Murder by Design

Murder by Design
By Betsy Brannon Green
Covenant Communications, 2010.239 pgs. Mystery

Kennedy Killingsworth becomes involved in her second murder investigation in two months when Jarradd Dupree winds up dead, shortly after having donated some paintings to the local library for an auction. Shortly after his death, his paintings, which despite being rather terrible paintings, are in high demand, with buyers offering outrageous prices for them. As Kennedy tries to figure out who killed him, she's also worried about Sloan, an acquaintance who turns out be an FBI agent being framed by a colleague, and trying to figure out her relationship with Luke Scoggins.

This book was all right, nothing overly special, but it'll do if you're looking for a cozy mystery that you can breeze through.

AE

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
By Charles Yu
Pantheon Books, 2010. 239 pgs. Science Fiction.

Charles is a time machine repairman. He has spent the past ten years traveling from time to time helping recreational time travelers safely traverse Minor Universe 31. He is accompanied on these travels by TAMMY his operating system with depression issues, and his android dog, Ed. The meaning and nature of time, memory, regret, and hope are all explored as Charles tries to escape a time loop with far reaching consequences.

The premise behind this book is a cross between Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next literary world and Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker universe. However, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe is not nearly as funny as either. It is filled with unexpected introspection and philosophizing that is at times enlightening but doesn’t make for riveting reading. Its slow pace and circular narration makes this a tough book to recommend widely.

CZ

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
By Elisabeth Tova Bailey
Algonquin Book of Chapel Hill, 2010. 190 pgs. Nonfiction

While in her early thirties, Elisabeth Bailey found herself ripped from her busy life by a rare illness that left her bedridden for months at a time. As an afterthought, Elisabeth’s friend places a woodland snail inside a potted plant she brings on a visit. This small wild snail becomes an unexpected source of inspiration, fascination, and companionship through her long months of convalescence. Bailey has written this short compilation of what she learned about snails, along with what her mollusk friend teaches her about life and survival.

This is a very short, sweet, and informative book. As strange as it sounds, it is really just a love letter to snails and their fascinating abilities and traits. Bailey does such a good job describing these little creatures that I actually thought about adopting a little snail pal for myself.

CZ

Entice

Entice
By Carrie Jones
Bloomsbury, 2010. 266 pgs. Young Adult

Zara White is desperate to get her boyfriend Nick back from Valhalla, a mythic places for not quite dead warriors--so desperate that she let Astley, a pixie, turn her into a pixie...even though pixies and weres are enemies, and Nick is a were. As she tries to find Valhalla to rescue Nick (who quite possibly will hate her now that she's a pixie), she has to decide how much to trust Astley and figure out who is so bent on keeping them from Valhalla. Meanwhile, in Zara's secluded Maine town, more and more people are disappearing, becoming food for the hungry pixies who are preparing for an all-out war.

This is the third book in the Feed series, and quite likely the last one that I'll read. I find myself liking them less and less as the series goes on. I'm not drawn to the characters, and the plot just seems to be taking too long to unfold. Zara and her friends are all nice but just don't capture my attention or really make me care about the story.

AE

Smile

Smile
By Raina Telgemeier
Scholastic, 2010. 214 pgs. Young Adult Comics

An autobiography in graphic novel format describes how the author lost two of her front teeth in an accident when she was twelve, and her subsequent struggles with various corrective dental techniques throughout adolescence.

Even though I’ve never had braces, I could identify with many of the things Raina went though as I thought back on my own experiences in Junior High and High School. This book was funny and a quick read. I’d recommend it to anyone who has spent time at the dentist’s office and especially middle school girls.

AMM

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
By Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. 260 pgs. Young Adult

Lily loves Christmas with all the caroling, cookies, and crowds in New York City. Dash dislikes Christmas and is happy to spend it alone when he tells his divorced parents (who don’t speak to each other) that he is spending Christmas with the other. These two strangers begin a relationship when Dash finds Lily’s red Moleskine notebook in the Strand bookstore and follows the clues inside. Daring each other to experience some of their favorite things and writing down some of their innermost feelings, the two teenagers learn a lot about themselves and each other during this delightful romp through New York City during the Christmas season. This starts out a little slow, but thoughtful readers will appreciate Lily’s and Dash’s adventures and growth, which culminate in a hilarious incident.

