The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda
This is the third book I have read by this author, and though not horrible, it didn't have me on the edge of my seat like the ones I'd read before.
Leah Stevens is a teacher in a small Pennsylvania town. This is not her life's calling, but she's trying to make a new start since she screwed things up as a journalist in Boston. To make this fresh start, she moves into an old farmhouse with a longtime friend she's lost touch with, Emmy.
One morning, she finds out a woman who looks exactly like Leah herself does is attacked and nearly killed not far from her house. The thought is that it was the high school coach who had been harassing Leah who did it. Also, Emmy seems to be missing. So, not only is Leah caught up in the case with the coach, but she is also caught up with a missing person's case. Not a good place to be. To top it off, the police are starting to think that Leah made Emmy up to cover something up. It is now up to Leah to figure out what's going on and who Emmy really is.
In her effort to figure things out, we learn why Leah is no longer a journalist, we see her creepy student stalker, and her would be relationship with the police detective in charge of both cases. There's a lot going on, and I think that is why it takes the book more time than it should to get truly interesting. Again, not a bad book, just a bit slower than I would have liked.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Monday, March 26, 2018
Another Great Pair
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
At this point it should be obvious that I am a fan of the books these two write. While my favorite couple is still Dash and Lily, Naomi and Ely were ok.
Naomi and Ely live in Manhattan, on the same floor of a co-op. They have pretty much been raised together, like siblings who live across the hall from one another. Naomi is in love with Ely, which wouldn't be so bad except that he's gay. Regardless, she still thinks they are going to end up together. Because of a situation with their parents (Naomi's dad had an affair with one of Ely's moms), Naomi and Ely have created a No Kiss List to keep from hurting one another. Some people, like Naomi's boyfriend, Bruce the Second, are left off the list because it should be obvious that you wouldn't kiss your best friend's boyfriend. Obvious or not, Ely did just that, and it wrecked everything.
Naomi is destroyed. Not so much by the boyfriend, as she only seemed to have lukewarm feelings for him. No, what she gained from this is that Ely was never going to love her the way she loved him, and this is a bitter pill to swallow.
This book is told from multiple perspectives so that all facets of this relationship and its demise are covered. Like I said, not as cute as Dash and Lily, but not too bad.
At this point it should be obvious that I am a fan of the books these two write. While my favorite couple is still Dash and Lily, Naomi and Ely were ok.
Naomi and Ely live in Manhattan, on the same floor of a co-op. They have pretty much been raised together, like siblings who live across the hall from one another. Naomi is in love with Ely, which wouldn't be so bad except that he's gay. Regardless, she still thinks they are going to end up together. Because of a situation with their parents (Naomi's dad had an affair with one of Ely's moms), Naomi and Ely have created a No Kiss List to keep from hurting one another. Some people, like Naomi's boyfriend, Bruce the Second, are left off the list because it should be obvious that you wouldn't kiss your best friend's boyfriend. Obvious or not, Ely did just that, and it wrecked everything.
Naomi is destroyed. Not so much by the boyfriend, as she only seemed to have lukewarm feelings for him. No, what she gained from this is that Ely was never going to love her the way she loved him, and this is a bitter pill to swallow.
This book is told from multiple perspectives so that all facets of this relationship and its demise are covered. Like I said, not as cute as Dash and Lily, but not too bad.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
First ARC of 2018
I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman
I am fortunate enough to periodically have the opportunity to try to score an advance reader's copy of upcoming books. I try my luck nearly every time I get an email about them, and am not successful a lot of the time. This is ok because there are a lot of books out there, and nine times out of ten, if I am not selected for the ARC, I will still end up reading the book. A few weeks ago, this Gayle Forman book popped up as one we could try our luck with. This time though, I had enough points to guarantee a copy for myself, and since I have liked every book of hers I have read, I knew I needed to get this one.
This is a story about three people who have, quite literally, lost their way. Up first is Freya. Freya is a singer on the verge of making it big. Unfortunately, some three weeks prior, she has lost the ability to sing. This is a bit of a problem as she was born singing. It was the one thing she had with her father who left her to go start a new life in his homeland of Ethiopia. It is what cost her any sort of relationship with her sister, which is how she finds herself falling off of a bridge in Central Park.
Then there is Harun, a young Muslim man who is living a lie to keep from disappointing his parents. Harun is gay and his boyfriend recently broke up with him because Harun won't come out to his family. On this particular day, he heads to Central Park in the hopes of running into his boyfriend and show him that he is willing to do what it takes to be with him when he sees a young woman falling off of a bridge.
Last there is Nathaniel. He is a young man from Washington state. His parents are divorced because his mother said she couldn't live with two children, the implication, and rightly so, that her husband was a child. Nathaniel has two different colored eyes as a result of an accident, and something has happened that has turned him into something feral (his words, not mine). Freya lands on Nathaniel when she falls off of the bridge.
This accident is what brings the three of them together, and together they begin to find their way.
Like Forman's other books, her characters are complex and she provides a backstory that helps the reader understand why they are the way they are. In this case, it helps to show how they lost their way, so that when they get back on track it all blends together.
