What I'm Reading (And wish I wasn't...)

I have been dying to read Mette Ivie Harrison's Tris & Izzie since I stumbled across it on Goodreads.  Who wouldn't be sucked in by this cover?

Anyone else drooling?

Synopsis:  from Goodreads
A modern retelling of the German fairy tale "Tristan and Isolde," Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

I got as far as a modern retelling of the German fairy tale "Tristan and Isolde," and was hooked.  When it came up for review on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance.  


My review (as posted to Goodreads):
I had such high hopes for this book. Let's start with that.

1. This book had such a unique premise. To unearth the old Tristan & Isolde myth and bring it to the present day had me drooling for this book.

2. I think this cover is absolutely delicious. That, coupled with the fantastic premise and well-written synopsis, made me jump at the chance to read and review it.

Unfortunately, the book fell FAR short of my expectations...

1. Primarily, the most distasteful aspect of this book for me was in the translation. From legend to present day, that is. YA literature is my favorite genre, in all of its raw emotion and angst. However, I wish authors would realize that teen does not mean trivial. I could not stomach the poor characterization of several of the primary characters.

Izzie (I can't stand the trivialization of such a beautiful name) is shallow, unobservant, and completely self-absorbed. She is completely unable to discern that her best friend, Brangane, is and has been in love with her boyfriend Mark for years. This speaks to a problem on multiple levels. Although it's not officially revealed until later in the book, for the reader, it's as subtle as a two-by-four to the head. What sort of person (even a teenager) misses this?

Brangane, Izzie's "best" friend. I just didn't understand this friendship at all. It appears that she's merely the 3rd wheel on this bike. What sort of friendship is built by hanging out with your friend and her boyfriend, whom you're lusting after? Further, Brangane's considerable resentment toward Izzie for her complete lack of powers of observation is pretty much understandable. Which is why I was totally irritated when suddenly she and Izzie are the world's best friends again after Izzie is "generous" enough to gift her with Mark when she decides she doesn't love him anymore. UGH.

Mark, the aforementioned boyfriend, is ridiculous. His lightning transfer of allegiance and love to Brangane simply because he suddenly gets a clue about her feelings? I don't know ANYONE (teenagers included) that can move on that quickly.

2. The treatment of the legend is again trivial. The key is that the lovers ingest the love potion (whether knowingly or not), after which they love each other desperately. However, the notion that Izzie is just trying to help Brangane (some friend, that) and gives the potion to Tristan and then ingests it HERSELF to keep Mark from drinking it--and then it wasn't even a love potion to begin with--is comical and clumsy rather than feeling even slightly like the legend.

My Final Verdict: I did finish, hoping desperately that something would redeem this book. Ultimately, this was a beautiful idea with a slapdash execution. I would need serious convincing (beyond that beautiful cover and clever synopsis) to pick up and read the next book in the series. 1.5 stars.  And I think that's generous. 

Must-Have Monday: The Invalid Chronicles

Sorry, folks.  This week's Must-Have Monday is a little late, because I've been busy dying.
Came down with yet another disastrous ick Saturday.  This is the joy of teaching elementary school.

I decided to pursue a theme today...

Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever 1793

Fever 1793

Amazon.com Review: 

On the heels of her acclaimed contemporary teen novel Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson surprises her fans with a riveting and well-researched historical fiction. Fever 1793 is based on an actual epidemic of yellow fever in Philadelphia that wiped out 5,000 people--or 10 percent of the city's population--in three months. At the close of the 18th century, Philadelphia was the bustling capital of the United States, with Washington and Jefferson in residence. During the hot mosquito-infested summer of 1793, the dreaded yellow fever spread like wildfire, killing people overnight. Like specters from the Middle Ages, gravediggers drew carts through the streets crying "Bring out your dead!" The rich fled to the country, abandoning the city to looters, forsaken corpses, and frightened survivors. Typhoid Mary

In the foreground of this story is 16-year-old Mattie Cook, whose mother and grandfather own a popular coffee house on High Street. Mattie's comfortable and interesting life is shattered by the epidemic, as her mother is felled and the girl and her grandfather must flee for their lives. Later, after much hardship and terror, they return to the deserted town to find their former cook, a freed slave, working with the African Free Society, an actual group who undertook to visit and assist the sick and saved many lives. As first frost arrives and the epidemic ends, Mattie's sufferings have changed her from a willful child to a strong, capable young woman able to manage her family's business on her own. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

My Take:
I've read this one before.  Really well written and well-researched.  *sniffle*  Not feeling very wordy.  Just read it.

