The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This book has been on my "to be read" list for at least 10 years. I don't even remember the first time I heard about it... but it was long before the movie came out.
So the story in a nutshell... Charlie is a HS freshman, small for his age and had been held back a year. Charlie, like a lot of teens is overwhelmed by high school and needs an outlet for all the stuff he is feeling -writing letters to a stranger. We get the whole story through the letters he writes to someone he thought would understand because he heard a story about how the stranger could have taken advantage of someone at a party but didn't.
 Charlie is an internal and emotional person. He is befriended by Patrick and Sam (brother and sister) who introduce Charlie to all kinds of stuff. Plus there is an English teacher giving Charlie all kinds of classic coming of age books to read: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye and a bunch of other really great books...
I really loved this book, It has a gritty realism. It's published by Mtv books, so you can imagine some of the stuff that happens: adventures, music, drugs, Rocky Horror and sex.
Would I read it again? oh, yeah
Who would I give it to? Anyone between 13 and up who knows what life can be like as a teenager.
Where did I get it? the YA section of my local library. You can also find one there...
srsl, it is an award winner and adapted for film... you could probably find a copy at your local Goodwill or at a Library Friends sale near you if you wanted a copy to keep.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Ever since it came out, I had friends (especially other librarians) tell me how much they like this book.  I really wanted to read it and I really wanted to like it.  I had to start the book three different times,  I tried it as an ebook twice then I picked up the hardback at my local library.
I like the idea of the story... I just had a hard time getting into it at first.  When I finally made myself read and give it some time, I got really into it.  The Night Circus is an excellent story.
This is the story of a circus-not like any circus you have ever been to. Sure it has all the usual stuff trapeze artists and cat tamers but there are also living statues, a automated paper animals and an ice garden.  It is like a exhibition of dreams and wonders.
It's also about a girl who has special powers, her father binds her to a challenge, and a boy, an orphan who is chosen to be the challenger.
Why did I have problems with it at first? It jumps around I had to check the beginning of the chapters to find out when I was.  Plus it was a little slow to start with the back story and stuff.
Who would I give it to?older teens and adults who gravitate to fantastical stuff-not fantasy and not just magic. Why not younger teens? If they are interested there isn't any reason I wouldn't let them read it, no language, just an allusion to some sex, no real gore or frightening stuff.  I just wouldn't suggest it because I had trouble with the beginning.
What would I do to make it better? release it as a full cast audio book.  I think this is an interesting and enthralling story and that it should be listened to instead of read.

Chicks With Sticks

Chicks with Sticks
by Elizabeth Lenhard
Ages 12-99
Where did I get it? At an AMAZING Goodwill near my brother's house.  My niece saw that it was to do with knitting and thought I should read it... cause I knit.

Scottie's got some issues: Her favourite aunt just died, her parents don't understand and her best friend had a great summer and um, filled out... There is one thing that makes Scottie feel better- yarn.  While sitting Shivah (a time of mourning after a funeral) at Aunt Roz's house, Great-Aunt Lucille showed Scottie how to knit-just the basic stitch- and gave her some yarn.  That started it all.  Scottie ends up going to a yarn store and joining a knitting class.  From there everything seems to get better... she makes new friends who understand her love of knitting and everything else.

It's really a teen book, but if you like knitting, you will probably like this book.  There are a couple things to watch for.  1. Nobody learns to knit that fast.  I think I learned fast, but it still took me time.  You might be able to learn the basics in an afternoon, but it doesn't help if you don't practice enough to remember how.  2. Yarn is not cheap, the yarn purchased in this book is not realistic.  3. As a knitter, I find it really easy to walk up to strangers I see knitting and vice versa, but I think the whole café scene at the college was a little too pointed and a plot driver.

That said, it is a cute story and I didn't want to stop reading.  Who would I give it to? My friends who are YA librarians, knitters and teen/tween girls who are crafty. 
Where can you find it? As always check your local library.  I think I also saw a copy on sale via ebay.com
I'm going to give this copy to the same niece who told me I needed to read it.  She's 11 and I think she'll love it, because she is in that same awkward growing into a beautiful young woman place as Scottie.

Is there anyone I wouldn't give it to? yes, boys (because most of them won't understand) and girls who think sweaters are only worth their time if purchased at the GAP or some such place.

