Recommended for Teens and High School Teachers

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

A haunting and yet completely captivating story about a girl named Hannah. Hannah killed herself, and one morning Clay finds a box with cassette tapes sitting on his doorstep. Before Hannah ended her life, she left these tapes to 13 people. These, Hannah claims, are the reasons why she committed suicide. Clay must listen to all of them in order to find out what he may have done that contributed to Hannah's despair and ultimately, her death.

There are a lot of heavy issues dealt with in this book, from suicide to rape to the damange one person can do to another without ever realizing the consequences. Readers will alternately dislike Hannah for her selfishness, and yet be able to identify with her predicament. Mostly though, this book will promote discussion between teens, friends, and parents about suicide, treating people with respect, and the impact one life has on another. No matter what your thoughts on the subject matter may be, you'll get sucked into this book just as I did. In terms of time - I read this book in a single day.


Notes from the playlist: "For May" by Kavin Hoo

Recommended for Writers (of everything)

Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White

A great little book for writers of term papers, fiction, and nonfiction alike, the Elements of Style has been recommended to students by professors and professionals ever since it's mass publication by E.B. White (yes, the E.B. White). Focusing on grammar hiccups and ways to improve your writing by making it concise and pop-off-the-page effective, it should be on every writer's shelf. Just remember one thing; this is a bit like the Pirates' Code. While everything in this book is a great idea, there are times during one's writing life when "them's more like guidelines than actual rules."

[What can I say? I love a good fragment.]

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "Long Distance Runaround" by Yes

Recommended for UFC Fans, MMA Practicioners, and Humor

Got Fight? by Forrest Griffin

Want to learn about MMA (among other things) from Forrest Griffin? Then read this and laugh your ass off in the process.

No joke. Forrest Griffin's book is full of fighting advice, moves, tips, and freaking hilarious anecdotes and smart ass writing that is guarenteed to have you laughing, learning something, or possibly even both. The second I finished this book, I stuck it up on the recommendation shelf. If anyone is looking at it or asking about it, I handsell it like there is no tomorrow. Yes Forrest, I'm one of those 3 (or 2 I believe you knocked it down to) girls that actually read your book. We had to order them in batches to make sure we had 10 in the store at any given time. When the book came out, we only had 4 to start with.

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "Scream" by Avenged Sevenfold

Recommended for Teens and Fantasy Fans

Libyrinth by Pearl North

Brought to you by the woman who helped me work through my novel, this is a tale that happens so far in the future, you'll barely recognize the world. What you will recognize are the passages from old books like Charlotte's Web and The Diary of Anne Frank. A young girl named Haly lives in a massive library known as the Libyrinth must take on a journey to save those she loves. Of course, it doesn't start out that way. It begins with a quest to hide The Book of the Night from the book-burning Eradicants and turns into a journey of song, technology, understanding, friendship, imps, war, miracles, and the wonder of the written word.

Once the action starts, it hardly ever stops (and it doesn't take long to start either!).

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

Recently Finished

Allies of the Night and Killers of the Dawn by Darren Shan

Finally! It took months to get the 8th book, and when I got it, I breezed through it and the next one. Now I just have to wait a little longer before I can get through the last three in the Cirque Du Freak Series.

Not much happening in the Cirque, actually. Darren and his vampire mentor Crepsley have long since left the cirque, and after several years of hardship, losing friends, battling foes, and absorbing prophecies, they face their greatest enemy, and if they fail to kill him, vampires around the globe will be wiped from the face of the Earth.

Darren's gotten better, Shan's writing has improved (whether that is on purpose or happend naturally I'm still not certain), and the story has gone to quite interesting. Still not quite my cup of tea in certain respects, but I can see why it's a popular series nonetheless.

Read the Epinions reviews here and here!

Notes from the playlist: "Woad to Ruin" (yes, spelled like that) by Hans Zimmer

Recently Finished

To Tame a Highland Warrior and The Highlander's Touch by Karen Marie Moning

Continuing on my journey to discover all I can about the mysterious Adam Black everyone claims is Jericho Barrons in Karen Marie Moning's Fever Series, I've recently finished the next two Highlander books. Adam is only present in one of them, and I'm not much closer to believing he's Barrons, but to each his own.

Berserkers and women snatched from time feature in these two books, full of denied love, passion, and of course a bit of fighting here and there. While Moning still head-hops in these books, I don't much care (though I know if I were to submit anything like that, I'd be rejected in two shakes). They're good fun and high on the romance scale. They're aptly placed in the bookstore, I'll tell you. If you like Scottish men with rock hard bodies and some serious lovemaking skills, then these are the books you'll want to indulge in. And Moning makes sure to keep her history as accurate as possible, all while interweaving names and ideas that you'll recognize from past books (if you're reading in order, that is - which I recommend doing).


Notes from the playlist: "Sleepwalker" by Adam Lambert

Recommended for Kids (and people who love fun pictures!)

