Whacked (Jules Asner)

Whacked

Jules Asner

Weinstein Books

6/9/2009

Synopsis:

    Life promises to be perfect for Dani Hale. She has an almost-perfect boyfriend named Dave and a dream job writing for the TV crime series Flesh and Bone that allows her to indulge her macabre forensic passions. But something isn't quite right with her relationship, and Dani-a wily and inventive snoop-learns that Dave's real creative talents are (1) lying and (2) cheating on her. Soon she is plunged into the world of Los Angeles singledom, enduring a battalion of bad dates with men whose peccadilloes would drive a lesser woman to kill. At her wit's end, Dani is driven to a dramatic extreme that is as shocking as it is sensible in the girl-eat-girl world of Hollywood.

My thoughts:

    I bought this book for pennies when Borders was going out of business. It had sat in my to read bookshelf ever since. Finally my mom decided to borrow it and after what she said I had to read it. My mom was very right. This book was crazy.

    I have decided to go back to an old system I had for reviewing. I feel like it made my reviews much better and made sure I hit every target. Here goes:

Characters 15/20

Plot 15/20

Setting 20/20

Cover 20/20

Ending 15/20

Total: 85% B

  
    The characters in this book were well written. The reason I didn't give this a 20/20 is how crazy the main character is. Some points were so unbelievable for the type of book this was that I was left feeling unsatisfied. The setting was fun. How can Hollywood be anything but? The setting was described very well by the author, to build on what we already know.

    The plot of this book was unique. I had never read a book about a writer in Hollywood. It was fun to see all the ins and outs of the business while enjoying a creative story. I do feel that there were a few holes, especially at the end. I did not like how the last few pages kept skipping huge time periods. As the end approached I already knew what was going to happen. I fell that the author hinted a little too much for the "surprise" to be shocking.

    The cover was beautiful. The girl was very pretty and I love her lipstick. I think that is what made me pick it up in the first place. Even though the girl on the cover looks pretty and young, keep in mind that this is an adult book.



Girl Parts

Girl Parts

John M. Cusick

Candlewick

2/14/2012

Synopsis:

    David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David’s parents present him with a hot Companion bot designed to encourage healthy bonds and treat his “dissociative disorder,” he can’t get enough of luscious redheaded Rose — and he can’t get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. Parted from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn’t real. With Charlie’s help, the ideal “companion” is about to become her own best friend. In a stunning and hilarious debut, John Cusick takes rollicking aim at internet culture and our craving for meaningful connection in an uberconnected world.

My thoughts:

   I was suprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I went into expecting a fun, light read and came out overjoyed. It was hillarious at parts and thoughful at others. The characters, David and Charlie, were as different as night and day. They were both easy to connect with and really made the story as superb as it was.

  

    I found the story to be unique. I had never read anything like it. The flow of it was exquisite. I loved how it moved smoothly between characters. It is often hard to have two "main" characters. Mr. Cusick did a fantastic job. I applaud him for that. Every transition was meaningful and well written.

    I recommend this book to teens 13+. I would give it an A.

Strindberg's Star

Strindberg's Star

Jan Wallentin

Rachel Willson-Broyles (Translator)

Penguin

5/24/2012

Synopsis: 

    The Arctic, 1897: Nils Strindberg crashes his hydrogen balloon during the mysterious Andrée Expedition to the North Pole.

    Germany, 1942: Gruesome and inexplicable experiments are performed on concentration camp prisoners.
    Sweden, present-day: Cave diver Erik Hall finds a dead body wearing an ancient ankh, buried deep in an abandoned mine. Religious symbol expert Don Titelman seeks out Erik to study the ankh—but finds Erik dead. Don is the prime suspect, and soon he’s being chased across Europe to escape a secret society that will do anything to get their hands on the ankh. . . .
    In this international bestseller, each of these fascinating strands weaves together to create a mind-blowing cross-genre thriller that includes arctic explorers, a secret railroad network, Norse mythology, Nazis, and ancient symbols—and a shocking secret that’s been hidden for centuries.

My thoughts:
    This is not a book I would normally pick out on my own. For starters it didn't start out here. It had to be translated. I usually avoid books like that. Another reason I would usually avoid it is the history. The one kind of history I love to read about though is Nazi and World War 2 stuff. The mere mention of that is what had me agreeing to review the book. The portions discussing this turned out to be my favorite parts as expected.
 
