Recommended for the Period Piece Group

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

I'm surprised I actually haven't put this up already. It's a bit surprising to me how long it took before I read this novel. My sister even beat me to it. Obviously it's one of the first things that Jane Austen fans read and now there are movies people can enjoy that are actually quite faithful to the novel. But if you want the full effect and want to see Elizabeth and Darcy exactly how Austen wrote them, this is where you turn. It's a good book to enjoy on a relaxed day with the sun shining and a tall glass of tea at your side.


Notes from the playlist: "The Living Sculptures of Pemberly" by Dario Marianelli

Recently Finished (and Recommended)

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

I finished Dracula relatively quickly (it was longer than I'd initially thought), so when pressed to read something else, my mother suggested Garden Spells, as she remembered I'd been meaning to read it for quite some time. Since it came out, in fact. Everyone kept talking about it, not to mention it became a B&N Recommended Book.

Now I know why. It is a really good book. Simple. Fun. Intriguing. Full of love and hurt, and even some magic - including a tree that throws apples. I often go into literary books wary because I admit, I often find them slow, full of characters whose pain knows no bounds, and generally not my style. But this book worked perfectly. In fact, I read it in a single day. Couldn't put it down. I loved all the fun magic things involved, all the herbs and food, how the whole town had a little something special even though the focus was on the Waverleys. Even though the magic was never explained, it actually worked here and you didn't need - or want - it to be. And of course it had what I like: a happy and satisfying ending.


Notes from the playlist: "The Bioluminescence of the Night" by James Horner

Recommended for Kids and Teens

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline was the first book I'd ever read by Neil Gaiman. And I loved it. Which is why I ought to read The Graveyard Book - especially since I wasn't all that jazzed by some of his adult work (though Good Omens was fun). Coraline is at once entertaining and creepy with a unique protagonist and a freaky antagonist. While you don't get any explanations about some things, that works out for me since some things just don't need to be (and probably ought not be) explained. Yes, this book was made into a movie, no I haven't seen it, but I recommend the book and like that it's both on the teen shelf and the young readers shelf. Frankly, when I made my purchase, I went with the young readers book because it's a little bigger and you get a better look at the pictures (drawn by Dave McKean. I love his work, by the way. One of the many reasons I think Mirrormask is such a great movie.).


Notes from the playlist: "Close to You" by Ian Ballamy

Marley & Me - The World's Worst Dog (Or Is He?)

Pros: Heartwarming and hilarious goodies
Cons: Be prepared to tear up - especially if you own an old dog yourself.

The Bottom Line: A cozy read no matter where you are. Just be ready for the end that has to come.

Even though Marley & Me came out a year or so ago, it wasn’t until recently that I noticed it, or at least Marley, was everywhere. As I work at a Barnes & Noble, it is likely that I never would have noticed it otherwise. I first spotted Marley in his artist-drawn form for the children’s book, Bad Dog Marley!. From there things snowballed. More books on the Pets shelf. Lovely hardcover bargain editions getting showcased. Then a week or so ago, at least 20 copies sitting on a table in the Pets section, getting a lot of airtime.

Being a dog lover, I was very curious about this book with an adorable Labrador sitting innocently on the front while the title proclaimed him “World’s Worst Dog.” I’ve heard horror stories about bad dogs and I wondered if Marley really did live up to them. That and I just decided to read the book. Haha.

Essentially, you get to read about the life of Marley as it relates to that of the author, John Grogan, and his family. It starts with the death of the plant and John’s new wife desiring to take care of a dog to prove to herself that she can actually take care of a child (after all, if she killed a plant, how can she be a fit mother, as she claims). From there Marley comes in and shows his neurosis, everything from acting like a horse galloping around the house to freaking out in a most destructive manner when a storm comes. You follow the family as they begin in Florida and end up in Pennsylvania (only 3 hours away from me!) and eventually the end everyone knows will be coming in this book.

