The Lake House by Kate Morton (NetGalley Review)

After starting this blog, I finally signed up for NetGalley.  I had contemplated it for awhile, since I've been reviewing books regularly on my other blog since 2012.  But, I felt like I wanted a dedicated book blog first.  I went a little nutty requesting titles, not sure if I'd get approved.  And, lo, I got every book I asked for!  Including The Lake House by Kate Morton and I was THRILLED.  I read The Forgotten Garden many moons ago (aka: pre-blogging), but trust me when I say that I loved it and have been meaning to read another one of her novels.  

The Lake House did not disappoint!  At first, I thought I might not be able to keep all the story lines and characters straight.  She throws a lot of information at you in the beginning: there are many important players at various points in time.  As with The Forgotten Garden, the story vacillates between the past and the present.  (I LOVE this method of storytelling and would also suggest Beautiful Ruins, The House Girl, The Girl You Left Behind, or The Last Letter From Your Lover).  After some initial stumbling, I was up to speed in no time, as Morton breathes so much life into every aspect of the worlds she creates.  

Her books are of the Gothic, atmospheric variety and usually lengthy - The Lake House clocks in at 512 pages.  Oh, but it goes FAST.  It's one of those books I was glad was long and one I could really sink my teeth into.  I felt completely immersed in the story and turned the pages furiously.  There are so many layers to the mysteries (yes, there are multiple mysteries to be solved in this book), and once you think you have one figured out, a new one reveals itself.  Calling this novel expertly and 'intricately plotted' is a colossal understatement.  I would love to be a fly on the wall as Morton outlines her stories.  In addition to all the meticulous plot twists, this story is full of so much heart.  I went through every emotion reading this book, and ultimately, was so very happy by the end.  It's just a truly satisfying read.  Two thumbs WAY up.

For plot overview, here is the Amazon description:

From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Secret Keeper and The Distant Hours, an intricately plotted, spellbinding new novel of heartstopping suspense and uncovered secrets.

Living on her family’s idyllic lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, inquisitive, innocent, and precociously talented sixteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure…

One midsummer’s eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest child, eleven-month-old Theo, has vanished without a trace. What follows is a tragedy that tears the family apart in ways they never imagined.

Decades later, Alice is living in London, having enjoyed a long successful career as an author. Theo’s case has never been solved, though Alice still harbors a suspicion as to the culprit. Miles away, Sadie Sparrow, a young detective in the London police force, is staying at her grandfather’s house in Cornwall. While out walking one day, she stumbles upon the old estate—now crumbling and covered with vines, clearly abandoned long ago. Her curiosity is sparked, setting off a series of events that will bring her and Alice together and reveal shocking truths about a past long gone...yet more present than ever.

A lush, atmospheric tale of intertwined destinies, this latest novel from a masterful storyteller is an enthralling, thoroughly satisfying read.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley for promotional and review purposes, but all opinions are my own.

Gift Guide for the Book Lover

Last year, I did a holiday wish list in the guise of a 'Gift Guide' at Born and Raced in Chicago.  I plan to do the same this year, because it was too fun.  But first, even more fun?  Bibliophile specific gifts!  

Okay, let's start with the obvious: BOOKS.  Although, you may want to do some sleuthing to make sure you find something your recipient does not already own.  As for myself, I RARELY buy books.  I am a library girl, through and through.  However, there are certain books I buy every once in a blue moon, or wouldn't mind having a special edition.  For example, Puffins Classics.

I'm partial to this Puffin Classics 'In Bloom' Collection with Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Heidi and A Little Princess.

Or this Barnes and Noble exclusive collector's edition of one of my favorite books: Eleanor and Park.

Jonathan Adler Kindle case from Amazon.
If the book lover in your life doesn't already have a Kindle, please get them one! Even though I read on my iPad, I prefer to train my eyes on the gentler Kindle when I can.  I have the old school one, which I still love, but my husband swears by his Paperwhite.  And Kindle cases are a great gift, especially these ones from Jonathan Adler.

