An Inquiry into Love and Death by Simone St. James

from goodreads

4.5 stars

Here we are. The last post of summer vacation. I can't believe the summer has already gone by but... I am ready for the kids to be back to school. I found last year's summer went super fast and I was not ready for school to start. This year, though it did go by quickly, I felt we accomplished and did so much that it will be nice for school to start so I can have a bit of a break!

This weekend we don't have any plans but I am sure we will be up to something. I am excited with what we are going to do. We might have a pyjama day, we might go hiking, we might do a thorough deep clean! Who knows. I am kind of excited about all the possibilities.
Synopsis

Jillian Leigh, is a a twenty something year old at Oxford, one of the first women at Oxford. She is called to meet with a lawyer and is informed that her Uncle Toby is dead (due to mysterious circumstances), and, as her parents are away, she has to go and identify his body and collect his belongings. Jillian reluctantly obliges. While at the small seaside village where her uncle was last residing she ends up with more questions than answers. And, with the arrival of a handsome detective from Scotland Yard her whole world is turned upside down.

My Thoughts

This book had a bit of everything. There was a ghost story, a history lesson, a romance, and, really, a coming of age story. And despite having so many genre's in it it was a really great story. It had me hooked from the beginning and I was thinking about the story for a few days afterwards. And that doesn't happen to me very often.

The book is told in the first person from the perspective of Jillian. She is an interesting character. She is one of the first women to be educated at Oxford and doesn't feel that she has to be searching for a husband to get fulfillment from life, yet she still feels conflicted about this as the rest of society has yet to catch up to this form of thinking. This conflict gives her much depth and allowed me to explore what I think about the conflicts we as women sometimes face in our lives.

All the characters were well fleshed out and believable. Even if their part in the story took less than a page we knew what type of person they were and could picture them easily.

Some of the romance stuff seemed a bit rushed. Jillian and Drew, the dective, just met and then they became attached at the hip. It just seemed a bit forced. But then other romance scenes seemed to drag on a bit too much. Maybe I am just too hard to please.

I liked how the plot threw in some twists and you really weren't sure what was going to happen at the end. Everything gets wrapped up nicely at the end. There are no loose ends and everything that happens seems believable. It is not all too convenient. I also liked that even though it was a ghost story, it wasn't creepy or scary. My imagination can get quite carried away so I was a bit nervous when I started the book. But, I could handle it so that's good.

The one thing that I didn't like about the book was the big "F" bomb that was dropped in the middle. I understand that sometimes swearing is appropriate with the character. It wouldn't be believable otherwise. In this case, I didn't think it was necessary. It was the only swear word in the book and I don't know how it enhanced the understanding of the character. I know that he is a veteran of WWI and he was rough around the edges, but still. I found the use of it to take the book down a couple of notches. It was really good up to that point, and good after that point. Maybe to other readers it wouldn't matter and they wouldn't notice. I don't know.

I think you will really enjoy this book. It has something that everyone can enjoy.

Maybe a Bear Ate It! By Robie H. Harris Illustrated by Michael Emberley

from goodreads

4 stars

Has this ever happened to you? You set something down, and when you go back for it the item has vanished? This happens to me all the time! Alright, maybe not all the time but it does happen enough that I have come to the conclusion that elves live in my house and move things. It is the only logical explanation to me.

The worst is when the baby is napping my chores are done and I can relax with a hot caf-lib and my book, and my book is no where to be found. Not on the shelf, or my purse, or my night table. When this happens I go Captain Kirkish, or for the new Star Trek version Spockish and instead of yelling "KHAAAN" I say "ELVES" while shaking my fist. I can think of no more frustrating thing then being denied relaxing reading time. Well, maybe when I have to coax my kids into putting away their clothes. That can also be frustrating, but I'm sure you know what I mean.

Do you have elves, or pixies, or fairies or bears, in your house?

Synopsis

This little critter is already for bed but can't find his book anywhere. The only explanation is, a bear eating it or maybe a dinosaur.

My Thoughts

When I saw this book in the library and flipped through it I saw one page which made me know I had to get it. It was the critter (I think it is a cat) that was sadly yelling "I need my book!" I knew that this was the book for me.

I could definitely identify with the critter. At the end of the day I love to get in my comfiest pyjamas and crawl into bed and get all cozy reading my book. If my book was gone I would be quite put out too.

My oldest loved all the different possibilities the critter came up with in what could have happened to it. I liked that the place where it was found was a rather obvious one (isn't that always the way). I also liked that my oldest could read this too me. There were enough variety of words that it was a bit challenging but not so challenging that she was getting frustrated.

