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Dec. 13th, 2011
A while back, I posted Amazon.com's list of Ten Essential Books for Young Adults: http://katekintailbc.livejournal.com/80023.html
I decided to work my way through the list. And now I've completed it. Yippie!
So which list do I attempt next?
Top Time Travel Books or Top 10 Male Protagonists?
I decided to work my way through the list. And now I've completed it. Yippie!
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak- The narrator (Death) brought a fantastic perspective to this book set during WWII. I really liked this one; can't say it's one of my favorites of all time and I didn't love it as much as I'd thought I would, but it's certainly a great read.
- The Giver by Lois Lowry- I do love a good dystopian novel. This book amazed and astounded me. One of the best YA books I've ever read.
- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher- Absolutely astounding. One of the best books I've read all year--maybe ever. Highly recommended!
- Monster by Walter Dean Myers- The format worked well and drew me into this powerful story that keeps you wondering.
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson - A well-done moving and believable internal struggle about a difficult-to-speak-about subject.
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie-Excellent story that makes you think a lot about hope and opportunity and culture. I can't wait for its sequel.
- Crank by Ellen Hopkins- While I give Hopkins full marks for creativity in formatting, I just wasn't pulled in by poems the way I'd hoped I'd be, given the subject matter.
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan- Loved it! The story of two different Will Graysons, written by two great YA authors--what's not to love?
- The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman- I really enjoyed this book because I thought the universe Pullman created was amazing. I fell in love with the various characters as well.
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky- I hated this book. I'll go as far as to say I was personally offended by it.
So which list do I attempt next?
Top Time Travel Books or Top 10 Male Protagonists?
Grab Your Nearest Book Swap
Dec. 13th, 2011 10:10 pmI participated in the Grab Your Nearest Book Swap and sent this out:
1. What is the title of the book?
The Lace Reader
2. Who's it written by?
Brunonia Barry
3. How many pages?
390
4. How far are you into reading it?
Just a few chapters left! I’m on page 325.
5. When did you start it?
Um… December 3. So that’s 6 days ago.
6. How long do you think it will take you to finish it?
Another session of reading should probably take care of it.
7. What made you want to read this book?
Long story! I went to the BookCrossing Unconvention in Boston in 2010 and the author was the guest author who talked about her writing, answered audience questions, and read part of this book there for us. I had just gone with the BookCrossers on an early bird convention trip to Salem, where this book is set, and the portion of the book she read really drew me in. It took me a while to get to this book in the rotation, but it was amazing once I started, because I’d seen so many of the places the characters in this book visit. I love books set in places I’ve been to.
8. Would you recommend this book to a friend?
Absolutely! I’m really enjoying it.
9. When do you find most of your reading time?
I mostly read while driving (earreading audio books), working on graphic stuff at work (also earreading audio books), or just before bed.
10. Are you a slow or fast reader?
SLOW! One of the things I like about audio books is that they get me reading the book at a normal pace. Otherwise, I’m terribly slow because I carefully read every word.
11. How much did you pay for the book?
I didn’t pay for it. A BookCrosser sent it to me as a gift because it was on my wish list.
12. Hardback or softback?
Over-sized paperback.
13. Have you read anything else by the author?
Nope. Not even sure if she’s written anything else. *checks* Oh, she has one other book that came out on March 22, 2011. Maybe I’ll look that up soon! Looks like it’s set in Salem as well.
14. What's the genre of the book?
Oohh. Um, general fiction/literature with a bit of mystery and drama and psychological thriller and love story mixed in maybe? I’m bad at classifying things.
15. What point of view is it written in?
Mostly first person, but there are some sections in third person omniscient.
16. Who is the narrator?
Mostly it’s the main character, Towner. But she is an unreliable narrator. The book begins “My name is Towner Whitney. No, that’s not exactly true. My real first name is Sophya. Never believe me. I lie all the time.” So you can’t always trust anything that goes on in the book. But we also get little bits from other characters like Cal (the “bad guy”) and Rafferty (the “love interest”). Towner is fascinating—she’s been through a lot, emotionally (hospitalized and given shock treatments after attempting suicide, she also has a gift for reading people’s futures and doesn’t want to be back in Salem to find a family member who is missing).