Book Jigs Bookmarks
I'm a fan of shopping local, and Fireworks is a great Seattle based store for gift giving.  There's an outpost in the airport, if you're ever flying through SeaTac, and these bookmarks are awesome.  I love ribbon bookmarks and the fact that it's always attached to the book in the back so that you don't lose it!

Time Turner Necklace
I mean, how awesome is this for a Harry Potter fan?  Aren't we all?

Game of Thrones Quote Poster
This is another local-ish business, OutNerdMe is based in Portland and I've always been drawn to his prints.  Game of Thrones and Lord of The Rings are among his bookish options (but they're all really cool).

Outlander Coloring Book
I have yet to get on the adult coloring bandwagon.  If I have free time with a book, I want to be reading!  Alas, these would make a really fun gift and there are also Harry Potter and Game of Thrones versions.

Literary Scarf
Uncommon Goods is the BEST for fun gifts, and these literary scarves are perfection.  I'm partial to the Wuthering Heights version.

Please Go Away I'm Reading throw blanket
Bookworm boutique is an absolute goldmine of fun reader themed gifts.  I love the idea of a cozy blanket designated for reading.

Library Card Grey Tote
And last, but not least, the ultimate store for fun book gifts is the Book Riot store.  So many things to choose from, but I went with a staple that I think would be a great addition to my multiple trips per week to the library.

Happy shopping!  I think I shall pass this list along to my husband now...

Recommendation From the Archives: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

Those of us in the Seattle area got slammed with a crazy wind storm yesterday, and we were without power for nearly 24 hours.  It could have been worse - just about nine years ago, it was knocked out for five and a half DAYS.  Though, I was particularly annoyed yesterday, since I'd gone grocery shopping the day before and bought some Thanksgiving staples ahead of time - including the turkey.  Thankfully, it was secure in our deep freezer.  Although, I can't say the same for the $14 pork shoulder in the fridge that was for our tacos on Friday.  Ah well, I got a TON of reading in!  I  read almost all of This is What Happy Looks Like, from my beginning of the month stack, and it got me thinking about other books I've devoured in a day...

One stands out CLEARLY in my mind: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld.  I thought it'd be a good novel to start up a recurring post, recommending favorite books from my archives!

I clearly remember a lazy Sunday afternoon, before we had children of course, and curling up in our oversized chair with our Pug to read Prep.  I ended up taking breaks only to hit the restroom (so much coffee!) and eat.  No blackout was needed, as there were no smartphones, no Facebook, no Twitter or Instagram to distract me.  Yes, I will admit to being distracted by these things nowadays.  

Prep follows a bit of a boarding school formula: the outsider (Lee from Indiana) attending a posh East cost prep school (Ault in Massachusetts).  But from there, her encounters with the other students, teachers and most definitely the boys at Ault and the strange rituals of young adulthood are RIVETING.  Maybe it's because I do enjoy a good boarding school narrative.  See also: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, Looking For Alaska.  I found Sittenfeld's writing on the experience, and often painful feelings, of being barely a teenager to be heartbreakingly accurate.  Lee is not exactly a likeable character, but I could certainly identify with a great deal of her emotions.  It would be an interesting read, now that I am a parent, thinking toward the future teenage girl in my home.  Or maybe not...

Great Winter (and Holiday) Reads

For the most part, I don't plan my reading schedule according to the seasons.  However, last year, I picked up My True Love Gave to Me over the holidays and enjoyed it IMMENSELY.  

If you are like me and strategize your library holds ahead of time, here are some great stories I recommend for winter and holiday reading. (Links are to reviews on this site, or Amazon if I haven't reviewed them here.)

