Tahleen's Top Ten Books That Would Make Great Book Club Picks

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Hi everyone! This week's topic is great book club picks. I hope you agree with me that these would spark some great discussion, even if you don't particularly like the books themselves. Sometimes that sparks the best discussion, don't you think?


1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Come on, you know I am all about YA. This books has lots of appeal for adults as well as teens, and there is definitely a lot to talk about here.


2. A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris. This is one that is less known, but I think extremely well written and full of stuff to talk about. It's told from 3 perspectives, 3 generations of women, all coming together in the end. I really liked this one and I want other people to know about it, too.


3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Yeah, I know, I know. Everyone's already read it. But think about how you can all talk about why it's so popular, or even if it deserves all the buzz! Also, it was written by a woman who had a black maid, so there's that bit to talk about too. There's a lot that probably can be uncovered in a second read-through or discussion.


4. Anything by John Green. There is so much to his writing, with literary allusions and philosophy and ways he connects the past to the present. Love it.


5. A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I actually read this for my book club, and there was a lot to talk about. Especially when you put yourself in that position, thinking about how you would react if that ever happened. (You'll find out what I'm talking about when you read it.)


6. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. A good non-fiction book to add to the mix. Skloot makes science accessible and tells the story of one of the most overlooked women in the history of science. It's fascinating and personal and very exposed all at the same time. Makes you really think about medical ethics.


7. Maus by Art Spiegelman. If you haven't read this graphic novel, you should. Spiegelman is a master at this art. There is so much to talk about in this two-part memoir, I can't even begin to talk about it all.


8. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. I had to. You guys KNOW me by now. He is my hero. Also, this book is hilarious and full of an enormous amount of interesting facts. This is due for a reread.


9. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. I just really liked this book and think it has a lot you could talk about.


10. Sunshine by Robin McKinley. This book is the very best vampire book ever. In my opinion. SO much going on, and you will want to eat all sorts of baked goods/try your hand at baking while reading this. Plus, vampires are not sparkly in this one. They want to kill you. Most of the time.


Those are my picks! Tell us yours. Link up below!

Natanya Reviews Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

Title/Author: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

Publisher/Year: Little Brown & Co, 2004

Where I got it: Library on ebook

Why I read it: I’ve heard Sedaris is good, and this was the only one of his books available at the library when I needed a book to read

Summary (from Goodreads):

David Sedaris returns to his deliriously twisted domain: hilarious childhood dramas infused with melancholy; the gulf of misunderstanding that exists between people of different nations or members of the same family; and the poignant divide between one's best hopes and most common deeds. The family characters his readers love are all here, as well as the unique terrain they inhabit, strewn with comic landmines. 'The Rooster' is back, and getting married in the funniest wedding ever described. David attends a slumber party and gets the upper hand in a unique version of strip poker. 'Rubber or plastic?' The strangest questions can tear people apart. A skinny guy from Spain, wearing a bishop's hat and accompanied by six to eight men, invades your house and pretends to kick you. Is this any way to spend Christmas? With this new book, Sedaris's prose reaches breathtaking new heights and marks off a territory that is unmistakably his own. Read it and weep tears of humane laughter.

The word “hilarious” in the above summary combined with my previous knowledge of David Sedaris led me to believe that this book would be very funny. Perhaps I just don’t understand Sedaris’ style of humor, but while I was often somewhat amused, I found very little of this book “hilarious,” which is odd since I’ve read reviews of this book saying it is quite funny. But for me, many of the stories were interesting, but not at all laugh-out-loud funny. In fact, most often they were just plain disturbing, and many also didn’t seem believable. Maybe some of the problem is that I read this as my first Sedaris book instead of Me Think Pretty One Day or When You Are Engulfed in Flames, but I don’t know.

Again, however, I’m not saying that the stories weren’t interesting. They were. Sedaris is a great storyteller, and I enjoyed hearing about his siblings and getting to compare how they were as kids and adults. In fact, stories about the siblings were considerably more interesting to read about than the stories just about Sedaris, who, quite frankly, is a bit of an obnoxious douchebag. Sedaris jumps around in time a lot in this book, which both makes it interesting and kind of confusing – there are stories where he appears to be in his 20s, and others where he’s in his 40s, but it was hard for me to develop a timeline of when things happened once he got beyond stories about his childhood, so many of the stories ended up blending together.

