You Should Read More

The Local News--Miriam Gershow

2009-08-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

From magazine articles to fellow book bloggers, I'd heard a lot about this one. It seemed an interesting premise; Lydia Pasternak is left to deal with the loss of her older brother, Danny, after he mysteriously disappears. Everyone in the community bands together in an effort to bring Danny home and Lydia, along with her family, is thrust into a celebrity-like status. Described as a "deeply moving story about the complicated bond between a brother and sister," you would expect an endearing tear-jerker, right? Yeah, not so much.
Lydia feeds off of others' sympathy in the wake of Danny's disappearance--she actually wants people to feel sorry for her. She uses her new distorted celebrity to gain a higher social status at school and finds herself spending time with Danny's friends.
Her parents hire Denis Jimenez, a private investigator, in hopes that he would be able to track down their son. While Denis asks Lydia for help, she goes overboard trying to impress him. She is trying so hard to get his attention that she seems to forget the goal: to find Danny.
As more time passes with no leads on Danny's whereabouts, Lydia becomes more content with the notion of being the only child in her family--and finally out of Danny's shadow. Even if I could wrap my mind around the idea of someone relishing the loss of their sibling, reading of Lydia's relationship with her brother didn't seem to warrant such behavior. Though they didn't always get along, she reminisces about the fun times they shared growing up together. It's frustrating; she didn't appear to hate Danny, so why was she so relieved when he left? Lydia's back and forth, ambivalent feelings for her brother is tiring and leaves you feeling confused. Even when it is revealed that Danny has been killed, (trust, I'm not ruining anything--there's no anticipation surrounding this issue) Lydia can't get it through her head--he's really gone. There's just no pleasing this girl; her brother was out of the picture, so she was free to take the spotlight, but he would never be coming back--whatever that meant to her.
The end of the book cuts to her ten years in the future, and she is discontent as ever. If something was going well, she would want to bring pain to it--literally. She was having a nice conversation with her mother and boyfriend, and felt the urge to kick each of them in the shin.
I am baffled by the fact that this story is described as funny in some of the reviews that I read; whoever finds this story amusing in any way has an interesting (read:strange) sense of humor. Maybe Lydia's ambivalence and selfishness is meant to come off as humorous, but I found it to be completely un-relatable and desperate.
Aside from the slow-moving storyline, Lydia's character will irritate you to no end. If I haven't made it clear enough: DON'T BOTHER.

List Lovin' So and So

2009-08-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

I love lists. Not writing them so much as reading them. I also love YA fiction. Combine the two, and I'm in book nerd heaven.

Cecil Castellucci has written a list for the LA Times Book Blog: Young adult books that rock: a beginner's list, and thanks to it, my TBR pile just grew a little more. I've already read (and loved) two of the books on the list (King Dork and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist) so I'm optimistic about the other selections.

Yay!

2009-07-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers, please forgive my lack of frequent posts. I'm only just now recovering from the madness that was helping one of my best friends with her wedding. I'm happy to say that little Samantha Jarvis is now Mrs. Samantha Sager. After I take a break and collect myself, I promise I'll be back to posting.

So Cute!

2009-07-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know this isn't a book review, but it's sort of book related. And, hello? This is ADORABLE! As soon as I stumbled across it on my quest to reach the end of the internet, I emailed one of my crafty friends, begging her to teach me to embroider.

Check out the other precious designs.

Oh, and wish me luck in my creative endeavor.

A Modest Request

2009-07-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Google Analytics, I know SOMEONE other than immediate family members are reading. It means so much that people all over the place are reading this humble little blog. I checked the Map Overlap feature and was SHOCKED to find we've had visits from Romania. ROMANIA! How awesome is that??

Ok, so while I love the fact that you're reading, I'd like to know what you all think about this blog. Katie Lou and I would really appreciate some comments. Please let us know what you like, what you hate and what you'd like to see less or more of on this blog. We're here to please!

Again, thanks SO MUCH for reading.