• Landline by Rainbow Rowell (Georgie McCool, a sitcom writer, skips the family holiday trip to her in-laws to work and finds a phone that can call backwards in time to speak to her husband.)
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diana Setterfield (An old favorite Gothic mystery, perfect for curling up with a blanket by the fire.)
• My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins (Twelve engrossing holiday tales.)
• The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (A childless couple, living in the outer reaches of Alaska build a girl out of snow, and a child appears running through the woods the next morning...)
• Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris (Classic Sedaris short story hilarity, but with holiday themes.)
• Belleweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia (A high school winter music festival at a haunted old hotel goes awry after one of the students goes missing - The Shining meets Agatha Christie.)
• Light on Snow by Anita Shreve (A widower and his 12 year old daughter discover an abandoned baby in the woods.)
• This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper (Not necessarily a winter book, but the gathering of a family after the loss of their father feels reminiscent of The Big Chill and holiday gatherings.)
• Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand (This is sort of a cheat, since I haven't read it yet - but it's on my list for this December, since I rather enjoyed The Matchmaker.)

And Goodreads has a trove of winter books, sorted by category.  Happy reading!

Books I Read in October 2015

We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Another lovely redemption story about a struggling, and at times frustrating, protagonist.  Like The Language of Flowers,  Diffenbaugh's novels are like an embodiment of the sentiment that we should all be kind to one another because we really don't know what struggles others are carrying with them.  Also a really eye opening commentary on the state of immigration in our country. 


 

The Dream Thieves (Book 2 in the Raven Cycle) by Maggie Stiefvater

These books are just crazy cool.  The ability to take things out of your dreams and make them a reality?  This kind of fantasy story could really just go all kinds of wrong.  Yet Steifvater is MASTERFUL at telling eerie, dark and wholly believable tales.  I enjoyed getting more of Ronan's character arc. The scenes between Blue and Adam (the boy she should love) and Gansey (the boy she shouldn't love but, of course, does) are fraught with such emotion and tension, I felt like I was reading on the edge of my seat.  This surpassed The Raven Boys for sure and I'm excited to read the next installment: Blue Lily, Lily Blue - as well as the final book: The Raven King that will come out in the Spring!



After You by Jojo Moyes

I mean, I really can't find fault with anything Jojo Moyes writes.  This was not the same level of 'holy crap, this book will leave an indelible mark on your brain' as Me Before You.  But, damn, if she doesn't write the most compelling dramas about the human condition, with characters that make me laugh out loud and swoon.  I am glad she revisited Louisa's story, even if the finale of the previous book didn't really necessitate a sequel.  I'm happy to read Moyes' indulgent whims!



The Heir by Kiera Cass

The first books were all about a royal version of The Bachelor, and this is The Bachelorette.  Still the same fun brain candy fare, and serves it's purpose for a light diversion.  I was thinking this was a final installment.  Alas, it looks to be another trilogy and I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next one.  Cass really ought to come up with some synonyms for the word 'giggle' which was overused more than variations of 'dazzle' in Twilight and five times as cringe worthy.

The Stack - November 2015

Since I started blogging almost four years ago over at Born and Raced in Chicago, I've created so many amazing connections and opportunities in the running world and beyond.  It's been life changing and I am so thankful for my wee corner of the internet.  The desire to shake things up and broaden my horizons has been on my mind for awhile.

And, lo, Born and Read in Chicago seemed like the perfect way to indulge in my favorite pastime.  This is primarily a space for me to engage with fellow book nerds and bibliophile talk.  But I may just phase over all the menu planning, race recaps and random musings to this space one day.  For now, I'll link back and forth between blogs from time to time and leave pages up on both sites for all my recipes and race recaps.  

Books have been a passion of mine long before running, or maybe even walking?  My first job was as a library page in my early teens.  I have loved reading, being around books and talking about them since I can remember.  I am far from a book snob and will read pretty much anything, mostly leaning towards literary fiction, YA of all kinds, and a little bit of fantasy or sci-fi.  This is not a go-to site for all things Pulitzer or National Book Award.  Although I certainly read nominations from time to time, including the 2015 Pulitzer winner among others.  My philosophy is that books are meant to be enjoyed - and how we enjoy our books, and the books we enjoy, is completely subjective. In order to have a little bit of content to click through, I've copied over all of my monthly (and yearly 'Best Of') posts.  And soon, I'll have them organized by author (and maybe even by title if I'm really motivated).  

