Miss Karen's Book Shelf

Yes, I have been reading

2011-12-27T19:06:00.000-08:00

So I have been reading the last couple of weeks. Just not as much as I would like darn it!

I read a great book last week and now cannot think of the title. But the cover was black with white writing. Does that help me remember?

Busy weekend of reading

2011-12-12T10:52:00.000-08:00

So this weekend I had the opportunity to read some great books!

David Levithan's The Lover's Dictionary, was a unique and raw look at emotions and relationships. I may have to re-read this book, with a dictionary in hand! I love the way he tied the stories of his relationship to great words. One of my new favorite books!

One Summer by David Baldacci is a story of letting go and finding your way amid grief and unforeseen circumstances. The story was a bit trite for me but I still enjoyed this story of a family trying to move on with their lives.

What would you do if your forever best friend stopped speaking to you? What if you caused something to happen that you cannot even begin to imagine? What if someone you loved did something so unspeakable you lost them both?

Exposed is a story about friendship and family and losing them all, but somehow finding your way. Told in prose this story is full of heart ache and teen issues. Really, really enjoyed this book!

I started reading Winter's Bone and realized I had already read it! Great story and a great movie. I highly recommend this title.

Tried to read Winter Birds by Jim Grimsley but could not get into it this weekend. It will go on my to read list.

Best of Me

2011-12-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

So I started reading The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks last week and could not get into it. Decided to turn it back in to the library for the long line of people waiting for it since I obviously was not hooked.

Many more titles on my shelf today!

Skipping a Beat

2011-12-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

So I decided I needed some adult books for a while and selected Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen. Being married I was intrigued by the plot- a husband that changes the rules of the game and the choice the wife makes. I have to admit I was not invested in this book. I found the wife to be a bit whiny. I understand the emotions, the feelings of betrayal but seriously her boo-hooing was a bit tiring. I felt the ending was trite and after giving away the mass fortune he still leaves her $4 million so she would be taken care of...which goes against his mission to live a simpler life.
An ok fluff read but was a bit disappointed.

Recovery Road

2011-11-28T12:22:00.001-08:00

So after the heavy reading of the Hunger Games trilogy I needed to read something a bit more light- so Recovery Road seemed to fit the bill.
A story that many teens today can relate too- alcohol and drug addiction, co-dependent relationships. I was disappointed that the parents were portrayed so negatively in the book, but in reality maybe that is the case for many teens today.

Hunger Games- finally!

2011-11-28T12:16:00.000-08:00

So this weekend I finished Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Yes, I know months and months after the rest of the world has read them.
I must admit that I loved the first book the most, the final book was so full of violence for violence's sake that I was exhausted when it was over.
I am looking forward to the movies to see how my idea of Panem fits into the Hollywood version.
Great series!

Bumped

2011-11-14T17:41:00.001-08:00

A society where everyone over the age of 18 is unable to bear children so teens are hired to be surrogates for adults with too much money is absolutely fascinating. A moral dilemma, a conscious choice, a life created as a gift and a way to pay for college or retirement.

Book 2 Thumped is due April 24, 2012.

Death in a Prairie House

2011-11-14T17:28:00.000-08:00

So anyone who knows me knows I am fascinated with Frank Lloyd Wright and have been to Taliesin West in Arizona, as well as toured various homes in Chicago. This book was an academic read and shed some light on the man behind the genius. Or the madness depending on your view. I admire his vision and style but his personal life left a bit to be desired.

Crossed

2011-11-14T17:26:00.000-08:00

I love this series! I cannot speak enough about the concept behind a society that is mapped out for you- everything about your day is planned for you and then you are watched to make sure you do what they want you to do.
LOVE THIS BOOK!

Wonder Struck

2011-11-14T17:24:00.000-08:00

Let's Take the Long Way Home

2011-10-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

I had seen this title at the airport and I must admit that the cover drew me in. I knew I had to read this book after the brief synopsis and cover captured my attention. Unfortunately this book did nothing for me. I could not get into this story or the characters to save my life! I did not have empathy for the two women and the struggles they faced. I also admit that I did not finish the book. It is one of those books that I will have to come back to some other day.

A Monster Calls

2011-10-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love Patrick Ness! His writing style and books draw me in and leave me wanting more. A Monster Calls was the premise of the late Siohban Dowd. I could not help but wonder how she would have written the story and what she thinks of his take on her concept. I flew thru this book in a few hours. I could never tell what was real and what was in his head. The black and white images in the book helped to set the stage for the oppressive dread that filled the main character. I loved this book!