Overall, this was the kind of book that I would recommend not reading all at once, and instead reading one or two stories at a time over a few weeks. I think I would have liked it more had I done that, when instead I got sick of it about 4/5 of the way through and stopped reading (and then my Kindle loan from the library expired, and it doesn’t seem worth it to renew). I’m not yet ready to write off Sedaris altogether, but I don’t know if I’ll ever finish this particular book.

3 stars

Daisy's Review of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Title/Author: Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi
Publisher/Date published: HarperCollins, January 3rd 2012
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads summary: "Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.
As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.
They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY."

So people have been going "OMG! THE NEVER SKY!" for a couple of months now. The summary left me with a big questionmark over my head, but don't let that deter you, this book is le awesome! This book was the book that after 5 books ranging from meh to really enjoyed it, got me LOVING it.

It took some time to get used to the society and we are pretty much thrown right into the action as it starts with Aria being caught in a fire and getting thrown out of Reverie. But slowly I got to know Aria and Perry and Roar and all the other characters that make this book into the wonderfulness that it was.

I absolutely LOVED Perry! And Roar! Don't get me wrong, I also loved Aria, but Perry and Roar just stole my heart. The boys are amazing and I loved how Perry struggled with his abilities and with Aria and his loyalty to his family... I felt everything right along with him and I love it when that happens! Perry had lots of amazing Perry-moments (and you guys, the moment on the tower with Aria!!), I hope you all discover them as well!

The Aether in the sky is fascinating and I'm very much hoping we'll learn more about it, like how it came into being, if it causes other things than we've already seen. But most of all I'll be reading the next book because I want to find out what happens next! And to get my Perry-fix, cause that boy ran off with my heart!

I'm happy to say this book didn't end with a cliffhanger, like so many books in series seem to do these days. So instead of making me go WHAT? NO!!! it left me with a smile on my face and an intense desire to have the next book ASAP!

My rating: 5+ stars

Top Ten Historical Fiction Books That Jamie Loved

Check out how Top Ten Tuesday works & the future schedule of topics HERE.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is a freebie...meaning YOU pick whatever topic your heart desires! Did you miss a topic you wanted to participate in or have a really specific topic that will probably never be a general Top Ten Tuesday topic? This week is for YOU!

I decided to go with a list of the best adult historical fiction books or young adult historical fiction books that paint the picture of an era so well that I really want to visit it or read everything (fiction and non-fiction) that I can about it.

1. Vixen/Ingenue by Jillian Larkin: I've always had this obsession with flappers and the 1920's in general and this one is so great. I can picture the smokey lounges, hear the jazz playing, fear the pinstriped, gun toting pimps and envy the beautiful flappers and their amazing outfits. If you like Young Adult historical fiction and the 1920s, give this series a try!

2. Between Shades Of Gray by Ruta Septys: If I could only recommend one historical fiction books, it'd be this one. No matter what your reading preferences are, I think you'll find this book haunting and will open your eyes to one of history's most horrible injustices during Stalin's reign. I have recommended this book to so many of my friends and have found even my friends who are non-YA readers like it!

3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusack: Oh my goodness. Talk about a book making you sob all through the night. THIS ONE. It's set during WW2 in Germany and is heartbreaking and so powerful. And it's narrated by DEATH...which is one of the most memorable POVS I've EVER come across. This book is on my top five favorite books ever list.

4.  Memoirs of A Geisha by Arthur Golden: I had been so wary about this one when I read it a few years ago. It was one of those books that I saw everybody and their MOM reading in airports or parks or in line at the grocery store. It was so hyped. But for good reason! I found myself easily immersed into the world of the geishas in Japan. The scenes were vivid, the story was interesting and I couldn't put it down. I even bought a non-fiction book about geishas! YAY learning.

5. Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum: Clearly I have a fascination with books set in WW2 but I really did love this book so much! I loved the mother-daughter storyline and the writing was wonderful! My heart broke for Anna in this book and it portrayed perfectly what a mother's love would allow her to do for her child.