So thanks for coming over from Born and Raced, or Instagram or Twitter.  I hope you stick around and nerd out with me over books.  To that end...

Before I put my thoughts together for the monthly recap on books I read in October, I thought it would be fun to share my stack of reading for November and solicit any feedback on what I should read first!  Well, since I've already started A Fall of Marigolds, tell me if there's anything I MUST READ next or should TOTALLY AVOID.  I also have Luckiest Girl Alive ready on eBook - any thoughts? 

Books I Read in September 2015

Originally posted on 10/8/15 here.

I only got through three books in September.  Boo.  Maybe due to the fact that there is less beach time, and lots of crazy back to school shenanigans in September?  The fact that I took my time reading Once A Runner, because it was a) hard for me to get into and b) I had to dissect it for the #LDRclub were also contributing factors, methinks.


Remember Me This Way by Sabine Durant

So, I know I get a little annoyed with all the "It's the next Gone Girl!" proclamations, but this had VERY similar nuances and pacing.  It reminded me of Gillian Flynn in a good way.  The story was creepy as hell and I was definitely still guessing how the plot would unfold until the bitter end.  My one complaint was that I felt mired down in so many extraneous characters - still a good yarn.


The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

I was reluctant to give this novel a go, since I couldn't even finish the first book in Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls series.  However, so many book buddies just adore the Raven Cycle stories, and my curiosity got the better of me.  I'm SO glad I read it!  It took me a little bit to warm up to the story, as it's not quite linear; even after finishing it, there are still mysteries to be solved.  But once you get to know these FANTASTIC characters, the story just takes off.  I adored the friendship dynamic the Raven boys have with each other and with Blue.  It's a totally odd, very cool and magical (in every sense of the word) novel and I've already acquired the second book to read this month.  



Once a Runner by John L. Parker, Jr.

Oh, where do I begin with this book?  Clearly I didn't like it, if you followed along (or go back and read) our Twitter chat.  It's a self-published novel that really seems like one: heavy use of a thesaurus, a lot of indulgent scenes and characters that just disappear.  There were a few great moments and descriptions, but not worth the slog and misogynistic tone.  Some of this can be blamed on the times in which it was written (in the mid-70s) and the fact that it's directed toward a very narrow audience.  Either way, I don't usually read books about running, as I sort of compartmentalize the running as escapism part of my life from my reading books as escapism.  But, I did love The Running Dream and HIGHLY RECOMMEND that book for inspiration.  I'm also looking forward to some of the titles that were already been discussed for next month.  As for Once a Runner, if you're a runner (especially a competitive male one) and like to read a story to nod your head along to while proclaiming "TOTALLY!" - then this is the book for you.

Books I Read in August 2015

Originally posted on 9/10/15 here.


Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by  Benjamin Alere Saenz

I was quite curious to read this coming of age novel, as the cover is plastered with a half dozen book award stickers.  I enjoyed it, but didn't LOVE it.  The main character is rather detached, which I usually find hard to read.  Luckily, every supporting character is given such wonderful detail.  The subtle story arc and lyrical writing made reading this book seem like I'd picked up a book of poetry, which is lovely but not necessarily page-turning material.  However, I appreciated the heartwarming and satisfying conclusion.

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

I was glad to have this series to read over the summer and to have closure for all of the characters.  But, in order to move the plot along, Jenny Han made her protagonist rather insufferable.  Belly grated on my nerves in a lovable way in the first two books - but in this final installment, I 'just can't even' with her (and Jeremiah's) antics.  Their characters should be growing in emotional intellect, and instead they've regressed and become almost two totally different people from the first two books.  It was a little disappointing, but it's a sweet series, nonetheless.



Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley

This story has such a unique concept, yet I felt it was lacking in execution.  The main character, Aza, has a respiratory condition so rare that it's named after her. We come to learn that she's not of this earth, a sort of human-bird hybrid species that live in our skies.  Following her revelation and learning of her new world, you would think it'd be an amazing adventure to read about.  Alas, I felt as if too much complicated detail was foisted upon me in a short amount of time.  I wasn't caught up in any of the drama, and there was little character development beyond Aza and Jason - her love back on earth.  I like the bird imagery, but I really, really don't like live birds in general.  So, it was hard to get into a story about bird people. *shudder*
   

The Elite by Kiera Cass

AND


The One by Kiera Cass

So, I finished up the next two Kiera Cass books and they pretty much fit the bill of the first one with light, easy, brain-candy fare.  It's like watching an HGTV show: it fits a formula, and there's just enough tension to make it interesting, but you know EXACTLY what's going to happen.  Sometimes, that's comforting and I get to have a little 'Bachelor' drama in my life without have to actually watch The Bachelor.  Total win. 

Books I Read in July 2015

Originally posted on 8/7/15 here.

Six books!  I definitely went with easy, breezy summer reads in July...


The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

This was a fun chick-lit read.  I enjoy hearing about the royal family, but have never gone out of my way to learn more about them.  This fictionalized story based on Will and Kate had me doing some internet reading and investigation on the pair!  There is a character based on all the major players in the royal family, even though the names are changed and the 'commoner' princess is an American.  I found myself deeply contemplating the life that Kate signed up for with Will and how he must navigate such an extraordinary life.  (And I must admit, I also did some wikipedia research to see how their romance matched up with their alter egos of Nick and Bex.)  It was fun to read this along with Janssen and read her review.


The Selection by Kiera Cass

Speaking of Everyday Reading, this was a recommendation from Janssen.  I'd seen it floating around for years now, but didn't pick it up because I was wary of another YA dystopian series.  I gave it a go and it certainly falls under summer reading/brain candy fare.  The characters and dialogue are somewhat trite - it was the first time in a WHILE that I felt like I was truly reading 'YA' meant for a younger audience.  But I still found the story enjoyable.  Maybe it's because I've never watched The Bachelor and this book is filling that void in my life?  Regardless, I'm for sure going to finish out the series because I do want to know what happens and it was a super short and easy read.  


The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

Keeping with the summer reading binge of fluffy books, I picked up The Husband's Secret.  But with Liane Moriarty, I feel as if there is some heft to her stories and I find them really, really enjoyable.  It's helpful that she writes characters that are my contemporaries: middle aged mommies. (Sigh.) The crazy situations in which the women in her novels find themselves are so compelling and I can't help but placing myself in their shoes.  Of the three Moriarty books I've read (in addition to What Alice Forgot and Big Little Lies), this included some tough subject matter (losing a child, would you cover up a murder?) which she dealt with deftly. 


Armada by Ernest Cline

It's a good thing that I have a rule about getting through at least the first 100 pages of a book, as things got a little too gamer-geek tech-speak at the beginning.  I'm glad I stuck it out, because this was really fun - a rollicking good yarn. (I think that's the first time I've used the word 'rollicking.')  Nowhere near as original and awesome as Ready Player One, but it will also make a great movie!


The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

I quite enjoyed this YA novel, as it was SO evocative of  my early teen years.  (We didn't summer at a beach house, but our old house had a pool and we did go on spring break trips to Florida where my older brother and I were allowed to bring along a friend each.  I was always crushing on my brother's friends - so I could easily relate to Belly being the younger sister always feeling left out.)  But there's something relatable for everyone in this sweet coming of age story about first love.


It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

Yep, I just kept on going with the Summer series!  It's just as good as the first one and I blew through it and have picked up the last one from the library.  Just excellent beach reads.   

Books I Read in June 2015

Originally posted on 7/2/15 here.


All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Oh man.  This is a book that Joey would put in the freezer, like he did with Little Women.  It's damn near a carbon copy of The Fault in Our Stars, but with teens dealing with depression and mental illness, rather than cancer.  Fun, right??  Ah, but it suuuuucked me in, just as TFIOS did with beautiful passages, witty and empathetic characters, and a frenetic 'MUST FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NOW' race to the end of the book.  It's horrible, and ultimately lovely.