Jim Murphy's An American Plague:  The True and Terrifying Story

of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 (Newbery Honor Book)

Booklist Review (Courtesy of Amazon.com): 
Gr. 6-12. History, science, politics, and public health come together in this dramatic account of the disastrous yellow fever epidemic that hit the nation's capital more than 200 years ago. Drawing on firsthand accounts, medical and non-medical, Murphy re-creates the fear and panic in the infected city, the social conditions that caused the disease to spread, and the arguments about causes and cures. With archival prints, photos, contemporary newspaper facsimiles that include lists of the dead, and full, chatty source notes, he tells of those who fled and those who stayed--among them, the heroic group of free blacks who nursed the ill and were later vilified for their work. Some readers may skip the daily details of life in eighteenth-century Philadelphia; in fact, the most interesting chapters discuss what is now known of the tiny fever-carrying mosquito and the problems created by over-zealous use of pesticides. The current struggle to contain the SARS epidemic brings the "unshakeable unease" chillingly close. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

My Take:
I usually am not a fan of nonfiction.  But, being obsessed with all things sensational and/or morbid, I picked this up a few years ago.  I enjoy Murphy's nonfiction.  Get it.  Or I'll cough on you.

Anthony Bourdain's Typhoid Mary:  An Urban Historical



Goodreads Summary:

From the best-selling author of Kitchen Confidential comes this true, thrilling tale of pursuit through the kitchens of New York City at the turn of the century.

By the late nineteenth century, it seemed that New York City had put an end to the outbreaks of typhoid fever that had so frequently decimated the city's population. That is until 1904, when the disease broke out in a household in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Authorities suspected the family cook, Mary Mallon, of being a carrier. But before she could be tested, the woman, soon to be known as Typhoid Mary, had disappeared. Over the course of the next three years, Mary worked at several residences, spreading her pestilence as she went. In 1907, she was traced to a home on Park Avenue, and taken into custody. Institutionalized at Riverside Hospital for three years, she was released only when she promised never to work as a cook again. She promptly disappeared.

For the next five years Mary worked in homes and institutions in and around New York, often under assumed names. In February 1915, a devastating outbreak of typhoid at the Sloane Hospital for Women was traced to her. She was finally apprehended and reinstitutionalized at Riverside Hospital, where she would remain for the rest of her life.

Typhoid Mary is the story of her infamous life. Anthony Bourdain reveals the seedier side of the early 1900s, and writes with his renowned panache about life in the kitchen, uncovering the horrifying conditions that allowed the deadly spread of typhoid over a decade. Typhoid Mary is a true feast for history lovers and Bourdain lovers alike.

My Take:
Again, sensationalist and morbid.  And fascinating. 

I have to go keep being sick now.  Enjoy.

Memorial Monday: For Timmy

Today was a sad day.  

Timmy, one of our cats being lovingly cared for by my ex-husband, has passed away.  

He was a sweet little trooper, and just couldn't go on anymore. 

A little neurotic, yes.  He always managed to have a look like he'd just been smacked across the face.  Permanently startled, if you will.

But he was a sweetheart.  

I moved away from my cats in 2008 and have not seen them since then.  

Talk about guilt.  :(

I decided to look for some solace.  For some books that could bring some peace to a troubled heart. 

Bringing Peace to a Troubled Heart #1:

 

Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant

 

Cat Heaven 

From Kirkus Reviews (Courtesy of Amazon.com)

Every bit as rich in eye-dimming sentiment as Dog Heaven (1995), this will kindle sighs even from the feline-indifferent. Writing in rhyme, Rylant assures readers that all cats already know the way to heaven's yellow door, and once past it will never want for laps, toys, or full kitty dishes. Rylant paints in the same extremely naive style of the first book, with large brushes and bright, opaque colors; heaven is a place with trees and clouds to perch on, fields to leap through--and a garden full of tall flowers, where God walks ``with a good black book [``Garden Tips''] and a kitty asleep on His head.'' Comforting and amiable, this is tinged with gentle humor. (Picture book. 3-6) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

My Take: 
Okay, just this synopsis makes me weepy.  Cynthia Rylant's work is emotional to begin with without adding the death of a pet to the mix.  *sigh*

Bringing Peace to a Troubled Heart #2:

 

Paw Prints in the Stars:  A Farewell and Journal for a Beloved Pet by Warren Hanson

Paw Prints in the Stars: A Farewell and Journal for a Beloved Pet 

Courtesy of Amazon.com:

Product Description

Paw Prints in the Stars was created to help one deal with the loss of a beloved pet. The book is written in the voice of the pet that has passed and brings peace and comfort while celebrating life and the lessons learned. There is a place for treasured photos and journal pages for favorite memories as well as a special ribbon to hold collar tags.