MN

Donut Days

Donut Days
By Lara Zielin
G.P. Putnam's Son, 2009. 246 pgs. Young Adult

Emma's life is spinning out of control. Her parents are both pastors at their evangelical church, but recently a church member has "prophesied" that women shouldn't preach, stirring up the whole congregations. The man who made the prophesy is the father of a former friend of Emma's--and Emma's love interest. Estranged from her friends, and desperate to win a journalism contest that would give her a much-needed college scholarship, Emma heads to Crispy Dream, the donut store that will be opening soon, to interview people camped out for the grand opening. However, Emma's troubles follow her there.

I have mixed feelings about this book; there are endearing characters and an interesting dilemma. However, I also think the resolution came a little too quickly...and the bit of romance could have been a little more developed, for my personal tastes.

AE

November Blues

November Blues
By Sharon Draper
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007. 316 pgs. Young Adult

High schooler November's boyfriend Josh has recently died--without knowing that November was pregnant. Now November has to deal with impending motherhood, as well as the changes to her body. Josh's cousin Jericho, riddled with guilt over Josh's death, is determined to help her.

I tried to like this book; it's a Coretta Scott King Honor book and I think Draper provides a realistic portrayal of teen pregnancy and emotions. However, I can't say I like either Draper's writing style or found myself connecting with any of the characters.

AE

The Rock and the River

The Rock and the River
By Kekla Magoon
Aladdin, 2009. 290 pgs. Young Adult

It's 1968, and fourteen-year-old Sam finds himself in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement. His father is a follower of Martin Luther King, Jr., and his civil disobedience. However, Sam's older brother gets involved with the Black Panthers, who want to take a more forceful approach to getting equality. Soon, Sam has to decide if he'll be a rock like his dad or a river like his brother.

This book was an interesting look at an important part of American history. Through Sam's dilemma, readers gain a deeper understanding of the two different theories regarding civil rights. The family relationships were well-developed, adding another layer of interest to the story.

AE

Luck be a Lady

Luck Be a Lady
By Cathie Linz
Berkley Sensation/Penguin Group, 2010. 292 Pages. Romance

Megan West is a mild mannered librarian visiting Las Vegas to attend her cousin’s wedding. What she doesn’t know is that her grandmother and her grandmother’s fiancé are planning to tie the knot on this trip as well. Logan Doyle is a haunted Chicago cop rushing to Las Vegas to stop the latter wedding from occurring and thus keeping his grandfather from committing bigamy. Megan and Logan seem to clash from first glance, but when Megan’s world comes apart after her father reveals a shocking family secret, Logan is there to help her uncover the truth.

This book is completely clichéd and more than a little bit ridiculous. Strange details interrupt the flow of the story and are then never referenced again. It could just be me, but the librarian stereotype was considerably over-the-top and I almost triggered a migraine from all the eye rolling I couldn’t suppress. However, I can say that I liked the way the story concluded since it was a bit surprising and pleasantly messy, unlike so many romances that have predictably neat little endings. Far from the best romance I’ve read, but not the worst either.

CZ

Somebody Everybody Listens To

Somebody Everybody Listens To
By Suzanne Supplee
Dutton Books, 2010. 245 pgs. Young Adult

Retta Lee Jones has just completed high school and now has to decide if she'll try to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a country singer. With family issues and limited funds, she isn't sure she should try, but with some nudging from a supportive best friend, Retta sets out for Nashville. With no place to live--and no money after she's mugged--Retta's odds don't seem very good. But with some great new friends and some hard work, Retta's luck might be about to change.

This book is thoroughly delightful. I loved the southern charm and the country music references (each chapter begins with a profile of a country star and shares a title with one that star's hit songs), but what I enjoyed most were Retta and her supporting cast. While the focus is on Retta and her dreams, the side stories about love and kindness really made the book a rich look at life.