A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

This was lacking the magic of Life After Life, and it plodded along for more than half the (nearly 500 page) book.  Things jump back and forth in time quite a bit, which I suppose is to be expected with a companion book of Life After Life.  But, it was in more of a haphazard way, not at all like Ursula's story.  Once I started reading about Teddy as a grandfather, which was so dear and compelling, I became sucked in to his story and felt bereft at the end.  I kind of saw it coming, but it still took my breath away and I'm glad I read it.


Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum

What's the deal with all these detached, depressed, introspective and yet completely vacuous female main characters?  I really didn't understand the point of this book about a very mentally ill American housewife living with her Swiss husband and their children abroad in Switzerland.  So much awful in this book, but I kept reading, hoping I'd get some more clarity into Anna's psyche.  Nope.  The fancy wordplay and poetic prose does not elevate it in my estimation, either.  



Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Oh, how I loved this!  I haven't read one of Dessen's novels in two years (the same month I read Life After Life - weird), and I think I've got to go back and read MORE.  This was a heartfelt story of a girl who is dealing with the damage her older brother brought upon her family, by seriously injuring another in a drunk driving accident.  It's touching, bittersweet, and at times, fraught with tension - I stayed up hours past my bedtime to finish it.  It's much heavier fare than some of her other novels, but still full of real, relatable characters and so much heart.  I just wanted to hug this book.  

Adding links for April and May to join in Everyday Reading's quarterly round-up!

Books I Read in May 2015

Originally posted 6/11/15 here.

Nope, no menu planning today - we pushed back a meal 'cuz I'm going out for dinner tonight and my husband is travelling for the better part of the week.  I shall be eating lazy, last minute dinners.  So, time for books!


Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

After just having read I Was Here, this was slightly depressing with a similar theme of a mystery revolving around a girl's suicide.  BUT, Ng's was so much more deftly realized.  I felt like I understood completely the psyche of each character and my heart ached for all of them.  Riveting. Engrossing. Indelible.  One of my favorites of the year so far.


The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins

I guess I now have an inkling of how people that disliked Gone Girl felt.  Maybe there was too much buildup to this book - which is where the similarities to Gone Girl end, in my opinion.  It's a mystery, but not strikingly unique in the way I think Gone Girl was with Flynn's use of the narrator's perspective.  Basically, Girl on the Train is about a very sad and troubled character who was drunk and can't remember a crime.  We wait MANY PAGES for her to work through her memories and continued drinking.  Once she finally remembers, the mystery is revealed!  What a crappy and totally uncreative way to string a reader along!  It did move fast, and I was somewhat surprised by the ending - but mostly because I thought it would be more of a twist and it was not.


The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand

Being on vacation, and having read too many depressing books in a row, I finally read an Elin Hilderbrand book!  This was a really sweet story and I turned the pages just as furiously as Girl on the Train - but with more enthusiasm.  Granted, it was rather predictable, but I was really invested in seeing each lovely character figure out his/her destiny.  Also, the attention to every detail of life on Nantucket made the book come alive and I REALLY want to go there now.


Gemini by Carol Cassella

This was roller coaster of a book!  The story begins with the mystery of a Jane Doe that comes into the main character's emergency room and eventually ICU.  Figuring out who 'Jane' is and what happened to her is the overarching story.  But along the way, as we find out more about her and doctor Charlotte's story, we find so many more things to question.  A very cool multi-layered plot with a hefty dose of fascinating medical drama.

I've definitely come to the point in my life where if a book isn't grabbing me by 100 or so pages in, I give up for something more worth my time.  I put down TWO books this month:


Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi

The narrator in this novel was so lifeless and wooden.  I could not be moved at all to care about her, and the story is terribly disjointed (at least it started off that way).  If you're looking for a compelling story with characters that leap off the page, and with profound commentary on race - see above and read Everything I Never Told You.



The Final Empire (Mistborn Series Book 1) by Brandon Sanderson

I really wanted to enjoy this fantasy novel that was recommended by a friend.  Alas, I felt like I was reading a not so great fantasy version of Ocean's 11...