My middle child didn't like this book. She found it annoying that the cat was spending all that time coming up with what if's and not just getting on with it and finding the book. (I was a bit with her on that one, it did seem to go on a little bit too long.)

I liked the pictures, so did my oldest. The middle one did not, but maybe she is just going through a picky phase.

All in all, I think this will be a fun book to read out loud to your kids, or maybe get them to read it to you. Happy last week of summer! I can't believe school starts (Canadians at least) in just a week! Enjoy!

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

from goodreads

5 stars

How do you choose what book to read? Does the cover influence you in your choice? I don't necessarily consider myself to be a real visual person but, I must admit that, covers do play an important role in my books of choice. Or they do when, on those rare moments of mommy freedom, I am able to go up and down the stacks at the library and browse, hoping to find a new favourite.  Sometimes an intriguing cover does produce an intriguing story. Other times, well let's just say the old adage, you can't judge a book by it's cover applies, but in the opposite sense. Cover good, book bad.

Some of the books that I have chose purely by their cover and loved are The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz and this one that I am currently reviewing. I am not quite sure what it was about those covers that intrigued me, but I am glad they did. What books do you love because of the cover?

Synopsis

This is the story of Hansel and Gretel like you have never read before. Gidwitz weaves their characters through eight tales by the Brothers Grimm.

My Thoughts

I loved this book! I am so glad the cover caught my eye. I happened to be walking through the juniors section on the way out of and bam, I saw it and I was like, hey, that looks interesting. (I also got the second one out, not as good as this one though, but I think I will read the third one eventually.)

I love how the author seamlessly bridges the different tales together using the characters of Hansel and Gretel. If you didn't know you would think they really were the central characters in the real tales. The jump from tale to tale do not feel awkward at all and actually pushes the story along.

I like how he doesn't hide or sugarcoat the goriness of the original fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. If someone's head gets chopped off, that's just what happens. Gretel at one point cuts off one of her fingers. That's what happens in a Grimm fair tale.

While some might find the author's interjections throughout a bit annoying, I loved it and thought it really engaged the reader and made the gruesome parts a little less gruesome and shocking. Some people, and possibly children, get disturbed by vomiting and body mutilation. With the author warning about it, it helps prepare the reader, and with that preparation they are able to handle it a bit better.

This was just such a fun book. I read it in a day. I can't wait until my kids are a bit older so we can read it together. I think this book would appeal to a mature nine year-old and up. This would also be a great book for boys (if you are looking for something for your son to get into) as it has some pretty gross, yet cool things in it. I just loved this book!!!! I may even read the original Grimm stories. If the tales in here are any indication of their work their tales are pretty interesting.

Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields Illustrated by Dophie Blackall

from goodreads

4 stars

Last week my family and I went camping with a few other families. Of all the weeks of this summer it was the coldest and wettest yet. Not the best week to have gone camping but we still had fun. I didn't get as much reading done as I had hoped, but I did get to go zip lining, swimming and hiking. I also got to chat with a my friends which was nice.

But I am glad to be back to the blog and writing about what I have read! Here it is much warmer and drier, which I do appreciate.

Synopsis

A family of wombats go out for a walk. But they do not know that a wily dingo is about. Will they all make it home for tea?

My Thoughts

This was a cute book. It is nice that at the beginning they give definitions of some of the words that are used in Australia that are not as common in other parts. The depiction of the Australian flora and fauna enhanced this book, which without it risked being just another run of the mill counting book.

I liked the rhymes and the rhythm of the book. I love how the wombats are able to able to outwit the dingo. The wombats look so cute, though in real life I don't know if I would want to run into one.

My kids liked this book too. They were excited and felt a bit of dread when one by one four of the wombats did not come back.

This is a great book to snuggle up and read together. I think this is one that we will get out again and again.

Taking Next Week Off

Next week is going to be a little hectic so I won't be putting up any posts. But I will be back the following week with new reviews. I hope you have a great week with lots of relaxing reading time!

The Steady Running of the Hour by Justin Go

from goodreads

3.5 stars

Have you ever wanted to read a book but you couldn't remember the title, you could only remember what the cover looked like. That's what happened to me with this book except, this isn't actually the book I wanted to read, the covers just look really similar. Luckily it worked out and I got to read a fairly interesting story.

That can also happen with book titles, you think you are getting one book but then it ends up not being the book you are thinking. When my book club was doing Between Shades of Gray there was quite a hold list on it. Then I realized that others probably thought it was part of the Fifty Shades of Grey series, which it most definitely is not. I guess it always pays to double check your titles, authors, and covers. You never know what craziness might happen.

Synopsis

This is a story with two timelines. The modern day timeline deals with a young man named Tristan. He just found out that he might possibly be a direct descendant of a woman named Imogen Soames-Andersson who has a large fortune owing to her. He is to fly to Europe to search for clues to see if there is any evidence that he is directly related to her or not.

