Review: The Little Wartime Library

Dangle a World War II set novel that features a bookstore or library in front of me and I am going to snap it up. We should all know that by now. So, it’s no surprise I was immediately drawn to Kate Thompson’s latest novel, The Little Wartime Library. I devoured it in a weekend!

Here’s the book’s description:

London, 1944 : Clara Button is no ordinary librarian. While war ravages the city above her, Clara has risked everything she holds dear to turn the Bethnal Green tube station into the country’s only underground library. Down here, a secret community thrives with thousands of bunk beds, a nursery, a café, and a theater—offering shelter, solace, and escape from the bombs that fall upon their city.
Along with her glamorous best friend and assistant Ruby Munroe, Clara ensures the library is the beating heart of life underground. But as the war drags on, the women's determination to remain strong in the face of adversity is tested to the limits when it may come at the price of keeping those closest to them alive.

Some people may call this a dual narrative but there are only two chapters that take place in the present(ish) timeline so I wouldn’t necessarily categorize it as dual. That said, I really appreciated how Thompson introduced the characters in 2020 because it kept me curious about who, exactly, it was visiting the former underground library with her daughters. Having this time period briefly included also allows the readers a chance to connect this historical novel to their own lives, in today’s time. We’re losing more and more people who lived through WWII and books like Thompson’s allow their stories to live on and, with this one in particular, remind readers, and those who live in the Bethnal Green area, about a part of their history they may have forgotten or never known about it in the first place. I definitely had no idea there was a library in the underground during the war and I was fascinated, and a little heartbroken, at the lives of those who visited the library.

Now, I do have to say that this book was a little too long. It clocks in at 480 pages which is a lot for any book, let alone a historical fiction title. I think Thompson just had so much information she wanted to include in the story that it ended up being longer than it should have. I didn’t find too many info dumps, which I hate in historical fiction, and was swept away into the world and time period Thompson recreated for me with her story. I respect that she wanted to include the history of the Channel Islands, Jersey in particular, but I found myself rushing through those chapters to get back to the main story. I learned a lot though and applaud Thompson for the time and effort she put into making sure her story was as accurate as she could make it.

The novel’s chapters alternate between Clara and Ruby but the pair were together so often that I sometimes got a bit confused about who I was supposed to be following. The story is told in third person too so that didn’t always clear things up. I liked both women and by having them have different backgrounds (widow vs woman on the town) allowed Thompson to share even more history of the time and what it would have been like for women of the time.

I found, at times, that maybe Thompson was reaching a bit in an effort to compare the library then to libraries now but maybe I just don’t know enough about the history of libraries. The library boss was an atrocious little man who didn’t think women had brains and didn’t appreciate the novels being circulated by the library (educational reading only if he had his way). It was a strong parallel to the censorship issues libraries across the world are facing, particularly in the United States. And the reader couldn’t help but compare the rules faced by those living through the war to some of the restrictions we had to deal with at the start of the pandemic.

I may have had teeny issues with Kate Thompson’s novel but on the whole? I loved The Little Wartime Library. Those readers who like slightly quieter and understated historical fiction (think Genevieve Graham or Jennifer Robson) will also enjoy this one, especially those who love any novel that focuses on books and booklovers. I am going to do more reading on the Bethnal Green library and I’m so thankful Thompson chose to explore this little part of history in her novel.

*An egalley was provided via NetGalley by Forever and an ARC was provided by HBG Canada in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Top Ten Tuesday: Library Books I Love

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday was a freebie and I had no ideas what to post about until about halfway through the day when I saw Jamie of The Perpetual Page-Turner's post about ten books she feels like she doesn't talk about nearly enough. That made me think about the books I don't really talk about too much...the ones I get from the library! I tend to use the library for books that I want to read that I can't afford to buy (since they're usually new releases and in hardcover) and didn't get copies to review. I started keeping track of library books on Goodreads awhile back so it was easy to review...not so easy to choose the ten favourite books I've checked out from my library! Do you find you tend to take out the same kinds of books from the library or are you an eclectic library user? Do you even use the library? (If you don't...WHY NOT? Love your local library!) Have you read any of these ten books? Links lead to Goodreads.

The Cuckoo's Calling, The Silkworm, and Career of Evil - Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling
I got myself on the list right away when the news leaked that Galbraith was actually Queen Rowling herself. They're great mysteries, a genre I don't normally read, and I really enjoy them. (Except for maybe The Silkworm...that was a weird one.)

Just One Day/Just One Year - Gayle Forman
For the first installment of the YA books I get from the library, I present the amazing Just One Day and Just One Day. I know lots of people of heard of and read these ones but because of other people's opinions, I just had to borrow them from my library!

The Orenda - Joseph Boyden
I ended up loving this one so much that I bought a copy so I could get it signed by Boyden when I met him a couple of years ago.

Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins
I probably would have bought these ones had Isla already been published and in soft cover but my wallet wouldn't allow it :)

Since You've Been Gone - Morgan Matson
I'd heard of Matson's books before so I scooped up Since You've Been Gone when I saw it at my library. Loved it!

The Bone Cage - Angie Abdou
I did an internship at Project Bookmark Canada and had to read a bunch of books set in Calgary. The Bone Cage was one of the books I read and I adored it.

Ten Tiny Breaths and Five Ways to Fall - KA Tucker
I read TTB first from the library because I wasn't sure if I'd like her books. I loved it and I've been hooked ever since.

To All the Boys I Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You - Jenny Han
Everyone was SO excited about these books and I knew I had to give them a shot. Really enjoyed them!

99 Days - Kate Cotugno
I've mentioned before that it was because of Jamie's enthusiasm for this book that I read it. When I saw that my library actually had a copy I went right there to check it out!