Darkly Dreaming Dexter--Jeff Lindsay

2009-07-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

I must confess, there's a new man in my life...and he goes by the name of Dexter. For those of you who don't know, there's a show by the same name on Showtime. It is riveting and yes, I'm sure my school-girl crush on Michael C. Hall adds to my overall interest in the show. I've been watching it for a few seasons now, and I figured it was about time to read the series it's based on.
The main character, Dexter Morgan, works for the Miami Police Department as a blood spatter analyst. His fascination with blood extends far beyond forensics; Dexter himself is a killer. But Dexter doesn't go killing all willy-nilly; he only kills those he knows have killed others. Think of him as a sociopathic vigilante, cleaning up what the law failed to. Dexter was adopted at the age of three after he was discovered at the site where his mother was murdered--sitting in her blood for over two days. He carried immense pain where his mother was concerned and felt it necessary to avenge her death. Dexter lived by a certain code--one taught to him by his foster father (and respected cop), Harry Morgan. Dexter showed signs early on, so Harry constructed a set of rules for Dexter to follow. "He taught me to be careful as only a cop could teach a killer."
Dexter was also taught to fake his emotions; whatever he actually felt, he was to act exactly the opposite. Dexter learned to imitate life. You get a true understanding of what a sociopath is--Dexter struggles to feel ANY emotion. That said, he sometimes came off like a foreign exchange student, attempting to find the appropriate phrase: "Ah, it's what you call...um...being in a committed relationship?" Like, he kills people as a hobby--I think he can manage to string a sentence together.
It's interesting to read how Dexter copes with his urges. He refers to these urges as his "dark passenger." He must please his companion by killing others or else it will keep nagging him.
With all of this said, you think I would be running to the library to get my hands on the next books in the series...not so much. While Lindsay had all of the elements, he failed to create any real sense of excitement or suspense. He even managed to turn Dexter into a somewhat cheesy character. At one point, Dexter actually says "au contraire." Ick. This is one of the rare occasions that I'm going to recommend the on-screen version; the show gives you all of the "page-turning" excitement Lindsay couldn't deliver. Seriously, sign up for a trial period of Showtime and give "Dexter" a chance. He's a serial killer you won't spending time with...

Mess With the Salinger, You Get the Cease and Desist

2009-07-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

Oh happy day! Not that I was really worried or anything (ok, maybe just a teensy bit) but a U.S. District judge has ruled that the odious "Coming Through The Rye" can not be published in the U.S.

In her ruling, Judge Deborah Batts wrote that J.D. California's (real name Fredrik Colting) claim that he wrote the book to "critically examine" the character of Holden Caulfield was "problematic and lacks credibility." No objections there.

Colting's attorney is "saddened" by the verdict, apparently on the basis that "members of the public will be deprived of the chance to read the book and decide for themselves whether it adds to their understanding of Salinger and his work." HA! Deprived? No deprivation here, buddy.

One of Salinger's lawyers, Marcia Beth Paul declined to comment on the decision. Wise move Ms. Paul. I'm sure she felt like getting all up in Colting's grille and yelling "in your FACE you two bit HACK!" But comments like that aren't widely believed to be "professional" or whatever. Nice restraint.

I think it's pretty fitting that this decision comes down just before Independence Day. Now I can enjoy my long weekend, free from the tyranny of bad writing and ill advised sequels.

Flight-Sherman Alexie

2009-06-24T15:02:00.001-07:00

Mr. Alexie, you are on NOTICE. If you write ONE MORE novel as brilliant as Absolutely True Diaries of a Part Time Indian or Flight, you will officially be my new literary boyfriend.

Flight tells the story of "Zits," a half Indian, half White 15 year old foster child. His mother died when he was six, and his father ran off the day Zits was born. Because his father never claimed him, Zits can't claim legal status as an Indian. As such, he's placed with white family after white family.

Zits harbors a deep anger and hatred for his situation in life. And I don't blame him; he's been through something like 20 foster homes (none of them good) and all his belongings fit in a backpack. Understandably, he's kind of a prick. But, you know, I have a GIANT soft spot for unruly foster kids, so I liked Zits immediately.

Convinced by a "friend" he met in Juvie, Zits walks into a bank, armed and crazy, and opens fire. A bullet explode into his head and then...nothingness. When he wakes up, he finds that not only is it 1975, but he's inhabiting the body of Hank Storm, an FBI agent.