    The writing in this book started out slower than I usually like but as the story moved on the writing got better. I found myself intrigued and wanting to read more and more. The word choice was impeccable. My only gripe would be relationships with characters. I like a book where I can create a relationship with characters in the book. This book took me a while to create that connection. That is not a huge deal though, so it was still a wonderful read.
 
   This is an adult book. I would give it a B+ or A-.

Wednesday Wishlist

If you are new to my blog, welcome! Wednesday Wishlist is a feature where I post about a book that is already out, and sometimes has been for years, that I am dying to read. I like to show some love for books even after their released!



How It Ends

Laura Wiess

MTV Books

8/4/2009

Synopsis:

    Seventeen-year-old Hanna has been in love with Seth for as long as she can remember, but now that she and Seth are in an actual relationship, love isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seth is controlling and all they seem to do anymore is fight. If that’s what love is, Hanna doesn’t want any part of it. Besides, she has something else on her mind: graduation. But she’s been ignoring the school’s community service requirement, and now she needs to rack up some hours in a hurry.

    Hanna volunteers as a caretaker for her neighbor Mrs. Schoenmaker—an elderly woman with advanced Parkinson’s whose husband can’t always be there to watch over her. While caring for Mrs. S., Hanna becomes mesmerized by an audiobook that the older woman is listening to, a love story of passion, sacrifice, and complete devotion. She’s fascinated by the idea that love like that really exists, and slowly, the story begins to change her. But what Hanna doesn’t know is that the story she’s listening to is not fiction—and that Mrs. Schoenmaker and her husband’s devotion to each other is about to reach its shattering, irrevocable conclusion....

Why I want it:

    I read Such a Pretty Girl by Laura and it was amazing. I could not put it down. Since then I have been dying to read another one of her books. This story sounds like an engaging YA. I have been wanting to read more YA.  

Contest Time!

I have one copy of Rules of Civility to give away, thanks to the publisher! Be sure to read the synopsis below and then enter! US residents only. No PO Boxes.



Synopsis:

This sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a second-rate Greenwich Village jazz bar when Tinker Grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel Katey on a year-long journey into the upper echelons of New York society—where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve. With its sparkling depiction of New York’s social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, Rules of Civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike.


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Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent?



Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent? 

Brian Cronin

Penguin

5/29/2012

Synopsis:

    What comic book artist was the recipient of an on-stage thank you from Paul McCartney and an on-air apology from Johnny Carson? What superhero got his powers by being bitten by a mongoose? What popular NPR host was forever immortalized as a "bad boyfriend" in a notable comic book? In Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent?, author Brian Cronin will answer those questions and more by revealing the most obscure, wacky and surprising facts about comics—from the characters and creators, to the TV shows, movies and merch. Cronin has teamed up with some of the top comic book writers and artists of today to present 100 trivia lists, including:·

-Nine Celebrities That Guest-Starred in Comic Books…without Their Permission

· Seven Bands That Got Their Names from Comics
· Ten Crazy Items Found on Batman’s Utility Belt
· Five Comic Book Inventions That Eventually Became Real
· Five Stupidest Superhero Origins
· And much, much more!

My thoughts:
    I am not a huge comic book person, unless you count Archie. I have looked at a few though so I thought this book would be interesting. Plus, we all know how I have a love of trivia. This was a very interesting book that contained little known facts. Some of the lists were a little dry but most of them were engaging. If I knew a little bit more about the comics this book was written about I am sure I would have enjoyed it even more.

     If you are a huge comic fan I would give this an A. If you know nothing about comics this could still be a fun read. My age recommendation is 12+.



Coming Soon: Must Monday

If you are new to my blog, welcome. "Must Monday" is a feature I have had for a couple years. Every Monday I feature 1 book I am excited to read when it comes out.



The Thing About the Truth

Lauren Barnholdt

Simon Pulse

7/10/2012

Synopsis:

Kelsey’s not going to let one mistake ruin her life. Sure, she got kicked out of prep school and all her old friends are shutting her out. But Kelsey’s focused on her future, and she’s determined to get back on track at Concordia High.

Isaac’s been kicked out of more schools than he can count. Since his father’s a state senator, Isaac’s life is under constant scrutiny—but Concordia High’s his last stop before boarding school, so Isaac’s hoping to fly under the radar and try to stay put for a change.

When Kelsey and Isaac meet, it’s anything but love at first sight. She thinks he’s an entitled brat, and he thinks she’s a stuck-up snob. So it surprises them both when they start to fall for each other. Kelsey’s happy for the first time in months, and Isaac’s never felt this way about anyone before….But nothing’s ever completely perfect. Everyone has secrets, and Isaac and Kelsey are no exceptions. These two may have fallen hard, but there’s one thing that can ruin it all: the truth.

