Fans of John Connolly need to be aware that this is not a book in the Charlie Parker series. Although Charlie Parker makes some brief appearances in this book, he is not the main character. Once again, Connolly, an Irishman, writes with sensitivity and detail about Maine and other parts of the United States. In this book he begins with an historical event set on one of the islands off the coast of Maine. As always, ghosts and the supernatural come into play. There is significant violence and description of a relatively gruesome events in scenes. It is not a book I would recommend to adolescents. Both the plot and the writing make it clearly an adult read.
Conley writes with relative sophistication blending historical fiction, religion, and geography with strong plots and characterization. His plot and characterization grab the reader immediately and will keep you reading.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Still Alice, by Lisa Genova
Genova is an expert in Alzheimer's disease. She has a Ph.D. In neuroscience from Harvard. In this book she tells the story of a Harvard professor afflicted by Alzheimer's. This is a strong story and a relatively easy read focused on both the patient's and family's experiences as the disease progresses.
I cannot be an unbiased reviewer on this topic. My mother suffered from Alzheimer's and I have moved to this story. I think Genova does an excellent job of capturing the experience. I particularly appreciate her inclusion of the patients point of view. Thinking back to my family's journey I wish we had asked my mother more directly what her experiences were like.
Every instance of Alzheimer's is somewhat unique. I will never know for certain, but I believe that my mother still recognized me even near the very end of her life. It's very hard to tell what the patient knows and what she doesn't know as the disease progresses.
This is a book that I will recommend to all I meet who have to contend with Alzheimer's in their family or social circle. It is also one that my brothers, children and I will need to discuss. I had always thought that if I were to be diagnosed with this disease, that I would make arrangements to end my life at the time I chose rather than dragging my family to the bitter end. Genova includes a sequence of events that makes it clear this decision may be difficult to successfully complete. I will be a little more careful in my planning as a result. On the other hand there may be value in sticking it out. The main character is able to enjoy much of her family life even after the point at which she would have committed suicide.
I cannot be an unbiased reviewer on this topic. My mother suffered from Alzheimer's and I have moved to this story. I think Genova does an excellent job of capturing the experience. I particularly appreciate her inclusion of the patients point of view. Thinking back to my family's journey I wish we had asked my mother more directly what her experiences were like.
Every instance of Alzheimer's is somewhat unique. I will never know for certain, but I believe that my mother still recognized me even near the very end of her life. It's very hard to tell what the patient knows and what she doesn't know as the disease progresses.
This is a book that I will recommend to all I meet who have to contend with Alzheimer's in their family or social circle. It is also one that my brothers, children and I will need to discuss. I had always thought that if I were to be diagnosed with this disease, that I would make arrangements to end my life at the time I chose rather than dragging my family to the bitter end. Genova includes a sequence of events that makes it clear this decision may be difficult to successfully complete. I will be a little more careful in my planning as a result. On the other hand there may be value in sticking it out. The main character is able to enjoy much of her family life even after the point at which she would have committed suicide.
Witch's Business, by Diana Wynne Jones
I am a great fan of Jones books. Particularly I think The Dark a Lord of Derkholm and the Year of the Griffin are wonderful books for readers who enjoyed the Harry Potter series. Jones has a wonderful sense of humor and makes fantasy quite believable.In some ways I prefer her take on schools and the politics surrounding them to that of J.K. Rowling. I also appreciate the way that Jones shows in her book the ways that
adolescents can break through boundaries of status and social group to
achieve a shared goal.
Jones is a British author and sometimes her language and colloquialisms are a little bit challenging for American readers. But her understanding of the interests and lives of young adolescents make any struggles worthwhile. This is a reissue of her first novel and is currently out of print, but still available through a variety of online booksellers. This is the second time that I have been able to read a first book from a popular author. (The other was Patricia Briggs.) It's fascinating to see how their craft improves over time. I would love to be able to use the use in an author study unit with adolescents to show stronger vs. weaker writing. It would take some considerable time which, unfortunately, is not typically available in classrooms due to pressures from standardized tests and district curriculum mandates.