I am fortunate enough to periodically have the opportunity to try to score an advance reader's copy of upcoming books. I try my luck nearly every time I get an email about them, and am not successful a lot of the time. This is ok because there are a lot of books out there, and nine times out of ten, if I am not selected for the ARC, I will still end up reading the book. A few weeks ago, this Gayle Forman book popped up as one we could try our luck with. This time though, I had enough points to guarantee a copy for myself, and since I have liked every book of hers I have read, I knew I needed to get this one.
This is a story about three people who have, quite literally, lost their way. Up first is Freya. Freya is a singer on the verge of making it big. Unfortunately, some three weeks prior, she has lost the ability to sing. This is a bit of a problem as she was born singing. It was the one thing she had with her father who left her to go start a new life in his homeland of Ethiopia. It is what cost her any sort of relationship with her sister, which is how she finds herself falling off of a bridge in Central Park.
Then there is Harun, a young Muslim man who is living a lie to keep from disappointing his parents. Harun is gay and his boyfriend recently broke up with him because Harun won't come out to his family. On this particular day, he heads to Central Park in the hopes of running into his boyfriend and show him that he is willing to do what it takes to be with him when he sees a young woman falling off of a bridge.
Last there is Nathaniel. He is a young man from Washington state. His parents are divorced because his mother said she couldn't live with two children, the implication, and rightly so, that her husband was a child. Nathaniel has two different colored eyes as a result of an accident, and something has happened that has turned him into something feral (his words, not mine). Freya lands on Nathaniel when she falls off of the bridge.
This accident is what brings the three of them together, and together they begin to find their way.
Like Forman's other books, her characters are complex and she provides a backstory that helps the reader understand why they are the way they are. In this case, it helps to show how they lost their way, so that when they get back on track it all blends together.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
TAYSHAS 13
What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum
As much as I loved Tell Me Three Things by the same author, I liked this one more. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I have a young man in one of my classes that reminds me of David, though my student is quite a bit more outgoing and social, so maybe David in a couple of years. At any rate, if I can relate a book to my life or something connected to my life, I am going to enjoy it more.
This is told by two characters, David and Kit. They are juniors in high school, in a reasonably small town in New Jersey. David is a bit of a loner because he has Asperger's (which, as he points out, is no longer a recognized disorder). Also because of the Asperger's, he is considered a bit weird, and kids treat him badly. Due to an incident in junior high, he has been training in various martial arts. He's probably the smartest kid in school, but he doesn't really have friends.
Kit is going through a rough time. A month ago, her father was killed in a car accident, and it has hit her hard, which is totally expected. Totally expected except by her friends, it seems. They seem to think that she should be back to her normal self, and don't understand why she's not. So, one day, she sits at David's table at lunch.
Thus begins a beautiful friendship. Because of Kit, David starts coming out of his shell. Because of David, Kit has someone to talk to who won't judge her for what she's going through.
This was a great read. There were times I was smiling so big, and others where I was on the verge of tears. I loved this, and highly recommend it.
As much as I loved Tell Me Three Things by the same author, I liked this one more. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I have a young man in one of my classes that reminds me of David, though my student is quite a bit more outgoing and social, so maybe David in a couple of years. At any rate, if I can relate a book to my life or something connected to my life, I am going to enjoy it more.
This is told by two characters, David and Kit. They are juniors in high school, in a reasonably small town in New Jersey. David is a bit of a loner because he has Asperger's (which, as he points out, is no longer a recognized disorder). Also because of the Asperger's, he is considered a bit weird, and kids treat him badly. Due to an incident in junior high, he has been training in various martial arts. He's probably the smartest kid in school, but he doesn't really have friends.
Kit is going through a rough time. A month ago, her father was killed in a car accident, and it has hit her hard, which is totally expected. Totally expected except by her friends, it seems. They seem to think that she should be back to her normal self, and don't understand why she's not. So, one day, she sits at David's table at lunch.
Thus begins a beautiful friendship. Because of Kit, David starts coming out of his shell. Because of David, Kit has someone to talk to who won't judge her for what she's going through.
This was a great read. There were times I was smiling so big, and others where I was on the verge of tears. I loved this, and highly recommend it.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Companion Novels Can Be Great....
Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story by David Levithan
...But this was not one of them. A couple (or few) years ago, I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green and loved it. So when I saw this novel was available, I knew I wanted to read it. Somehow, I didn't realize that it was the script of the autobiographical musical that Tiny was writing in that book. I should have, but I didn't. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been in prose form.
So, Tiny tells his story from birth until the present, including his eighteen exboyfriends. We learn how he discovered he's gay and what went wrong with his relationships, complete with songs. It's hard to read songs with no idea what the music behind them is. It got to the point where I was just skimming the pages for the "good stuff" and praying I was getting near the end.
That said, it is not that I did not like Tiny's story. I did. It's just that it would have gone over better for me if it hadn't been a musical script. I wish I could go back to Friday, before I found this in the library, and conveniently forget that I wanted to read this.
...But this was not one of them. A couple (or few) years ago, I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green and loved it. So when I saw this novel was available, I knew I wanted to read it. Somehow, I didn't realize that it was the script of the autobiographical musical that Tiny was writing in that book. I should have, but I didn't. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been in prose form.
