Nick and Allie were victims of a fatal car accident, but instead of making it to the bright white light they were bumped into Everlost. They learn quickly that they have to keep moving or else they will sink through the ground all the way to the center of the earth. There are certain spots where they can walk, and some objects and buildings that have also passed through. And only kids live in Everlost–adults never get lost on the way. Mary Hightower seems to run the show, and everyone fears the McGill.
I really liked how Shusterman subverted expectations and gave us characters who don’t fit the neat little molds you so often find in genre YA. Allie in particular is a different kind of heroine and I was particularly taken by how Shusterman develops her character. I’ve got high hopes for the rest of the series.
Synopsis:
The wearied mother to the heiress of Chalion attempts to flee her past insanity, only to find herself possessed by a god called The Bastard and sent on a perplexing mission of grave theological danger.
Review: Paladin of Souls is the sequel to Lois McMaster Bujold’s Curse of Chalion, which I read a few years ago and greatly enjoyed.
Ista is the dowager royina of Chalion, a title placing her in the top echelon of the land. She had a bad experience with one of the five gods that drove her mad for many years. Having regained her sanity, she’s eager to take some time to herself and plans a pilgrimage of sorts. However, her peaceful endeavor is hijacked by The Bastard, the fifth god whose worship is considered blasphemy by most in the land. He charges Ista with a mission, but refuses to reveal the details. It seems to have something to do with a recent plague of demons and a most unusual marital arrangement by a lesser nobleman.
I loved how this story included horror elements within the political intrigue. I did a lot of research into Vodoun for a project a few years ago, and I found a lot in this book that seemed influenced by some of the practices and mythos of that religion. It worked so well here, especially because the characters and world were so well drawn. Great book all around!
Yay Scholastic! They’re giving 3 of my US readers a copy of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. You can read my rave review here.
To enter, leave a comment below by 11:59pm EST on Monday, July 19th. Tweet this contest & leave a trackback below for an extra entry. Open to US residents only.
Check out the trailer:
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capital surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capital is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor to his or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capital wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rules. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. Bestselling writer Suzanne Collins delivers equal parts suspense and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this stunning novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present.
Synopsis:
A history of thrift in American culture.
Review:
While the history that comprises most of In Cheap We Trust was well-researched and presented, I really wanted a lot more present-day analysis. I really appreciated the chapter on the greenwashing of consumption, and how buying secondhand is, in many ways, a lot more eco friendly than buying something brand new even if it’s made sustainably. I was also hoping for a lot more practical suggestions for being thriftier, but I was just mistaken about what kind of book this was going to be, and that’s my problem, not the book’s!
Synopsis:
How living the Carrie Bradshaw life sent a former fashion editor to the poorhouse.
Review:
Because Spent is loaded with designer names and European spending sprees, it’s hard not to see it as a real-life Confessions of a Shopaholic. Avis Cardella’s addiction and hoarding behaviors are so glamorous that it’s hard not to be jealous of someone who amassed a huge designer wardrobe and only ended up $8,000 in debt–which she was able to pay off in full. Now, her relationships with men–built as they were around shopping sprees and Svengali-esque indulgences–clearly point to the toxicity of her attitude towards accumulation, and I wish she’d gone into greater detail about the emotional emptiness that she endured. I felt like she was still trying to put on a pretty face.
Avis’s attitude towards her things definitely reminded me of Stuff, which I read recently and found fascinating. In that book, the authors discuss how some hoarders collect things because they see more beauty in objects than most people do. That definitely seemed true of Cardella. In a way, I admired her ability to appreciate the high fashion items that she found on her shopping expeditions. Her attention to detail clearly helped her become a success as a fashion writer. And then it was fascinating to hear how much she hated her purchases after they were finished and the shopping high wore off. Even though I’ve bought things I ended up not liking as much once I got them home, I just can’t fathom buying something just to throw it in the closet with the tags still on.
I think this is an important conversation for women to have. Shopping and designer clothes and the celebrity lifestyle have been sold so hard to women that a major course correction is required. While Spent had its flaws, it raises some good points and adds substantively to the discourse on overconsumption.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the review copy.
Synopsis:
In the wake of tragedy, a middle-aged divorcée, her sister, and her two grown daughters retreat to the family home on remote, rustic Tuckernuck Island off the coast of Nantucket, where buried secrets and repressed longings burst to the surface.
Review: The Island is a book about loss, grief, and longing, with 3 of the main characters haunted by the untimely death of a lover. The main character, Birdie, has survived a divorce after decades of marriage, and has just embarked on her first love affair since the split. Her daughter Chess has just lost her fiancé in a rock climbing accident, after calling off the engagement, and her other daughter Tate has pined for their caretaker since she was 17. Birdie’s sister, India, lost her own husband to suicide and is now faced with a most unorthodox choice. And caretaker Barrett has secrets of his own.
I enjoyed this book even though I felt like the plot elements were all a bit too symmetrical to be believed. I loved the evocation of life on Tuckernuck in its rural simplicity. I got a little tired of all the wealth but in the end it did work for me. It’s a nice relaxing read, perfect for relaxing on the couch nursing Superfast Newborn.
Many thanks to Reagan Arthur Books for the review copy.
Synopsis:
A white woman writes the lives of the black women who work for her and her friends in early 1960s Jackson, Mississippi.
Review:
After having a half a dozen people recommend The Help, and then not being able to find it at the library, I decided to take the plunge and buy myself a shiny new hardcover copy. I went in with low expectations, because more often than not I’m disappointed by these kinds of books. Thank goodness I listened to my very smart friends because this was one of the best reads I’ve ever had. I was crying at the end–and I don’t think it was just postpartum hormones.
Aibileen and Minnie are black maids working in deeply segregated Jackson, Mississippi. Skeeter Phelan is a white spinster, member of the Junior League and bridge club regular, who is starting to wish things could be different. The Help is told from all of their points of view as Skeeter embarks on an interview project that will let the maids tell their stories in their own words.
Stockett brings this world to life brilliantly. The relationships between the characters are diamond-sharp, and each person is so unique and specific that every word was a joy to read. She also brings to life the tension of life in the segregated south and shows the struggles faced by Aibileen and Minnie and their friends and family, without being patronizing or handwringingly melodramatic.
I loved this book and I want everyone I know to read it!
Synopsis:
A professional “carer” recalls her idyllic school days, which mask a horror that she and her friends “know but don’t know.”
Review: Never Let Me Go is one of my favorite all-time books, and this is the third time I’ve read it. Big life upheavals, like having a baby, always send me back to books I know I’ll enjoy, as a way to comfort myself through a major life transition. If you’ve read it, you’ll know that it’s a strange one to read while holding a brand new baby–and I hope that’s enough to tantalize anyone who hasn’t had a chance to read it.
I happily accept review copies of books, though I will not guarantee a positive review. My links will lead you to Amazon, and if you make a purchase I'll receive a referral fee.
