it.

The Ghost of the Mary Celeste

The Ghost of the Mary Celeste

Valerie Martin, 2014

In 1872, the Mary Celeste was discovered adrift off the coast of Spain. There was no sign of violence or a struggle, but the crew was gone. This mystery ties together the stories of author Arthur Conan Doyle, whose fictional account of the Mary Celeste caused a sensation in the United States, psychic medium Violet Petra, a popular Spiritualist with a personal tie to the tragedy, and journalist Phoebe Grant, who wonders if Petra is a talented fraud or perhaps the real thing.

This book is hard to review. As a story about the medium Violet Petra, I thought it was really good. I found Violet to be an intriguing character - not always sympathetic, but always interesting. I also liked the character of Phoebe Grant, whose interactions with Petra were the high points of the book for me. The Arthur Conan Doyle chapters were, to me, just okay. Well-written, but they just didn't interest me as much as the others, although his last little adventure was good. 

What disappointed me most, however, was the shocking lack of mention of the Mary Celeste itself. Aside from the last section - 30 pages or so - very little of the story tied into the mystery at all. It was always there in the background - Conan Doyle's story, Violet's connection to the Captain and his wife - but had little to do with the story overall. I went into this book expecting an interesting take on the mystery of the Mary Celeste, but that wasn't what I was given. 

So, as an interesting story about Spiritualism, I'd recommend it. I liked the characters and thought that Violet's story was fascinating. As a story about what might have happened aboard the Mary Celeste, however, it is severely lacking. 

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy through NetGalley.

Glass

Glass (Crank #2)

Ellen Hopkins, 2007

In the sequel to Crank, Kristina is determined to stay off the crystal meth and get her life back on track. She has a baby now, after all. But when an opportunity for one more hit comes up, she takes it, thinking that she can avoid the problems she had before and be the one in control this time. But Kristina soon discovers that she's never going to be the one in control - the crystal controls her. 

This book made me sad. But in a good way. 

Told in verse, Ellen Hopkins has such a powerful way of writing Kristina's story. I was never much of a fan of poetry or stories told in verse before I picked up Crank on the recommendation of a fellow reader, and I'm glad I gave it a chance. I don't think the stories would have quite the same effect written in prose. 

This was a really well-written book, beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. But where Crank was sad with a hopefulness to it, Glass will leave you with a less-than-hopeful outlook for Kristina's future. It's very honest, and honesty isn't always uplifting. Still a really great read, though, and I'll definitely be picking up the final book in the trilogy, just to see how it all turns out.

Spook

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife

Mary Roach, 2005

Stories about what engineers, scientists, mediums, doctors, and other individuals are doing to try and prove, or disprove, life after death.

This is a tough one for me to rate. I like Mary Roach - her book Stiff is one of my favorite nonfiction books - and this is the third book of hers that I've read. The problem is that, unlike books like Stiff or Packing for Mars, the science in this one is a bit more flimsy. Nothing against the way she wrote or researched it, it's just that how do you prove or disprove the afterlife? It's not the same kind of science as what you would use to write about space travel.

That being said, I like the way she went about it. She's obviously a skeptic going in - she freely admits this fact - but she doesn't really try to prove or disprove anything. She presents the research as is and pretty much leaves it open ended. My reason for not liking this book as much as her other writings is simply because I prefer my science more concrete. But I really like the way she did the research and her writing is always good. Looking forward to picking up her other books.

The Golem and the Jinni

The Golem and the Jinni

Helene Wecker, 2013

New York: 1899. Chava is a golem - a woman made of clay brought to life by a disgraced rabbi - who arrives alone in New York when her master/husband dies on the boat over. Ahmad is a jinni - a creature made of fire, bound a thousand years ago to a copper flask and accidentally released by a Manhattan tinsmith. Together these two creatures of myth try to adapt to a world unlike any other, and find themselves facing a challenge that they might not survive. 

I've figured out the easiest way to win me over - combine my two favorite genres of Magical Fantasy and Historical Fiction. I can't even comprehend how the author came up with this idea - writing a novel with a golem and a jinni as its main characters, and making them seem real - but she did it amazingly well. And it's her first novel! I will definitely be following this author's work. 

But even if fantasy isn't really your thing, this is a wonderful immigrant story, as well as a story about love and friendship and believing in yourself. One of the best books I've read in a long time.