The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes - Anna McPartlin
This was a (very) recent library read. The library I work for has a Beer and Books book club and it was this month's pick. I think I might actually write a mini review of this one because I loved it so much and everyone needs to read it. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Recent Book Acquisitions

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Us bloggers get a lot of books. I don't receive nearly as many as other bloggers but I still found this week's Top Ten Tuesday topic really easy! I've listed the last ten books I've received, and where I got them from. And it's really only from June and July! Almost all were for review but there's one purchase, two library books, and a book loan in there too. What was the last book you got? Did you buy it or borrow it? Or is a book for review? Links will lead to Goodreads or review.

Broken Promise - Linwood Barclay
Book 1 of 3 waiting for me after I got home from BEA. This was an ARC I received for review for Niagara Life, the magazine I also review for. From Penguin Random House Canada 

In the Unlikely Event - Judy Blume
Book 2 of 3. Judy Blume's latest! Need I say more? Also from Penguin Random House Canada.

China Rich Girlfriend - Kevin Kwan
Book 3 of 3. My most anticapted read of 2015. And it totally lived up to my expectations. Also from Penguin Random House Canada.

PS I Still Love You - Jenny Han
This was one I borrowed from my local library, which is where I get most of my YA books! I just had to find out what was going to happen with Lara Jean!

Finding Audrey - Sophie Kinsella
Yet another book from Penguin Random House Canada. I was really interested to see how Kinsella approached YA.

Five Ways to Fall - K.A. Tucker
I don't own all of Tucker's Ten Tiny Breaths series (something I wish my wallet would allow for!) so I had to borrow the last one from the library.

All Inclusive - Farzana Doctor

This was a surprise ARC delivery from Dundurn Press and it came with some awesome swag, too.

The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster - Scott Wilbanks
Sourcebooks sent me this one to review as part of a blog tour. Isn't the cover delightful?

Christmas in the Snow - Karen Swan
I gifted this one to my boyfriend's mom for Christmas and when we went to visit last weekend she sent it home with me to read. Since I just read one of Swan's, I'm really excited.

Chasing River - K.A. Tucker
I was able to buy a copy of this one the weekend before it officially went on sale. I cannot wait to dive in.

Bonus: The Blue - Lucy Clarke
I'm adding this one in because I didn't take a picture of it when I got it so I'm not sure when it showed up. I also want to get the buzz started because IT IS SO GOOD. It'll be published in August. This ARC was from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Bunch of Mini Reviews 6: You Guessed It, More Library Books

This edition of library books mini reviews features two books I read ages ago and have since read the next book in the series as well as a holiday book. It's a diverse post with something for everyone!

Dare You To - Katie McGarry (synopsis)

I originally wanted to read this series because I had heard the male main character in book two was a baseball player. Why? Because my boyfriend is also a ball player and I find that there aren't nearly enough baseball playing characters in books these days. Then, I read the first book in the series (I have to go in order!), Pushing the Limits, and was sucked in. I wanted to love the second as much as I loved the first but I didn't quite have all the feels like I had before.
I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't love Dare You To as much as the first. I wonder if my issue was with how supremely messed up Beth was. Her home life is brutal. I can't even imagine how awful it'd be to live her life. Or Ryan's life, for that matter. His family is picture perfect on the outside but there are some serious issues there, behind closed doors. His father was a hard character to like and get a read on. I like that the story was realistic, portraying all kinds of lifestyles (sadly, kids like Beth exist) but I had to wonder: how real is too real? The characters in this series are seriously screwed up. Drugs and abuse feature prominently and I, at 26, found it hard to read. That being said, I was a really sheltered teen. I'm a small town girl and I was so naive when I was young. Would I have fully understood this book if I had read it at 16? Doubtful. (I thought the same thing in my review of Sarah Dessen's Dreamland.) This isn't a "teens are too young to read about tough subjects" kind of rant. Trust me, teens should read whatever they want. They can handle it, though they might not get it. I just wonder if maybe some of the tough subjects are taking things too far and aren't explained well enough. Both Beth and Echo, from Pushing the Limits, are so completely faithful to their moms even though each mother is destroying their daughter. I don't think either book showed the girls really getting the help they needed since they were both too closed off. Nitpicky? Maybe. But it was something that stuck with me that I just couldn't shake.
In a way, I like that McGarry held back some information - why Ryan's brother isn't around, what's in Beth's mom's apartment, etc. - but it drove me a little crazy waiting to find out what these "big secrets" were.
I really did like getting to know Beth more. In Pushing the Limits she was such a standoffish character that I wondered how on earth I would enjoy her story. Even though I had issues, I did like reading about her. It was heartbreaking to read about her life and watch as her uncle, Ryan, and Lacy tried to get through to her.
Dare You To is a tough read but it's a good one. I really liked reading about Ryan and Beth's relationship and seeing her realize she can rely on people to help her. I'd still recommend that people read book two before three (Crash Into You which I loved - full review here) because it will help you understand how Beth and Isaiah's relationship ends up.

Star Crossed - Jennifer Echols (synopsis)

When I came across Echols' Stargazer series one night while poking around NetGalley, I got really excited. The first reason was because I read some of her YA books when I was younger and loved them (particularly the Boy Next Door series). The other reason was because this series was all about characters who work in PR. I love reading about people in PR. I think it's because it's something I'd like to do but I don't think I am actually cut out to be a publicist. I don't have the right personality. So, after finding the series, I requested book two and went to my library the next day to pick up the first book. I read the majority of this book on a recent train ride into Toronto and I was hooked. I was so into it that I actually wished the ride was longer and was afraid I'd miss my stop on my way home. So. Good.
I liked that the story didn't focus too much on the romance. It was just part of the larger work/personal storyline. There was also a surprisingly dark part of the overall story. I think that also helped this book from being too fluffy or romance heavy. I already knew I was completely invested in the story and the characters but I realized to what extent when I had to walk through an almost empty parking lot at midnight and I was worried the bad guy from the book was going to come after me!
The sneak peek into the lives of the stars was entertaining. Wendy and Daniel's clients, Lorelei and Colton respectively, seemed like your typical twenty one year old stars and they were crazy without being too over the top. As a reader we got to experience some of the glitz and glamour of Vegas and that was fun.
Finally, a final note about the romance between Daniel and Wendy. I knew it was going to happen but it was not at all predictable. Echols threw in enough twists to keep me on my toes. Also, a word of caution for those who don't like sex in their books, this book is steamy! Whew! There aren't many of those scenes (3 or 4 at most) but they're explicit enough that some people might not like it. And your teenage daughter who has read Echols' other works should not be reading it! :)
I loved reading Star Crossed and I cannot wait to dive into book two, Playing Dirty. It will feature Wendy's friend and colleague, Sarah. I'm interested to see how that one works out!
Update: I wrote this well before I read Playing Dirty and you can read my full review of book two here.