6. A Long, Long Time Ago And Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka: Oh surprise surprise. This book is also set during WW2 in Poland. This book was a GEM! I had accepted a pitch on a whim and ended up LOVING it. Beautiful writing & complex characters. Definitely recommend if you like adult historical fiction set in WW2.

7. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson: I don't typically read much Middle grade fiction but I love Laurie Halse Anderson and I really love the American Revolution. It fascinated me in school, I always read books set during that time as a child/tween and I geek out when my history buff stepdad takes to trips to battlefields. (He actually reenacts Washington's Crossing on the Delaware river here in PA on Christmas morning). This book will undoubtedly be a classic middle grade novel and I can see children really loving this in schools. The characters are relatable and the story is perfectly paced.

8. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen: I LOVED this book. LOVED. It was so gritty and interesting and during and era that I find fascinating. And plus...a huge part of the setting is the circus! I thought the movie was pretty good but GO READ THE BOOK.

9. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara: I read this one for school and I really recall liking it. I've always loved learning about the Civil War era and this was one required reading assignment I didn't mind.

10. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer: I always see it labeled as Historical Fiction but it's an epistolary novel that has correspondences from the present but also the past as the main character is learning about this island of Guernsey during WW2. The title threw me off on this one and never really intrigued me but I saw a few rave reviews and HAD to read it! So glad I did!


Tell me some of your favorite historical fiction books!!

Kelly's Review of "Year of Wonders" by Geraldine Brooks

Title: Year of Wonders

Author: Geraldine Brooks

Published: Penguin, 2001

Book reviewers I trust had ranted about this book for a long time, and I figured I should check it out. Heck, it's #19 on the Best Historical Fiction list on goodreads. It's historical fiction, about the plague, and set in England, what's not for me to like?

The book is about a young woman named Anna living in a small village in England, that through unfortunate events, is diseased with plague in 1666. As death reaches into every household, the lives and relationships of the villagers are changed forever, leading to extreme actions and disastrous endings. Sound pretty epic to me.

That being said...I really wanted to like this book. The overall plot is an interesting and novel idea...but it was just written to be too boring for me. Even when exciting and unexpected things do happen, it was written in a very bland way. It was one of those "Wait, did something happen? Oh, someone died in a horrific way? How did I miss that?" moments . OK, this sounds a little seedy, but I was also expecting it to be more graphic and...well, gross. Based on some reviews I read, I was expecting to have to carry a trashcan around with me to throw up in. Yeah, that didn't happen. The Plague was anything but simple or skimpy on details, why make the book like that?

Even with the not so great writing, I still would have given it a higher rating if it hadn't been for the ending. Out of nowhere it turned into some sort of 21st century Hollywood movie with action, sex, and scandal...but not in a good way. It was almost as if the author was getting bored with her own story, and to save it, scribbled down some strange climax at the last moment. It was so out of place and almost unnecessary.

It was still a decent book, just a little disappointing. 2 stars.


[Note: this review is over two years old, I pulled it out of the archives of my personal blog. Looking at the goodreads list, I see it is now #31! Apparently people agree with me.]

Tahleen reviews: "Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)" by Sarah Mlynowski

Title: Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Publisher: HarperTeen, 2011

Rating: 4 stars

When April's dad and stepmom drop the bomb that they're moving to Cleveland, she can't even begin to comprehend or accept it. In fact, she'll do anything to stay in Connecticut, where her friends, her school, and her boyfriend Noah are. The problem is, her mother and brother are all the way in Paris and there's no where else she can stay. Well... except for her friend Vi's place. Where her mom will be leaving her unsupervised for the semester since she got the leading role in a traveling production of the musical Mary Poppins. All April has to do is tell a few little lies. But there are definitely some things she wasn't expecting to happen, like getting a hot tub, adopting a kitten, throwing the biggest party ever...

When I saw this book was only 99 cents for my nook, I knew I had to take advantage of that. I'd heard great things, and this book didn't disappoint. I couldn't believe some of the things these girls did, or that they had the guts to do them—at some points I was actually a bit upset at their decisions. But overall it was a fun book that had a lot of serious moments and issues teens deal with on a regular basis. Well, besides the whole living without guardians thing.