My Take: 
I think this would make me bawl.  Really bawl.  But they would be good tears...

And last but not least...

Bringing Peace to a Troubled Heart #3:

Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates by Gary Kurz

 

Cold Noses At The Pearly Gates 

Product Description:
Do all dogs and cats really go to heaven? Yes, they do!
The death of your beloved pet can be one of the most heartbreaking losses you'll ever endure. But recovery isn't only about closure. You also want to know where your best friend has gone.
After the intense, unexpected grief he experienced following the loss of his own companions, animal lover and biblical scholar Gary Kurz set out to prove that there are indeed pets in Paradise. After devoting countless hours of research, he now shares his inspiring insights to bring you a richer understanding of animals and their souls. You'll finally find answers to common questions about animals and the afterlife- and you'll also get a 30-day devotional to help you work through your grief.
If you-ve ever loved and lost a pet, or if you know someone who has shared a special bond with a furry face and a cold, wet nose, you'll welcome this amazing book's reassurance that love and loyalty are truly eternal, and that someday, you and your pets will be together again.

I just hope I don't have to watch any Humane Society Commercials on the TV tonight.  I don't think my heart can take it.  

Rest in Peace, Timmy.  You will always be loved.  

Timmy

 

Must-Have Monday #3

If you take a look at my sidebar, you'll notice I have added a button for a Zombie Challenge.  I know, I promised I would be realistic this year, but...

I had to.

So today's Must-Have-Monday will be the Zombie Edition!

MUST-HAVE ZOMBIE LIT #1:

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Rot & Ruin

I wishlisted this one the first time I saw the cover.  The zombie has such an alive look, with the reds and unearthly green of the eye.  The summary just served to set the hook. 

Summary:  (Courtesy of Amazon.com)

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up–At first glance, this appears to be a retelling of Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Delacorte, 2009) but with a male protagonist. But Maberry's vision of a zombie-infested future has more action, more violence, and more emotional depth. Benny Imura was a baby when the zombie apocalypse happened. His first memory is of his mother handing him to his older half brother as she is being dragged down by his zombie-fied father. He resents Tom for leaving his mother, for running away. To Benny, Tom is a coward. To everyone else in their fenced-in town, Tom is the toughest, bravest zombie killer in California. As Benny approaches his 15th birthday, he must find a job or forfeit half of his food rations. After losing half a dozen jobs, he reluctantly agrees to work as Tom's apprentice in the “Family Business.” When they travel out into the Rot and Ruin, he witnesses things that change his opinion of his brother and forever alter his perception of the world. He also learns that flesh-eating zombies aren't the scariest or most dangerous monsters around. As with all zombie stories, this one requires a fairly large suspension of disbelief, but once the brothers enter the Rot and Ruin, readers become too wrapped up in the plot to dwell on some lapses of logic. The relationship between Benny and Tom becomes surprisingly complex and satisfying, as does the romantic subplot between Benny and his friend Nix. The length of the book may intimidate some reluctant readers but the striking cover, compelling action, and brutal violence will draw them in and keep them reading.–Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CAα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.

 

 

MUST-HAVE ZOMBIE LIT #2:

Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Handling the Undead

Another delicious-looking (forgive the poor choice of adjective) zombie romp. 

Summary:  (Courtesy of Goodreads)

In his new novel, John Ajvide Lindqvist does for zombies what his previous novel, Let the Right One In, did for vampires. Across Stockholm the power grid has gone crazy. In the morgue and in cemeteries, the recently deceased are waking up. One grandfather is alight with hope that his grandson will be returned, but one husband is aghast at what his adored wife has become. A horror novel that transcends its genre by showing what the return of the dead might really mean to those who loved them.

 

 

 (Ok, am I the only one who thinks these publishers used the same photo for the cover, with slight variations in color/shading?  

You be the judge...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MUST-HAVE ZOMBIE LIT #3:

The Dead (The Enemy, Book 2) by Charlie Higson

  

The Dead: An Enemy Novel

 

I read Charlie Higson's previous novel The Enemy and reviewed it on my previous blog.  

You can see my review here.  