The Gift - Cecelia Ahern (synopsis)

The Gift is a book I’ve been meaning to read for awhile. It was released in 2008 and it’s always been on my radar because I love Ahern but I just never got around to picking it up. I was at the library a few weeks ago and they had their Christmas books all out on display (one of my favourite things) and there, sitting on the shelf, was The Gift. I couldn’t leave without it so I took it home with me. This is a novel that really makes you think. It makes you consider the true meaning of Christmas and of life. It’s heavy but it’s good.

Like a lot of Ahern’s work, there is a magical element to this story. When businessman Lou meets homeless man Gabriel, or Gabe as his friends call him, we know that there’s something more going on – even if Lou doesn’t. 

I also liked how Ahern told the story. The book opens with a teenage boy throwing a turkey through the window of a family home and then we move to the police station (since, obviously, tossing frozen fowl into houses is frowned upon). This is when we realize that there’s going to be more to this story than just a turkey, two police officers, and a business man. Sergeant Raphael O’Reilly is essentially narrating the story for us as well Turkey Boy. Every few chapters the story goes back to the holding cell, O’Reilly, and Turkey Boy and we get more insight into what really happened that day. This may sound like it could be frustrating but it all worked together really well.

I desperately wanted Lou to figure out how badly he was screwing up his life. We could see it, his family could see it, mysterious homeless man Gabe could see it…but he couldn’t. And, of course, if you can’t see your problem you aren’t going to fix it. I hoped for a different ending but deep down I knew I wouldn’t get it. And that was ok because then this story wouldn’t have had the impact that it did.

The Gift isn’t your typical Christmas book. It’s not really full of holiday cheer but it does make you think about how you spend your time, especially around the holidays. Are you rushing around like Lou trying to get a million things done at once? Or are you pausing to enjoy the season with your family and friends. Cecelia Ahern’s novel makes you think twice about what you’re doing with your life and I really liked that.

Review: Recovered

I have previously read and enjoyed the first two books in Amber Polo’s Shapeshifters’ Library series. As I noted in both reviews, Retrieved and Released here and here, I wasn’t sure that I’d like this fantasy series that revolved around librarians who could turn into dogs and had to battle evil book hating werewolves. It sounds crazy but it totally works. I happily agreed to read the latest novel, Recovered, and while I did enjoy it, I didn’t like it quite as much as the others.

Here’s the synopsis:

Bliss D. Light was just an ordinary children's librarian until one day she discovered she could grow a tail. Now her life is filled with more magic than any of the fairy tales she tells the children who gather at her feet at the Shipsfeather library. Like many of the other residents of Shipsfeather, Ohio, Bliss is a dogshifter, and her newly discovered ability to change from human form into that of a sleek white greyhound has left her yearning to know more about her true heritage. The answer to all her questions, she is certain, lies with the dogshifters' long lost Library of the Ancients and, undeterred by the fact that thousands before her have searched, she sets out to find it.
Accompanied by her best friend Harry, a disgraced werewolf/dogshifter mongrel, and hotly pursued by the evil werewolf team of Sybilla and Blaze, Bliss's quest takes her across the sacred sites and ancient mounds of the American Southwest. Though kidnapped by dogcatchers, sold into racetrack slavery and forced to fight wolf dogs to survive, Harry and Bliss never lose sight of their goal-or each other. Because the only thing more important than finding the ancient lost treasure might just be preserving what they already have found: an unlikely love that could be the first step toward bringing two ancient enemy races together.

I think my main issue with this book was that I really didn’t like Harry in the first two stories so I found it hard to root for him in this story. I’m as guilty as some of the dogshifters because I could see, as Bliss and some of the other dogs/librarians did, that he really was trying to reform and become more in touch with his canine ancestry. But I just couldn’t get over how much of an evil twit he was before. I also didn’t connect as much with Bliss, for some reason or another. I’m a huge character person so when I don’t fall in love with the main characters it can sometimes be hard for me to fall in love with the rest of the book.

Getting some more background on the shifters and werewolves was very interesting though. We get to learn more about what the bad werewolves are doing and what kinds of jobs they have as well as finding out that there are actually good werewolves out there. Polo has created a whole, incredibly unique, 

I really liked the part where Bliss ends up being adopted by a bookstore owner and she helps turn the store around while also dealing with the bookstore cat. I wish that she had gone straight there instead of being shuffled around (I don’t want to say much and totally spoil the story!) after being captured because I really enjoyed reading about her life at the store.

Overall, Recovered was a good addition to the Shapeshifters’ Library series by Amber Polo. I’m not totally sure if it’s the final book, as some ends didn’t seem to be totally tied up, but I think it could be a fitting conclusion. I really enjoyed getting to know these shapeshifting librarians and think other book and fantasy lovers would too!

Happy reading :)

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Bunch of Mini Reviews 5: Yet Another Library Edition

Yes, folks, it's another round of mini reviews featuring books I got from my library! This edition includes two YA books that are part of a series (but not the same series...very different ones, in fact) and an adult novel I've been meaning to read for years.

