Book Blogger Hop

Time for the Blogger Hop from Crazy for Books

What a great idea! I love following readers blogs almost more than I like blogging myself. What a great way to get out there and meet new people who share the same interests as you.

This Week's Question: What is the one bookish thing you would love to have, no matter the cost?

I think most people’s answer is going to be a dream library – floor to ceiling books on every wall, fireplace, warm comfy sofa or chair. It sure is my wish. We already use one of the spare rooms as a library, but it doesn’t look near as nice as I would like.

Coming Soon to a Library Near You

Coming Soon to a Library Near You is a weekly feature inspired by Jill at Breaking the Spine that looks at upcoming books.

This Week’s Book: Trapped
Author: Michael Northrop
Release Date: Feb 1 2011
Summary:
The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That it would be "one for the record books," as the forecasters safe and dry in their TV studios would later say. That it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but keeping alive… Scotty and his friends Pete and Tommy are among the last kids waiting to get picked up at their high school that day, and it doesn't take them long to realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when Krista and Julie, two hot-to-the-point-of-being-distracting freshmen, are sleeping in the next classroom over. But then the power goes out. Then the heat. Then the emergency generator. As the snow piles higher and higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, tempers rise and friendships fray.... (Amazon)

I can’t tell if it’s just a bad snow storm or a dystopia, but it sounds cool. A little Day After Tomorrow-ish! When this comes out in February I’ll be pretty sick of the snow, so this should be a perfect read.

Passing Strange

Passing Strange
By Daniel Waters
2010
386 pages
Generation Dead Series: Book 3

Summary: The last we heard the Zombies had been attacked and had gone underground. Passing Strange diverges slightly from the series as it is told from beautiful Zombie Karen’s point of view. Karen is different from the other zombies. To begin, she’s the only suicide to ever come back to life, she always passes for a human and now she is starting to heal herself. Deciding to use her differences to her advantage Karen decides to pass as human and get close to bad boy Pete who she thinks set up her friends. As the pieces of both the zombie puzzle and Karen’s life come together, readers of the series will enjoy this new point of view.

Review: Initially I found the change in voice from Phoebe to Karen slightly distracting. Even though the chapters have always been split narratives, I found myself missing Phoebe and Adam’s story. I was never really attached to Karen as a character so I was disappointed that the series moved in this direction. However, by the end I found myself quite engaged, and I realize that the story could not have been as full without Karen’s point of view. The style of writing changes slightly to match Karen and it might take a bit to get use to, but overall I felt Passing Strange a compelling addition to the series. I hope there is another book soon.

Also by Daniel Waters: Generation Dead (1) and Kiss of Life (2)

If you liked Generation Dead you might also enjoy: Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore, Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley, The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong, Pride & Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith, Zombie Blondes by Brian James and Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by Enrich Van Lowe

Author Website: http://watersdan.blogspot.com/

Rating: W2.5/4 C2.5/4 P3.5/4 O3.5/4 PP3/4 CR2.5/4
Grade Level Interest: JS

Vampire Acadmey

Vampire Academy
By Richelle Mead
2007
332 Pages – paperback
1st in Vampire Academy Series

Summary: Rose’s one job in life is to protect her best friend Lissa, a vampire princess, from any danger, including Strigoi, evil vampires that never die. That’s what she thought she was doing when she took Lissa and ran away. However, things didn’t turn out as planned and both Lissa and Rose find themselves once again at boarding school. Once they are back, it’s not just rumours and cliques they have to face, but truths about who they are and why mysterious things have started to happen since they returned. Not everything is what it seems at the Academy and that includes Lissa.

Review: Vampire Academy is captivating from the first page. Mead does an excellent job at world building, creating a complex hierarchy of vampires that differs slightly from previous vampire legends. The novel is also well paced with a lot of action and suspense moving it forward. Even scenes that might seem to be slower provide the reader with a sense of movement and anticipation. One of the highlights is Mead’s ability at creating absorbing characters. Rose and Lissa are captivating and relatable. Even though a paranormal novel, Mead is able to normalize her characters with issues such as bullying, peer pressure and cutting. Rose has an authentic voice and this novel easily sets the stage for the rest of the series. There is also some romance for those interested. In the end it exceeded all my expectations.