Jones is a British author and sometimes her language and colloquialisms are a little bit challenging for American readers. But her understanding of the interests and lives of young adolescents make any struggles worthwhile. This is a reissue of her first novel and is currently out of print, but still available through a variety of online booksellers. This is the second time that I have been able to read a first book from a popular author. (The other was Patricia Briggs.) It's fascinating to see how their craft improves over time. I would love to be able to use the use in an author study unit with adolescents to show stronger vs. weaker writing. It would take some considerable time which, unfortunately, is not typically available in classrooms due to pressures from standardized tests and district curriculum mandates.
Red Glove, by Holly Black
Holly Black is one of my go-to authors for urban fantasy. She does not disappoint in this most recent book. This is a second book in the Curse Workers series. These are set in contemporary times, on the Eastern seaboard of the United States but in a world with a minor difference. In this alternative world there are a small group of people called curse workers who have powers to change, among other things, people's memories and emotions. Curse workers can also kill people with the touch of a hand.
In Black's world these forces unfortunately are not used for good. Set in the Eastern United States the curse workers primarily work for organized crime. The main character, Cassel Sharpe, is struggling with defining his role within his family, friends, and the world at large. His family in particular challenges him every step of the way to try and reconcile his and native born talents with his own personal morality. Added to Cassel's interior conflict are the pressures being exerted upon him by his family members, the FBI, and a crime lord.
The story in this book is driven by Cassel's attempts to discover the identity of a murder. In doing so he has to involve his friends and explore the boundaries established by the law and social norms. The plot, characters, and writing will keep you reading. The theme of reconciling your personal values with your family's and the world at large makes this book well worth recommending to young adult readers.
In Black's world these forces unfortunately are not used for good. Set in the Eastern United States the curse workers primarily work for organized crime. The main character, Cassel Sharpe, is struggling with defining his role within his family, friends, and the world at large. His family in particular challenges him every step of the way to try and reconcile his and native born talents with his own personal morality. Added to Cassel's interior conflict are the pressures being exerted upon him by his family members, the FBI, and a crime lord.
The story in this book is driven by Cassel's attempts to discover the identity of a murder. In doing so he has to involve his friends and explore the boundaries established by the law and social norms. The plot, characters, and writing will keep you reading. The theme of reconciling your personal values with your family's and the world at large makes this book well worth recommending to young adult readers.
Shiver (and Linger), by Maggie Stiefvater
Werewolves in Minnesota--hot young teen romance. That pretty much sums up the plot of these two books. There are also some themes of parenting (mostly bad parenting). This shows up as a well reviewed book on several review sites. I think it must be popular because of the romance themes.
Overall the book feels a bit derivative of the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. It has a little more description of romantic interactions that will appeal to romance readers.
Stiefvater has interests and songwriting, music, and art all of which appear as part of the book. And there were spots in the book where I think the writing could have used some improvement. I didn't always agree with Stiefvater's word choices.
Since I'm not much of a romance reader I don't think I will go on to read the third and final book in the series. I do have a mild interest in whether or not the main characters are able to find a cure for the werewolf virus. Unfortunately, I don't think I can get through all of the steamy romantic scenes to find out. I like to feel like I've learned something about the world as I read a book in addition to enjoying the plot, characters, settings and language. I didn't really feel like I came away with much from this book other than just entertainment.
Overall the book feels a bit derivative of the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. It has a little more description of romantic interactions that will appeal to romance readers.
Stiefvater has interests and songwriting, music, and art all of which appear as part of the book. And there were spots in the book where I think the writing could have used some improvement. I didn't always agree with Stiefvater's word choices.