Shanghai Girls

Shanghai Girls

Lisa See, 2009

In Shanghai in 1937, Pearl and May Chin, "beautiful girls" who grace advertisements throughout the city, live a life of near royalty. Until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their fortune and has paid his debts by selling them as brides to two Chinese brothers living in Los Angeles. As the sisters make their ways to America to start a new life, they also hide a terrible secret from their families - a secret that could tear them all apart.

I love historical fiction. It's like stepping into new worlds, but plausible ones, unlike the dystopias or fantasy worlds presented by science fiction and fantasy (which I also do love). From Shanghai in the early 1900s to Los Angeles Chinatown during WWII, I loved reading about these worlds. Plus, I really enjoy reading about Chinese culture (aside from foot-binding, which makes my skin crawl, but which was thankfully not included in this story). 

I liked the drama between Pearl and May (although I sometimes wanted to punch May in the face - she could be so shallow at times). I was actually going to complain that I didn't love the ending, but then I realized that there is actually a second book - Dreams of Joy - so no complaints. Really good book about Chinese history and culture. Glad I read it. 

Belle Cora

Belle Cora

Phillip Margulies, 2014

Loosely inspired by the life of a real 19th-century prostitute of the same name, Belle Cora tells the story of Arabella Godwin, from her childhood in New York to the events that led her to sell her body, eventually becoming one of the wealthiest and notorious madams in San Francisco. 

I love historical fiction, so this book was right up my alley. I thought that Arabella was a brilliantly written character, and her story felt so real to me that it was easy to see how each event in her life led her to do the things that she did. I also liked that, despite being told from Belle's point of view, she never claims to be perfect or blameless. We're rooting for her, but not necessarily always backing up her moves. 

My only complaint is that, at just over 600 pages, the book is a little long and dragged a little bit at the beginning. Maybe it's just because we know from the beginning what she's going to become that I wanted to rush to get there, but I feel like a little bit could have been cut from her younger years. Only a minor complaint, though. Most of the early stuff was still interesting and it was all well-written.

Not only a fascinating character piece about a woman doing what she has to do to survive, but also a thrilling look at the history of America at the time, especially the Gold Rush and what San Francisco was like at the time. Recommended for anyone who likes historical fiction, particularly the mid-1800s in America. 

Thanks to NetGalley for an Advanced Copy. 

The Cuckoo's Calling

The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike #1)

Robert Galbraith (pseudonym of J.K. Rowling), 2013

Cormoran Strike isn't exactly what you would call a successful private investigator. He's good at what he does, but with one current client and bill collectors calling, he's desperate for a case. So when the wealthy brother of a supermodel who supposedly killed herself comes knocking on his door, Strike can't exactly pass up the opportunity. The brother is paying him to prove that the supermodel's death wasn't a suicide. While Strike initially believes what everyone else does - that she either killed herself or fell accidentally - his investigation eventually begins to lead him in a slightly more sinister direction. 

I really liked this book. I know a lot of people seem to dislike Rowling's adult novels, but I thought that both this one and The Casual Vacancy were quite well-written. 

The thing I found most interesting while reading this book is that Strike - our lead, our hero - starts out very unlikable. At least for me. He's gruff, not very good-looking, and drinks too much. But as the story progressed, I found him growing on me as a character. Also, I thought I had the "whodunnit" figured out, but I'll admit that I was completely wrong. Never saw the ending coming. A fun murder mystery with a unique lead, and I am certainly looking forward to continuing with this series once more books are published.

Fangirl

Fangirl

Rainbow Rowell, 2013

Ever since they were young, Cath and her twin sister Wren have been fans of Simon Snow (a Harry Potter-type fantasy series). Cath is even one of the most popular writers of Simon Snow fan fiction on the internet. Now that they're going off to college, Wren wants to separate herself from Cath and the life they used to lead. But Cath isn't ready to leave it all behind. 

I loved this book. I saw a lot of my college self in Cath, which I think helped, but the writing was great, the characters were great, and there was just enough drama to make it interesting, while managing to keep it realistic and not over-the-top. 

I really liked that the author chose to use a fictional series to base her fan fiction storyline on, but kept it similar enough to Harry Potter that it was easy to relate to. The world-wide phenomenon that is Harry Potter really fit with what we were supposed to believe Simon Snow was. And while I'm familiar with fan fiction, I'm not a reader of it myself, but I still found myself really enjoying Cath's stories. 

I really didn't want to put this one down. I'm looking forward to reading more of Rowell's books in the future.