Other books in the series: Frostbite (2008), Shadow Kiss (2008), Blood Promise (2009), Spirit Bound (2010) and Last Sacrifice (Dec 2010)

If you liked Vampire Academy you might also enjoy: The Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, Evernight by Claudia Gray and Blue Bloods by Melissa De la Cruz

Additional Info: There is a graphic novel version and the movie rights have been sold, so expect to see Rose and Lissa on the silver screen sometime in the future.

Author website: http://www.richellemead.com/index.htm

Rating: W4/4 C4/4 P4/4 O4/4 PP3.5/4 CR1.5/4
Grade Level Interest: high J or S

Blogger Hop

Time for the Blogger Hop from Crazy for Books

What a great idea! I love following readers blogs almost more than I like blogging myself. What a great way to get out there and meet new people who share the same interests as you.

This Week's Question: Where is your favourite place to read? Curled up on a the sofa, in bed, in the garden?

I’m pretty flexible in terms of places I like to read. I read on the bus, at break at work, sometimes walking home. If it’s summer and I’m reading travel books (which I always do in the summer), I HAVE to be outside. Otherwise my bed is my favourite place to read. I can get all snuggled up and open the window a little bit. I love being cold when I read. Oh, during hockey season I love to read on the sofa while my husband watches hockey, it feels very domestic and lovely.

Coming Soon to a Library Near You

Coming Soon to a Library Near You is a weekly feature inspired by Jill at Breaking the Spine that looks at upcoming books.

This Week’s Book: The Trust: A Secret Society Novel
Author: Tom Dolby
Release Date: Feb 2011
Summary:
It’s a new semester at the Chadwick School, and even with the ankh tattoos that brand them, Phoebe, Nick, Lauren, and Patch are hoping for a fresh start. Each day, however, they are reminded of their membership as new Conscripts in the Society. The secret group that promised to help them achieve their every dream has instead turned their lives into a nightmare.
Exclusive membership lost its luster as the Society revealed its agenda to them, and two of their classmates were found dead. Now they can’t help but wonder: who’s next? While they search for the elusive truth about the Society, the Conscripts are forced to face their darkest fear—that they truly can’t get out.

Will Nick and Phoebe’s new relationship endure this strain? Can Patch and Nick’s longtime friendship survive the truth that will come to light? The deceptions of the group’s leaders, once trusted friends, and family will test these four as they fight to leave the Society behind. (author website)

I really enjoyed the first book in the series. I thought it was pretty original and contained a lot of elements like suspense, mystery, new your socialites, etc that appeal to a wide audience. I can’t wait for this.

Six Rules of Maybe

Six Rules of Maybe
By Deb Caletti
2010
321 pages

Summary: Scarlet has always been concerned with taking care of people and worrying about their well being. So you would think that when her young and unexpectedly married sister returns home pregnant she would be happy to take care of her. Maybe she would be if she didn’t start having feelings for her sister’s husband, and her sister didn’t start acting like she didn’t want to be married. With all the confusion and mixed up feelings Scarlet will have to decide if she will continue thinking of others or will finally do something for herself.

Review: Six Rules of Maybe has all the elements one comes to expect from a Deb Caletti novel: lots of character development, personal reflection and a slower but rich plot. While I didn’t connect to the main character the way that I usually do in a Caletti novel, I thought she did a great job at crafting intriguing supporting characters with their own side stories. This includes Scarlet’s family members, her neighbours and even her friends. The romance between Scarlet and Hayden was hard to watch at times, it just didn’t feel right and ultimately it’s really not supposed to. The plot is also slightly faster paced than Caletti’s other novels, as the reader is propelled by the desire to find out what happens with Hayden and Scarlet. Not my favourite Caletti novel, but nonetheless a great read. Those who enjoy realistic fiction will definitely find something to like in this novel.

Also by Deb Caletti: The Nature of Jade, Wild Roses, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, The Fortunes of Indigo Skye

If you liked The Six Rules of Maybe you might also enjoy: The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott, A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner, I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

Author website: http://debcaletti.com/

Rating: W3/4 C2.5/4 P3/4 O3/4 PP3/4 CR2.5/4
Grade Level Interest: S

Hex Hall

Hex Hall
By Rachel Hawkins
2010
323 pages
Book 1 in Hex Hall Series

“Jenna shook her head. “Let’s just say you may regret that second piece of cake.” Oh my God. Regret cake? Whatever was about to happen must be truly evil.”