17. Have you ever read this book before or would you read it again?
I haven’t read it before, but I would read it again, if given the opportunity. There’s a twist I can see coming and I’m pretty sure it will be a much different read the second time around, knowing the truth the whole time. But there are a LOT Of books that need to get red. I may never revisit it.
18. Open it to page 46 and give me the 14th line:
“who are seated on the schoolhouse floor in the far corner, playing”
19. Where did you buy the book?
I didn’t. it was mailed to me by a generous BookCrosser. Yay!
20. Would this book be a good book for a reading group?
It would be an excellent reading group book. So much to analyze and think about, lots of different groups & mentalities of people clashing, and some mysterious elements & characters. It’s also got some amazing themes and the concept of lace reading (looking through lace to “read” people’s futures like someone would read tarot cards or palms) is a fascinating element/device.
There is even a Reading Group Guide at the end of this copy of the book to help guide discussion.
1. What is the title of the book?
The Lace Reader
2. Who's it written by?
Brunonia Barry
3. How many pages?
390
4. How far are you into reading it?
Just a few chapters left! I’m on page 325.
5. When did you start it?
Um… December 3. So that’s 6 days ago.
6. How long do you think it will take you to finish it?
Another session of reading should probably take care of it.
7. What made you want to read this book?
Long story! I went to the BookCrossing Unconvention in Boston in 2010 and the author was the guest author who talked about her writing, answered audience questions, and read part of this book there for us. I had just gone with the BookCrossers on an early bird convention trip to Salem, where this book is set, and the portion of the book she read really drew me in. It took me a while to get to this book in the rotation, but it was amazing once I started, because I’d seen so many of the places the characters in this book visit. I love books set in places I’ve been to.
8. Would you recommend this book to a friend?
Absolutely! I’m really enjoying it.
9. When do you find most of your reading time?
I mostly read while driving (earreading audio books), working on graphic stuff at work (also earreading audio books), or just before bed.
10. Are you a slow or fast reader?
SLOW! One of the things I like about audio books is that they get me reading the book at a normal pace. Otherwise, I’m terribly slow because I carefully read every word.
11. How much did you pay for the book?
I didn’t pay for it. A BookCrosser sent it to me as a gift because it was on my wish list.
12. Hardback or softback?
Over-sized paperback.
13. Have you read anything else by the author?
Nope. Not even sure if she’s written anything else. *checks* Oh, she has one other book that came out on March 22, 2011. Maybe I’ll look that up soon! Looks like it’s set in Salem as well.
14. What's the genre of the book?
Oohh. Um, general fiction/literature with a bit of mystery and drama and psychological thriller and love story mixed in maybe? I’m bad at classifying things.
15. What point of view is it written in?
Mostly first person, but there are some sections in third person omniscient.
16. Who is the narrator?
Mostly it’s the main character, Towner. But she is an unreliable narrator. The book begins “My name is Towner Whitney. No, that’s not exactly true. My real first name is Sophya. Never believe me. I lie all the time.” So you can’t always trust anything that goes on in the book. But we also get little bits from other characters like Cal (the “bad guy”) and Rafferty (the “love interest”). Towner is fascinating—she’s been through a lot, emotionally (hospitalized and given shock treatments after attempting suicide, she also has a gift for reading people’s futures and doesn’t want to be back in Salem to find a family member who is missing).
17. Have you ever read this book before or would you read it again?
I haven’t read it before, but I would read it again, if given the opportunity. There’s a twist I can see coming and I’m pretty sure it will be a much different read the second time around, knowing the truth the whole time. But there are a LOT Of books that need to get red. I may never revisit it.
18. Open it to page 46 and give me the 14th line:
“who are seated on the schoolhouse floor in the far corner, playing”
19. Where did you buy the book?
I didn’t. it was mailed to me by a generous BookCrosser. Yay!
20. Would this book be a good book for a reading group?
It would be an excellent reading group book. So much to analyze and think about, lots of different groups & mentalities of people clashing, and some mysterious elements & characters. It’s also got some amazing themes and the concept of lace reading (looking through lace to “read” people’s futures like someone would read tarot cards or palms) is a fascinating element/device.
There is even a Reading Group Guide at the end of this copy of the book to help guide discussion.
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