AE

Cross My Heart

Cross My Heart
By Julie Wright
Covenant Communications, 2010. 227 pgs. Romance

Jillian is dating Jack, but when he convinces her to do a love study at a local university, he rigs the study to find out if she's still in love with her ex, Geoffrey. When the study reveals that she is, Jillian's relationship with Jack is over and she has to deal with the fact that she still isn't over Geoffrey, the man who stole her promotion and sent her fleeing from Boston to L.A. three years before. Then, Jillian's boss, Dennison, tells her they need to relocate--to Boston--where Jillian's old employmer (the ad agency where Geoffrey still works) is winning away customers. On her flight back to Boston, Jillian meets Allen, a dentist with bitter feels for the advertising business since his girlfriend dumped him for an ad executive.

With the multiple love triangles, readers might find themselves worried about how things will turn out. (I admit, I glanced at the ending to make sure it turned out how I wanted it to!) With lively characters and engaging dialogue, this book is an amusing addition to the world of Mormon chick-lit.

AE

We Troubled the Waters

We Troubled the Waters
By Ntozake Shange
Amistad. 2009. 32 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

Poetry and paintings in tribute to the many individuals who acted with courage for justice and change during the civil rights movement.

The poetry by Ntozake Shange and illustrations by Rod Brown are beautiful in this slender book highlighting many events from the civil rights movement.

AMM

My Name is Jason. Mine too.: Our Story. Our Way.

My Name is Jason. Mine too.: Our Story. Our Way.
By Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin
Joanna Cotler Books, 2009. 96 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

Two young men named Jason, one black and one white, use poetry and art to communicate their different perspectives.

This is an eclectic mix of art and poetry. The first few pages tell their story and then the rest of the book is dedicated to their art. My favorite poem is entitled “Sick.”

Sick
My mother
Is coming home
From the hospital
Tomorrow

And it has occurred
To me That
Somewhere
Between being Bathed
In a bathtub
Overflowing with
Soapsuds and toy soldiers

And Today

I have learned to appreciate her

Seems like sickbeds
Become signals
To selfish sons
Saying

Trouble don’t last always
Nor do mothers


AMM

No Moon

No Moon
By Irene N. Watts
Tundra Books, 2010. 234 pgs. Young Adult

Nursemaid Louisa Gardener still blames herself for the drowning of her two-year-old brother almost ten years earlier, and so she dreads having to accompany the family she works for as they travel to New York on the Titanic.

Stories of the Titanic have always intrigued me and this one was no different. We see Louisa grow up and conquer her fears in this historical novel. If you are interested in stories of the Titanic, take a look at this book.

AMM

The Hand that First Held Mine

The Hand That First Held Mine
By Maggie O’Farrell
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. 341 pgs. Fiction.

After being expelled from university, Lexie is determined to escape her parent’s quiet home and build a life for herself in New York City. Elina, 50 years into the future, has just survived the traumatic birth of her son and is struggling to recover both physically and emotionally. These two women’s stories seem to have nothing in common, but as the novel unfolds, their lives connect is surprising ways as they each explore what it means to be a mother.

This book took me by complete surprise with its touching portrayal of the connection between a mother and her child. My favorite section includes one character’s thoughts she titles ‘The Women We Become After Children’ and includes these musings, “Our hearts begin to live outside our bodies. They breathe, they eat they crawl and –look!—they walk, they begin to speak to us….We get used to living with a love that suffuses us, suffocates us, binds us, controls us. We live.” This is an unexpectedly tender tribute to family and the love that bind us together.

CZ

The Silent Governess

The Silent Governess
By Julie Klassen
Bethany House, 2009. 442 pgs. Romance

Olivia Keene, who has recently run away from home, manages to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and overhears Lord Brightwell discussing with his son and heir, Edward, that he is not actually Brightwell's son. Edward stands to lose everything if word gets out, and when Olivia is caught eavesdropping, Edward is determined not to give her the chance to reveal his secret. Although Olivia has no intention of revealing his secret, Edward forces her into accepting a position at Brightwell Court, first as a servant and then as a governess for his cousin's children. Although both experience a growing attraction for the other, Olivia's position, as well as her reasons for running away, and Edward's suspicions as someone tries to blackmail him, stand to ruin their happiness.