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25

2011-10-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

WOW! Another fabulous book that I read in a few hours. I cannot wait to read the second book. Also, I never thought I was someone who liked sci-fi but am finding more and more that this genre appeals to me. It helps that the young adult titles are absolutely fabulous!

Hunger Games

2011-10-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

What took me so long to read this book? It was a fabulous afternoon read while camping a few weeks ago. I loved it! I have to find a copy of Catching Fire immediately!

Sky is Everywhere

2011-09-07T12:51:00.001-07:00

Annexed

2011-09-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

Numbers

2011-09-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Would you want to know the exact day friends, loved ones and even strangers were going to die? If you did know would you tell them? Could you stop it?

Life on the run with no one to trust is a hard life to live. Or are you really alone?

Magician's Elephant

2011-08-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

Finding out that your life has been a lie from a fortune teller shakes Peter to his core. How do you find your lost self when you are alone in this world.

One Day

2011-08-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

A love hate relationship that spans 20 years. Have not seen the movie but looking forward to seeing how Hollywood presents this friend love story.

Graveminder

2011-08-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Summer of Skinny Dipping

2011-08-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

Turn of Mind

2011-07-25T13:15:00.001-07:00

A heart breaking story about dementia. How a life is stolen and another is taken.

Not a fan of the format but it was a captivating story.

Gemini Summer

2011-07-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

Being a Gemini I had to read this book. Of course it had NOTHING to do with that at all but I can be simple minded.

Two brothers, friends and enemies. One devastating afternoon changes it all. A dog. A dream. The Gemini mission.

A must read for summer.

Queen of Water

2011-07-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

Imagine being a young girl, only 7 years old and you are forced to leave your family. Forced by wealthy people to be their maid, nanny, cook...their slave. Your are beaten, tormented, verbally abused, belittled.
Then one day you find the courage to go home. But what is home?

A beautiful story of finding your family, your place and changing the way you look at yourself.

Books I Remember I Forgot

2011-07-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Last Summer (of You & Me) -Brashares

The Seeing Stone

What Can(t) Wait

2011-07-05T09:42:00.001-07:00

For Marisa planning a future is hard to do when home won't let you go. This story weaves two cultures and the hopes of one young girl and leaves you wanting to know how it all ends.

Blank Confession

2011-06-29T09:29:00.000-07:00

How far would you go protect the people you cared most about in the whole world? What would you do if they were at risk or in danger? Would you lie to protect them?

Weekend Reads

2011-06-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

So I have read countless books over the last month or so just have been too lazy to post them.

This weekend on a lovely camping trip to Springy Point I had the pleasure of reading Matched and The Last Good Place of Lily Odilon. There is a third book that I finished but am now unable to remember the title. Oh and there was Warm Bodies a lovely book about zombies.

Last month I read The Reliable Wife which I loved!

So I like Lily but I loved Matched and A Reliable Wife. Both great books for different reasons. Matched weaves a story of secrets and all things forbidden-including running in public. I was fascinated by this story and wanted to know what happened once I turned the last page.

Reliable Wife captured my attention after a recommendation from Cassie. A personal ad, poison, a damaged son, secrets. This story is a tangled web and I loved it!!

April titles

2011-05-02T11:35:00.001-07:00

I really need to remember to write down the titles I read...I have read 4-5 books in the last couple of weeks and see that I have not kept very good track.

Kristin Hannah
Silver Boat, by?

UGH!

Destroy All Cars

2011-04-06T16:31:00.001-07:00

This quick read accompanied me on the flight from Spokane to Phoenix on Monday. By the time I got on the plane in Oakland my book was done. Fun story full of angst, drama and high school stuff! A good choice for reluctant teen boys. Also some environmental issues that will appeal to a different audience.
Fun and quick read!!

Keeper

2011-04-06T16:30:00.001-07:00

You Wish

2011-03-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

A birthday gone wrong. Imagine if all your wishes came true. Only they came true at the same time on your 16th birthday. Your Raggedy Ann doll becomes life size and real. Ken pulls up in his convertible to pick up "Barbie". Gumballs fill your bedroom. The list goes on. Including kissing your best friends boyfriend. If you could make a wish what would you really wish for??