Pushing the Limits - Katie McGarry (synopsis)

I hadn't heard much about this first book in the series but when the second, Dare You To, was released I realized every YA blogger was talking about it. Once I heard book #2 had a baseball player as the love interest, I put a reserve in at my library for book #1, Pushing the Limits.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this book. In fact, I actually thought that it was a New Adult book when I had first heard about the series. Nope, YA. The characters are still in high school. Once I realized that, I prepared myself for some overly angsty...er...angst. Happily, it didn't come. Sure, the situations Echo and Noah are in are extremely dramatic, and I'd hope not many teens would have to deal with those kinds of issues, but McGarry does a good job of making it realistic and relatable.
As many bloggers like to say, this book had all the feelings. Really. I was constantly feeling up and down and sideways because I was so invested in these characters. Echo and Noah were real people to me. They were just kids. Kids who had been dealt an incredibly shitty hand in life but were just trying to make it work while also dealing with the normal agonies of high school.
I really liked Pushing the Limits. At times the situations are so hard to take but I think that's what makes it so great. Author Katie McGarry doesn't shy away from issues. She presents them head on because she knows her readers can handle it. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, Dare You To, which has Noah's friend Beth as the heroine and the aforementioned baseball player as the hero. I must say that I'm not sure how I feel about this because I wasn't too crazy about Beth and it seemed like her romance was already set up at the end of Pushing the Limits. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long for the next book to become available for me at the library!

Austenland - Shannon Hale (synopsis)

This novel has been out since 2007 and I've probably been meaning to read it since it was released. Most of you know that I'm an Austen fan so it's probably surprising that I haven't read it. It's partly due to the fact that I couldn't buy it in store. Seriously. Chapters just didn't carry it. I thought about buying it when I was in the States last year and at a Barnes and Noble but I decided to pass on it. I could have ordered it when I made other online orders but I just never did. I decided to finally request it from the library because there's going to be a movie and I didn't want anything spoiled for me. Unfortunately, I accidentally found out who is playing Jane, the main character, so I wasn't able to form my own picture of her in my head. Oh well!
I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy this one simply because I had been waiting eons to read it. Happily, I ended up really liking it. It was a quick read (it was a much smaller book than I expected!) but an enjoyable one. My favourite part about it was that it was funny - a clever funny, just like Austen's novels. I found myself laughing out loud at numerous parts. Example A:

"I wasn't aware until this precise and awkward moment that when startled in a strange place, my instincts would have me pretend to be a ninja."

Example B:

"It's not something you tell your single best friend. It's like rubbing your nose in the poop of my happiness."

Sorry, no page numbers as I just tweeted the lines and didn't make a proper note. Just rereading those lines make me giggle again.
All in all, I liked reading Austenland. Shannon Hale didn't blow my mind with her story but it was clever and cute and had great Austen-esque touches. Plus, it had probably the best dedication ever:

What's not to love about that? Now I can watch the trailer, read the news about the movie, and check out the sequel, Midnight in Austenland. Fun!

Insurgent - Veronica Roth (synopsis)

I couldn't wait to dive into book two of this series. I rushed to the library as soon as I found out it was in but I had to put off reading it until I had finished some others - so hard to do! I had heard that the second book wasn't as good as Divergent but I still really enjoyed it.
It's very much a war book - lots of death and dealing with the aftermath (emotionally and physically). Tris is still reeling from what she had to do at the end of the first book and I don't blame her one bit. There were so many heart wrenching moments that I think were well written.
There were a few occasions when Tris' age was brought up. Sometimes she's referred to as a child, sometimes an adult (reminder: she's sixteen). I don't know if it was intentional but I'm glad it was part of the story because it helps the reader remember that she's a young girl having to deal with issues she shouldn't have to (which builds from the above point).
This review was a lot harder to write than I thought! I think it's because I don't want to give anything away and it's one of those cases where I just loved it so I don't know what to say!
There are still many questions that need to be answered as Insurgent was left on a bit of a cliffhanger. I had planned my reading of this series so I wouldn't have to wait too long for the third and final book, Allegiant, to be released but I'm already wishing the days would move faster! The book will be published on October 22 (a month yesterday!!) and I am second in line for my library...and I just checked and there will be two copies. I'll still have to wait for the book to be processed but at least I'll get it!

Happy reading :)

Review: The Rosie Project

I had heard SO many good things about The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion when it was first released in Canada this past May. I belatedly put myself on the library hold list and finally got the chance to read it (I say finally because my library didn't realize how popular it was going to be and didn't order enough copies even though Natalie from Browsing Bookshelves, a librarian in my city, told them to!). By the time I got the book I had totally forgotten what it was about and I think that was a good thing. I was able to enjoy the novel and getting to know main character Don without any expectations.

Here's the synopsis:

A first-date dud, socially awkward and overly fond of quick-dry clothes, genetics professor Don Tillman has given up on love, until a chance encounter gives him an idea.
He will design a questionnaire—a sixteen-page, scientifically researched questionnaire—to uncover the perfect partner. She will most definitely not be a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker or a late-arriver. Rosie is all these things. She is also fiery and intelligent, strangely beguiling, and looking for her biological father a search that a DNA expert might just be able to help her with.

The Rosie Project was completely different than any other novel I've read - which was awesome. I think some might compare it to A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time but I haven't read that one myself. One of the big things that makes the story different is the narrator. When we first meet Don, a genetics professor, he's about to present a lecture on Asperger's. It quickly becomes clear that he may have some characteristics that are associated with Asperger's. Since the story is told in first person, we really get a sense of Don and his...quirks, shall we say. He's very particular, analytical, and seemingly formal. For example, here's a paragraph from right at the beginning of the book:

The sequence was initiated by Gene insisting I give a lecture on Asperger's syndrome that he had previously agreed to deliver himself. The timing was extremely annoying. The preparation could be time-shared with lunch consumption, but on the designated evening I had scheduled ninety-four minutes to clean my bathroom. I was faced with a choice of three options, none of them satisfactory. (page 1)

The whole novel is written like that and while it may seem annoying it actually makes the book amazing. To the average person, Don's actions may seem odd but by reading in the first person we can see Don's motivations and understand why he's acting the way he is.