Since I'm not much of a romance reader I don't think I will go on to read the third and final book in the series. I do have a mild interest in whether or not the main characters are able to find a cure for the werewolf virus. Unfortunately, I don't think I can get through all of the steamy romantic scenes to find out. I like to feel like I've learned something about the world as I read a book in addition to enjoying the plot, characters, settings and language. I didn't really feel like I came away with much from this book other than just entertainment.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The UnResolved, by T.K. Welsh
This is a quick read that provides a wonderful look at New York in 1904. The story fleshes out the biggest disaster in New York prior to 9/11. Readers will come to understand German and European Jewish immigrants and many of the safety issues that have led to present-day rules and regulations.
The story is told from the point of view of a ghost. Mallory Meer died in the General Slocum steamship disaster. Through her narration the events and characters involved are gradually revealed. Readers will find this a compelling mystery and vivid description of daily life in early industrialized America. It is a quick read that can easily supplement units on the time period. Students who enjoy CSI and other crime/forensic shows may particularly enjoy the plot.
The story is told from the point of view of a ghost. Mallory Meer died in the General Slocum steamship disaster. Through her narration the events and characters involved are gradually revealed. Readers will find this a compelling mystery and vivid description of daily life in early industrialized America. It is a quick read that can easily supplement units on the time period. Students who enjoy CSI and other crime/forensic shows may particularly enjoy the plot.
Hangman's Curse, by Frank Peretti
This is a title from the "Christian Fiction" shelf. It is my first venture into Christian fiction and it gave rise to some concern on my part. Reviewers give quite positive reviews to the book. They call Peretti the "Stephen King" of Christian fiction. I have a less positive review.
I'm very concerned about some of the plot elements in the book. The "Veritas Project team" a family traveling the country as trouble shooters of "strange mysteries, crimes, and unusual occurrences" do a number of things that fall well outside of scientific safety. In this book, as they investigate the sighting of ghosts at a school and the resultant serious illnesses of students, there are several instances in which seriously unsafe scientific procedures are followed. At one point the mother (who has a science lab in the back of the RV the family travels in) takes a suspicious straw back to the family home and actually sniffs it. This after four students are in the hospital and on the way to death. I don't think any well informed scientist would keep a lab in the living/travel quarters with their families. They certainly wouldn't sniff evidence that they thought might contain dangerous pathogens or chemicals.
I can accept some of the insertions of conservative Evangelical Christian doctrine in the book. Although the reviewers claim they think the material wasn't intrusive, I did find it a bit "gratuitous."
As a series book I would be willing to recommend this to students whose families prefer that they read Christian fiction. The story itself is adequately developed and does carry an important message about bullying. However, in doing so I would also warn them that I have concerns about scientific safety in the plot. I want students to be aware of just how dangerous/serious some substances can be. It is not a title I would recommend to general audiences. The plot and characters were just not compelling enough to make me want to read more.
I'm very concerned about some of the plot elements in the book. The "Veritas Project team" a family traveling the country as trouble shooters of "strange mysteries, crimes, and unusual occurrences" do a number of things that fall well outside of scientific safety. In this book, as they investigate the sighting of ghosts at a school and the resultant serious illnesses of students, there are several instances in which seriously unsafe scientific procedures are followed. At one point the mother (who has a science lab in the back of the RV the family travels in) takes a suspicious straw back to the family home and actually sniffs it. This after four students are in the hospital and on the way to death. I don't think any well informed scientist would keep a lab in the living/travel quarters with their families. They certainly wouldn't sniff evidence that they thought might contain dangerous pathogens or chemicals.
I can accept some of the insertions of conservative Evangelical Christian doctrine in the book. Although the reviewers claim they think the material wasn't intrusive, I did find it a bit "gratuitous."
As a series book I would be willing to recommend this to students whose families prefer that they read Christian fiction. The story itself is adequately developed and does carry an important message about bullying. However, in doing so I would also warn them that I have concerns about scientific safety in the plot. I want students to be aware of just how dangerous/serious some substances can be. It is not a title I would recommend to general audiences. The plot and characters were just not compelling enough to make me want to read more.
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