Any title that has the word "bookstore" in it will always catch my attention. And this one was no different.
Clay Jannon is the night clerk at Mr. Penumbra's bookstore. But, it's a weird bookstore. Sure, there are some recent books at the front but the rear of the store is what fascinates Clay. Stacked from floor to ceiling are old books. He's told never to look in them. When patrons come into the store looking for a certain volume, he's to fetch it but that's all.
Of course his curiosity gets the better of him and he peeks. But he can't make out anything because the books are all in code. With the help of several computer geek friends, he embarks on a mission to decode the books.
Robin Sloane's writing is crisp and fresh. But, I have to admit I did get bogged down for awhile in the middle. Maybe it was me but I just didn't care all that much what happened. I put it down and read another book but then went back to it and managed to finish it. I'm glad I did. I liked it. I didn't love it like I thought I would and I can't really put my finger on why. The characters are interesting but there seemed to be something missing in their development.
Overall, though, the concept is cool and worth the money I spent on it.
I read this novel in two days! There is just something about the clean writing of John Grisham that appeals to me.
Malcolm Bannister is serving a ten-year prison sentence for money laundering, a crime he is innocent of. While there he makes friends with an inmate who reveals to him that he plans on killing a Supreme Court judge.
When the murder takes place, Malcolm uses the info as a get-out-of-jail card. But that's just the beginning. The rest of the book is a non-stop escape! I loved it!
Wow! This was an eye-opener. As a teacher I was concerned about the high incidence of ADD and ADHD and the medications given to kids to control it.
This novel looks at that issue in NYC's best private school. Sean Benning's son is a third grade student at Bentley, a prestigious school. When the school psychologist suggests that his son, Toby might have ADD, Sean doesn't believe it. But, after a visit to an independent psychologist, he reluctantly agrees to the use of a Ritalin-like drug to help Toby keep up with his classmates.
But there are side effects and, after Toby has a reaction, Sean is determined to find out why the school was so intent on pushing these drugs.
I honestly couldn't put this book down. It's well written and kept me turning the pages.
This is the second novel in the Mickey Bolitar series and I can't wait for the third installment. There is just something about the characters and the writing that I love.
In this installment Mickey and his sidekicks, Ema and Spoon, must solve the mystery of their other friend, Rachel's, shooting and Rachel's mom's murder.
As usual, the writing is spot on, the characters believable and lovable, and the action nonstop. If these books don't get teenagers reading, nothing will!
I don't know why I hesitated to read this series by Harlan Coben because I love his writing. But, I'm glad I finally downloaded it and I read it one day!
Mickey Bolitar's dad is dead and his mom is in rehab so he has to live with his uncle, Myron. He hates Myron but knows he has no place else to go.
Mickey starts a new school and even has a new girlfriend but when she disappears, he and his quirky, nerdy friends decide to investigate.
Even though this is a YA novel, it reads like an adult one. Harlan Coben is just so masterful! He creates characters who are fun and real and this book just has so much heart.
In fact, as soon as I finished it, I downloaded the second one that was just released and I'm halfway through it.
Tess Gerritsen lives in Maine and that's what originally attracted me to her. So glad I found her!
Three teenagers have something in common. Their parents were killed the same week and the three kids survived. Now, their foster families are being murdered, too, and, again, the kids manage to escape. What connection could these kids have? Who wants them dead?
That's the mystery Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles must solve. It takes them to Evensong, the secluded private school in Maine the kids attend.
I really enjoyed this novel. The writing is crisp and the characters are believable and interesting. The focus switches from character to character so it's never boring.
Yay, I updated in a timely manner! Now, that I've figured out how to use the BlogPress app, it makes it so much easier to do it using my iPad.
I'm still trying to add a video but it keeps saying my YouTube password is wrong. I know it isn't because I tried it out at the YouTube site and it worked fine there. So, I've still got to twiddle with that. I took a video of Kylie reading to me. Yes! It happened, just as I thought it would. It made me realize that she's been able to read for a while, now, but, it's still a chore so she's been hiding it. When I challenged her, told her she'd be reading to me NEXT year, she took the bait. "Oh, I can read now, Grammy!" So I made her prove it. And she did! I hope to have it on here soon.
Oh, I've been so neglectful of this blog! I don't know why I got so lazy. I have been reading, though. Now, if I can just remember anything about the books!
This was a sweet but harrowing coming-of-age novel about a young girl dealing with the slowing of the earth, the lengthening of days and nights, and the dissolution of her parents' marriage. It's wonderfully written with simple but beautiful language.
This is one I spent quite a bit of time on but haven't finished yet. It is about a wife who goes missing. It's told through two voices. The husband speaks and the more he says the creepier he gets. The wife's voice is heard through diary entries talking about their life together and that gets weirder and weirder.
I'm a curious soul so I'll definitely finish it but I just have to be in the right mood.
I read this one fairly quickly. It, too, is told through two voices but this time it's two half sisters. Dana's father is a bigamist. She grows up knowing he has another wife and daughter and always feels like she takes second place to his other daughter, Chaurisse.
The second half of the book is told through Chaurisse's eyes. She and her mom have no idea of her father's other family. When Chaurisse and Dana meet is when the book gets really interesting.
This is also very well written with lovely descriptions.
I just finished this one yesterday and am still freaked out. It is one scary book...not edge-of-your-seat scary but scary in the sense that, Yikes!, this could really happen and might even be happening as we speak.
Jackson Oz is a scientist who notices that there has been a worldwide increase in human deaths from animal attacks. But, no one will listen to his warnings until it's too late. He's a smart cookie and figures out what is causing the animals to act so out of character but the solution makes no one happy. This one will stay with me for quite a while.
Written by Tracey Clark, the founder of the Shutter Sisters blog, this how-to book is an ongoing read for me. I love all her simple yet effective ideas for capturing everyday life. Every time I read a section, it makes me want to pick up my camera and start snapping away. She doesn't go into the technical aspects of photography, just keeps it creative and fun.
Kylie and I are making our way through the Junie B. Jones series of books. They are a riot and we always crack up when reading about her misadventures. Junie B. is quirky and unique and we love her. Kylie started first grade last week and before I know it, she'll be reading to me!
Here she is heading into her first day. Don't you just love the welcoming look on her teacher's face? Ky will be visiting us this weekend and I'm anxious to hear all about how it's going. Just before school started I said to her, "You'll probably have homework this year." Her reply? "I know; I can't wait!"
She's just like her grandma!