It’s a lot of fun to read. Even someone else’s life, who may not be much different from yours in terms of every day occurrences, is very interesting. Add a little spice that is a wacky dog to the mix and it gets even better. There are plenty of giggle to laugh out loud moments. Marley as Clearance Dog when he was a puppy. The way Grogan describes Marley’s antics, such as when he has some foreign object in his mouth. You also get the “Awww” moments in life, like when a dog just knows that you’re sad and is there for you until you feel better. Then of course, the end – you’ll likely cry if you’ve gotten attached to Marley, used to have a dog of your own, or have a dog now (because we all know the inevitable thing that waits ahead due to a dog’s lifespan). I enjoyed this book a great deal and did indeed cry at the end, for both Marley and because my own dog is 13, and though she’s still surprisingly spunky at times, at others you can clearly see her age – a lot of which Grogan described that had me thinking, “Oh God, that sounds like my dog.”

In one way though, I found myself slightly disappointed. This is mostly due to my own fault and expectations I guess, but I felt like I wasn’t getting enough of Marley and his psychotic antics. There were a few times when Grogan would mention a past event at some length and I thought, “Why didn’t you just give that whole episode its own crazy chapter? After all, the title is Marley & Me.” Rather, at some times it felt more like a memoir for Grogan with a lot of Marley clowning added in. I guess I just wanted it to be the other way around; all about Marley with human actions added in. But again, that was probably my own fault to expect so much of Marley – after all, it is hard to make a book nothing but doggie wackiness while still having a coherent story that follows a timeline (as a string of incidents would end up being no more than, well, a string of incidents in short story form).

Grogan has a real knack for good description and you’ll have a good time reading this book, wrapping yourself up in the good times and the bad times the family goes through, and of course, all the crazy, drooling, barking, command-disobeying, playful, fun-loving, boundless ball of energy that is Marley.

NT

Originally published on Epinions.com.


Notes from the playlist: "One Love/People Get Ready" by Bob Marley

Recommended for Kids and Silly Adults Like Me

I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick

That's right. Let's do another I Spy book! How can you not love these books? I was just thinking of opening one up this morning and looking through it. You really feel like a kid again, having fun and looking through all the cool pictures in this book. All the random little items, all the little hidden things. There's a very good chance that when my sister has kids and they get old enough, we're going to be looking at these books together - though I'll probably have to buy them their own at some point, because I love mine too much to give them up!


Notes from the playlist: "Hello Seattle (Remix)" by Owl City

Currently Reading

Dracula by Bram Stoker

I've had this on my shelf for quite some time, actually. But it wasn't until yesterday that I really decided I should read it. I've been in a bit of a reading funk lately, ever since I finished off Succubi Like It Hot. Didn't know what to do until yesterday we watched a Dracula parody and I realized I still hadn't ever read this book. In fact, I bought this and 8 other books during a book-buying frenzy the last time we had a Buy 2 Get 1 sale on the B&N Classics. Yeah, what can I say? I like these books. In case you didn't know, Dracula is an epistolary novel (written in letters and journal entries and so forth), which is always different. I'm not very far, but already the Count has shown is creepy side. I look forward to seeing how the original story goes after years of being faced with movie versions.


Notes from the playlist: "Bill and Sookie Together" by Nathan Barr

Recommended for Pet Lovers and Dog Owners

Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan

Let's face it: most people fail to relate to their dogs as, well, animals. In fact, they can barely relate to them as dogs, let alone animals. That's where Cesar comes in. My last dog passed away (miss you, baby!) some time ago, and we've just now gotten a new dog. Difference is that we had our original dog since she was a puppy; this new dog is a rescue and already 3 years old. I knew my old dog inside and out. We were in-sync, and though I know she wasn't the perfect dog, at least I understood her. New dog not so much. So, knowing how good Cesar is with dogs, decided to see what he had to say. And it all makes so much sense. It's a lot of common sense, actually. Common sense that a lot of people just don't have when it comes to dogs. How they are pack animals, how (and why) they need a walk every day, how they have certain energy levels that we need to learn how to manage with our own. This isn't a book on how to housebreak your dog or teach him to sit. It's a book about understanding dogs, why they do certain things, and how to handle some situations. How to - as Cesar says - be the pack leader.