Summary: Sophie is definitely a witch but sometimes her powers get her into a little bit of trouble. For example, she tried to do a simple love spell and ruined prom. So it’s not really a surprise to her to find that she’s being shipped to Hectate (Hex) Hall, a school for troubled Prodigium (witches, vampires, fearies, shapeshifters, etc). By the end of the first day she’s made enemies with a powerful coven, been attacked by a werewolf, stalked by creepy ghosts and is now roommates with a vampire rumoured to have killed her last roommate. Needless to say, things are about to get a little crazy at Hex Hall.

Review: I loved Hex Hall! It was witty and charming, had a lot of action and suspense, great characters and a steamy romance. What’s not to love? The book is well paced and there is a certain amount of fluidity to Hawkins writing. Sophie is a hilarious character whose wit and sarcasm had me actually laughing out loud. Her awkwardness and frankness will make her an instantly likable character to readers. The book is a lot fun and I liked the lightness in which the supernatural elements are addressed. A great start to a series and I can’t wait for the second book.

This is Rachel Hawkins debut novel

If you liked Hex Hall you might also enjoy: Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, Jinx by Meg Cabot, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Additional Info: The second book in the series Demonglass is set to be released March 1 2011
Author website: http://readingwritingrachel.blogspot.com/

Rating: W4/4 C4/4 P3.5/4 O2.5/4 PP3.5/4 CR3.5/4
Grade Level Interest: JS

From the Desk of a Librarian

One of my favourite things about being a Children and Youth librarian is that every morning someone puts on my desk all the new books that have arrived at our Branch for me to look over. It’s a really great way for me to know what we have in our collection, and I’m learning about all kinds of great new books.

Considering I don’t have time to read everything, I thought I would highlight some of the books that I find on my desk that look really interesting.

Freak Magnet by Andrew Auseon - Charlie is the freak. Gloria is the freak magnet. They're pretty much destined to meet. And when they do, sparks fly . . . for Charlie. Gloria, well, she just thinks he's like every other freak who feels compelled to talk to her, although a little better-looking than most. In this he-said-she-said tale of love, loss, and lucky signs, two young strangers at a crossroads in their lives become friends by happy accident (okay, maybe some harmless stalking is involved—and not by the person you'd think!) and forever change each other. (YA)

No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis - Orphaned and plagued with the grief of losing everyone he loves, 15-year-old Abdul has made a long journey from his war-torn home in Baghdad, only to end up in The Jungle, a squalid, makeshift migrant community in Calais. Desperate to escape, he takes a spot in a small, overloaded England-bound boat that’s full of other illegal migrants and a secret stash of heroin. No Safe Place is a novel of high adventure and heart-stopping suspense by a writer at the height of her powers. (YA)

The Fool’s Girl by Celia Rees - Young and beautiful Violetta may be of royal blood, but her kingdom is in shambles when she arrives in London on a mysterious mission. Violetta and her comic companion, Feste, have come in search of an ancient holy relic that the evil Malvolio has stolen from their kingdom. But where will their remarkable quest—and their most unusual story—lead? In classic Celia Rees style, it is an engrossing journey, full of political intrigue, danger, and romance. (YA)

Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch - All Jack Blank knows is his bleak, dreary life at St. Barnaby’s Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost. His only chance at escape comes through the comic books donated years ago to the orphanage that he secretly reads in the dark corners of the library. Everything changes when Jack receives two visitors that alter his life forever. The first is a deadly robot straight out of one of his comic books that tries its best to blow him up. The second is an emissary from a secret country called the Imagine Nation, an astonishing place where all the fantastic and unbelievable things in our world originate - including Jack. (M)

Blogger Hop

Time for the Blogger Hop from Crazy for Books

What a great idea! I love following readers blogs almost more than I like blogging myself. What a great way to get out there and meet new people who share the same interests as you.This

Week's Question: When you read a book that you just can’t get into, do you stick it out and keep reading, or move to your next title?

I will drop a book so fast, a fact which drives people up the wall. My TBR list is so long, and I don’t get a lot of reading time. So I just can’t see spending hours on something I’m not enjoying. I have a 50-100 page rule, so if it hasn’t hooked me by then, it’s bye bye book. Sometimes if I am not enjoying a book, but I feel like I might if under different circumstance then I add the book to the bottom of my list and give it another shot. My husband is the opposite, he will stick with a book until the bitter end, even if it takes him months or years (he also reads more than one book at a time, I do not).

