The Day We Met tells the story of Claire, a woman in her forties who is suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. As she begins to lose more and more of her memories and her sense of self, she begins to write in her memory book so she will not forget the important people in her life.
The novel alternates between present day and sections written in the memory book, sometimes told from Claire’s point of view, and sometimes from her daughter, husband, and mother.
I found this book a little difficult to read at times, because of the reality of Alzheimer’s that is presented. However, I thought the book was well written and that the characters were all well developed.
Cath was not just a Simon Snow fan. She was an über Simon Snow fan who actually had followers of her own. How? Cath wrote fan fiction. More specifically, she wrote Simon/Baz fan fiction. And her story, Carry On, got tens of thousands of hits every time she posted a new chapter. While I wasn’t at all surprised to learn that Cath entered college with the intention to be a fiction writer, I was interested in how she struggled with creating stories all her own even though the fan fiction flowed so easily for her. Even more than that, I was impressed by how wholly I found myself being absorbed into Cath’s everyday life and her struggle to adjust to the new realities of her life as a college freshman.
On the surface, my experiences as a college freshman wasn’t much, if anything, like Cath’s. Much like when I was reading Eleanor & Park, I found that the details of the main character’s life didn’t have to match up for the story to touch me on an almost spiritual level. Maybe it’s because there is just something so fundamentally real about Rainbow Rowell’s characters? Maybe they are people I could see myself being friends with?
The one major complaint I had about this story was that I wanted to know more about Simon Snow. I enjoyed the passages that supposedly came from the Simon Snow books and from Cath’s fan fiction… but I wanted to be able to read all of the Simon Snow books and watch the movies, too! I was absolutely delighted, therefore, when I saw an announcement about the cover art reveal for the Carry On book from Rainbow Rowell, which is due out in October! (The book was apparently announced back in December, but it probably didn’t register on my radar because Carry On didn’t mean anything to me until I read Fangirl.) You better believe I immediately signed in to my book ordering account and added this title to my pre-order list. I’m just hoping, now, that I will find lots of other stuff to read and keep my mind off Carry On so I don’t go crazy waiting.
Some of you may recognize the author’s name — he one half of the Fabulous Beekman Boys! But before that…well let’s just say Josh had a very different life. In the mid ’90s he was working in the advertising business by day and by night he was known as Aqua, a 7-foot-tall drag queen who wore a live goldfish in a bowl as part of his costume. As his night life of clubs and drinking begins to spill over into his day life, he ultimately saw that he had to make a change. His writing is funny and witty and tells an amazing story that also is quite sad. Worth a read, especially if you’d like to contrast the before and after Josh.
This story had a little bit of everything. The whole enchilada, if you will. (Sorry, but I couldn’t resist using that pun!) This story had drama, action, fantasy, humor, sports, and a love story all wrapped up in one. Fans of books like Hold Me Closer, Necromancer and Croak will definitely want to check this book out!
Eunice “Bug” Smoot was an 18-year-old girl with lots of problems and little hope of fixing them. The only thing Bug really had going for her was that her grandfather left her his Cadillac when he died. At the very least, she could make a decent amount of money working as a pizza delivery girl. Just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, though, she met Mr. Beals. What was so bad about him? Well… Mr. Beals was a repo agent who specialized in supernatural debts — and he informed Bug that her grandfather had literally used his soul for collateral on the car loan for the Cadillac and then somehow managed to skip town after he died. If she couldn’t help Mr. Beals find her grandfather and collect his soul, she would lose her car. Talk about a lose-lose situation.
Something just speaks to Charlotte, owner of a bridal boutique, when she finds an old truck at an estate sale. She buys it even though it is welded shut. Her fiance, Tim, iss initially upset at her for spending money on it when they are saving for a wedding.
Upon opening the trunk she finds a beautiful hand-stitched wedding gown and some old military dog tags. Her quest to learn more about this extraordinary dress leads her on a journey that will change her. She learns of the other brides who wore the dress and their stories of love, loss and redemption: Emily from 1912, Mary Grace from 1939, Hillary from 1968. Has Charlotte finally found the perfect dress and is Tim her true love ? If you are looking for a delightful, easy read, check it out!
I think the thing I liked most about this series was just how different it was. I have been reading a lot of dystopian fiction over the course of the last few years, and much of it seems to be interchangeable. Sure, the plots involve slightly different situations and the characters and places have different names. But, though I enjoyed reading/listening to them all, it was pretty telling when my tween son literally asked me, “Didn’t we already listen to this book?” Although this series could be compared to other apocalyptic stories — like the dead & the gone and No Safety in Numbers — it didn’t feel like a re-run. The only problem I had with this book was that it seemed all too plausible. It really creeped me out to read about a series of natural disasters followed by a leak of chemical warfare compounds, with society as we know it falling apart. Very interesting story… but kinda scary if you’re known as “worst case scenario girl” and actually start worrying about things like this happening in real life.
