Currently Reading

Dead Men's Boots by Mike Carey

Having read Mike Carey's first two books - The Devil You Know and Vicious Circle - I wondered a few weeks ago whether or not he'd written another one. Carey is well-known when it comes to the comic world (working on such popular goodies as X-Men), so when I first found him, I was curious. Could he create an entire engaging novel? While I wasn't entirely wowed by the first book, I was still curious enough to read his second. I liked his protagonist Felix Castor and his abilities, as well as the subplot involving his possessed friend Rafi and a lurking succubus named Juliet. In fact, I find the subplots more fun than the main deal most of the time...in both books to be honest. But here I am again, lurking around in Felix's world and having an interesting time doing it. We'll see if perhaps this time Carey can really rock my socks.

(if you're curious and want a fuller review of the first two books, check my Epinions reviews here and here!)


Notes from the playlist: "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga

Recommended for Lazy Cookie Makers

No-Bake Cookies by Camilla V. Saulsbury

This is yet another one of those books I found while organizing the shelves. No-bake cookies? Why, yes please! Saves me the time and energy of putting together fancy ingredients (the Nestle Toll House recipe doesn't count because I have that memorized) and switching on the oven just to enjoy tasty treats. Instead, all you have to do is chuck together a handful of ingredients with the occasional melting of chocolate, butter, or whathaveyou. Minimal effort for a tasty reward. Joy. Especially perfect for summer days when it's hot and you just want to whip up a batch of yumminess.


Notes from the playlist: "So Nice (Summer Samba)" by Astrud Gilberto

Recently Finished

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Yes, I know, you're probably wondering when I'm going to get off the "recently finished" list and go back to recommendations. Sorry. I'm a fast reader. I read this in two days and actually thought this would be a "Currently Reading" one, but I finished this on the 19th so that's how the cookie crumbles. If you remember, I recommended the first in the series back in October, Dead Until Dark. The series has slowed down since then, more or less turning into "a day in the life of Sookie Stackhouse" type of thing, but that really doesn't bother me like perhaps it ought to, but that's because a day in the life of Sookie Stackhouse is actually pretty dang interesting. The plot here is thin, but it's fun to follow Sookie around as she tries to figure out the few things that are important. And Harris, I feel, is setting up something important with the whole Victor deal...


Notes from the playlist: "Beneath a Phrygian Sky" by Loreena McKennitt

Recently Finished

Messenger by Lois Lowry

Every time I read the back of this book, I was curious. Especially after some of her other books. Matty wants his true name to be Messenger, but something strange is happening in Village. People who are normally nice are changing. The Forest outside is growing darker. The Village will soon close to outsiders. And only Matty has the gift that can save everyone. That, of course, it just a taste of what's going on. In a way, this book vaugely reminded me of Miyazaki's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, what with the dark Forest and all. However, when I reached the end I was a bit disappointed. Some of it doesn't really make sense. It's good, but in my opinion, not as good as The Giver. I am, however, curious about Lowry's other book featuring Kira, a character from this one; Gathering Blue.


Notes from the playlist: "My Little Demon" by Fleetwood Mac

Recently Finished

Body Movers by Stephanie Bond

There's a reason I have this book, and while it's a good reason, I'm glad I didn't buy it. Though thusfar it isn't bad, it's far from awesome. There are a lot of interesting things going on, but in some cases, it feels like too many. The main character has a lot of gusto and I love her name (Carlotta), but she makes a record number of stupid decisions. By page 55 I realized that if things didn't improve within the next 20 pages, I was going to be done and move on to something else. Bond managed to keep the story going and keep Carlotta from doing enough stupid things (barely) to keep me in it to the point that I felt that it was my duty to finish the book. I do intend to pick up 2 Bodies for the Price of 1, but it's because I want to see if Carlotta ever hooks up with anyone and what the deal was with her parents. Yet why do I get the feeling I'll be gypped out of getting the full story...?