I wasn't sure how things were going to turn out in the end. There were so many options and I realized that I was really hoping that Don and Rosie would realize they were in love with each other and could be happy together. I really liked how Simsion wrapped up the story and thought it was a great way to end the novel.

The Rosie Project won't be for everyone but I found Graeme Simsion's enjoyable. It was a unique novel filled with both humour and serious topics and I think many others will like it as well.

Happy reading!

Bunch of Mini Reviews 4: Another Library Edition

I have another round of mini reviews for you! Once again, this features three library books...and they couldn't be more different. I've got a dystopian YA, a women's fiction, and a mystery that turns out to have been written by J.K. Rowling. It's always good to have a little variety in life, right? And happily, all three of these novels were really good reads!

Divergent - Veronica Roth (synopsis)

This is another one of those YA novels that's been on my radar for ages but I just didn't feel like picking it up. I didn't really think I'd enjoy it and I had all sorts of other (adult) books to read. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading it because I couldn't remember what it was about (I don't reread the synopsis before starting a book), I just knew that I wanted to see what all the excitement was about. Plus, the fact that it's being made into a movie helped make me finally read it.
The world we see in Divergent is similar to one that we've seen in other novels - a sort of post-apocalyptic/dystopian America that has found a new way to govern themselves, usually by separating the citizens into groups. In this book, we find ourselves in what used to be Chicago. I mention this because I enjoyed the little references that gave away the location. But we don't really know what the rest of the world (aka the US) is up to and how they're managing.
I really liked Tris. I don't know if I'd say she's a great female character (she's a little hard on herself when it comes to her looks, which I think is ridiculous and is a trend with these types of books) but she's definitely not the worst. She discovers a strength in herself that she didn't realize she had but she struggles with it too.
Was I completely obsessed with this book like so many others are? Not really. I didn't want to put it down, though, and I'm eager to read the next two books. I think it's probably best to go into reading this one without comparing it to any of the other, similar, series out there. Enjoy it for it what it is on its own. Divergent was a really enjoyable read and a great book to pick up if you're looking to start a new series.

Big Girl Panties - Stephanie Evanovich (synopsis)

I was looking forward to reading this novel because I wanted a good, sort of light, funny read. I was worried though because a fellow blogger tried to read this book and couldn't get past the first few chapters. Happily, I found that Evanovich delivered what I was looking for and I really enjoyed reading this book.
I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that Logan's friend Chase played baseball for the New York Kings. Not the Yankees but the Yankees. Confused? I know baseball and I know the AL East well since I live in Canada and that's the division our only team is in. What I can't understand is why the author named the Blue Jays and the Red Sox but decided to rename the Yankees. My first thought was that there's some sort of copyright situation and she'd have to pay a bazillion dollars to use the name. If so, naming them the Kings? Is that because she truly believes the team to be the King of the MLB? Because if it is, I feel like I should dislike her and her book on principle! ;) Or is it because she was writing about a fictional player she thought she should rename the team? All I know is that I'm way too interested in this aspect of the novel. I NEED TO KNOW!
Thinking back on it, there were some aspects of the novel (mostly characteristics of Holly and Logan) that were a tad...irksome, let's say. It frustrated me that Logan was being so stupidly shallow and I thought she deserved better than that. She was doing so well and moving on with her life and I was worried Logan would end up being a world class jerk and hurt her. I could see that they had chemistry, though, and they were good when they were together so I was rooting for them to figure out their problems.
I think you'll enjoy this novel if you go in expecting exactly what it is - a humorous women's fiction novel. It's so much more than the romance between Holly and Logan. It's about being good to yourself and figuring out what you want in life. It was sweet, not too heavy, and quite funny at times. In fact, I was reminded of Jennifer Weiner at times while reading this book. Mostly because Weiner has written about heroines who have weight issues but also because of the tone of the novel itself. Big Girl Panties should be on your end of summer reading list!

The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith (synopsis)

Once the news broke that this novel was actually written by J.K. Rowling I hopped on over to my library's site and reserved it. I was lucky as I was twelfth in line. A few days later the requests were up past 80! They only had one copy though so I had to wait patiently for my turn with this book.
I had no idea what to expect with this novel. I don't read a lot of  mystery/detective stories but I told myself that since I enjoy movies like that every once and awhile, I would probably like the book. Turns out I was right. The novel was fabulous.
I think the best part was the mystery itself. If you've read Harry Potter you know that Rowling gave tons of little hints throughout the series that you didn't realize were hints until you finished the last book. This novel was like that too. I had no idea who could be the murderer and I was anxious to figure it out. I, for one, was surprised to find out the truth at the end. It was great! Er, as great as things could be when there are possible murderers hanging around...
I must say that it did take me a little while to read this book. It's not slow, exactly, but there's a lot of investigating that needs to be done that I think slows things down. All the info that's uncovered is interesting but you have no idea how it fits into the overall story.
If you're at all interested in the story pick up The Cuckoo's Calling. It was a really well told and interesting detective story and I hope Rowling continues with the series. I'd like to see what Strike and Robin get up to next!

Bunch of Mini Reviews 3: Library Edition

It's time for another round of mini reviews! I've been using my local library a lot lately because I'm trying to cut back on spending (on everything, not just books) and I already own a bazillion books that I haven't read yet. At one point this summer I think I had nine books reserved! Here are three I've read recently. Enjoy!