So, Tiny tells his story from birth until the present, including his eighteen exboyfriends. We learn how he discovered he's gay and what went wrong with his relationships, complete with songs. It's hard to read songs with no idea what the music behind them is. It got to the point where I was just skimming the pages for the "good stuff" and praying I was getting near the end.
That said, it is not that I did not like Tiny's story. I did. It's just that it would have gone over better for me if it hadn't been a musical script. I wish I could go back to Friday, before I found this in the library, and conveniently forget that I wanted to read this.
Friday, March 9, 2018
If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
Because I enjoyed two of their other collaborations, I thought I would read this one. And although this is well written, it isn't as endearing as Dash and Lily.
Nick in three and a half weeks into his break-up with Tris. He sees her across a crowded club, and is dismayed because she promised she wouldn't come to his gigs. Norah is at the same club with her friend Caroline. When Nick is done playing, he finds himself in the audience with Norah, trying to avoid Tris, to no avail. It is then that he leans over and kisses Norah to show Tris that he has moved on, even though he hasn't.
Thus begins an interesting night of music and adventure for Nick and Norah in New York City. They get to know each other, and find out that they have many things in common. I could've done without all the language though. I mean, I get it, people talk like that. But, f%$# in every other sentence is a bit excessive, even for teenagers.
Because I enjoyed two of their other collaborations, I thought I would read this one. And although this is well written, it isn't as endearing as Dash and Lily.
Nick in three and a half weeks into his break-up with Tris. He sees her across a crowded club, and is dismayed because she promised she wouldn't come to his gigs. Norah is at the same club with her friend Caroline. When Nick is done playing, he finds himself in the audience with Norah, trying to avoid Tris, to no avail. It is then that he leans over and kisses Norah to show Tris that he has moved on, even though he hasn't.
Thus begins an interesting night of music and adventure for Nick and Norah in New York City. They get to know each other, and find out that they have many things in common. I could've done without all the language though. I mean, I get it, people talk like that. But, f%$# in every other sentence is a bit excessive, even for teenagers.
Monday, March 5, 2018
Love, Simon
Simon vs. the Homo-Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
So, this was on the TAYSHAS list in 2016, and I somehow missed it. No worries, obviously, as my son picked this up for me last week. It's also been made into a movie that comes out next week, and I wanted to read it first. I also didn't realize that it was by the same author as TAYSHAS #12 that I read last week.
Simon. Simon is gay and has not yet come out to his family or friends, but it's ok because Simon is not in any hurry to come out. He has a nice group of friends--Abby, Nick, and Leah--who are cool with him however he is. (Abby, Nick, and Simon are the same characters as in The Upside of Unrequited)
Simon has been emailing a guy at his school who goes by Blue. He is also gay, and not out to his family and friends. They have a lot in common and are kind of falling for each other through email. Neither knows who the other is.
One day, Martin comes up to Simon, and tells him that he forgot to log out of his Google account, which resulted in him seeing his emails to Blue. Whoops. It would probably be ok, except that Martin uses that information to blackmail Simon into setting him up with Abby. Simon makes a feeble effort, but ultimately doesn't do much because it is abundantly clear that Abby and Nick like each other.
Martin picks up on the fact that Simon is not doing much to further his cause with Abby, and takes it upon himself to out Simon on the school's Tumblr account. As a result, Simon has to come out much sooner than he planned.
Seems everything is going smoothly, but then Simon and Blue seem to lose touch. Will they ever meet?
This book was a quick read, but even if it hadn't been, it was so worth the time. It was an excellent story. I hope this author writes more with the characters in both this book and the other of hers that I read.
So, this was on the TAYSHAS list in 2016, and I somehow missed it. No worries, obviously, as my son picked this up for me last week. It's also been made into a movie that comes out next week, and I wanted to read it first. I also didn't realize that it was by the same author as TAYSHAS #12 that I read last week.
Simon. Simon is gay and has not yet come out to his family or friends, but it's ok because Simon is not in any hurry to come out. He has a nice group of friends--Abby, Nick, and Leah--who are cool with him however he is. (Abby, Nick, and Simon are the same characters as in The Upside of Unrequited)
Simon has been emailing a guy at his school who goes by Blue. He is also gay, and not out to his family and friends. They have a lot in common and are kind of falling for each other through email. Neither knows who the other is.
One day, Martin comes up to Simon, and tells him that he forgot to log out of his Google account, which resulted in him seeing his emails to Blue. Whoops. It would probably be ok, except that Martin uses that information to blackmail Simon into setting him up with Abby. Simon makes a feeble effort, but ultimately doesn't do much because it is abundantly clear that Abby and Nick like each other.
Martin picks up on the fact that Simon is not doing much to further his cause with Abby, and takes it upon himself to out Simon on the school's Tumblr account. As a result, Simon has to come out much sooner than he planned.
Seems everything is going smoothly, but then Simon and Blue seem to lose touch. Will they ever meet?
This book was a quick read, but even if it hadn't been, it was so worth the time. It was an excellent story. I hope this author writes more with the characters in both this book and the other of hers that I read.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)