whoops

Double whoops: I started this post in February and yet somehow never got around to completing it.
Perhaps my goal should be to update once a month. I might be able to handle that. Maybe.
Just because I'm not posting certainly doesn't mean I'm not reading. Finished recently (really just within my memory): Forever Princess by Meg Cabot, Ransom My Heart by Mia Thermopolis (aka Meg Cabot), Moloka'i by Alan Brennert, and Looks by Madeleine George.
I enjoyed that Cabot linked Forever Princess and Ransom My Heart, the latter being Mia's senior project, a historical romance in medieval England. The main character in Ransom My Heart, in my limited Cabot-reading experience, was different from most of Cabot's heroines in that she was a little more assertive, a little less wishy-washy. However, Finn still didn't think she was much to look at, which is a trait most of Cabot's main characters share. It is a good story, about a girl who kidnaps an earl (but doesn't know he's an earl), and it's a little racy, there being some sex scenes in it (which has Mia rather concerned when she thinks about sharing it with her friends). Definitely an engrossing story, well written and moves at a decent pace. Forever Princess, sadly the last in the Princess Diaries series (sadly for me anyway, I love those stories), begins at the end of Mia's senior year. She's trying to decide what college to go to, whether or not she wants to go to prom, what to do about JP, what to do about turning 18, you know, what to do about life in general. A rather large shocker (and perhaps what turns Mia back to her diary, as she hasn't written in it since her junior year) is that her ex-boyfriend Michael shows up back in New York. Mia has to ask herself, is she really over Michael? Is JP definitely The One? Or is Mia just as confused as she's always been? A happy ending for Princess Diaries fans, but the book definitely should get scooched to the Young Adult area--there's more than just talk about sex in this one.
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert is, as one of my colleagues described it, a character driven story, and Rachel is an intriguing, funny, determined character. I'll be the first to admit that I often do not read books typically chosen by book clubs, but after the insistence and positive reviews of a friend, as well as my own obsession and interest in Hawaiian history, I gave in and read the book. I am very glad that I did. Rachel contracts leprosy at the age of 7 and is sent to a hospital outside of Honolulu. When she fails to get any better, she is sent to the island of Molokai, where most leprosy patients are sent essentially to die. Thankfully, her uncle is on the island, so she is not completely disconnected from all family and that makes being there as such a young girl a little easier. Rachel grows older on the island, adventures out with other teenage girls, gets a job, falls in love, and attempts to live as normal a life as possible, trapped as she is. Major events in Hawaiian history pass over and around the people on Molokai, often not finding out until much later what occurred. This novel is driven by Rachel, so if you begin the novel and do not enjoy her character or are expecting something BIG to happen, you'll not enjoy the book. It is well written and moving and a rewarding read. Highly recommended, if you enjoy well developed characters and are happy to watch a character's life.
Looks by Madeleine George is a tale of a fat girl and a skinny girl, to put it bluntly. Meghan spends her life trying to blend in to the scenery, trying to be ignored, trying to walk past the bullies who tease and torment her, just trying to get to her classes. Meghan is a watcher, she watches and listens to what goes on at the school and speaks as little as possible. Twig thin Aimee is new to the school and is looking for something to enjoy, something to be a part of, and finds Cara and the school's literary journal. Meghan tries to warn Aimee about Cara, but Aimee is a little freaked out by the girl who watches people and appears to have no friends. When Cara does something Aimee finds unforgivable, she and Meghan team up to bring revenge on Cara (and as a bonus for Meghan, humiliate the jock who spends his time torturing Meghan). This is a short book but powerful with strong characters that does not focus on the girls' eating disorders, though there are a couple of scenes that dramatize the hungry--Aimee and her taunting carrot sticks, refusing to allow herself to eat them, and Meghan eating and eating to calm down and not feel so empty. Does their revenge turn out the way they would like? Is revenge the best way to feel better? It sounds great when planning it, but both girls learn that sometimes you can't take things back. Excellent reading.
That's it for this short post; on to the next one to cover some of what I read in the rest of February.
I remain, the (procrastinating) Savage Librarian.

What an absence it's been.