The Silver Guitar: A Julie Mystery (American Girl)
by Katheryn Reiss
Ages: 7-9

Set in the 1970s, this is an old fashioned mystery similar to something you would find in an original Nancy Drew book,.  The main character is a typical girl of the time, she is interested in social issues like an oil spill killing birds and looking at different sides of an issues.  Julie's friend T.J. gets into some trouble and Julie helps solve the mystery. 
I would feel comfortable giving this to 7 through 9 year old girls I might go a little younger... chapter book with help from Mom or Dad? I think so.  However, I wouldn't go any older.  The main character is a realistic 10, but the way some of the details are repeated makes me think the author is trying to remind a younger reader of some details.
Where did I get it? My local library. No, I wasn't trolling the kids section, someone donated (thank you!) tons of duplicates and I was told to take whatever I wanted. So I grabbed a bunch.  By the way, this is a really fast read.

Reviewer's note-I really like the Looking Back: A Peek Into The Past section that gives readers a little non-fiction that might get them looking up music of the 70s.
Would I read more American Girl books? sure, as long as they stay interesting.  Will I give them to kids I know? Absolutely, they have an entertaining fictional story in a historical setting that is still relevant.
Where can you get it? Amazon, or your local library might have it, or you could have mine.  2 of my nieces are too old, and 2 are too young.

The Epicure by H.R. Howland

262 Pages published by Berkley

Genre: Horror and general ickyness

ISBN 042520717x

Where did I find it? a friends of the library book sale.  Where can you find it? you can have my copy, or you can find it on Amazon or at your local public library-if not, ask if they can interlibrary loan it for you - if you're still interested after my review.

Why did I pick it up? It has a great cover. 

Let me start with a little history/philosophy… Epicureanism is a philosophy that believes in having pleasure to satisfy desires and then abstaining from pleasure for a time.  There is more to it than that… but those are the basics as applies to this book.  If you would like to know more click here.

Many of us know and love the cooking website www.epicurious.com.  That has absolutely nothing to with this book; so if you read the book, try not to think about this when next you visit the website.

So, there’s this doctor and he is part of a special society; The Epicurean Society and they meet once a year to sample new cuisine with one special ingredient-human meat.  The main course is to be a woman between the ages of (and this is from memory, and I could be wrong) 22 and 32 and fit-not too much fat but with just enough.  The host this year is Dr. Sykes, he finds his Epicurean special guest and kidnaps her, including details on how he prepares the feast. 

We also meet 6-year-old Suzie, who has a special relationship with Saint Jude.  He talks to her through a statue at her church and shows her visions of what Dr. Sykes is doing through her Miss Becky doll and the Miss Becky  and Friends television show.  Saint Jude tells Suzie that she has to stop the Bad Doctor.  Suzie’s only help is Jessie, her babysitter and future guardian-her mom has terminal cancer.  Jessie also happens to work with Dr. Sykes.

Each host of the Epicurean Society dinner is charged with keeping a journal of their journey and preparations.  Only a couple of these are shared, the first is extremely graphic in description and the other is vague.  Some parts of this book are really graphic and very gross.  I usually read while eating my lunch-this is not a good book to read while eating.

I read a lot of icky death mysteries type books and love them.  This is one of the most disgusting books I have ever read… and it is supposed to be… Howland wants to turn our stomachs and he does a wonderful job at it.  I found myself telling more people about this book than any other.  I usually start with something like, “this book makes me want to be a vegetarian.”  It is a well written story and I really liked the characters; they are believable - all have flaws with the exception of Suzie because she's six and acts six; Dr. Sykes could be a real person.  I liked this book, but I will not read it again.

Who would I give this book to? Anyone over the age of 17 who understands that this book is fiction and that the author is not advocating the eating of human flesh –Ick- and who like horror.   I would give this to my brother who rides to work with me and has heard me talk about this book a lot and to my brother-in-law who will read just about anything, has a great sense of humor and will probably cringe in all the same places I did.  Who would I not give it to? Anyone under the age of 17-no matter how much they like horror, vegetarians and people with soft hearts.  I also wouldn’t give it to anyone I think would get the wrong idea about The Society.  It goes against everything good and right in the world to cook and eat another person.

And last but not least... Ick.

The In Death Series by Nora Robert writing as JD Robb

I know book reviews are supposed to be about a single book... But it would be next to impossible to write about just one of these books and I wanted to tell you about them.  I may have told you, I REALLY like Nora Roberts books.  I've read a bunch, listened to some, inflicted them on my Mom and brother and reread/listened to my favorites.  I was listening to Remember When a book by Nora Roberts and Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb when I met Dallas...