Zits careens through space and time, waking up in new bodies that witness shocking acts of violence and revenge, including Custer's Last Stand.

Of course there's a moral lesson here about the damage seeking revenge can cause, but the moral never feels heavy handed. I adored Zits, and teared up more than once as he told his story. As this is a Sherman Alexie novel, I also laughed quite a bit.

Seriously Mr. Alexie; I'm one more good book away from staring at your author photo with little cartoon hearts in my eyes. I may or may not begin keeping a photo of you on my bedside. You know, something like this:

Don't say you haven't been warned.

Saints of Augustine-P.E. Ryan

2009-06-23T09:58:00.001-07:00

Sam and Charlie were once best friends, but haven't spoken to each other in over a year. Sam suddenly ends his friendship with Charlie, claiming it "just wouldn't work out." Charlie always wondered why Sam ended things so abruptly, but decided not to press the issue. The story unfolds in chapters that alternate between the two boys' viewpoints, revealing the struggles each of them are facing.
After the death of his mother, Charlie becomes concerned with his dad; he's been more interested in drinking than interacting with his son. Charlie's only salvation, smoking pot, has put him into debt with a menacing dealer and caused his girlfriend to break up with him.
Sam's parents have split and he learns it's because his father has come out and now lives overseas with his lover. He now has to endure time with his mom's bigoted boyfriend. Sam finds it exceptionally difficult to put up with him because he is worried that he may be gay. Sam later reveals that he ended things with Charlie due to the feelings he had for him. Both Sam and Charlie's lives come to a head and they end up turning to each other for comfort and escape.
I know this probably seems like a somber read, but Ryan does a good job at creating genuine characters and drawing the reader into each of their lives. I enjoyed the story because it is so true to life. This really is what happens when a relationship dies out between friends; things are awkward and neither party wants to be the first to talk to speak to the other, but when you really need each other, everything gets put in the past.

Ta Da!

2009-06-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you can click on the title of the review and be taken DIRECTLY to that book's Amazon.com page? It's true! I so wouldn't lie to you guys!

Also, please notice that on the side bar, I've placed an Amazon widget of books we've reviewed and recommend. You're just one click away from literary goodness!

We here at You Should Read More want to make this the best possible site for you. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? How can we make this site better for YOU?

If I Stay-Gayle Forman

2009-06-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

Ever since Sherman Alexie pulled me out of my bookslump, it's like the floodgates have opened and all these really wonderful books have come slip sliding my way. If I Stay is one of those wonderful books.

Mia, a seventeen year old high school senior, has a pretty good life. She's close with her family, she has a loving punk rock boyfriend, and it seems to be a given that she'll be accepted into Julliard. But that wouldn't make for a very interesting story would it? Course not. Enter the conflict.

"Everyone thinks it was because of the snow. And in a way, I suppose that's true."

A thin layer of snow falls, and, because this is Oregon, the schools shut down. The family decides to take advantage of the snow day by taking an impromptu road trip. One minute, they're trying to come to a consensus over which radio station to listen to, and the next, Mia is standing on the side of the road, surveying the terrible car wreck that has killed her family. Mia doesn't understand what she's seeing. She walks over to the mangled car and sees her own body there, mangled, the flesh of her leg ripped away to reveal the bone beneath.

Am I dead?

I actually have to ask myself this.

Am I dead?

Before the accident, Mia was struggling with which path to take. Does she follow her first love-music-to New York City and Julliard, or does she stay with her family and the boyfriend who loves her so very much? Now though, as she watches herself lay there in a hospital bed, deep in a coma, she has a much greater decision to make; Should I stay?

Oh man. This book just about ripped my heart out of my chest. Mia thinks back to time spent with her family, and while she's relating these lovely memories, I sort of forgot that her family is dead. When I remembered (rather, when Mia reminded me of the fact) I felt this giant whoosh of the wind being knocked out of me. No! I love them so much! They can't be dead!

It's why the book is so brilliant. Mia is so torn between letting go (it'd be easier, she's so very tired, and maybe she'd be with her family again. Life would be so hard without them) and staying for the things that are still here (Adam, Kim, her music.)She knows life will be so painful if she stays. If she goes, she knows she leaves behind people that love her, and need her to come back to them. What would you do? I honestly didn't know what Mia's choice would be. Of course I wanted her to live, but I would have totally understood if she decided to just let go.