Notes from the playlist: "Junuh Sees the Field" by Rachel Portman

Recommended for Business Workers, Writers, and Procrastinators

The Now Habit by Neil Fiore

I'd read a review of this book and was then lucky enough to win it from the reviewer once she finished with all her procrastination-based books. If this were a group meeting, I would stand up and announce, "My name is Nicole and I am a procrastinator." I am, after all. However, after reading this book I handle it much better. I've learned to deal with my procrastination issues, the stress that tended to come with them, and the "I should" statements for when I wasn't working and always had in my mind that I should be. Fiore reminds you that it's okay to take some time off and enjoy some play time. After all, we know what happened to Jack with all work and no play. It's a solid book and I'd only read half of it before already feeling a great deal more positive about work (not the bookselling, the writing). Hooray!


Notes from the playlist: "Fireflies" by Owl City

Recommended for Writers

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King

Recommended to me by several other published writers, I finally bought this book and read through it. There are many great ideas within its pages for writers, from handing dialogue to avoiding needless junk. I've recommended this to other writers since then, and it has plenty of reason to be so popular. Likely another reason why it often ends up on the main tables at work. So the next time you're looking for a good book to help with your fiction writing, read through a few sections of this book and see if there aren't some ideas in there that you couldn't use.


Notes from the playlist: "Life Less Ordinary" by Carbon Leaf

Recommended for Kids

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

You simply can't go wrong with a lion in the library (at least, you can't when it's in a children's book!). When this lion wanders in one day, no one is sure what to do. But this lion loves books and he enjoys sitting with the children. The kids love him as well, but sometimes it's hard for a big lion to behave - and be quiet - in a library.

I love the illustrations that go with this story. The lion is so big! The best part is that he's probably pretty on par with how big a real lion would be compared to a child. He's an adorable lion with cute facial expressions and really, it's just hard not to love a lion that hangs out in a library. It's a whimsical sort of tale that children will love to read or have read to them, and who knows? Maybe this will make them want to visit the library more often!


Notes from the playlist: "This Side" by Nickel Creek

Recommended for Kids

Gallop! A Scanimation Picture Book by Rufus Butler Seder

I got a kick out of this book when I first picked it up back in the kids' section. It's so simple and yet so fun. When you open the book, the animals inside move because of the scanimation-style pictures. Kind of like a flipbook without the need to do any flipping. The cat is actually my favorite as it leaps and runs. This book sold fairly well beforehand, and then oodles of copies after I put it on the recommendation shelf. I like to think that I helped with its sales. Since then it's been a very steady seller. Parents as well as kids love to make the animals move by opening and closing the pages (so they'll run backwards too!). It will hold up better than a pop-up book and keep kids entranced for, well, longer than the typical picture book anyway!

Notes from the playlist: "Swing Life Away" by Rise Against

Currently Reading

Succubi Like It Hot by Jill Myles

I actually admit, I read the first book (check out the previous post) by borrowing it from the library. But that was before:

A.) I won a $50 B&N gift card
B.) I knew how much fun it would be, plus other things.

So a few days after finishing the book, I went out and bought it and then this one to go with it. I'm happy to say that there are several copies in the store (3 of each, in fact. Er, 2 now, actually). Though I don't know how many books Jill intends to write, I know that even if I don't buy all of them, I'll end up reading all of them. The protagonist is nice and perky (snarky on occasion, which is fun), her love interests are dead sexy (in numerous ways, in fact), and the plotlines are unique, which is a breath of fresh air in a world currently full of vampires and shifters and other paranormal beings.

It just doesn't get any better than that.