Forgive the great absence, dear readers, but I've been a bit slow reading this past month. I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month and so have been a bit distracted by my so-called novel.
In trying to remember what I have read recently, I had to go back and check to see the last book I updated on.
O my. I've finished Airhead by Meg Cabot, Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd, Blood Alone by James Benn, and I just finished Pride & Prejudice last night (book 5 of 6, woohoo!). I may or may not have read something else in between some of those, for I have them written down somewhere (just not anywhere convenient). I can tell you I started reading Savvy by Ingrid Law, but could not finish it. It had a wonderful story, but the voice of Mibs, the main character, drove me to distraction. On the thirteenth birthday of each member of her family, the person receives their savvy, or special talent. Her grandfather could create land (the family lived between Kansas and Nebraska on the land he created), her brother Fish had power over the rain, her other brother Rocket was electrically charged, and her mother did everything perfectly (even when she screwed up). Mibs is waiting for her savvy when her father is in a car accident. Her mother and Rocket are away from the family and so Mibs turns 13 with all the people in town she does not like. That's about as far as I got before I stopped reading because Mibs's "aw shucks" voice was entirely too distracting from the story. I know other librarians who have enjoyed the story and ordinarily I think I would too but I did not have the patience to attempt it.
Airhead, the first of a new Meg Cabot series, was a fluffy, interesting read. A supermodel, a normal girl, and a whole body transplant. I love that Cabot can mix the girly with the sci-fi and that Em learns it's not easy being a supermodel.
Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd is a story about Ireland in the 80s. Fergus finds a preserved child in the bog; a scientist comes to excavate (who happens to have a teenage daughter) and Fergus dreams/thinks about the child's past and her story. I like that Dowd did so well weaving the historical aspect with the modern day (modern day to the story that is). Fergus's older brother is in jail and joins a hunger strike in the prison and the whole family do what they can to convince him not to do it. It's a coming of age story but during a time and in a place that most US readers aren't familiar with it. I looked a little into the history of Ireland during the 80's so I would have a slight idea of what was going on when some of the political terms were mentioned. You can certainly read it without that, but it may not make as much sense.
Blood Alone by James Benn is the third Billy Boyle mystery. I may or may not have said it before, but I am not a big mystery fan. They're just not my types of books. But I have found two mystery writers I enjoy, James Benn being one. I don't know if it's the WWII setting that I enjoy, or the great way he develops characters, but I'm kind of dreading the end of the war because what stories will Billy have to share with us then? It's fall of 1944, I think, and the book begins with Billy having lost his memory. A fantastic series. I think he just keeps getting better.
Is it even necessary for me to mention Pride & Prejudice? There is something comforting about reading a book you're familiar with; it's nice to have a story that you know, you know what will happen, but it's still a pleasure and a delight to take that journey with the characters again. I love the story. I love watching Elizabeth change. I love watching Lydia frustratingly stay the same. I love thinking how different things might have been had Mr. Collins chosen Mary instead of Charlotte. I love the interactions and the social niceties and Lady Catherine and the Gardiners, and Jane and Bingley, oh it's just so wonderful. Only Persuasion remains for me to read this year. I like that book and it feels appropriate, saving it for last.
Forgive the brief reviews, but I just wanted to have something out there to be read. Currently reading The Glass of Time by Michael Cox, a continuation of a sort of his The Meaning of Night. I'm only 27 pages in, so I haven't too much of an opinion yet. But Cox has a great way of drawing a person in.
So until I update again (hopefully not a month later), I remain,
the Savage Librarian.
Have happy holidays, all.

Hungry

I finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins over the weekend. It's a really engaging story and one of the aspects I liked most is that you know Katniss is going to the Hunger Games (otherwise you wouldn't have a story) so Collins doesn't take ages to get her there. I appreciate that. Oftentimes authors will build and build and build to a plot point we already know is going to happen but Collins doesn't do that. Katniss lives in a future America (after the collapse of the United States), in one of the poorest districts of Panem, the new country. Every year, two teenagers, a boy and a girl between 12 and 18, are chosen from each district to participate in the Hunger Games. The Games are a fight to the death for the entertainment of those who live in the Capitol (as a means to remind the 12 districts outside of the Capitol of a war 74 years ago in which the Capitol destroyed the no longer existing 13th District). So Katniss goes with a boy from her district and they get pampered and powdered and fed and fluffed the week prior to the Games and then are thrown into the Arena (a recreation of a wilderness, with a few surprises) to fight it out. This is when the book starts to get a little gruesome. Nearly half of the 24 tributes are dead after the first day. Katniss must survive on her wits and her skills. The first book of a planned trilogy, The Hunger Games is a great read (Collins has a way of ending chapters so you want to turn the page to start the next chapter; it's nearly irresistible), though I have to admit I was a little disappointed to find there are two more books planned. I think it would have been a remarkable novel on its own but I'll definitely read the next one to see what she has in store next. Reminded me a little of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies; definitely for middle schoolers and up because of the gore.
Just started Meg Cabot's Airhead and I'm not sure I'm going to like the new Emerson Watts (but then I'm not sure Emerson Watts will like the new Emerson Watts); I feel I would have gotten along with the old one just fine. In between reads, I remain, the Savage Librarian.

Totally Devoted to Princess Mia

I'm a little slow with updating this news and I've known for a bit, but this is my shameless plea to the wonderfully talented Meg Cabot to consider sending me an advanced reader's copy of Forever Princess and/or Ransom My Heart. I'm torn between sadness that these will be the last of the Princess Diaries books, and excitement because Forever Princess is 416 pages and Ransom My Heart is 384 pages. They will certainly be sizeable (enjoyable!) reads. I'm going to have a difficult time waiting for January 2009 to roll around to find out what happens to Mia. Ack! I'm curious about how her senior year will go as well and am interested that the story is jumping that far in advance and am hoping it turns out well. Besides, what is Ransom My Heart? Is it Mia's first published book? What type of story is it? What will happen!!! I'm just a bundle of excited nerves for these books. And I have to wait until January. January!! Sigh. People say there is less excitement in the book world now that the Harry Potter books are finished, but I'm on pins and needles for the end of this saga. I think I'll have to re-read them all in anticipation of the release of these last two, so I know ALL of what's been happening with Mia. I'm eagerly looking forward to it (as soon as I finish my re-reading of Jane Austen's novels...).
Thus ends the Savage Librarian's very fan-girly entry.