I Spy: Fun House by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick

Yes, another I Spy book. But what can I say? I love them and want everyone to take a peek inside one and see if they can tear themselves away. The fun house is indeed a fun house, with crazy mirrors, clowns, balloons, fanfare, and magic, and all kinds of other carnival treats. All the while you search for little things like keys and animals and secret images and words. Expertly set up with all sorts of unique objects from new to nostalgic to make some fantastic photos for the book, it can keep a person engrossed for quite some time. More riddles in the back if you run out of them in the book! Or just take your time on each picture and notice all the tiny intricate things that hide in the pages.

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young

Just Cracked Open

The Intellectual Devotional: Modern Culture by David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim

Well, another year, another Intellectual Devotional. Yesterday saw the end of the original Intellectual Devotional, so now it's time to learn some new things. While the first one I ever read was based on American History, the second based on world information, now this one is all modern culture, from Alfred Hitchcock to Hiroshima. Luckily for me, David and Noah came out with yet another one last October, The Intellectual Devotional: Health, which means by the end of this new year, I'll have another one to read and they'll have plenty of time to create another.


Notes from the playlist: "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney

Recently Finished (and Recommended)

Intellectual Devotional (Original) by David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim

Well, technically I won't be done with this book until tonight, but close enough. I went out of order in reading the Intellectual Devotionals - I recommended the American History one earlier in October. This one had a much wider focus, looking at issues all over the world and from all sorts of areas of study. Religion and music, art and science, history and philosophy, with so many tidbits of information ranging from people to ideas. More interesting than your gradeschool history book and offered up in page-sized bites, it's a smart way to end the day.

Check back tomorrow to see which one I plan on starting for the new year!


Notes from the playlist: "Baby, I Love Your Way" by Peter Frampton

Recently Finished

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

The woman of Fever Series fame (starting with Darkfever) started out with pure, delicious romance. Was I in the mood for some romance? At the time, not really. In fact, what really spurred me on was that everyone reading the Fever Series claimed that a character in it (Jericho Barrons) was actually Adam Black from the Highlander Series. This series. And he's not the only potential character crossing over.

I decided I was missing something important.

So I made it my mission to read these books (in order!). Here we have lucious Hawk (nickname) who ends up falling hard for a woman tossed back in time, all thanks to the Fae and their nasty little mindgames. Adrienne's been chucked 500 years into the past, and with her man issues, has to resist Hawk at all costs. But of course, we all know how that's going to end...

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell

Recommended for Kids (and kids at heart)

I Spy: Christmas by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Yes, I'll probably recommend each and every I Spy book that I own because I just love them all so much. The pictures are simply amazing, all the little details from sprigs of holly to miniature reindeer figurines, sparkling baubles to glittering snow. The themes are always so much fun and it's hard not to love the ideas that Jean and Walter have come up with in this book, as well as the others.

My only wish is that they would make more I Spy books like these. Hope your holidays were merry!

Read the Epinions review here!

Notes from the playlist: "All Through the Night" by Lifescapes

Recommended for Cooks, Bakers, and Sugar Lovers

Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey by Jill O'Connor

Need some goodies for the holidays? These desserts are for the serious sweet tooth only - and Jill isn't joking. These recipes are indeed chewy, scrumptious, finger-licking, sticky sugary messes. It's ridiculous in some respects. The very first recipe is "Heart of Darkness Brownies" and oh yes, they are dark and delicious and dangerous. Dedicated to all things gooey and soft and mouth-watering, you'd better be ready to stock your kitchen with carmels, chocolates, ice cream, milk, eggs, sprinkles, toasted nuts, candy bars, marshmellows (both whole and fluff), sugar (white and brown and dark brown), corn syrups, cinnamon, vanilla, and all manner of exciting morsels that would make Willy Wonka himself proud. What's more, this book is put together in almost a scrapbook-like fashion and, simply put, it looks fantastic. The pictures practically dance off the page with happy, chipper colors and quaint accents.

I adore this book. And I've been marking little stars after each dessert I try, five being the best. And oh my, are those five-star recipes to die for. Many of these will take time, patience, and careful planning, but if you manage to get them right, it's well worth it. If you like cookies, bars, cakes, puddings, and little surprises, then flip through this and indulge.


Notes from the playlist: "Amazing" by Josh Kelley

Recommended for Everyone!

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

I honestly cannot believe it took me this long to recommend this series. I suppose it's because practically everyone has already read it. However, if you're one of the few that hasn't, now isn't a bad time to start.

Harry Potter, boy wizard destined to face down the evil Lord Voldemort. Their showdown and everything that leads up to it takes place in our world. Harry and all the wizards and witches he knows live in a separate place from us muggles though. We don't know about all that magical stuff, and they make sure it stays that way. The series starts with Harry at age 10, following him year after year and one adventure after another until book #7, the final installment. Naturally, you should begin with The Sorcerer's Stone. That one is second only to the third book (The Prisoner of Azkaban) in terms of my favorites of the series. Kids - enjoy! Adults - be a kid again and enjoy!

Read the Epinions reviews here!