With a mixture of light mystery, a sweet romance, and a setting in 19th century England, this book will appeal to fans of Jane Austen and the like.

AE

The Things a Brother Knows

The Things a Brother Knows
By Dana Reinhardt
Wendy Lamb Books, 2010. 245 pgs. Young Adult

Levi’s brother Boaz has returned home from fighting in Iraq as a Marine. While all the townspeople and Levi’s schoolmates laud Boaz as a hero, Levi just sees an older brother who has locked himself in his room and is completely different from before he left. Levi struggles with his feelings towards Boaz and his behavior and begins snooping on him. When Boaz announces that he plans on hiking the Appalachian Trail, Levi knows this is a lie. A few days into Boaz’s trip, Levi decides to join Boaz and reach some understanding of who Boaz is now and if their family will ever be normal, whatever normal might be, again.

A touching and realistic look at sibling relationships and if one ever truly understands or knows a brother or sister. This book is also haunting in its portrayal of a returned soldier who obviously needs some help, but doesn’t quite realize it. Levi is a great character who feels real in his struggles to help his brother; I would love to spend more time with him.

MN

Almost Dead

Almost Dead
by Assaf Gavron
Harper, 2010. 328 pgs. Fiction.

Eitan "Croc" Einoch usually takes the Little No. 5 to work in Tel Aviv instead of the No. 5 bus for a variety of reasons, the main one being that it is less likely to be blown up by terrorists. But on the day in question several of Little No. 5's passengers are nervous about a Palestinian man carrying a suit bag, including a blonde man in sunglasses who tells Croc that if anything happens, he should tell his girlfriend Shuli something, but he can't think of how to say what he wants her to be told. Croc tells the man not to worry, disembarks, and later learns the Palestinian has blown himself up along with the Little No. 5 and her passengers. From there the story is told in alternating chapters, by Croc himself and by Fahmi, a Palestinian who is in the hospital, his life consisting of interior dialogue and the actions of a nurse, a doctor, and his visitors who talk to him and care for his body. The back and forth of these two likeable--in fact, deeply
sympathetic-- characters is the story as well of the hopeless tragedy that is contemporary Israel. Death and retaliation, retaliation and death, the sorrow made more poignant by the witty dialogue, the mordant humor, the comforting details of everyday life, and the austere beauty of the landscape that characterize Gavron's well-wrought narrative. I doubt any political, historical, or cultural treatises could ever lay bare the disaster of endless, mindless hatred like this short novel does.

LW

Persuasion

Persuasion
By Jane Austen
Penguin Books, 1998 (first published 1817). 235 pgs. Historical Fiction.

Long ago, Anne fell deeply in love with Frederick Wentworth, a naval captain with neither fortune, ancestry, nor prospects. Sadly, she was persuaded by a family friend that the match was imprudent, and she broke off their engagement. Eight years later, Anne is still deeply regretting their separation when peace brings the Navy home and she is suddenly thrown in the path of Captain Wentworth once more.

I am always impressed with Austen's ability to fill a story with unrealized energy until finally a simple glance or touch is electrifying. Subtle, but satisfying! This is Jane Austen's last novel, and fans of classics, romance, and historical fiction will enjoy this.

BHG

Hush

Hush
By Eishes Chayil
Walker Books for Young Readers, 2010. Fiction. 368 pgs.

Seventeen-year-old Gittel, who is an ultra-Orthodox Jew, is preparing to graduate from school and be married, as is the tradition in her culture. However, as her marriage approaches, she finds herself haunted by images and dreams of her best friend Devory, who committed suicide when the girls were ten. Gittel's family and community have pushed Devory's death--and the sexual abuse that led her to take her life--into the background of their memories, since their religious beliefs and desire to stay separate from the Gentile community encourage silence. However, increasingly disturbed by the memories that are resurfacing, Gittel has to decide how to both honor her religion and her deceased friend.