Notes from the playlist: "Extremoz" by E.S. Posthumus

Recently Finished (and Recommended)

Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles

All right, I admit. I was suckered in by the cover on this one. That doesn't happen often...if ever. But there I was, moseying around a writer's forum when I saw the two covers of Jill Myles's upcoming books (the second being Succubi Like It Hot) and thought, "Ooh. Yum." Haha. How could I not? Still, that didn't mean I was going to read it. Her covers got me to her website where she offers you the first chapter of the book. I read it. And I promptly freaked out when I got to the end because I couldn't keep reading. I was forced to wait patiently until the book came out (yeah, it wasn't even out yet), but after all that, I've finally read it.

And I enjoyed. Thoroughly. It's not even really what you think, I'm sure. While the whole succubus thing might turn some people off, along with the inclusion of vampires (yep, everyone's into those these days), you need to know that Myles takes a completely different road with just about everyone involved. Succubi like sex, but they can't help it. Angels can be assholes, and vampires are fallen angels. Some interesting takes on many different traditional things. Highly enjoyable, very hot and tasty, just what the doctor ordered (and the sort of thing I was looking for, oh, several years ago).

Read the Epinions review here!

Notes from the playlist: "My Name Is Lincoln" by Steve Jablonsky

Recommended for Magic Practioners and Fantasy Writers

The Encyclopedia of Crystals by Judy Hall.

I don't actually use this book for it's designed purpose. It's a new age book meant to give you detailed information about the spiritual properties of crystals. It's like the new age field guide to crystals. This encyclopedia is color-coded and offers insight into what certain minerals and crystals can be used for (i.e. drawing energy, promoting power, and more). It does give some scientific bits as well, makeup, location, hardness, etc. But it's handy for magical systems and other spots that raw earth materials might be used. And it includes gorgeous pictures as well.

I actually use this for writing. How's that work? I write fantasy and as much as I love titles published by DK, I never found a field guide that I liked. I use this for magic systems I may create, finding the right crystal or mineral to match whatever properties and situations are involved. That makes it handy for both writers and those interested in new age spiritualism and magic.

Notes from the playlist: "Time for Miracles" by Adam Lambert

Recommended for Fiction Readers

Oxygen by Carol Cassella

Step into the world of Dr. Marie Heaton, anesthesiologist. Her world is rather regular, until one day a routine surgery goes horribly wrong, ending in the death of a young girl. Marie can't account for what went wrong and now she finds herself the subject of a malpractice suit. Now her world is falling apart. Her father's health is failing, her collegues are slowly but surely turning their backs on her, and Marie can't seem to keep the strings of her life together. She only has a few people she can lean on and even their ability to hold her up in shaky.

If you like Jodi Picoult and medical tension, then you're in the right ballpark. Cassella has the qualifications as an anesthesiologist herself to create the character of Dr. Marie Heaton. Polished writing with amazing description and a desire to see what went wrong will keep you glued to the pages all the way until the end.

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "Running from You" by Saving Abel

Purchased for My Shelf

Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart

I'm so happy to finally have this on my bookshelf. The funny thing is that I remember some guy looking for this book many, many months ago, but neither I or whoever was looking it up thought much of it. Yet several months later, it grew in popularity and before I knew it, several of us would stand around at the Info desk reading parts of it aloud to one another and marveling at the weirdness within its pages. Amy Stewart's compiled just about any poisonous or otherwise noxious plant you might want to know about, from the everyday poison ivy to the lesser known (at least to us) suicide tree. It's short, to the point, letting you know how the plant will kill or harm you, where its origins are, and how it spreads. It's a small book, for all it's nifty information, and one of the cooler books I've seen in a while.


Notes from the playlist: "Who Wants To Live Forever" by Queen

Recommended for Teens and Twilight Lovers

The Forbidden Game Trilogy by L.J. Smith

The Hunter, The Chase, The Kill

Mmm, Happy Valentine's Day. Here's some dark, delicious love for you instead of that sweet and snuggly crap. Hah!