My thoughts:
This sounds like a very unique love story to me. Often we see rich girl, poor boy. This is a very different take. The senator's child thing also draws me in. I always was a sucker for this kind of story. Just ask my mom how many times we watched the old disney movie about the president's daughter! :)

Dumb History



Dumb History

Joey Green

Penguin

5/29/2012

Synopsis:

    A book that proves idiocy is as old as time

    Think civilization has deteriorated and that people these days are dumber than ever? Dumb History proves that we didn’t invent stupidity in the 21st century. You’ll find facts from throughout the ages about everyone from Cleopatra and Napoleon to Elvis Presley and even NASA scientists. Consider this:

    In 820 C.E., Emperor Hsien Tsung’s herbalist presented him with an anti-aging elixir—it killed him In 1849, Brooklyn inventor Walter Hunt invented and patented the safety pin and then sold all the rights to his invention for $400. By the time he died penniless, the United States was producing an estimated five billion safety pins annually In 1967, voters in the town of Picoaza, Ecuador, elected a brand of foot powder as their new mayor It’s a wonder we’ve survived as long as we have.

My thoughts:

    I was more than excited to review this book for Penguin. This is the kind of book I live for. I love random, usually useless factoids. This book provided me with plenty of those. This is a quick read that you wont want to end. The facts had me laughing with stories from years ago to stories about one of my former employers. I was amused throughout.

    The facts were written in an easy to read way. They were not dry at all, which you sometimes find with books like this. The flow was very easy, making for a great read. I recommend this book for everyone 14+ and would give it an A.

Mistress of Mourning

Mistress of Mourning

Karen Harper

Penguin

7/3/2012

Synopsis:

    London, 1501. In a time of political unrest, Varina Westcott, a young widow and candle maker for court and church, agrees to perform a clandestine service for Queen Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII--carve wax figures of four dead children, two of her offspring lost in infancy and her two brothers, the Princes of the Tower, whose mysterious disappearance years ago has never been solved. Having lost a child herself, Varina feels a sympathetic bond with the queen. And as she works under the watchful eye of handsome Nicholas Sutton, an ambitious assistant to the royals, she develops feelings of quite a different nature...

    Then news comes from Wales of the unexpected death of newly married Prince Arthur, the queen’s eldest child and heir to the throne. Deeply grieving, Elizabeth suspects that Arthur did not die of a sudden illness, as reported, but was actually murdered by her husband’s enemies. This time her task for Varina and Nicholas is of vital importance--travel into the Welsh wilderness to investigate the prince’s death. But as the couple unearths one unsettling clue after another, they begin to fear that the conspiracy they’re confronting is far more ambitious and treacherous than even the queen imagined. And it aims to utterly destroy the Tudor dynasty.

My Thoughts:
    Historical fiction is not what I usually read but as I have mentioned in recent posts, I have been working to expand my reading horizons. This book was artfully written and contained superb word choice. The language was that of an intellectual, which is what I have come to expect from historical fiction. If it had not been so, I would have been disappointed. The story had a great flow. I have noticed this genre can sometimes drag on, which is what has kept me from reading many books in the past. This book did not do that at all.
    The characters all seemed real and true to the time period. It transferred me to a different time and place. It is rare when a book can totally take you away.That was my favorite aspect of this book. I was in a whole new time and place, completely.
   I recommend this book to adult women. It was a worthwhile read and a book everyone should add to their collection.



My Father at 100



My Father at 100

Ron Reagan

Penguin

4/24/2012

Synopsis:

    “Everyone thinks he knows Ronald Reagan, but those who truly knew him best still grapple with the enduring mystery of his inner character.
    Even after his death in 2004, Ronald Reagan remains one of America’s most popular and beloved presidents, but he is also a man whom history and his own privacy have conspired to turn into a remote icon.

    Ron Reagan celebrates the centenary of his father’s birth by visiting the towns that shaped him to share both his own memories and a uniquely privileged portrait of a young “Dutch” Reagan. My Father at 100 illuminates a father, a husband, a friend, and finally a human being with his own fears and foibles, yet armed with a set of unshakable principles that he sought to instill not only in his son, but also in the country he so fiercely loved.