This novel was gripping from start to finish. In this fascinating look at Chassidim, the author (whose pseudonym, Eishes Chayil, means "Woman of Valor"), the author manages to convey both the negative and the positive aspects of the culture. Readers will find much to learn about the Chadissic community and gain a deeper understanding of how such abuse could be ignored--but also understand that it needs to be condemned. Gittel and Devory's story is fictional but based on real experiences from the author's childhood and on her desire to protect and help children who suffer from abuse. The book is not graphic, but at the same time, the subject matter, as well as the deep immersion in another culture (and heavy use of Yiddish phrases), might make the book more appealing to adults than teens.

AE

Lawn Boy Returns

Lawn Boy Returns
By Gary Paulsen
Wendy Lamb Books, 2010. 101 pgs. Young Adult

Having expanded his summer lawn mowing job into an ever-growing business conglomerate, a twelve-year-old boy gets involved in high finance thanks to his hippie stockbroker, takes on sponsorship of a boxer, and becomes a media sensation.

Lawn Boy’s adventures continue in the follow up to Lawn Boy. He faces trouble when his friends and random strangers want a piece of his fortune. His business partners increase daily and he’s feeling worn out. Will Lawn Boy survive this epic summer?

AMM

Lawn Boy

Lawn Boy
By Gary Paulsen
Wendy Lamb Books, 2007. 88 pgs. Young Adult

On his 12th birthday Lawn Boy is given a lawn mower by his grandmother. He is a bit surprised at this gift, but figures that maybe he can earn a few bucks to buy an inner tube for his bike. It turns out that the lawn service that used to take care of his neighborhood is no longer in business and he’s hit the jackpot. Lawn Boy not only makes enough to buy an inner tube, but learns about investing from his stockbroker neighbor when he continues to make more money than he knows what to do with.

This short book packs a hilarious punch. I read it in a matter of hours and was certainly entertained.

AMM

Livvie Owen Lived Here

Livvie Owen Lived Here
By Sarah Dooley
Feiwel and Friends, 2010. 229 pgs. Young Adult

Fourteen-year-old Livvie Owen, who has autism, and her family have been forced to move frequently because of her outbursts, but when they face eviction again, Livvie is convinced she has a way to get back to a house where they were all happy, once.

I liked the voice of this book and how the interactions between Livvie and her family were portrayed. I felt like the flap of the book was a bit misleading in that it says that the house Livvie’s family used to live in burned down at her hand. However, the novel never explicitly states this; I suppose the reader is to infer this fact from the matches on the cover. Overall a good book though.

AMM

Matched

Matched
By Ally Condie
Dutton, 2010. 384 pgs. Young Adult

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her, so when Xander appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate--until Ky Markham's face appears for an instant before the screen fades to black.

I enjoyed the first book in this new dystopian series. The Society has made sure that everything is as perfect as possible. You are assigned a spouse, a job, and the ideal nutritional balance for your meals all based on your personal data. Cassia was fine living in this perfect bubble, until she began to see what the world could be like outside the Society.

I look forward to seeing Ally Condie on December 7th here at the Provo City Library. She will be speaking and signing at 7:00 pm in the Bullock Room, #309.

AMM

White Noise

White Noise
By Don Delillo
Penguin Books, 2009 (c1984). 310 pages. Fiction.


In this dark satire of American society, Jack Gladney is a professor and chairman of the department of Hitler studies at "College-on-the-Hill." Jack is married to Babette who brought several children to the marriage from previous relationships. In the story a tank car containing a toxic substance is derailed releasing Nyodene Derivative into the air. This is at first a "feathery plume," shortly thereafter it's a "black billowing cloud," and ultimately referred to as the "airborne toxic event."

Delillo turns his wicked wit on American society, consumer culture, and academia. Ultimately the novel is about death--references and images of death are replete throughout the text--in fact, the title itself is a reference to death. Despite the oddness of these characters and some of the storyline, I found the descriptions, dialogue, and Jack's stream-of-consciousness all very natural and genuine. Fascinating like a slow-motion train wreck.

SML

The Dead Sea Scrolls: The Truth Behind the Mystique

The Dead Sea Scrolls: The Truth Behind the Mystique
By Lawrence H. Schiffman
Recorded Books, 2007. 7 CDs. Nonfiction.