What do you do?

Toronto Public Library Program

Now that I’m a librarian it’s actually my job to research library programs for teens (don’t you love when you get paid to do the things you love).

Considering my love of zombies I thought this Toronto Public Library youth program was pretty cool.

Attack of the Teen Zombie
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 2:00pm – 4:00pm Lillian H Smith Library

Decomp on a dime! A do-it-yourself guide to zombie makeup using household products to create blood, gore and rotting flesh. Afterwards, make yourself up using the techniques. Please register: 416-393-7746. For ages 11-17.

I hope they give out zombie survival guide books with all these new zombies running around. Scary!

Coming Soon to a Library Near You

Coming Soon to a Library Near You is a weekly feature inspired by Jill at Breaking the Spine that looks at upcoming books.

This Week’s Book: The Dark and Hollow Places
Author: Carrie Ryan
Release Date: March 22 2011
Summary:
Annah knows she has a twin sister, but she forgot her long ago. Back when they went to play in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, she and Elias lost her, and after that there was no going back to the village.Life's been hard, but Elias has taken care of her, and living in the Dark City can help one to forget the horror of the Unconsecrated—if you try hard enough. But when Elias disappears, Annah's world crumbles. To her, life isn't worth much more than the walking dead who roam the wasted world she lives in. It's not until she meets Catcher that she cares to start living again. Yet Catcher has secrets. Dark, terrifying secrets that link him to a past she's longed to forget and to a future too deadly to consider. Annah must decide: Can she continue to live a world covered in the blood of the living?Or is death the answer to all her problems?

Carrie Ryan’s Forest series is by far my most favourite and eagerly anticipated series. The second book was just as good as the first, and I simply cannot wait to get my hands on this third book. I’ll have to re-read the first two before March. SOOOO excited!

Dark Song

Dark Song
By Gail Giles
2010
292 pages (ARC)

“It will be just us when it’s done,” he said. “No one will ever hurt you again.”

Summary: Until recently everything in Ames life has been perfect; she lives in a fancy house, has tons of money, is popular and has a fantastic home life built on trust and love. That is until her father’s secrets start tearing at her family and the perfect life she has. Soon Ames has lost everything and all she has left is Marc. Marc who loves her more than anything – who has a gun fetish and a grudge against her parents. When you’ve lost everything and there is nothing left but betrayal, how far would you go for a fresh start?

Review: Dark Song is a chilling tale of a shattered family and the danger that comes from being too caught up in your own world. While this novel is sometimes promoted as being more about Marc and Ames’ relationship, it’s actually Ames’ family life that is at the centre stage of the story. I was engrossed in watching this perfect family unravel, one thread at time, and I kept wondering how far they could actually fall. The characterization is strong and readers will appreciate the honest brokenness that the author gives Ames. She makes poor choices, but is unexcused. Marc was also a chilling and dark character, one that will haunt readers well past the close of this book. This fast paced and hypnotic story will no doubt entice readers looking for a little bit of action and a whole lot of suspense.

Also by Gail Giles: Shattering Glass, What Happened to Cass McBride and Right Behind You

If you liked Dark Song you might also enjoy: The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones, Liar by Justine Larbalestier, Girl, Stolen by April Henry

Author website: http://gailgiles.com/Welcome.html

Rating: W4/4 C3.5/4 P3/4 O3/4 PP3/4 CR4/4 (very creative)
Grade Level Interest: high J or S

Dirty Little Secrets

Dirty Little Secrets
by c.j omololu
2010
210 pages

“Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others.”

Summary: From the outside Lucy’s life looks almost normal. Sure she might be a little quiet and she never invites people over, but you would never suspect the secret that she hides. Her mom is a hoarder and their house is full of garbage, towering stacks of newspaper and whatever else her mother can’t stand to throw away. Lucy is embarrassed, but she also wants to protect her mom, no matter what the cost.

Review: Dirty Little Secrets is a very quick read despite the fact that there is not a lot going on in terms of plot development. The story mostly focuses on a single day with flashbacks providing a bit of a back story of growing up with a hoarder. The flashbacks were the most engaging element of the story, especially considering I did not really connect well with the main character. Although the author did do a great job at creating a significant amount of sympathy for her. Those who enjoy issue fiction will no doubt enjoy this quick paced fascinating read. It’s a unique topic and the author does a really great job.