This is another one of those books that I just cannot imagine reading from an actual book because it worked so well as an audiobook. Although the plot is not remotely the same, this audiobook reminded me of Thirteen Reasons Why because it had one narrator for the main character and another narrator for a person who left behind a recording. I’m not sure what this says about me, but I really enjoy “listening in” on these recordings and the reactions they invoke from the main character! 😉
At the prestigious Irving [boarding] School, there was a tradition wherein each of the graduating seniors left a gift for the incoming senior who would take over his/her dorm room. When Duncan moved in to his room, he found a set of CDs that chronicled the previous semester as experienced by former senior Tim Macbeth. From the onset of the story, it was pretty evident that something bad had happened to Tim during the previous school year and that Duncan was, somehow, involved. These CDs were Tim’s way of sharing his story so that Duncan would finally know everything that led up to that event and why it was that he didn’t think Duncan should feel responsible. I thought it was pretty genius the way the story unfolded around Mr. Simon’s “tragedy paper” assignment… And talk about suspense! Although Tim made allusions to complications he was having due to his albinism, I was shocked when I finally discovered the whole truth of what had happened.
I really enjoy this author, and this book did not disappoint. It had just enough funny and crazy to keep me turning the page, and the situations she wrote about in this book rang very true. I loved, loved that the main character was a hypnotherapist. It was so interesting to see her work with her clients in the story. The other fun thing about this author is that she writes about Australia — it’s so interesting to learn about the locations where her characters live.
I have always loved fairy tales, though I have often wondered how it was that all the “big bads” got away with so much. Why was it that no one ever stepped up and did anything about the people who abused their power? Sure, Cinderella got away from her terrible stepmother — but why wasn’t her stepmother held accountable for the things she had done? This story goes outside the box and brings a little bit of justice into the mix with the Fairy Tale Reform School. The teachers at FTRS — such as Cinderella’s stepmother, the sea witch from the Little Mermaid, and the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood — are actually working to atone for their bad deeds. Such a clever premise!
Readers are introduced to the intricacies of the FTRS via Gilly, a petty thief who has been sentenced to three months at FTRS. As the child of a poor cobbler whose business has hit a rough patch, thanks to fairy godmothers producing glass slippers for the royal princesses, Gilly tries to justify her thefts as necessary for the survival of her hungry siblings. As soon as she gets to FTRS, she tries to think of a plan to run away so that she can get back to taking care of her siblings, but her plan is thwarted. Luckily, her attempted escape helps her to befriend another student, Jax, who is also friends with her roommate, Kayla. The three students soon discover that the “formerly” villainous teachers might not be as reformed as everyone else believes and set out to discover what they’re up to before it’s too late. I recommend this story to fans of Adam Gidwitz’ Grimm series.
Let me just start off by admitting that I am a total Holly Black fangirl. Aside from enjoying her style of writing, I appreciate the fact that she has written fantasies on so many levels. She is a great go-to author for kids, tweens, and teens who enjoy fantasy. The Spiderwick Chronicles are the perfect “gateway” series for early elementary kids. From there, they can move on to (middle grade) The Iron Trial, and then graduate up to her YA works like White Cat, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, and Zombies vs. Unicorns (for which she was an editor/”Team Unicorn” commentator).
The Darkest Part of the Forest is a modern, feminist fairy tale. Rather than a tale of a girl waiting to be rescued by a prince or a knight in shining armor, this story was about a girl named Hazel who actually WAS a knight. Rock on! Having grown up in Fairfold, hearing stories of the Folk and the devastation they could bring upon careless humans, Hazel should have known better than to make a deal with the Faery King. After waking up one morning to learn that the faery boy from the enchanted glass coffin in the woods was awake and missing, nevertheless, it became abundantly clear that Hazel was in way over her head. With the help of her brother Ben and his best friend Jack, Hazel had to try to figure out the role she played in the faery boy’s waking and whether there was any way to save them all from the magical mayhem she unwittingly set into motion.
I seldom read biography, and certainly not sports biography, but this book was so highly recommended that I picked it up. I’m so glad that I did. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. While it focuses on the life of Joe Rantz, one of the crew members at the University of Washington, it also presents the other crew members, captures the depths of the hardships filling this country during the Depression, and paints a grim picture of Hitler’s Germany.
Who knew crew was such a grueling sport? I certainly didn’t. These college men worked incredibly hard and sacrificed much to earn a place on the team that ultimately triumphed in the Berlin Olympics. I was inspired by their dedication and by their commitment to each other and to their goal. This is a story about strength of will, teamwork, and values. Read it. You’ll be glad you did.