P.S. Where's the romance? This is, after all, in the romance section...

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "Major Tom" by Shiny Toy Guns

Recently Finished (and Recommended)

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Yes, yes, I know. No, I am not on some Sarah Addison Allen kick. I just wanted to polish off her third book while still in her little North Carolina cloud of magic. I figured (especially since a co-worker heartily informed me it was just as good as Garden Spells) that I might as well anyway. It will likely be a while before she delivers another though. But to the point, it was another fun book that in many ways falls into urban fantasy like her past two. The fun part about her books that she makes me happy to read straight fiction again. It's not shelved in the fantasy section because that's not what her books focus on. The magic is on the side, just like hushpuppies with a good barbecue pork sandwich. In fact, I think this is the first book where a main character is disturbed by random magic happenings. It's cute, though I do admit, I liked the first two better. That doesn't mean by any measure that this isn't a totally enjoyable book.

Notes from the playlist: "One Last Drink" by Enter the Haggis

Recently Finished (and Recommended)

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

The same author of Garden Spells brings out a slightly different flavor with this book. While I don't own this (my mother does), if I were to ever buy it, I'd try to get it in hardcover simply because I love, love, love the cover art (not a fan at all of the paperback cover). It's a fun story with a few secrets along the way that you never see coming. A woman named Della Lee is in Josey's closet, and there may be more to it than Josey thinks. There are plenty of dots to be connected, links to discover, and some lovely moments that make your heart ache in a "Just kiss her already you idiot!" way. I love Allen's description and the way she weaves in tidbits that match up with the characters. There's a touch of magic and something else in this book - not as much as Garden Spells, but just the right amount to make it special.

Notes from the playlist: "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson

Recommended for Kids

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

There's a reason this book won a Caldecott Medal. Simply put; it's good. Hah! I remember this book from when I was just a little girl. I'm 26 now, and I still love it. Who doesn't love ducks? Ducks marching around through the city, all in a row, with policemen making sure that the ducks stay safe all the way to the cozy little lake on the other side of town. It's so simple and yet so memorable. The little ducks are perfectly illustrated, fuzzy with down and little webbed feet walking. The kind of book that kids will enjoy and love to look at later on. My sister and I actually drew in this book - but not a lot. There was just one little duckling that always seemed to be looking at something...so we added in a tiny fly for him to get distracted with. In my mind it was a fine addition to the book. :)


Notes from the playlist: "Flowers Only Grow Where There Are Seeds" by Anne Dudley

Recently Finished (and Recommended)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Obviously I'm on a young kids fairy tales sort of kick after seeing Alice in Wonderland. I still need to read the original book. But I think I'll wait until employee discount week. Until then, I satisfied myself with the world of Munchkins, witches, and silver shoes. This is one of the 9 books I ended up buying during a buy 2, get 1 free event with B&N Classics. That's right - 9. But it was fun and a really easy read. I had it finished in just a few hours. It's always neat to see how the book differs from the movie and there were plenty of differences. So many, in fact, if they were to remake the movie to follow the book more closely, I wouldn't be opposed at all. Not the way I felt before reading the book. Either way, indulge yourself. Be a kid again and see what Baum's world really is like.


Notes from the playlist: "Her Name is Alice" by Shinedown

Recommended for the Youth and Readers of Dystopia

The Giver by Lois Lowry

This is one of those stories that kind of bum you out and yet give you hope all at the same time. Meant for young readers and teens alike, The Giver is a tale set in the future where everything seems ideal. People don't lie. They all get along. They all have jobs. And yet as you learn through a young boy, things are slightly off. You soon realize there are many pieces missing from this future - things that most of us wouldn't ever dream living without. Lowry has an amazing ability to totally sit outside the present and look at things in a different perspective and deliver it that same way. This was a book I'd been meaning to read for years, and then once I did, I couldn't resist having it on my shelf for the rest of my days.


Notes from the playlist: "The Burdened" by Nobuo Uematsu

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