The early 20th century time line is about mountain climber Ashley Walsingham and Imogen Soames-Andersson and their love story.

This book has locations from California to Sweden to Mount Everest. It deals with love, deception and secrets.

My Thoughts

This is a book that I have mixed thoughts about. In some ways I loved it and thought it was so riveting. In others I found it hard to read, annoying and something I was simply plowing through to get to my reading goal on goodreads.

I loved the modern day story line. I liked the characters, I liked the different places Tristan went to and his thoughts on things. I like his struggle between wanting to know what happened and come up with a conclusion, but not wanting to focus on the possibility of lots of money at the end. I also liked how he was struggling with what he wanted from his life. He had just graduated from school and was trying to figure out how he fit into the world.

Go's descriptions were wonderful, the relationships intense. He has made me want to go and visit these places in Europe, especially Iceland. He created this believable character that you wanted to root for.

I did not like the earlier timeline. It started off okay but then the Imogen character got so annoying that it made it hard to read. I only did because I wanted to get back to the modern day stuff. I found Imogen to be absurdly self-centred, crazy, flighty, and a pain. I could not figure out what Ashley found remarkable about her. She seemed so shallow and immature I just wanted to swat her on the head and say "get a clue you crazy girl". I guess that could be what girls in her social station and at that time might have been like, but good grief, it was ridiculous. And Ashley should have just cut his losses with her and moved on. I really couldn't stand it.

One thing that was interesting about the earlier timeline was how he described the trenches in WWI and how he described the mountain climbing and early expeditions to Mount Everest. Since people climb Mount Everest every year with relative ease we sometimes forget that the first people trying to do it did not have the same kind of conditions or knowledge. Does it make me want to climb Mount Everest. Nope. But I have a new found respect for the early climbers who tried.

This is truly a book that I would call an all-rounder, as it has something that almost anyone could enjoy. It has travel, mystery, romance, war, mountains, adventure, trains, plane, and automobiles. It has an easy to navigate dual timeline thing happening. Some of these things are better than others. There are a few plot holes or areas that could have been fleshed out a bit better but on the whole, I'm glad I read it and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Waterloo Reads

Every year on cbc radio and television there is an event called Canada Reads. It is basically a battle of the books. There are five panelists each championing a chosen book. After the four days of debates the book with the most votes is crowned champions. It is a lot of fun and kind of quirky as this is actually popular. Who would have thought that people debating about books would be such a ratings hit?

Well the Waterloo Public Library is hosting it's own version, calling it Waterloo Reads. The books that were chosen are all evergreen nominated titles. (To learn more about this and other nominations in the Forest of Reading program put on by the OLA click here.) The books look interesting and a lot of them are on my to read list, I guess they have no moved up to the top. I am going to list them on the side and in a tab above. Hopefully I can get around to reading most of them before the event! It looks like it will be a fun evening.

For more information about Waterloo Reads click here.

Chester by Melanie Watt

from goodreads

3 stars

Well, it has been a successful library program so far. My oldest won one of the weekly draws which was dinner for the family at Panago pizza (some of the yummiest pizza around). Out of all the weekly prizes available, this one was probably the best one to win. I mean, what mom wouldn't love a night off from cooking. Two pizza's, two salads, and a drink, for free! Yes please! So thank you wpl and Panago! Both of you officially rock.

Synopsis

While Melanie tries to write and illustrate a story about a mouse in the country, Chester and his red marker take over, making the story about him, Chester.

My Thoughts

If I was rating this just for me, it would be a 4.5, I thought the pictures and story were clever and I loved how persistent the cat was to make the story about him. But since I am rating this for my kids too, I had to give it lower. My seven year old thought this book was hilarious. She loved how the cat changed everything and how the mouse was looking peeved and loved how the cat wore a tutu near the end. My five year old looked at me at the end and said "what the heck! That was dumb, I don't get it." So  for seven and up a great book. Younger, not so much.

I liked how the author didn't mind poking fun at herself. She was making this a fun story about the writing process and her cat. It's nice seeing someone having fun with their work and not being completely serious about it.

There were some times when it got a little annoying, and I thought to myself "hello, keep your stuff up from the cat, he his a menace!" (But then, I am not the biggest cat fan in the world, so perhaps that is why I didn't find his antics as lovable as others might.)

As with the other Melanie Watt book I have reviewed, this is a great book for older/more savvy children who have a better understanding of how relationships etc. work. It is not a book I would read to younger children. This really is a book that is better if the child reads it themselves as there are lots of little things written around the page which does not make it a real linear story, so not as conducive to reading aloud.