I cannot say enough how beautiful this book is. After finishing the last page, I had the desire to sit alone in silence, just to be able to digest all the beauty and the pain.

Have I convinced you to read it yet??

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian-Sherman Alexie

2009-06-05T14:04:00.001-07:00

So remember how I was complaining about being in a total book slump? THE SLUMP IS OFFICIALLY OVER!! And it's all thanks to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian.

I'm sort of ashamed to admit how hesitant I was to read this book. I'd even checked it out from the library a few months ago, but returned it unread. It had gotten such rave reviews, that I was a little wary. I've gotten burned a few times this year by the "omg you HAVE to read this!!1!" reviews on some other blogs. I'd rush out to read those books and, while there was nothing wrong with them, per se, they just suffered from my too high expectations. Anyway, I was cautious.

From the first paragraph, I was totally hooked. I could instantly hear Junior's voice in my head, loud and clear. He's smart, he's funny, he's sarcastic, he's confused and, well, he's awesome. Seriously, I would totally hang out with this kid.

I loved the honesty of it all. Junior pulls no punches in describing all the things that are wrong with the reservation and with the people on it. He traces every problem back to its source; booze. But though he acknowledges these issues, he's also attached through the strong bond of love and loyalty to the Rez. When his math teacher tells Junior that he has to leave the Rez in order to survive, Junior takes his words to heart and decides to go to high school at Rearden. Rearden is off the Rez and full of white kids. Though he knows he's going to be looked on as a traitor, Junior also knows that his teacher is right; if he wants a different life for himself, he has to leave the rez.

I really loved Junior's relationship with his family. They have their issues (dad's a drunk prone to disappearing for days on a bender, mom is an enabler and his older sister is sort of a hermit) but the love and devotion they all have for one another is wonderfully apparent. Who hasn't thought their family was totally weird and effed up, and loved them anyway?

It would have been easy for the story to devolve into stereotypes and absolutes. Instead, the story is beautifully crafted and feels incredibly real. This could be because it's loosely based on Sherman Alexie's own experiences growing up on a reservation. Still, it's the mark of a great writer when you can read their work and not think of the author all the time. Instead, you're thinking about the characters. After all, that's the point of story telling.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is at turns heartbreaking and hilarious. A book can get me to both laugh out loud AND cry? How rare (and awesome) is THAT?

I finished this book in a day, and was totally bummed that it was over. Luckily for me, Sherman Alexie is "hard at work" on a sequel, tentatively titled The Magic and Tragic Year of My Broken Thumb. I can't wait to have Junior's voice in my head again.

Hold Tight-Harlan Coben

2009-06-04T19:16:00.000-07:00

I think it's about time to review something written by my literary boyfriend (Also known as my LBF), Harlan Coben. Call me a romantic, but his ability to write a good murder mystery had me from day one. I've found all of his books equally interesting, so I'm just going to review the first one I ever read, "Hold Tight." The story is about Mike and Tia Baye, concerned parents who decide to start monitoring the computer activity of their sixteen-year-old son, Adam. He has been acting despondent and temperamental lately, especially since the death of one of his classmates, Spencer Hill. After reviewing Adam's e-mails, his parents become increasingly worried about their son's safety. And when Adam goes missing, they refer to a series of cryptic messages that lead Mike on a wild chase around the city. I'm talking dead hookers, brutal fist fights, undercover drug clubs, hostage situations kind of wild. On the quest to find his son, Mike learns more about Spencer's death and Adam's possible involvement. I wish I could go into more detail, but I don't want to reveal all the good stuff. Let's just say, Coben will keep you guessing until the last page.
Coben has been described by a fellow mystery writer as a "modern master of the hook-and-twist." That couldn't be more accurate--my LBF knows just how to keep me coming back for more. I forsee a long literary relationship...

Ha! Suck on THAT John David POSER.

2009-06-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

Just as I had hoped, Salinger is refusing to sit idly by and allow my beloved Holden to be completely defiled by this John David California asshat. He's filed suit in Federal Court, and, if you're even slightly interested in the legal process (as I am, despite working as a paralegal, which you would think would've beat all interest in the legal process outta me by now) you can read the complaint here. There's also a good article and interview with a copyright attorney here.