Books I Read in April 2015 (and Overdrive Library Tips)

Originally posted 5/7/15 here.

Before I jump into the books I read in April, I have to give my local library system a shout out.  I touched on how awesome it is when I posted about how to find new books to read.  I could go on and on about how fantastic the King County Library System is (it's like Redbox for books!), but I'll refrain and just urge my local yokels to USE THE LIBRARY.  NEVER BUY BOOKS AGAIN!  I have not spent money on a book (for myself, anyway) in years.  Here are a couple tips that have helped me out over the years to get the books I want, when I want them.  

The beautiful Seattle Public Library visit during The Blathering last month.

First, if I learn of a book I really want to read that's yet to be published, I immediately start a search on the library's website.  As soon as the library orders copies of a book, you can put a hold on one.  With highly anticipated ones, they usually order many copies.  So, if I get in the queue early, I'll most likely get the book within a few days of it's release.

Another tip for locals: the 'choice reads' section is a goldmine.  There are usually popular titles on these shelves readily available.  No waiting on a hold because they aren't filed in the system by the author/title, but rather by a unique choice reads of the month code.  This is also very handy if you find something that you want to read, but have a huge stack to get through at home.  You can go ahead and pick it up since holds can't be placed on choice reads.  Therefore, you can renew away!  Well, for three months like any other book.

I snatched up Queen of the Tearling from this shelf, as it's been in my to-read list for awhile.  

My best tip is handy for both hard copy AND ebooks on Overdrive.  (If you have not started borrowing ebooks from your library, OMG WHY!??  Here's a very handy tutorial from Janssen at Everyday Reading on how to get started.)  Put as many books as you can on hold and then SUSPEND the hold.  Even if you suspend your holds, you still move up in the queue!  Then when you're ready for some new books, take off the suspension and voila - you're book should be ready for you within a few days.  I did this with a number of ebooks over the last few months and just took a few off suspend in order to have a nice stack of e-reading for our Vegas trip next week!

On to the books I read last month:


How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran

The main character Johanna (alter ego Dolly Wilde), while perhaps being a bit hyper realistic, is absolutely unforgettable.  Big hearted, crazy, hilarious and insecure, she reminds me a bit of a teenage Bridget Jones if she were to be the young reporter in Almost Famous.  It's a supremely witty and heartfelt coming of age story, full of so many quotes that resonated.  I think it's the first time I ever took a picture of the text in a book.  Loved it.

Atlantia by Ally Condie

I enjoyed Condie's Matched trilogy, so I thought I'd give this a go.  It started out really cool.  It parallels one of my all time favorite YA books: The City of Ember.  Full of wonderful imagery, I could very clearly picture this underwater society.  I was sucked into the intrigue of the story until the last quarter of the book.  Then it got a bit 'woo-woo', with too much unexplained magic.  I'm down with magic and fantasy (obviously, or I wouldn't have picked up the book).  But the way it's employed just seemed to quickly wrap things up to a slapdash conclusion.


Life Among Giants by Bill Roorbach

Yeah, so this came across to me like a mash up of Running With Scissors and The Great Gatsby.  Weird and emotionally unavailable characters - to each other as well as the reader.  Even though I enjoyed the aforementioned books, I just really didn't care about anyone in this novel.  The beginning is promising, with what seems will be a murder-mystery plot.  However, that doesn't really get addressed until the last tenth of the book in a convoluted way.  At several points I thought, eff this book - I'm gonna stop reading.  But it was short enough to muddle through.  I know lots of people found this to be a triumph, but I think they are the same people that love Donna Tartt.  So, if that's you - read Life Among Giants!


I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Much like If I Stay (which I LOVED along with it's sequel - Where She Went), this novel really delves into the subject of life and death.  Definitely a heavy read, as the main character Cody is mourning the loss of her friend who committed suicide.  The pace was quick, as it read like a mystery while Cody learned that she didn't know everything about her best friend.  But, as much as I love Gayle Forman's books (see also the Just One Day books) it felt a bit flat.