I loved that this is sort of a framed narrative. It starts off the morning after the big party, with April getting a phone call from her father saying he's 15 minutes away from the house to surprise her for her birthday. Needless to say, she is very surprised and goes into panic mode. Then we cut back to right before New Year's Eve, when we find out her father is leaving. The rest of the book goes through the time they are without parents, with a twist following the scene where the book started. I loved this.

What I'm most impressed with is how Mlynowski handles sex in her writing. April loses her virginity (one of the 10 things), and the way Mlynowski writes it is not only completely believable, but probably pretty normal. I was incredibly impressed with how responsibly she treats the subject—April and Vi both go on the birth control pill to start, use condoms, etc. Yet Mlynowski makes it clear that there can be consequences to sex, both emotionally and physically, and for that I am grateful that this book exists. I can think of a few people who should have read this.

*kind of a spoiler*

I also really liked how April tries so hard to manage her love life and do the right thing, even though she is starting to have feelings for her friend Hudson and it's clear he likes her too. She stays loyal to her boyfriend, but there is that thought in the back of her mind that maybe she would be happier with someone else, especially when Noah starts to act differently toward her.

Overall, this was a quick, fun read that teens can easily relate to, despite the abnormal circumstances. I would certainly recommend this to teens, as well as those of us who read young adult novels well into adulthood.

Disclosure: I bought this as an e-book from Barnes & Noble.

Paula gets to see John Green!

GUYS! So this past Saturday was pretty exciting for me, as some of you may or may not know, John Green recently released his new book "The Fault in Our Stars". And as a part of its promotion, he's been touring the US. Thankfully I was lucky enough to live in a city that his tour stopped in and got to see him (and his (vlog)brother Hank Green joined him as a special guest.

I got to the event pretty early (thankfully- because it was sold out and I managed to snag a fairly close spot) and spent my hour people watching and finishing "The Fault in Our Stars".

The first thing we were greeted with was Hanksock (a puppet from vlogbrothers) who did a little act and told people to take as many pictures as they wanted etc etc, and then introduced John. John came out on the stage and read an excerpt from the book (most of Chapter 2). I found this super exciting because as I was reading the book, I imagined it as John reading it, and it was awesome hearing how he placed emphasis on certain things that I didn't. It was also amusing hearing him talk as a 16 year old girl. He also talked about his inspiration for the book, which was working as a hospital chaplain over a decade ago. He explained that he's been working on this novel since then, and it kept getting put off because he didn't know what the story actually was about. He then explained that he finally knew how to write it after he met his friend Esther Earl (who the book is dedicated too), who has since lost the battle to cancer.

After that Hank played some songs. One was about the book (and also from the character's perspective, so we got to hear Hank be a 16 year old girl also). After that he sang some of his original songs - some of which were about Harry Potter. All of which were wonderfully nerdy.



Next up was Q&A. John did part of it on his own specifically about "The Fault in Our Stars" (or his other books). There was a mix of thoughtful and silly questions. Unfortunately the thoughtful answers have slipped my mind, but some of the other questions were "Why do all of your female characters have green eyes" or "Why do all of your female characters wear blue nail polish?" Both of which he said were coincidence. After his time was up Hank joined him and they had a vlogbrothers Q&A. Which as an added bonus (so neither one would hog the time and lots of people were able to get questions answered) - whoever was talking when the buzzer went off (Hank) got shocked. They talked a lot about various projects they are working on and answered questions about Hankgames and how Vlogbrothers got started.

Then sadly the event was over and the line for signing began. Thankfully I was able to switch my letter (originally had S, switched for an M) with someone else and I only had to wait about 45 minutes. Since they only had 30 seconds of interaction time per person, I had to plan what I was going to ask carefully.... I finally settled with "Is it your intention to make me sob in public every time I read your books in a coffee shop?" He replied that it was his intention to make me laugh, and hopefully my tears were from laughter. I told him they were tears of joy because his writing is wonderful.

My spoils of war:


It was a pretty good night, Huzzah! and DFTBA nerdfighters!