Beautiful Ruins - Jess Walters (synopsis)

I had heard so many good things about this novel since it was released last summer. I thought it sounded alright but wasn't too sure how I'd feel about it. After it came across my path a few times recently I decided to request it from my library.
I have to say that I was disappointed in this novel. It's not like I had high expectations for it, I just was surprised that there wasn't more drawing me in. The characters didn't do anything for me - and there were a lot of them. I was annoyed by the constant change in time, too. There are scenes from 1945, '62, '67, '78, '07, '08, and "recently", with most taking place in 1962 and recently. There was also a movie pitch chapter (about a guy in the 1800s), and two book chapter chapters. It was just too fragmented for me.
What I did like, however, was the film history aspect of the novel. The parts in 1962 are occurring because of the epic Cleopatra so it was fun to think about what it would have been like if this was true.
Beautiful Ruins wasn't a bad novel and I can see why it received so much praise. It just wasn't for me.
Now, here's something that doesn't really have much to do with the story but I want to note it. Take another look at the cover of this one, note the author's name, and read the synopsis here. I will wait. *hums tunelessly* Would you be surprised to learn that Jess Walters is, in fact, a man? I was. It's sort of a reverse genderflip (see this article for a crash course in what I'm talking about). My point is that we're so used to seeing bright colours and rounded, almost cursive, script on covers of books by women that even I assumed that this book was by a female (though, to be fair, I don't know a single male Jess). I just found it interesting and wanted to share!

Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger - Beth Harbison (synopsis)

I've always heard good things about Harbison in the chick lit world (and even have one of her previous books on my shelf) so I reserved her latest at my library to see what she was all about.
I read this one in one day and it was sweet and fun. However, it's not super amazing and I wonder what her fans think of this book compared to her others. I think I was expecting a little more and, while I did enjoy reading this book, it's kind of forgettable. Does that sound harsh and negative? I suppose it does. There just wasn't anything about this story that really stood out for me. I had the ending pegged from the start. I can usually look past that predictability within my favourite genre if there's a really good journey or twists but this book didn't quite have that.
I think one of my favourite parts was the challenge Quinn's best friend, Glenn, set up for her. He gave her a task every day that was something out of her comfort zone (going commando day and day drunk day had some amusing results).
I also really liked the small town aspect of this novel. I loved that Quinn owned a bridal shop and designed and sewed custom wedding dresses and that Glenn worked right next door at a wine and cheese shop (er..it may have been just a cheese shop..). The connection Quinn has with Frank and Burke's grandmother's farm is really great, too.
I still think that this book a good read overall. I enjoyed Quinn's story and I think others would too.

Inferno - Dan Brown (synopsis)

I put myself on the massive waiting list for Brown's latest (well after the fact...not really sure why I didn't request it the minute I knew it was being released) and waited patiently for it to be my turn. I probably could have read it in one day but there were parts in the middle that really dragged for me and I found myself putting it aside for chunks of time. I think my problem was that I let all the negative talk about Brown get into my head. Since I've been paying more attention to the literary/publishing/bookish world in the last couple of years I've seen how some authors get slammed because they don't live up to some sort of standard. I know this is silly and that these books can be really enjoyable but it still affected me. Annoying, I tell you.
I did eventually get past it and I was reminded, close to the end of the book, why I enjoy Brown's novels. He does a good job of completely surprising you. I thought things were all wrapped up and all the surprises were revealed. Nope. Not even by a long shot. Things were cleverly hidden and I would have kept reading to find out exactly what happened had it not been close to midnight.
I found it incredibly irritating that Sienna was constantly being referred to as pretty. I swear, every other description of her included "pretty" or "attractive". It was kind of ridiculous. We know Langdon always solves the mystery with a hot girl, we get it. Let's move on!
I think the other thing I didn't like as much about this one was the mystery (and is probably also the reason I didn't love the last book) itself. I like history but I really like art history and I think that's what I enjoyed about the first two books. Learning about Dante in this book was really interesting but the scientific and villian aspect didn't excite me. In fact, it was kind of terrifying because of the biological things that could happen that we may not even know about.
Overall, Inferno was a good read. Was it my favourite Langdon novel from Brown? No. But it's exactly what you'd expect from him - fast paced, mysterious, and enjoyable.

Blog Tour: Retrieved + a Giveaway!

Last fall I took part in the ABG Reads blog tour for the novel Released by Amber Polo. I was a little unsure about what I would think of it but, as you can see from my review, I ended up really enjoying it! When Colette asked me if I wanted to take part in the tour for the second book in The Shapeshifters' Library series, I immediately said yes. I was happy that I enjoyed Retrieved just as much as the first book!

Here's the synopsis:

Dog-shifters once again face the book-burning werewolves of Shipsfeather in this charming second installment of The Shapeshifters’ Library series.
Godiva Anglesey, Chocolate Labrador, and the ruggedly handsome English Mastiff Cynerik are forced to team up against power-hungry werewolves when Cynerik discovers an ancient Ohio mound that may hold answers to their shifter history. Knowing the mound’s secrets could benefit the dog-shifters in the ongoing contest for power, ambitious werewolf pack Alpha Sybilla challenges timid Godiva to a battle for the territory. Already faced with a malicious book-worm infestation and a censorship threat to ban all anthropomorphic books in her library, Godiva, who has no interest in battling anyone, must turn from running her small town library to train for a challenge she believes she has no chance of winning. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, Godiva’s mother announces that family tradition dictates that Godiva must be married by Summer Solstice… to a Druid. Godiva doesn’t even know any Druids.
Godiva wants to run her library, retrieve books for library patrons, and keep people happy. She’s no hero. She doesn’t have what it takes to face down werewolves or save the world. Cynerik, however, believes differently. Together they must defeat the werewolves, save the town and its library, protect the most important archeological discovery in dog-shifter history… and, just maybe, find love along the way.

I really didn't like Godiva very much in Released so I was worried that I may not enjoy Retrieved simply because of that fact. Luckily, I grew to like Godiva and wanted things to work out for her. I couldn't wait for her to wake up and realize that Griswald, the man she had an enormous crush on, was completely useless and she could do so much better.

Learning the history of these particular shapeshifters and werewolves was, once again, quite interesting (even if the St. Lawrence River was spelled incorrectly...). Once Cynerik found the mound, I was just as anxious as he to find out what was inside and what it meant. I especially liked the storytelling part of the Challenge and thought it further showed how different the shapeshifters and werewolves can be.