Seriously, how much do I want to work at the firm representing Salinger? HOW AWESOME WOULD THAT BE? I mean, the Complaint talks in length about Catcher in the Rye, describes Holden, discusses the importance of the novel, and even uses direct quotes. How stoked was the paralegal who did THAT research. You know what I did today? I researched the California Rules of Court for a boring ass demurrer today. THAT IS SO BORING IN COMPARISON.

McSlumperson.

2009-05-29T14:03:00.001-07:00

So, I'd like to confess that I'm in a bit of a reading slump. I'm fairly sure that the early onslaught of summer is to blame. It's really hard to totally get into a book when you're spending most evenings lounging around on your friend's front lawn, drinking wine and smoking too many cigarettes. We talk about books, sure, but not much reading gets done.

I don't know; I haven't been too impressed by anything I've read lately. I'm reading Neil Gaiman's American Gods again, hoping that re-reading a book I really liked will sort of jump start me again, you know?

What have YOU been reading? What was the last book you read that you really, really loved??

Mommywood-Tori Spelling

2009-05-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when this book came out--I actually spent the $17 and bought it at Target (and for someone who frequents the library, $17 for a book is quite a splurge). Turns out, I should have just saved my money. The great thing about Spelling's first book was the candidness; she was so open about her experiences--good, bad, or completely ridiculous. I was looking forward to learning more about her life as a mother, but Mommywood ended up reading like a script from her upcoming season of Tori and Dean:Home Sweet Hollywood. While reading of her escapades, I thought to myself, "Hmm...this seems a bit staged and overdone." Lo-and-behold, I saw a commercial depicting Tori and her family in the same situations I had just read about. It just felt like a let down; it seemed as though she was pushed to write this book as a means of promoting her show. Though this book was a fast read and did provide some laughs, I was left wishing Spelling would have been more honest and, dare I say, understated?

Dead and Gone-Charlaine Harris

2009-05-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

OK. I have a confession to make. I got really impatient to read this book; I knew I wouldn't be able to get it from the Library for like, MONTHS. So I, um, downloaded it online. I know! I'm a jerk! I've done a lot of questionable things in my time, but this is one that I actually feel pretty guilty about. So don't tell anyone, ok?

As I got through the first few chapters of my totally pirated copy, I started to think that maybe I'd been hoaxed. There was no way that this stuff had been written by Charlaine Harris. I made a quick trip to the bookstore and compared my copy against the book. Dude. My copy was not a hoax. The book just wasn't....well it wasn't any good.

Now, one of the best things about this series is Sookie's voice. It's really strong and you get a perfect sense of who this character is in like, a paragraph. Sadly, Sookie's voice was totally missing from Dead and Gone. Seriously, she didn't even sound southern in this one. Total dissapointment.

Also dissapointing was that none of the characters really breathed like they have in the previous books. They seemed sort of like cardboard cutouts of their former selves. Even the Eric/Sookie sex scenes were kind of...boring.

I'm going to chalk the epic fail of this book up to the fact that Ms. Harris has more than likely been totally consumed with work on the HBO series based on the Sookie books, True Blood. Maybe she just sort of rushed this one to press or something. Whatever the case, I'm not ready to give up on this series yet, and will totally read the next installment. Maybe next time, I'll even BUY it.

This Makes Me Want to Barf

2009-05-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

We all have something that we love so much it eclipses fandom and moves into the realm of the sacred. For me, (and about a billion other people) that thing is Catcher in the Rye.

Catcher was the first book that I was forced to read in high school that I not only didn't hate with a fiery passion, but ended up loving. I've read it once a year every year since that first time. I fell in love with Holden. I consumed everything Salinger. You guys, I have a Salinger SHRINE on top of my bookcase. This is a true and undying love.

I have always loved and admired Salinger's decision to not sell the rights to any of his works to Hollywood. I don't want to see some bloated studio's interpretation of my beloved Catcher. I've always pictured it in the worst possible terms; Pheobe would be too precocious, Holden would be played by the current awkward hot thing, and all the beauty and nuance would be lost. There would be marketing and stupid movie tie in covers and...god. It would be terrible.