My Thoughts:
    I love history. I have studied way more about it than I probably should have since I was in elementary school. So much so that in 5th grade I was sent to a counselor because my teacher thought I was reading too much about World War 2. So it is a little embarrassing for me to admit that I did not know very much about Ronald Reagan. Presidential history has never been my focus. After this book I realized I really should spend more time on it.
    This book shone a new light on Ronald Reagan. I was able to see him as the person he was, not just as a former president. I now see why my grandfather was so impressed with him that he took the time to write him a letter and a poem. He wrote my grandpa back, which I always thought made him a wonderful man. This book emphasised that for me. Knowing where he came from and what made him the man so many loved opened my eyes.
    I recommend this book to everyone High School age and up. It would be a great book for a History class. This is a worthwhile addition to my bookshelf.

Clean-up the TBR Pile Read-a-thon

Because I didn't have enough fun doing my own personal read-a-thon today I have decided to continue with the crazy reading and join in on the Clean-up the TBR Pile read-a-thon. You can find all of the details here.

Books I am hoping to get through that are currently in my TBR pile include:
-Whacked
-The Help
-Something Borrowed
- Little Night
and many more.

Wish me luck!

8 hour read-a-thon

I am in major need of a read-a-thon. I have a large stack of books piled up and I hope to make it through a few. Throughout the day I will post to twitter and keep my goodreads updated with my progress. If you want to join in, simply leave a comment or tweet me @stargirlreads.

Here's to a bunch more reviews headed your way.

Wednesday Wishlist

For those of you who are new followers, welcome. Wednesday Wishlist is a feature where I spotlight books that have been out for a while, sometimes years, that I have yet to read but would like to.

Drive Me CrazyErin Downing

Simon Pulse

6/2/2009

Summary:Kate’s tote is packed and she’s ready for a road trip! She and her two best friends, Sierra and Alexis, are geared up for a week of fun and freedom on the road to their family lake houses in Love, Wisconsin. Best of all, when Kate reaches Love, she’ll be reunited with Lucas, with whom she shared a steamy end-of-summer kiss last year. Kate can’t wait to see Lucas again and pick things up exactly where they left off.

Then Kate gets some seriously bad news: Alexis’s sarcastic, condescending, hot-but-he-knows-it cousin is crashing the girls’ road trip. Adam bugs Kate in every possible way. Now Kate just wants to get the road trip over with so she can spend the summer in Lucas’s arms. But the road to Love is full of surprises…

Why I want to read it:

I have always had a huge desire to take a road trip. Sadly I was not allowed to in high school and have not taken more than 3 weeks off from college at a time since September 2010. So for now I must live vicariously though these books. They always suck me in. This looks like a fun, light, read.

Coming Soon: Must Monday

If you are new to my blog, let me introduce you to "Must Monday". It is a feature I have had for a couple years where on Monday's I spotlight a book that is not yet out, but I am looking forward to reading.

Counting Backwards

Laura Lascarso

Atheneum

8/14/2012

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)

Taylor Truwell is a sixteen-year-old girl from Florida with a troubled past, a neglectful mother, a seemingly callous father, and an urge to flee. When Taylor is caught with a stolen car, her violent reaction lands her in court for resisting arrest. Her father convinces the judge of an alternative to punishment: treatment in a juvenile psychiatric correctional facility. And so Taylor arrives at Sunny Meadows.

Sunny Meadows is anything but the easy way out, and Taylor has to fight hard just to hold on to her sanity as she battles her parents, an intrusive therapist, and a group of particularly nasty fellow patients. But even as Taylor clings to her stubborn former self, she gradually relents to new friendships—and to unexpected romance. Sunny Meadows goes against everything Taylor stands for. But could it be the place that saves her?

Why I want it:
I have read a couple books about teens in psychiatric hospitals and a few about juvie but never a mix. This sounds like a book that could drag me in and not release me.



Jeneration X

Jeneration X

Jen Lancaster

Penguin

5/1/2012

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)

Jen is finally ready to put away childish things (except her Barbie Styling Head, of course) and embrace the investment-making, mortgage-carrying, life-insurance-having adult she’s become. From getting a mammogram to volunteering at a halfway house, she tackles the grown-up activities she’s resisted for years, and with each rite of passage she completes, she’ll uncover a valuable—and probably humiliating—life lesson that will ease her path to full-fledged, if reluctant, adulthood.

 
My thoughts:
This was THE best book I have read in a long time. It was so funny, it became addicting. I would read a chapter and then have to call someone to tell them something I laughed out loud about. I read it in one of my college classes when I finished a final early one day and had a group of people off to buy it by the time we left for the day. Jen says the snarkiest things in a way that is enjoyable to read. Her humor can be appreciated across generations. When I would read my mother a funny line we both found ourselves laughing.
 