This is c.j. omololu’s debut YA novel

If you liked Dirty Little Secrets, you might also enjoy: Liar by Justine Larbalestier, Buried by Robin MacCready, Willow by Julia Hoban, Diary of a Witness by Catherine Hyde

Additional Info:
Wikipedia article on hoarding

Non-fiction Connection: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: The Ultimate Teen Guide by Natalie Rompella

Author website: http://www.cjomololu.com/

Rating: W3/4 C2.5/4 P2.4/4 O4/4 PP2.5/4 CR3/4
Grade Level Interest: JS

Book Blogger Hop

Time for the Blogger Hop from Crazy for Books

What a great idea! I love following readers blogs almost more than I like blogging myself. What a great way to get out there and meet new people who share the same interests as you.

This Week's Question: What’s your favourite beverage while reading or blogging, if any? Is it tea, coffee, water, a glass of wine of something else?

It really depends for me. As I don’t have a specific time of day that I blog or a ritual (ie must have tea in hand before one word is blogged) I’m pretty all over the place in terms of beverages. I do like orange juice, so that is usually my go to drink.

Changes

Hi everyone,

So you might notice a few changes around here. The first is a blog redesign, which is simply stunning. Daniela (Danny) from Dreamy Blog Designs created this beautiful layout for me. I don’t know how she did it, but some how she got it not only look way beyond anything I imagined, but also match my personality so well. I love it so much! If you’re looking to redesign, you should hire her!

The second change is that I’ve officially started my new job as a Children and Youth Librarian. It’s been very busy with a lot of training and a whole lot of new responsibilities. However, I’m only in day 3 and I love it. That doesn’t mean a whole lot for this blog because it is my personal blog. However, I’ll likely be highlighting a lot more books that pass by my desk, things that will branch out a bit from what is typically shown on here. Don’t worry, still all YA or middle school.

So take a look around,
Happy Thursday

Coming Soon to a Library Near You

Coming Soon to a Library Near You is a weekly feature inspired by Jill at Breaking the Spine that looks at upcoming books.

This Week’s Book: Fall for Anything
Author: Courtney Summers
Release Date: Dec 21 2010
Summary:
When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. He seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on… but some questions should be left unanswered. (author website)

I LOVE Courtney Summers. She’s a beautiful and honest writer, I cannot wait for this book.

Dark Life

Dark Life
By Kat Falls
2010
297 pages

Summary: Climate change has destroyed most of the world and survivors find themselves either packed into stack cities or living on farms on the ocean floor. There is a lot of animosity and distrust among the two groups and that is heightened by the government’s control and rumours of mutants. Ty has spent his whole life on the ocean floor and wants nothing more than to get his own land. However, his dream becomes at risk when a topsider named Gemma comes looking for her brother and a band of criminals start attacking the underwater homestead. Together with Gemma, Ty quickly learns that not all is what it seems and that being different and having a dream is something to fight for.

Review: While I love dystopias I sometimes stumble if the books have too much science fiction aspects in them. I thought this would be the case with Dark Life, but I was pleasantly surprised. The world building is not too outlandish and is rather compelling. I thought Falls did an excellent job at creating a believable and incredibly interesting underwater world. The story is fast paced and there is a lot of action to draw readers in. I liked the elements of surprise and Falls does a good job at providing ample shocking revelations. Ty was a likeable hero, one that I think readers will appreciate. Gemma and Zoe both added a lot of spark to the story as well. The book reads in a very cinematic way and I think it would appeal to a wide audience.

It is categorized as being for children 9-12, but I actually think it’s better suited for a slightly older audience. Teens of both genders would easily enjoy this novel.

This is Kat Fall’s debut novel

If you liked Dark Falls, you might also enjoy: The Line by Teri Hall, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau and Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Rating: W3/4 C3/4 P3/4 O3.5/4 PP3/4 CR3/4
Grade Level Interest: MJ

The Sky is Falling

The Sky is Falling
By Kit Pearson
1989
248 pages
Guests of War Trilogy

“Norah was told to dress warmly, not to pick up Canadian slang, and to remember she was English.”