You know what else would be terrible? A SEQUEL.

I know. It's sort of shocking at first, right? If you're like me, you're wondering if this is some sort of effed up joke. I mean, really? Holden Caulfield, my beloved HOLDEN CAULFIELD, is now 76 years old and escaping from a RETIREMENT HOME? It's not a joke, dear readers. Go ahead and google it. I'll wait.

See? It's totally real and it's going to be AWFUL. Any lingering hopes I had for it being anything less than a stink bomb have been ripped away by my cursory search. Let's look at the first line, shall we?

"I open my eyes and, just like that, I'm awake. I suppose it's pretty damn early, but it must still be the middle of the night. It's so dark I can hardly see my god d*** hand in front of my face."

OMG are you SERIOUS? I know what you're thinking, and no, the author is not a sixteen year old uber fan. I checked. It's A FULL GROWN MAN who is to blame for this tragic literary crime. And his name? John David California. THERE IS NO WAY THAT'S YOUR REAL NAME, JERK!

OK. I need to take a deep breath. I didn't anticipate getting this worked up. But really, this is just so WRONG. Look, I understand the desire to emulate artists you love and admire. I once spent an entire summer writing a story about Green Day. You know, WHEN I WAS SIXTEEN YEAR OLD UBER FAN. This California jerkoff though was apparently inspired to write this "sequel" because he had "always wondered what happened." Christ on a Crutch. Should we, the reading public, be punished because you wondered what happened after this perfectly told story ended?

I shouldn't get too worried though. I mean, there ain't a chance in hell Salinger is going to let this piece of crap be released...right?

Stoked!

2009-05-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

OMG. My copy of Pride and Prejudice arrived today! Seriously you guys, it's been a pain in the ass to get this book. I've ordered it THREE TIMES and it took like 2 weeks to get to me. But whatever, it's here now, and I so can't wait to read it. Oh, and review it of course, just for YOU.

Three Little Words- Ashley Rhodes-Courter

2009-05-06T14:54:00.000-07:00

I loved this book so much, that I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day.

Ashley Rhodes-Courter was placed into foster care at the age of three, and her memoir documents the difficult life of foster youth everywhere. The endless placement changes (she had fourteen in about 7 years) the new schools, the sometimes brutal foster parents, and the never ending stream of social workers. Ashley ends up finding her forever family, but she also discusses how hard it was for her to really trust the people that eventually adopted her. We think of the adoption as a happy event for foster children, but it's important to realize that though they suffered at the hands of their birth parents, most children don't want to give up on them completely. Plus, after living in so many homes with no feeling of permanence, Ashley wasn't convinced that her adoptive family wouldn't send her back.

Ashley also relates how she ended up suing the foster parents who abused her, along with several other of their foster children. She also joined in a class action law suit against the State of Florida for their gross negligence of foster children. Though dependency cases are supposed to come up for review once every six months, her case was overlooked for more than 2 years.

Ashley was lucky enough to have a guardian ad litem, the Florida equivalent to a CASA. Though she didn't appreciate her at the time, she realizes now just how much her CASA did for her and how hard she pushed for Ashley to find a permanent home and correct the judicial oversights. The parts about the CASA made me tear up a little, I have to admit. I currently serve as a CASA volunteer, and it was amazing to see the difference one person can make on a child's life.

Ashley, now 22, has become a successful writer, college graduate, and speaks about her experiences all over the country. It was truly inspiring to see a foster child, the type of child that so often gets lost, become the person she is today.

I was going to say that I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in foster youth, but this really is a book I think everyone should read. The foster care system is broken, and though there are people who work tirelessly to fix it, more attention needs to be focused on this issue.

So, um, go buy it already.