I was shocked to see that this book was a YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist. Not because I didn’t think it was deserving, though, but because I was shocked it didn’t actually win! Shane Burcaw’s self-deprecating sense of humor and unwavering positivity in the face of adversity have already garnered tens of thousands of readers for his blog [laughingatmynightmare.tumblr.com], so it comes as no surprise that the book has also been universally well-received.
Shane’s writing style made me feel as if I was hanging out with a friend and listening to crazy stories about his past. Although I wouldn’t have held it against him if he had been bitter or angry about his lot in life, he was just so chill and goofy that it was hard to remember, at times, that he wasn’t a “normal” guy. As I read about the many setbacks that came along with Shane’s spinal muscular atrophy, I found myself wondering how it was possible for Shane to keep his sense of humor. More than that, I found myself wondering if I could train myself to look past the doom and gloom to find the silver linings in my own life. It may take a bit of time and patience, but I think this is certainly a worthy goal. Thanks so much, Shane, for sharing your story and inspiring people to rid themselves (and the world) of negativity.
Jamaica “Jam” Gallahue was devastated by the death of her British exchange-student boyfriend, Reeve. Unable to function after her loss, Jam was sent away to a therapeutic boarding school in Vermont. The Wooden Barn wasn’t a psychiatric facility, though, but more of a buffer zone for teens who were too “fragile” for normal high schools. Upon arrival, Jam learned that she had been selected to be a student in the coveted Special Topics English class with Mrs. Quenell. Her roommate, DJ, found it grossly unfair since she even wrote a letter begging for admission to that class, though she admitted that she didn’t even know what made the class so special. No one ever did except for the select few who took the class each time. The students who took the class always formed such an incredible bond and gushed about how much the class changed their lives, and DJ wanted to be a part of that. When Jam and her classmates started their journal-writing assignment at the beginning of the semester, as a supplement to their in-depth study of the works of Sylvia Plath, none of them had the slightest clue what they were in for. But, soon, they would find themselves wrapped up in the mystery of a place they called Belzhar, which helped them explore their lives before whatever made them “fragile.”
I picked this book up for a “short” reading break, and I read more than half the book. I had to stop reading to eat dinner and to read bedtime stories with my kids, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Belzhar and had to finish reading it before I could go to sleep that night. If you’re looking for an “unputdownable” book, look no further!
This novel is set in England during the early 1800s. Sisters Abigail and Louisa remain unmarried despite a sizable dowry until a poor investment forces the family to sell their London house and let (rent) the home of a distant relative they don’t even know in a small village outside London. Younger sister Louisa initially remains in London with her mother for her season while older, responsible Abigail heads to Pembrooke Park with her father to set up their new home, despite the disappointment of leaving long-time friend, Gilbert, before his tour of Italy and without an offer of marriage. Upon arriving at Pembrooke Park, she finds an old estate perfectly preserved from the last family living there. It looked as if the family had fled suddenly, leaving behind everything just as they were using it. Rumor has it there is hidden treasure in the haunted house, but nobody in the village will talk about it. The past, the family, the treasure remain a mystery until Abigail starts receiving anonymous letters, possibly written by a former occupant. As the intriguing story unfolds, does Abigail find love in unexpected places? Can she overcome her insecurity about her younger, more beautiful sister? And, is there really a secret room with hidden treasure? You will just have to read it and see. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
When Astrid Jones and her family moved from New York City to Unity Valley, PA, none of them quite realized how drastically their lives would change. Astrid’s mom became so concerned with how other people saw her and so controlling that it seemed nothing Astrid did was ever even close to good enough. Her little sister, Ellis, was so concerned with popularity and upholding her reputation that she’d probably have disowned Astrid if it would have guaranteed her immunity from the rumor mill. This apparently pleased her mom, though, since she frequently invited Ellis to “mommy and me” nights out. And their dad? When he wasn’t moping about his lack of job prospects and smoking pot in the garage or attic, he seemed content enough to sit silently while his wife belittled him in front of the kids.
With a family like that, it’s no wonder Astrid decided she was better off “sending her love” to the passengers in the airplanes overhead. Sending her love to the passengers meant that she didn’t have to worry about that love being thrown back in her face. Because she was sending love to anonymous strangers, she had no expectation of getting love back, and that made it OK when the love wasn’t reciprocated. Confronted by the possibility of love on the ground, nevertheless, Astrid had absolutely no idea how to handle herself. So, she started asking the passengers questions. I liked how Astrid’s questions somehow floated into the minds of the passengers and led to vignettes of the passengers’ own lives and the problems they were facing. I especially liked how such a sad story could end with such hope. After all, sometimes a little hope is all you need to keep on going.