Summary:  (Courtesy of Goodreads)
THE DEAD begins one year the action in THE ENEMY, just after the Disaster. A terrible disease has struck everyone over the age of sixteen, leaving them either dead or a decomposing, flesh-eating creature. The action starts in a boarding school just outside London where all the teachers have turned into zombies. A few kids survive and travel by bus into the city. The bus driver, an adult named Greg, seems to be unaffected by the disease. Then he begins to show the dreaded signs: outer blisters and inner madness. The kids escape Greg and end up at the Imperial War Museum. A huge fire in South London drives them all to the river, and eventually over the river to the Tower of London. It is there they will meet up with the kids in THE ENEMY in Book 3.

 

I could go on....

Perhaps later...

What I'm Reading #1: Streams of Babel

Yes, I'm guilty.  I shop books by cover.  

I picked up Carol Plum-Ucci's Streams of Babel (Harcourt Children's Books, 2008) because of the cover.  

Streams of Babel

Or perhaps, more specifically, the tagline:

"DON'T DRINK THE WATER--

BIOTERRORISTS FUEL A SUBURBAN NIGHTMARE"

That, coupled with the ominous red tones of the cover (which, upon reading the book, I realized were very appropriate) really grabbed my attention.  I couldn't leave the store without it.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

In a New Jersey suburb, two women die of brain aneurysms within twenty-four hours--events that cause the government to suspect that a terrorist cell has unleashed a deadly biochemical agent. With each glass of water they drink, the people of Trinity Falls are poisoning themselves. A world away in Pakistan, a sixteen-year-old computer genius working as a virtual spy for the United States sees an influx of chatter from extremists about a substance they call Red Vinegar that will lead to many deaths in Colony One. Can he warn the victims before it's too late? A Printz Honor Award winner and two-time Edgar Allan Poe Award finalist, Carol Plum-Ucci explores disturbing new terrain in this riveting novel that examines the heroes and victims involved in a terrifying act of bioterrorism.

My Review:  

I love when authors go out on a limb and don't disappoint.  This could have been a huge disaster.  It's a delicate balance to use young adults as the primary characters in a story about terrorism without losing the realism and believability.  The intelligence elements of the story feel accurate without being so technical that they don't fit with the age of the characters.  Plum-Ucci also refuses to whitewash--it's not a pretty tale.  Given the atmosphere in the world today, this book left me feeling more than a little uneasy.  It has a disturbing realism that kept me awake on more than a few nights.  

There's a large cast of characters, but they're each uniquely crafted, definitely not thin or one-dimensional.  The side plot of Cora's struggle to reconcile her feelings about her volatile, troubled mother is particularly well-written.  

My Rating: 

Plot/Characters:

Well-done, but not an OH-GOD-HOW-AMAZING sort of read.

Cover:

Sinister and ominous.  Great tagline and color.

BONUS:

The sequel:  Fire Will Fall

(Incidentally, nowhere near as impressed with this cover...)

 

Fire Will Fall 

Check out the synopsis at Goodreads.

Must-Have Monday #2

MUST-HAVE PICTURE BOOK #2:

Animal Poems by Valerie Worth, Steve Jenkins (Ill.)

Animal Poems

Ok, Worth's poems are cute.  Clever.  But what makes this book a Must-Have are Jenkin's cut-paper illustrations.  Yes, that is a cut-paper porcupine on the cover.  

 

-and-

MUST-HAVE NOVEL #2:

 

 Nomansland by Lesley Hauge

 

Nomansland

I have been positively drooling over this book ever since I heard about it.  A distant future peopled by kick-ass archer/equestrian women?  Read more about it at Goodreads.

I wish I could come up with ideas like this. 

Picture Book Candy #1: Little Lamb to the Rescue

I have a dangerous and potentially expensive obsession with really beautiful picture books.

It started a few years ago when I picked up a copy of Miriam Moss' The Snow Bear (Dutton Juvenile, 2001) and gave it to a friend. 

Dutton has done several of these books, with absolutely luscious illustrations and embossing.  I followed this purchase with A.J. Wood's The Little Penguin (Dutton Juvenile, 2002).  And promptly fell in love with Stephanie Boey's illustrations...

Later, I acquired Erica Briers' Little Duck Lost  (2004)...

Since then I've been on the hunt for more of Stephanie Boey's work. My latest acquisition is another Briers/Boey team-up, Little Lamb to the Rescue.  

This is a book so hard to track down I can only find one picture--

It's deliciously illustrated, embossed, and just a wonderful book.  No, I'm not giving it away as a gift.  Too pretty and too hard to find.  

Still looking for The Runaway Chick (peeking out from underneath in the above picture) and The Little Reindeer to add to my collection...

And The Little Beaver...

These are honestly some of the most gorgeous books I've seen.  And, as is usually the case with books I fall in love with, most of them are out of print--but still obtainable.  

Definitely drool-worthy.