P.S. You can check out Ashley's website here
And, if you're so inclined, you can learn more about the CASA program here

Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him-Danielle Ganek

2009-04-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorite reads of 2007--and yeah, maybe I'm a little biased. For those of you that don't know, I'm an Art History major at Sac State, so it seems only natural that I would be drawn to a story set around an art gallery. This one is about a girl named Mia, a discontent "gallerista," living in New York city. Mia despises her boss and yearns for a gallery all her own. The gallery she works at receives a collection by an unknown artist, Jeffery Finelli. There is much interest surrounding his major piece, which provides the book's title. His sudden fame brings his family out of the woodwork, including his niece--who learns she is the girl featured in Finelli's piece. The artist is hit by a taxi and dies, which leaves his neice to discover more about her family. She ends up unlocking her own passion for art and inspires Mia to find a new path in life. This story moves pretty quickly, much like the fast-paced city of New York. I was worried the characters would be the stereotpical "Soho art snob," but you become involved in their lives. Everybody can relate to Mia; starting out in a job that once suited you, then outgrowing it, wanting to pursue something more. Needless to say, I enjoyed that everyone loved art, sans the pretentiousness.

Library Loot

2009-04-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Alessandra that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.

OK, so I'm a total library hog. My one and only New Year's Resolution was so check out less books in the hopes that I'd read more of the books I checked out instead of having to return them unread. I've cut down a bit, but it's still slightly out of control. How can I restrain myself? IT'S FREE!!Ugh. Rant aside, here's the list of what I've checked out this week:

BloodSucking Fiends: Christopher Moore
I've been curious to read something by Christopher Moore for awhile now. I recently heard him on NPR, and he was so charming and funny that it sort of sealed the deal.

You Su ck: Christopher Moore
Well, I can't read one book without also reading it's sequel, can I? I thought not!

On the Road: Jack Kerouac I've tried to read this book at least twice, and I'm hoping I can make it through this time. I have a sneaking suspicion that this is a dude book, but I'll give it another shot.

Jane Austen; The World of Her Novels: Deirdre Le Faye
Oh man, doesn't look like a made up name? Le Faye indeed. Anyway, I recently read Pride and Prejudice for the first time, and thought this one looked interesting. Here's betting I'll only read a few chapters.

Crime: Irving Wels h I loved Trainspotting (although, my god did it take awhile, and I was saying "shite" for weeks) so I thought I'd give this a go.

Kiss: Ted Dekker and Erin Healy "When a tragic auto accident leaves Shauna McAllister's brother brain-damaged and erases her recent memories, she discovers she has a paranormal ability to steal memories from others, a capability that will either get her killed or unveil hidden sides of the very people she thought she could trust." I'm a sucker for YA paranormal stuff AND the lead character has the same name as me (though she totally spells it wrong.) I'm in!

Shadowed Summer: Saundra Mitchell The cover looks a little cheesy, but I've heard good things. And, um, see above for how I'm a sucker.

Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence Looks like an amusing, quick read.

Deal Breaker: Harlan Coben Katie is currently obsessed with this author, and she begged me to come with her to his book signing last week. He was pretty funny and clever, and I'm always up for a good mystery.

Plutonium Blonde:John Zakour & Lawrence Ganem I love the pulp fiction type cover, and was super disappointed when I picked this one up that the cover is totally covered by a GIANT Link+ sticker. Boo! Still, this looks like it'll be a fun read.

Breaking the Back of Love: Echo and the Bunnymen I heart Echo, and, as my iPod is currently being retarded, I need some tunes in my car.

The Collection-Gioia Diliberto

2009-04-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

Can we all just take a moment to marvel over this cover? Seriously, It's gorgeous. Sadly, for me this book didn't live up to either the cover or the description.

From Amazon: Following the death of her fiancé and family, fictitious 22-year-old seamstress Isabelle Varlet leaves her provincial town in 1919 and takes a low-level job working for Gabrielle Coco Chanel, joining a gaggle of young women sewing until their fingers bleed to serve Mademoiselle in preparation for the upcoming fall collection. Considering how obsessed I am with all things Chanel, you can understand how excited I was to read this novel.

I never really became invested in Isabelle's story, and it's never a good thing when you don't really care about what happens to the main character. The highlights were definitely the bits discussing the creation of the clothes, and any page on which Chanel appeared.
I wouldn't say this is a bad book, but it didn't live up to my admittedly high expectations.

sTORI Telling- Tori Spelling

2009-04-10T21:49:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I had never thought much of Tori Spelling; like many others, I thought she was a vacuous, spoiled, washed-up T.V. actress. I hadn't planned on reading her autobiography, but ended up looking through it while waiting for Seanna at the library. I was pleasantly surprised with what I read. It was a funny, candid, sometimes heartbreaking look into her life. Tori shared stories from her childhood, including the famous "snowy Christmas in L.A." story. Her father did, in fact, hire a company to create a "winter wonderland" for his children on an 80 degree Christmas morning. And yes, the mansion really does have a bowling alley.