This series of 14 lectures is a rudimentary introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls. You will learn a little about the origin of the scrolls, the content of the scrolls, the sect that created and hid them, the discovery of the scrolls, their translation and publication. You will hear more frequently what the scrolls are not--Schiffman repeatedly dismisses what he refers to a "one-person theories."

I was a little disappointed that there was far too little attention given over to analysis of the scrolls with respect to what they teach us concerning Second Temple Judaism and the origins and antecedents of Christianity. Apparently the field is too young. Schiffman states that the scrolls only recently have been completely published, making them widely available for scholarly research and analysis. At the conclusion of his series of lectures, he makes a call for the kind scholarship and analysis I was hoping to hear presented in this audio presentation.

SML

The Disappearing Spoon

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
By Sam Kean
Little, Brown & Co., 2010. 391 pgs. Nonfiction.

Did you know that aluminum, the disposable stuff we use to line pans when we don’t want to have to scrub them, was once the most valuable metal in the world? How about that gold is thought by some to be our best hope for treating cancer? Or perhaps that Oklo, an area in Africa, is home to the only known natural nuclear fission reactor? Sam Kean includes these and many, many more fascinating facts and stories about the people and elements connected to the periodic table of elements.

I believe that what makes science writing so much fun to read is that scientists, these serious men and women who spend their lives studying our vast and complicated universe, are so completely human and at times completely crazy as well. Kean’s fascination with the physics, chemistry, and history of our elements makes it difficult to avoid being fascinated as well. The Disappearing Spoon is a treasure trove of entertaining facts and stories and is a pleasure to read.

CZ

The Envoy: The Epic Rescue of the Last Jews of Europe

The Envoy: The Epic Rescue of the Last Jews of Europe . . .
by Alex Kershaw
Da Capo, 2010. 294 pgs. Non-Fiction

This beautiful, terrible narrative tells the story of Raoul Wallenberg, Adolph Eichmann, and the near-annihilation of Hungary's Jews during the last days of World War II. Wallenberg, dispatched with U. S. money from neutral Sweden to try to halt or delay Eichmann's rush of Jews to the death camps, saved tens of thousands of Jews by issuing them Schutzpasses, documents conferring Swedish protection and allowing him to move people into Swedish safe houses and some to escape the country. Again and again Wallenberg risks his own life and freedom by setting up his "little black table" at the train station and pulling people off the transports at the last minute by randomly calling out the most common Jewish names. Kershaw tells his story in a powerful understated prose filled with poignant details about individual Hungarians as well as the historic figures of the time. Descriptions of the Blue Danube running red with the blood of women and children shot on its banks, their bodies thrown into the water, and of Jewish bodies laid out on the ice in a pattern mocking the Star of David bring a terrible immediacy to Kershaw's historical narrative. Contrast this with the hope against hope and eventual salvation of those whom Wallenberg's intervention saved, as he appeared suddenly, almost as an angel of light, among the deportees at the station. Wallenberg's own disappearance into the Soviet gulag brings this extraordinary book to a heartbreaking conclusion, though the appendix which details the number of people saved and the estimated number of their descendants makes powerfully the point of how much may be accomplished by even one very good man.

The Wave

The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean
By Susan Casey
Doubleday, 2010. 326 pgs. Nonfiction

The ocean is home to some of the world’s deadliest creatures. But, even without the deadly wildlife, the ocean’s vast size and movement presents a powerful force of destruction. The Wave is an exploration of the force exhibited by the ocean’s waves. The author spends chapters on both the scientists trying to understand and possibly harness the power behind the ocean’s movement, and the surfers who risk their lives to ride these mammoth walls of water.

This book has been described as “part science lesson and part adrenaline rush”, and I whole-heartedly agree. Casey’s love of the ocean is plainly exhibited as she writes of the beauty and hostility of the freak waves that have been known to tear boats in half and demolish coastlines. Even with her careful description, readers will still want to make a quick trip to youtube to see these enormous waves being ridden by professional tow surfers. This book is an excellent read for any armchair adventurer.

CZ