So many people write books or try to write books about their lives and to be honest, they get rather dull. This was far from that. Jen is easy to relate to and a fantastic story teller. I felt like my best friend was telling me something that happened last night, compared to a random story from someone I do not know.
 
This is a book you must add to your collection. After devouring this one, I plan to go back and real all her previous books. I'm sure it will leave you feeling the same way. Keep in mind this is an adult book.

The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen

The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen

Andrea Cefalo

Scarlet Primrose Press

6/1/2012

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)

Many called her Snow White, but few knew her as the Fairytale Keeper.

Snow White was a pet name her mother had given her, but her mother’s dead now. Adelaide hates that name anyway. A rampant fever claimed Adelaide’s mother just like a thousand others in Cologne where the people die without Last Rites and the dead are dumped in a large pit outside of the city walls. Adelaide’s father is determined to obtain a funeral for his wife, but that requires bribing the parish priest, Father Soren. When Soren commits an unforgivable atrocity, he pushes Adelaide to her breaking point, but if she seeks justice against the cruel priest, she risks sacrificing everything: her father, her friends, her first love, and maybe even her life.
 
My Thoughts:
    I was contacted directly by the author for this one and was more than happy to review it for her. I hardly ever read fantasy type books but this was worth my time. With all the "revamps" on fairytales we keep seeing on the big screen it was time for a good book, doing the same thing. This put a totally different spin on the classic children's story. The story that was somewhat dark to begin with now becomes a story full of deep dark secrets. With each page I discovered something new. There is no way I will see the story of Snow White the same ever again.
 
A great book for those 13+.

The Knife of Never Letting Go



The Knife of Never Letting Go

Patrick Ness

Candlewick

9/9/2008

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)

    Pursued by power-hungry Prentiss and mad minister Aaron, young Todd and Viola set out across New World searching for answers about his colony's true past and seeking a way to warn the ship bringing hopeful settlers from Old World.

My Thoughts:

    This book has been out for a few years but I some how had never read it. When I was contacted about reviewing it I was ecstatic. It was just a good as I expected. The relationships between characters were addicting. There was serious chemistry between them. The story kept you reading, I did not even want to stop to eat dinner. You will be left wanting more, especially after the cliffhanger you are left with. Good thing it's a series. I will be reading the second book as soon as I get my hands on it.

I recommend this book to everyone 13+. It would make a great read for reluctant readers.

The Orphanmaster

The Orphanmaster

Jean Zimmerman

Penguin

6/19/2012

Summary: (Barnes and Noble)
   It’s 1663 in the tiny, hardscrabble Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, now present-day southern Manhattan. Orphan children are going missing, and among those looking into the mysterious state of affairs are a quick-witted twenty-two-year-old trader, Blandine von Couvering, herself an orphan, and a dashing British spy named Edward Drummond.
     Suspects abound, including the governor’s wealthy nephew, a green-eyed aristocrat with decadent tastes; an Algonquin trapper who may be possessed by a demon that turns people into cannibals; and the colony’s own corrupt and conflicted orphanmaster. Both the search for the killer and Edward and Blandine’s newfound romance are endangered, however, when Blandine is accused of being a witch and Edward is sentenced to hang for espionage. Meanwhile, war looms as the English king plans to wrest control of the colony.

My thoughts:
    This is not the usual book you find me reading. It is dark and very mysterious. When I agreed to review this book I was deciding to expand my reading horizon. I am glad I did. The biggest thing that scared me about this book was the pure mention of hanging. I can handle murder, I can handle violence but thinking about hanging and public executions are a trigger for me. I was surprised by how tactfully it was placed within this story. It was not something that made my mind wander into horrible places, so I hope for anyone like me, this does not deter you from reading.
    The word choice in this book was exquisite. I could feel my vocabulary expanding as I devoured the book. I love to learn so this was a perk. I like a book to challenge me, to make me think. This provided that. It was not too intellectual though where I spend so much time thinking that I did not enjoy what I was reading.
    I enjoyed not knowing what was coming with this book. Recently all the fiction I have read has been so predictable. I was excited to find a book that kept me guessing and wanting to read. This is the kind of book you need to devote time to because there will be no stopping for breaks.
    This is a worthwhile book for all adults, men and women alike. I suggest purchasing a copy when it is released, this coming Tuesday.