The problem with this trilogy is that it is out of print. I know, it's a bit ridiculous for me to suggest titles that you can only get through secondary dealers, and even then you'll probabaly notice the high prices. I recommend this in the hopes that because many other L.J. Smith books are being reprinted, this trilogy will come back out. I cross my fingers and send mental notes to Simon & Schuster (write letters to them!!) because if this book were in fact on the shelves, I would recommend this trilogy to people until the end of time.

If you liked Twilight, you would go bonkers for this trio of books. You think Edward is scrumptious and deadly all at once? Wait until you get a load of Julian. Julian is sexy and dangerous, frost and fire, all the things you want and can't have rolled into one luscious package. Yes, I have read Twilight, and let me tell you right now - Julian wins over any of those guys hands down.

I first read this trilogy when I was 23 and drank up every word. I read each of these books in one sitting, often starting late and then staying up until 2am to get through them. L.J. Smith takes you to different worlds and uses language that brings you straight into the story. It's vivid, engrossing, and just one heck of a good time. I'm serious when I say we ought to write letters. I've tried multiple times to contact Smith herself. I want this on the shelves and would handsell it like nothing I've ever handsold before. **And now it is and I am - YAY!

And yes, I scoured multiple used book sites in order to obtain these books for my own and now proudly have them sitting on my bookshelf. If you can find them at your local library, go for it. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Read the Epinions reviews here!

P.S. Props to the cover artist - that's exactly how I pictured Julian. Delicious. ;D



Notes from the playlist: "Snow White Queen" by Evanescence

Recently Finished

Mr. Hands by Gary Braunbeck

Finally! I get to a book written by the man who helped me write mine. It's funny the way a lot of people think horror writers are messed up wackos when in fact, some of the greatest, funniest people I've met have been horror writers. I can think of at least four off the top of my head. But that's beside the point.

Mr. Hands is a definite creep-you-out session with more real world horror than supernatural horror. Though I admit that disappointed me (I really wanted to see more of Mr. Hands tearing people apart), that doesn't make this any less disturbing. that's because real world horror is, in my mind, a lot more terrifying than supernatural horror. Why? Because the real world stuff is what can actually happen to people. And that's scary as hell. Gary's good at description too. You get everything with him, so watch out.

I really love this cover, though. Always did.


Notes from the playlist: "Flowers for a Ghost" by Thriving Ivory

Purchased for My Shelf

Weapon by DK Publishing

I have secretly been drooling over this book ever since I discovered it on the top shelf of the history section. DK books are always amazing. Any time a parent asks me for a book that is full of real facts and information on particular subjects for their child, if there is a DK book about it, I'll go there first. I looked at and loved DK books for years when I was a kid (Dog was always my favorite). This book isn't for kids though. This is a serious adult book all about weaponry that ranges from African tribes to Native American clubs to Japanese katana to the modern day AK47. Full of facts, interesting tidbits, gorgeous color photographs, and a chronological layout, this is my dreambook for weaponry. Why? Because I write, and even fiction writers do research. I can't have errors in my work or I look like an idiot. Or more accurately, a lazy idiot.

But no matter what your motivation, this is an excellent book, and I'm starting to seriously look at Battle next.


Notes from the playlist: "Map of the Problematique" by Muse

Recently Finished

The Lake of Souls, Lord of the Shadows, and Sons of Destiny by Darren Shan

I actually finished all three of these in two days right after finishing the previous two books. But in finishing these, I have finally completed Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak series.

And what a ride.

I have to say, though it's easy to see a few things before they happen, there are others that you won't expect. Ever. At all. They're too wacky and strange. But overall, this is definitly an interesting series that steps into the realm of teen horror and never leaves it. Shan wraps up every loose end and finishes this series with several twists. You may like it or you may think, "That's kind of sad, actually..." but either way, it's a good time.

Read the Epinions review here!

Notes from the playlist: "Asleep From Day" by The Chemical Brothers