Revolver

2011-03-26T11:41:00.001-07:00

Set in the early 1900's this story about a young man and his sister struggling to survive takes places over the course of a few short days. A main character-The Revolver- plays an integral part of this terrifying story. Being terrorized in your own home, the loss of your father, the disappearance of your step-mother, the harsh elements and a mystery you know nothing about. It is true...dead men do tell stories.

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

2011-03-26T11:17:00.001-07:00

Browsing the gift shop at the airport this month always surprises me. I had heard about this book and was happy to find it for my quick trip. My father was raised Mennonite so I was excited to read more about his life (not that he is a middle-aged woman who was left by her husband for Bob from gay.com but you know what I mean) and the Mennonite traditions. Tinged with bits of laughter and heart-wrenching pain I began to understand more about my father through the eyes of this woman. I shared this book with my father who said the book made him sad, remembering his wonderful childhood and the walk down memory lane. We love the recipes at the end, as they resemble the recipes my grandmother, his mother, shared with us. Family traditions. Something I cling to like a life raft in the harsh seas.

The Girl She Used to Be

2011-03-07T11:58:00.001-08:00

Song of the Humpback Whale

2011-03-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

I love Jodi Picoult. Her stories seem to touch parts of my life and always teach me a lesson. While this story jumped around and I was not thrilled with the ending, I did enjoy the story line and sent it with my sister for her weekend getaway.

Sing Me to Sleep

2011-02-24T17:03:00.000-08:00

What an amazing love story. I love that a story is written with such heart and truth about how bullying can forever change how it impacts their life. Seeing her struggle while she is bullied, then during her transformation she struggles to find herself and in the end when she finds love. Spoiler alert: when the love of her life dies (AARRRGGHH!!!!) she turns immediately back to her best friend. Not sure how I feel about the quick turn around but the story came across as true to life and it kept me up until 2am, crying, needing to know how the story ended.

Turtle in Paradise

2011-02-16T11:54:00.001-08:00

During a difficult yet magical time a young girl learns a hard lesson about love and family.

Our Little Secret

2011-02-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

I love true crime! It completely fascinates me how someone can commit an unthinkable crime and "get away" with it. In this case, an entire town knew the truth and did nothing. Our Little Secret has a few layers to it and it amazed me how a small town and small town politics work. The writing style was not great but the story line kept me reading so I could find out how an entire town could protect a killer. A teen killer at that. Oh and did I mention the man that they killed was abusive and vile?

Bonechiller

2011-02-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

You have to be intrigued by a book called Bonechiller. I am not a fan of scary or horror but I needed to know about this book. Fascinating concept, teens being stalked and killed by a creature for the last hundred years. No one ever put it together that this was happening they just assumed the kids ran away. It all ends in a flash and a bang and happily ever after.
Great read for boys or girls who like a bit of excitement. Not scary but enough chill to make it worth the read.

Once Was Lost

2011-01-26T15:10:00.001-08:00

A family hiding a secret. A father not sure how to cope with changes. A daughter feeling lost. A young girl goes missing.

Dealing with betrayal of a father, first kiss from a confused and scared brother, teen angst, mom in rehab, friend missing...fear.

This book deals with a variety of teen issues and does not shrink away from dealing with all the emotions of being a teen.

Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club

2011-01-26T14:59:00.000-08:00

This title is completely out of my normal range of books but was looking for something new. A simple read that did not touch much on her personal journey. Having to deal with betrayal and death as well as moving to a new home all seemed to be brushed under the carpet. I was expecting more about the underlying story. Overall a good story.

Rainbow Party

2011-01-26T14:38:00.001-08:00

Not what you think...or maybe it is. Eye-opening story about teen sex and their fears, their exploration and what really goes on behind bathroom stall doors.

Fall for Anything

2011-01-06T17:21:00.000-08:00

I love this book! In the course of a few short hours I was taken from the depths of despair to the pillar of hope and then dashed to heartbreak with a slight glimmer of hope.

What do you do when someone you love dies? What if that person commits suicide? The question of 'why' can eat you alive. What if someone comes along and tells you they can answer the question for you. Do you follow them??

Each page pulls you along, desperate to find out what really happened and how do you heal when someone you love dies.

Old Favorites

2010-12-29T10:03:00.001-08:00

It is that time again when I re-read one of my all time favorite books, Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg (a favorite author too!)