Notes from the playlist: "Seeing is Believing" from The Polar Express

Recommended for Writers

Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan

While in the Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction program, I was in a class where this book was recommended for those looking to better their description. At the time, I was struggling with description and getting it *just right* so I bought this book.

Good recommendation! I now pass it on to you, other writers having trouble with description. Rebecca McClanahan offers up all sorts of good idea to use, as well as several exercises for some practice. She focuses on all the senses, from smell to touch, and points out different ways to get inspired as well. I read through the book, did some of the exercises, and am now much more confident in my description skills. Hooray! So for those needing an extra boost, crack this open, and get to work!


Notes from the playlist: "Forgiven" by Within Temptation

Currently Reading

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith

I remember when this came out. We simply could not keep it in stock. In fact, the publishers ran out of copies and had to bust their asses to print more. I'm not sure how that all happened. Speedy word of mouth, no doubt. After all, how do you not discuss a book with friends when it takes a Jane Austin classic and throws a bunch of zombies into it? Kind of hard to avoid. I know a bunch of us had a good laugh over the idea and kept sneaking peeks into it. So I made one of my many mental post-it notes to read it. Now I am. It's quite interesting really. I've read the original, and this basically is Grahame-Smith taking Jane Austin's story and shoving zombies into it. In some ways it's kind of awkward, but I think I'll get the hang of it at some point. Shelved in the teens section, I don't doubt that teens will indeed get a kick out of this.

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

Currently Reading

Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

I've waited over a year to read this. This is the fourth book in the Fever Series which starts with Darkfever. The ongoing saga of MacKayla Lane and her destiny to destroy the darkness that is now coating the world takes a very startling turn in the beginning, thanks to what happened to her in the previous book. Now she's out and about, killing Unseelie and figuring out new ways to take them down. Very exciting, and I am thoroughly looking forward to see what this volume has to offer. I don't doubt that I'll be done in a few days more. (still don't know why this whole series is stuck in the romance section, but I blame the publishers for that, as this is more urban fantasy that, in many ways, borders on horror).

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "Wishing on a Star" by Miriam Stockley (The 10th Kingdom)

Recently Finished (and Recommended)

The Plucker by Brom

I read this in one day. I should have read it long ago, like when I first saw it on the shelves, but naturally I didn't. My reading list is long. Either way, now I've read it, and it was exactly what I thought it would be, and a little more. Brom's illustrations are dark, but lovely, as is the story. It's an illustrated novel, and hard to miss on the bookshelves. If you want a bit of dark fantasy, this is it. A badass Jack-in-the-Box sets out to kill an evil spirit sucking the life out of toys (kind of like Toy Story meets Hell) and hopes to rescue his beloved Snow Angel in the end. Don't read this to kids unless you want to give them nightmares or teach them swear words. Adults only please.

Read the Epinions review here!

Notes from the playlist: "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum

Recommended for Young Readers

By the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Ever since I was young, I've loved the Little House books. I loved the way Laura Ingalls wrote, I loved her descriptions of hay and sugary candy and paper dolls. Of the entire Little House series, this book was my favorite. I still have the original books I bought when I was young, scraping together the money to buy these paperbacks to read over and over. I daresay, I was good to my books because they're still in fantastic shape, with only yellowed edges from age. But Plum Creek is where Laura gets even with Nellie Olsen, she and her family live in a Hobbit-like home, where locusts eat up their crop, and where Laura and her sister splashed through the clear little creek near their house. I always liked to imagine myself as Laura, running free and mussing my dress (even though I wore pants).

A delightful read for children and one that they will revisit throughout their lives - just like so many of us have.


Notes from the playlist: "Half Acre" by Hem

Recommeded for Everyone

2,001 Things to Do Before You Die by Dane Sherwood

Now, I know it sounds slightly morbid, but curiosity piqued and I had to sneak a peek at this book. I bought it not long after. Really, it's quite funny since there are soooo many different things you can mark off. That's all it is; a list of 2,001 things you can do, each with a box beside it for you to check. Some are easy, like baking a massive cookie (which I actually have yet to do) while others are downright impossible - as a woman, I cannot grow a beard, much less shave it off. Still, there are plenty of fun, interesting, and downright bizarre things for you to do or be inspired to try (I really want to try milking a cow).

This book may seem a bit hard to get, but you can usually find it in B&N's bargain section.

As of right now (and I've just marked off another square), I've done 207 things. (yes, I just counted them)


Notes from the playlist: "If Today was Your Last Day" by Nickelback

Just Cracked Open

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Though I have to say that I was mightily disappointed with American Gods, I wasn't about to let that stop me in my Neil Gaiman fun quest. So this book was next in the lineup. I've only gotten about 20 or so pages into it, but already I'm having a great time. It reminds me a little of Douglas Adams in terms of how it's written. I was hoping for a good time too, though I think I owe that to Pratchett and his craziness (crazy in a good way, mind you). Here's to hoping for plenty more good times ahead...

**Finished! Read the Epinions review here!

Notes from the playlist: "Hear Me" by Shaun Davey