Remember When starts in present day with Lane and Max.  Lane owns an antique store named- you guessed it- "Remember When" in small town USA.  She lives the small town life-owns a house, has a dog named Henry and is best friends with the sheriff's wife.  But Lane has a secret; she is the daughter of ex-con and Con-Man turned jewel thief, Big Jack.  Max is in town to find the diamonds for the insurance company. 

After Max and Lane's story we jump forward 50 or so years to 2059 New York where Lane and Max's granddaughter has written a book about Big Jack, the diamond Heist and the missing diamonds.  Samantha arrives home from her book tour to find her best friend murdered in her bedroom.  She calls the police and Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her aide Delia Peabody come to investigate. 

As soon as I finished listening to Remember When I did an Internet search for Dallas and found a whole series of books.  Starting with Naked in Death.  I have to tell you, I've been a little obsessed with this series; I've read/listened to the books at least 3 times (except for the most recent.)  In Naked in Death, we meet Dallas (of course,) her friend Mavis, the super-hot billionaire Roark and Dallas' former partner Feeney as well as some secondary characters that show up again later.  

Dallas is stubborn, suspicious and independent.  Because of her childhood, she is driven and very ignorant about popular culture.  She is hard and vulnerable at the same time... lots of contradictions.  She's also amazing, intuitive and really good at her job.

There is language and sex and violence all throughout the series, I would absolutely consider it rated R. The audios are performed by Susan Erickson who does an excellent job with the cast of voices.  The books are well written and imaginative, there are some really fun gadgets in the future-like vending machines that tell to the contents of the snack and tell you to have a nice day and AutoChefs which I think of as a combo freezer, pantry and microwave they store and prepare food and hot beverages.  If you pay close attention, you can spot differences in the writing styles and language used throughout the series-which leads me to believe the claim that Roberts used a ghost writer for the series... and seriously, how could she possibly produce so many books if she didn't?  

BTW I have no idea where I read the claim about the ghost writer and if she does it doesn't bother me one bit because it's all about the story.

Where did I get it/them? the library's downloadable site, Kentucky Libraries Unbound. You can find them at your local library and book stores everywhere-these are really popular books-there are over 40 of them now.

Who would I give it to? Anyone over the age of 18... They have everything-suspense, mystery, romance, science fiction and humor.  My brother the 41-year-old divorced guy likes them, we listen to them on the way to work.  Mom has been listening to them too.  I find it very uncomfortable listening to the sex scenes with them in the car with me-just so you know.  My sister and her Mother-in-law read them also.

And if you want to know more-like the order in which to read them... check out the Wikipedia page and the In Death Wiki.  If you decide to read them or have read them, let me know what you think.

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

For One More Day

by Mitch Albom

I read the print version ISBN: 1401303277

197 pages

Where did I get it? Big Lots, I scan their books anytime I go-I'm thrifty like that.  But you can find this in the collections of most public libraries (yes, I will say this every time because you don’t need to buy every book you read.)

Reading age? It’s fairly easy reading, with some curse words.   Reading level- I would say is middle school, but most people won’t really “get it” until you’re at least 24.  Why? Because it is about appreciating your parents.

This is the story of former pro baseball player Chick Benetto.  His life is crap: He only got to play in the Major League for 6 weeks, he has a crappy sales job, his Mom died, his wife left and his daughter is embarrassed by his drinking.

Chick finds himself at his Mother’s house spending the day with her-years after she died.  They talk and go through Mom’s day of errands.   Chick’s story is broken up with memories of his mother, how she was so proud of him and how he was embarrassed by her.

What did I think?

I like Mitch Albom; have since reading Tuesdays with Maurie.  He is a good writer with unassuming storytelling ability-with everyday language while not trying to make it fancy.  

This book made me cry.  I lost my Dad almost 20 years ago and I often wish I could have just an hour-even five minutes.  I read the stories about Chick’s Mom and see similarities.  Not to say that I was embarrassed by my Dad (okay, that’s not true-he thought it was part of his job as a parent-ask me about the Jello Wrestling at Project Graduation sometime, that was not at all embarrassing.)  This is a touching, hard to read and hard to put down story about one man’s life with and one last day with his dead mother.  I loved it.  If you read it and love it, pass it on.