Summary: During the Second World War, many parents in England feared for the safety of their children and sent them overseas to live in Canada. Norah was always glad that her parents had never considered something so foolish. She liked being near the action, doing her part by spying for enemy aircraft. However, as the fighting starts to get closer Norah is sent to Canada with her brother, far away from the war and from everything she knows and loves. What will Norah think of Canada, and will her and her brother be able to settle into their new home?

Review: Kit Pearson writes a beautiful story about a very compelling young girl as she makes her way from England to Canada and reflects on the process and our strange customs. The book was incredibly well written, generating a reading experience somewhat similar to reading Anne of Green Gables. I loved the Canadian setting considered from an outsider’s view (Norah, not Kit who is in fact Canadian), and enjoyed the historical elements. The book does have a slow moving plot, but is moved forward by such an interesting main character. She is very real and any middle school girl would be able to identify with her. A great story for a younger crowd, although it does contain many elements to be enjoyed by YA.

Also by Kit Pearson: Awake and Dreaming, Handful of Time, Perfect Gentle Knight

If you liked The Sky is Falling you might also enjoy: Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery, Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry and When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon, Slayton

Additional Info: there are two more books in the series, Looking at the Moon and The Lights Go On Again. It has won the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award and the Geoffery Bilson Award for Historical Fiction.

Non-Fiction Connection: Churchill’s Children: The Evacuee Experience in Wartime Britain by John Welshman

Author website: http://www.kitpearson.com/

Rating: W4/4 C3.5/4 P3.5/4 O4/4 PP2.5/4 CR3/4
Grade Level: MJ

Book Blogger Hop

Time for the Blogger Hop from Crazy for Books

What a great idea! I love following readers blogs almost more than I like blogging myself. What a great way to get out there and meet new people who share the same interests as you.

This Week's Question: How do you spread the word about your blog?

I have to admit that when I first started blogging I wasn’t really interested in spreading the word about my blog. I didn’t do it to get ARC’s or meet other bloggers, I just wanted a place where I could write reviews of the books I was reading. However, there are a lot of great bloggers out there, so I’m glad that I’ve started to interact more and meet people, and by doing so spread word about my blog.

I do have a twitter account that is hooked into my blog, and I do participate in features like Book Blogger Hop and In My Mailbox. I also try to get out to other blogs and leave comments.

Trash to Treasure - September

Each month there are several books that I start to read but for one reason or another I just can’t get into them. I have a pretty low tolerance for the books I read, usually only giving them between 50-100 pages before I quit. There are just too many books to read and not enough time to “trudge” through something I’m not enjoying. However, I recently realized that I never mention them on here. So I’ve decided to do a monthly feature looking at some of the books I just couldn’t get into and why.

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy White. (2010) – Read 125 pages.

Initially I was really drawn to the idea of using flowers to be able to control things in life, like helping friends and making people fall in love. Admittedly I didn’t get far enough in the book to really see too much of that. There are also elements of mystery that I know I missed out on that I’ve read about in reviews. I DID enjoy learning about the flower’s meanings and what not, so I can see how this book would probably really appeal to a lot of people. However, I couldn’t get past the style of writing. It seemed a little unpolished and it lacked a consistent flow between the descriptions and dialogue. The pacing was really slow and I just couldn’t connect to the main character. I’m sure the book gets better, but the poor writing seemed to overwhelm some of the cool plot elements. I would probably still recommend this book, but it just didn’t click for me.

The Story Siren, The Compulsive Reader and The Library Lounge Lizard all have positive reviews on their sites to check out.

The Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray. (2008) – Read 55 pages
I believe in something called right book wrong time. Every so often I come across a book I know that if I had picked up at any other time I would probably really like but for whatever reason at this time I can’t get into it. That was the case for The Ostrich Boys. The book is about a road trip from England to Scotland, which sounds awesome. However, it has a really slow start and I just couldn’t commit to it despite the great premise. It did have a bit of a John Green feel to it so I think I would like to give it another go in the future.

Chicklish and Reading Junkie have positive reviews on their sites to check out.

She’s So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott. (2010). – Read 67 pages

I really liked the concept of this book and was looking forward to reading it. However, the writing style just wasn’t right for me. I found it a little long-winded and a little dry. Usually I don’t mind split narratives but combined with all the other elements that were not working, it just further separated me from the characters. While not the book for me, I can see how those who enjoy realistic fiction with split narratives or with a focus on romance might really like it.

The Book Cellar and The Undercover Book Lover have positive reviews on their sites to check out.