Tori wrote about her first marriage, which seemed perfect to everyone on the outside, but was actually dysfunctional at the core; they didn't, in Tori's words, "mesh well." I enjoyed reading how Tori met and fell in love with her current husband, Dean. Though it wasn’t the most ideal situation (they were both married at the time), they couldn’t deny the attraction. Tori followed her heart and ended up getting just what she was looking for—a family. I also enjoyed reading how she moved on from her days on 90210; she strived to make a name for herself in the acting world, despite being the daughter of Aaron Spelling. After reading this book, I got the feeling that Tori is a determined person—she was determined to step out of her father’s shadow and to be the kind of mother she had always hoped for. Done and done!

OK, so maybe she talks about some heavy stuff (mommy issues anyone?) but she’s also really funny, and after reading this book, I’m pretty sure I want her to be my B.F.F. I definitely recommend it if you need a good laugh.

F.Y.I: Tori Spelling's new book, Mommywood, comes out Tuesday, April 14th!!

Gods Behaving Badly-Marie Phillips

2009-04-10T21:29:00.001-07:00

I’m pretty much a sucker for anything involving the Greek Gods. Since an early age, I’ve been fascinated by the sordid tales of romance, betrayal and lust. When I first heard about Gods Behaving Badly, I knew I had to have it.

Several of the Olympian Gods are sharing a dilapidated flat in London. The peeling paint and layers of dust are a far cry from the marbled splendor of Mount Olympus. The Gods are suffering a loss of their powers. Turns out that if no one believes you in anymore, it gets harder to turn a girl into a tree. Who knew?

The Gods are forced to take day jobs to make a living. Aphrodite is a phone sex operator (natch), Dionysus runs a sleazy bar, Artemis is a dog walker, and (possibly my favorite) Apollo is a t.v. psychic. When Eros hits Apollo with one of his famed arrows, causing Apollo to fall in love with mousy maid Alice, all Hades breaks loose.

This was such a fun read. I think Phillips did a fantastic job of modernizing these ancient gods. Apparently, Ben Stiller’s production company has purchased the rights and are in the process of turning it into a television series. Here’s hoping they don’t ruin this great story.

The Book of Lost Things-John Connolly

2009-04-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

I consume books quickly. I also have a terrible memory. Those things combined ensure that I’ve read a lot of books that I can't remember. Every so often though, I’m lucky enough to read a book that, upon finishing it, I know with total certainty will stay with me for a long time. The Book of Lost Things is just such a book.

Set in the beginning days of WWII, twelve year old David is consumed with mourning his recently dead mother. To make matters worse, his father remarries and relocates the family to his new wife’s old English country house. David spends most of his time in his attic bedroom, ignored and ignoring his new baby brother. Feeling so alone, he takes refuge in the books lining the shelves of the attic. Imagine his surprise when the books begin to whisper to him. Of course, a magical adventure follows, complete with a new world discovered beyond the walls of the old garden.

This is honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I’m quite sure it’s going to be one I read yearly. It’s sweet, poignant and sad. Though it may involve a trip to a magical kingdom, werewolves, trolls and dying kings, it brilliantly captured the loss of childhood innocence on the road to becoming an adult.

The imagery was fantastic, and I could easily see this book being turned into a film.

Oh, and here’s a little secret, just between me and you; it totally made me cry like a little girl.

Seriously, you should read more.

2009-04-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

I can't even count how many times I've heard people complain that they don't have the time to read. Personally, I find this really hard to believe. No matter how busy my life is (and between working full time, attending to family obligations and having a social life, it can get busy) I'm always reading a book.

In this blog, I, along with my partner in crime (and sister) Katie, will be posting reviews of books we love, books we hate, and books that made us go "meh." We'll also squeeze in some other stuff.

I hope you enjoy this blog, and I hope you take the advice seriously: You Should Read More.