Once again, Amber Polo delivered an entertaining read. Retrieved was enjoyable and I think anyone who likes a bit of fantasy should give this one a shot. I'm interested to see what else can happen in the third instalment (no title or date yet).

One final thing: don't forget to enter the giveaway! Click here for the link: a Rafflecopter giveaway. You can win a Shapeshifter Public Library canvas book bag, a print copy of "Retrieved," dog biscuits, and a tuft of genuine wolf fur. This giveaway is tour wide and is open only to US/Canada residents. 

Where to find Amber:

Wordshaping Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest | Google+

daily book pic - week two recap

Week two of the bookish photoaday is complete! Since I don't feel like explaining (again) what this is all about, please check out my week one recap to learn more - and see all the pictures from that week!

Here we go...

Day Eight - Book Fetish

I've had this library card kit for ages and I've never actually used it. I keep thinking about it and then I realized that if I lent a book to a non-booknerd I would be made fun of and/or have to explain myself. I'm sure those non-booknerds just wouldn't get it but I enjoy having this on my bookshelf (where it normally lives - not on the footstool in my living room where I placed it for this photo!)

Day Nine - Not a Book

This girl and a book statue is placed in the lobby of my public library. There's a neat water feature/fountain type thing behind her that really adds to the scene. 

Day Ten - Page Count

For this picture I learned that it is awfully difficult to take a picture of the page count on my Kobo! If you can't read it, I was on page 94 of 592 of Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. I'm on page 213 now but I am *only* 35% read. Man, this book is HUGE - but oh so good.

Day Eleven - New Release 

I had to sneak into a bookstore to take this one as I do not yet have The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner. I reallllly want to read it and can't wait until it is on my shelf!

Day Twelve - Keep Meaning to Read

I have had The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern on my bookshelf for way too long. I actually won this signed copy through a Twitter contest held by Random House Canada. How cool is that? I've heard so many amazing things about this one so I need to read it soon.

Day Thirteen - Library Card

Yes, I have four library cards. Midland is where I grew up (and I actually worked at this library all through high school). I went to school in Waterloo so this card wasn't as well used since I didn't have a lot of time for reading for fun. Barrie was my next card and I only lived there for about a year and a half. I just recently got a card in St. Catharines (almost three weeks ago now) and I've already been a few times. I always like checking out a new library and I find that I always compare it to the Midland Public Library. It's definitely not the best in size (because it's the smallest. Midland has almost 17,000 people where Barrie, Waterloo, and St. Catharines have over 100,000) but I love the building itself. It used to be the old post office and it now has a snazzy new addition. Long story short - I love libraries and I think everyone else should too. :)

Day Fourteen - Picture Book

This was another sneaking into the bookstore shot. I have a few picture books back at my mom's house but none in St. Catharines. Since this was a covert mission I made my way to the kids section and the first book that popped into my head was The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggsby Phoebe Gilman. I don't know if I loved this book as a kid because I thought it was awesome or because my mom did. She's a huge pig fan so it must have been great to read a book about little stuffed pigs to her daughters!

And there we have it. Week two is complete! Are any of you participating? I'm having a lot of fun with it. It's also awesome to see what others are posting and seeing the compilation posts over on Book Riot. Oh, fun side note - my breakfast picture from last week made it into that day's compilation! So cool!

Awesome Things

A little while ago I wrote a review of The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha. This book was a compilation of some of the posts on Neil's blog "1000 Awesome Things." Why am I mentioning this again? Well, after 4 years of writing his blog, the final awesome thing was finally announced. Ready for it?

#1. Anything you want it to be.

This got me thinking...what would I want it to be? Immediately my thoughts went to books. To me, pretty much anything to do with books is awesome.

I've thought this ever since I learned what books were...at least, that's what my mom says. I learned to read early and some of my happiest memories involved going on trips to the library in my home town. My first job was actually at said library. I worked there all four years of high school. My first summer job out of university? A bookstore. And if you're a regular reader of this blog you'll know that I still read. A lot. Some may say too much. I ignore those people. :)

I like reading because it transports me to another world. I love getting wrapped up in the lives of the characters in the story. It provides a bit of an escape when you need a break from your insane or boring life.

There is always something to suit your needs, too. Humour? Check. Romance? Check. Books filled with pictures of nothing but polar bears? Check. (Hey, you never know what you're in the mood for.) Point is, there are SO MANY book options that no one should ever say "I couldn't find anything I wanted to read." Look harder - sometimes that's half the fun!

I love talking about books with people. I will happily discuss books with anyone who wants to and some who don't. I'm happiest when someone stops at my desk at work to talk about book recommendations. (Yes, I'm aware of what that says about my day job, haha) I've just recently joined a book club and I'm really looking forward to our next meeting. Why? Because we will talk about a book that I've just become obsessed with and desperately need to talk about more (The Hunger Games, in case you're curious). As I have learned since starting this blog over a year ago there is a much larger book lover community than I had previously thought. Libraries and book stores used to be the easiest place to find like minded people. Now? We have the world wide web. There are TONS of book lovers out there who love many different genres and are just as eager to talk about books as I am. That, my friends, is awesome.

What about the awesomeness of libraries? They are a place to go to find books. That in itself is awesome. What makes it better is that you can take them home and enjoy them...FOR FREE. You didn't like the book? No big deal. You borrowed it and it didn't cost you anything. You ending up enjoying it and now absolutely adore the author? Now you know to pick up their latest book at the store when it's released - and perhaps all of their previous works as well! Wandering through the stacks can be an awesome experience too. You're just walking through, minding your own business, and BAM! A book jumps out at you, you take it off the shelf, and realize you've just found your next great read. Awesome.

I could really keep going on about the awesomeness of reading and libraries and all things bookish but I'm going to let you come up with some of your own ideas.

What would YOU pick for the #1 awesome thing?

Happy reading :)

Happy First Birthday to Books Etc.!

I can hardly believe it...I've been writing Books Etc. for a whole year now! I think that deserves a lovely, er, electronic cake...