Harvesting the Heart

2010-12-29T09:58:00.000-08:00

Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. Her stories keep you coming back, needing to know what happens to the characters.
This weekend I read Harvesting the Heart. I have to say I was frustrated with the story, namely the main characters (the husband). He came across as so self absorbed and self righteous that it was hard to read without wanting to throw the book across the room. The story ended abruptly and left me wondering if in fact there was salvation for the couple or if the world had torn them apart. Either way that man needs to be slapped.

New books lost

2010-12-29T09:57:00.000-08:00

So recently I have read a couple of books and now for the life of me I cannot remember the title or author. What does this say about me? Or the books? Hopefully I will remember...

I REMEMBER!!!
Nicholas Sparks, Lucky One.
I will post more later but am so totally happy that I remembered ! YAY!

If I Stay

2010-12-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you realize everyone you love is gone? How do you find the strength to carry on? If you don't have that strength is it ok to just let go...?
Heartbreaking story of a young girl's choice to live or die when her world is shattered.

Losing Faith

2010-12-14T09:22:00.000-08:00

A terrible secret.
A terrible fate.

Denise Jaden captures the secrecy and desperation of a sister looking for answers and a young girl lost to her faith. The tragic events that lead to peace pull the reader from page to page, desperately wanting the truth; desperately wanting normalcy, a new normalcy. A story of a family's struggle with grief and moving on.

In the Wilderness

2010-12-14T09:19:00.001-08:00

This memoir about growing up in the 1960's & 1970's during the logging era in North Idaho strikes a cord with every reader. The struggles a young girl faces as she finds her place in this ever-changing world speak to each of us and remind us of the personal journey we all must take.
A fabulous book!!

More of the Sisters Grimm

2010-12-14T09:07:00.000-08:00

Last month I read Book 8 & 9 of the Sisters Grimm series. After years of failed attempts to rescue their parents Sabrina and Daphne finally rescue their parents. But their struggles are far from over. An Ever After War, re-writing the Fairy Tales history and betrayal from a trusted friend test the sisters and their family.

Between Here to April

2010-10-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

My best friend April is gone. She left yesterday with her mother and never returned. As an adult walking her path I see her life with new eyes and my pain over her loss grows.

The Wrong Mother

2010-10-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

Weaving together a tale of lives gone awry Hannah explores what it is like to step outside of yourself and come back around. What if a person from your past turns up again unexpectedly, but they are not the person you think they are or were.

What I Saw and How I Lied

2010-10-27T12:01:00.001-07:00

A story that appears simple at first and then delves deeper into issues and situations that no teen wants to find themselves facing. Young love gone terribly wrong. Parents behaving badly is an understatement.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

2010-09-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

Airing your frustrations with people and ideas just became a life or death situation. As a survivor you are now the target of all the anger felt by classmates and guilt by association makes you the number one target.
A powerful story of finding yourself amid tragedy and learning the hard way what it means to be you.

Unwind

2010-09-20T16:27:00.001-07:00

The order has been signed. Your life will now end...sort of. You will still be "alive". Just that your body will be parceled out to people in need of your eyes, limbs, organs, tissue, blood...everything. And once your parents sign the order it is law. If you run you will be arrested. So this is what 13 years old feels like.

And what happens if I run...where do I go? And what happens at the Graveyard?

When You Reach Me

2010-09-14T14:38:00.001-07:00

Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone who knows the future. Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls the laughing man and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics. Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.–Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT

Funny How Things Change

2010-09-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

The more things change the more they stay the same.
Remy Walker has some hard choices to make about his life. A rich tale about life in Dwyer, West Virginia, deep in the mountains of Appalachia. Remy must learn how much he as to give up for a girl and how much he needs to give up for a mountain.

Liar

2010-09-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

I have a brother. My brother is dead. I don't really have a brother. Ok I do have a brother and he is alive.

The truth gets wound around in the head of Micah and when her secret boyfriend is found dead all eyes are on the Liar.

Monsters of Men

2010-09-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

I can hear you Todd, every thought, every breath, I can hear you.

The gripping end to the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness leaves you breathless and your heart racing to the very last page.

This story of redemption, war, love, loyalty, perseverance and control consume the reader and delve you into New World hoping to keep your head above water.

LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!

Life As We Knew It

2010-08-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought when they went home after the Moon Party that their world was forever changed.