There, I think that does the trick, doesn't it?

Now, I don't have any fancy giveaways or anything, but I wanted to take the time to thank all of you who have been with me from the start or stumbled upon Books Etc. sometime in the last year. Sometimes it's surreal to think of all of you reading my ramblings. I hope I've managed to keep you entertained and introduce you to some great books (and some TV shows) along the way.

I started this blog as a way to talk about one of favourite things - books. I can't get enough of them (seriously, ask anyone who knows me). I am happiest when I have time to read on breaks at work or am able to suggest titles to people. It means so much to me that you guys are reading this and commenting and I hope I can come up with reviews and other posts that inspire you to get more involved.

My very full bookshelf!

My hope is that I can keep growing Books Etc. over the next year. There are so many great blogs (like Chick Lit is Not Dead and Chick Lit Plus) out there and I hope to get up to their level someday. I'm going to start doing some weekly memes hosted by other blogs (stay tuned for "In My Mailbox" and "Top Ten Tuesday"). I love doing challenges (I've adored the Chick Lit Plus Challenge and hope Samantha hosts another one next year!) and have been introduced to some amazing novels through blog tours (also hosted by Samantha). As much as I love those things, I may try to cut back because I have a massive amount of books on my shelf that I haven't had time to read yet. I feel like the books that I've bought for myself aren't getting the attention that I wanted them to get. I also haven't visited the library nearly enough lately and that makes me sad. Must change that! Another goal of mine is to write more posts that aren't strictly reviews. I feel like I have more to say about books, authors, genres, and other happenings in the book world and want to try and incorporate that into this blog.

So now you know where I'd like to go with this blog and how I plan on shaking things up a little bit. I hope you all stick with me to see where this crazy blogging journey will take me in the next year. Thank you. Really.

Happy reading :)

Sarah Dessen Rocks My World

If you were to ask me who my favourite author is my answer would be Sarah Dessen. I don't care if she's a young adult author and I'm not a young adult anymore (well...technically I am, but not in the world of book categories). I will keep reading her books as long as she keeps writing them, no matter how old I get.

I've been reading Sarah Dessen for a really long time. Her first novel, That Summer , was originally released in 1996 (all these dates will be coming from the Goodreads pages) and her second, Someone Like Youwas published in 1998. When I started reading her books I was in high school so it was a few years after they were released (somewhere around 2001 or 2002 I think) but still early on in her career. I happened upon Someone Like You one day when I was at the library (and was very likely working at the time...found some of the best books that way). I can barely remember reading it but I do recall telling my best friend about it because I loved it so much. She read it and we've been hooked ever since.

Dessen has written a total of ten books and, for the most part, I find I love the newest one more than the last. I say "for the most part" because I didn't actually love What Happened to Goodbye (released this past May) as much as Along for the Ride (released June 2009). I'm not really sure why but it didn't seem to grab me as much - maybe I'm *gasp* getting too old for her novels? I sincerely hope that is not the case.

Let me do a quick mini review of Dessen's newest novel, What Happened to Goodbye - I really did like McLean and the fact that she and her dad had a special bond over basketball (I've always been tall so I played basketball myself all the way through elementary and high school). I also loved that her dad had a job much like Gordon Ramsey on Kitchen Nightmares - just without the accent and massive amounts of swearing.  Now, don't get me wrong I absolutely adored the book. It just wasn't one of my favourites. I would still highly recommend it - especially to teens who are looking for something that has nothing to do with vampires.

I've written before about how much I love Sarah Dessen (you can read the posts here and here). When I used to work for a bookstore I would always try to recommend her books to teenagers and the parents who were looking to buy for their daughters. What I really love about Dessen is that no matter what your own situation in life is you will be able to find something in the main character (always female and always a teenager) that you can relate to. And it doesn't hurt that the novels all seem to be set during the summer! My all time favourite Dessen novel is This Lullaby. I think it's because I was able to identify with Remy and her situation a little bit more and I really wanted to find my own Dexter! It's been years since I've read it (and it's on my fairly large pile of to re-read pile, along with Something Borrowed and the entire Harry Potter series!) but I remember absolutely loving it.

With this year's release of What Happened to Goodbye, Sarah Dessen went on the usual book tour - with one notable exception. She came to Canada!!! I was very happy about this because she came to Toronto and I'm only a couple of hours north of the city. My best friend and I decided that no matter what we were going to one of the two talks and signings in September. Now, bear with me for a bit of story time...It was late in the evening the day before we planned to go to the Indigo event instead of the library event the day after and I decided to check my email. Imagine my surprise when I discovered an email telling me that I had won a contest and WOULD GET TO MEET SARAH DESSEN!!! I was so incredibly shocked and immediately called my friend to change our plans. She was just as speechless as I was! I have to say that I was not impressed that I found out with hardly any notice, but we changed our plans and made the drive to Toronto to the library event (in hindsight and from what we heard, it was a much better venue and event). We couldn't believe it. We got to go into a room with a few other contest winners and their guests (probably about 15 of us total) and chat with Sarah Dessen. It was unbelievable. We hung back and let some of the other girls ask questions (in this post by Dessen you can see a pic of the room but my friend and I were standing outside the frame!) but soaked up the awesomness of the evening. We were definitely some of the oldest there, we're 24 and many of the others in the audience ranged from 14-20, but we didn't mind one bit. We got our books signed and had the chance to talk to her quickly. Then there was the talk afterwards which was absolutely amazing. We learned so much about her (and I totally want to be her best friend) and her writing style. This was easily the highlight of my year!

Can you tell that I'm totally freaking out?

If you're still with me after this novel of a post, all I can really say is that I adore Sarah Dessen. I think she is an absolutely amazing person (read her blog to learn more about her) and an equally amazing author. I can't recommend her books enough. Even if you're past the young adult stage, I still think most people would love her books. I'd love to know if any of you have read any of Sarah Dessen's novels and what you thought about them. I'm already looking forward to her next one!

Happy reading :)