Rutabaga's Reads 2012: Part 6

This is Part 6 of Rutabaga’s Reads 2012. This compilation of book summaries/reviews represent my most recent reads of the year + a couple picture books.

Anna Dressed in Blood (Aug. 30, 2011) by Kendare Blake.

Killing the dead is all in a day’s work for seventeen-year-old ghost hunter Theseus Cassio “Cas” Lowood. People send him tips on murderous ghosts, and he travels around with his witch-mom and his athame (special knife) to dispatch those ghosts. His most recent mission is in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to the home of Anna Korlov. She’s a lethal ghost whose M-O is to rip apart anyone who enters her house. But she doesn’t kill Cas. Her life ended brutally in 1958. What is her story? How is Anna different from other ghosts Cas has encountered? Cas will need help and befriends a couple peers who are a big help: Thomas Sabin, a psychic, and Carmel Jones, the popular girl who’s braver than she appears.

            This YA novel is a paranormal/horror tale. It is not for anyone with a weak stomach or who is prone to nightmares. There is some strong language, perhaps typical of teen-speak these days, but it is worth noting for those who like to know. I quite enjoyed reading this book. I like the droll humor and the allusions to the Ghostbusters. Despite the gore, reading this book was attention-grabbing with its humor, suspense, horror and light romance. The sequel, “Girl of Nightmares” is in this compilation as well.

The Best of Me (Oct. 11, 2011) by Nicholas Sparks.

Dawson Cole and Amanda Collier were high school sweethearts whose lives took different paths after graduation. Now both in their early forties, they find themselves back where they grew up, in the small town of Oriental, North Carolina. Their love for each other is still evident despite all the years apart. They’ll have some time to catch up on their current events and their past relationship. But members of Dawson’s violence-prone, criminal family know he’s back in town, and they want to rewrite the past in the present. Has Dawson’s past come back to haunt him? And can long-ago love override what is present-day life?

            “The Best of Me” is classic Nicholas Sparks with a twist. It is characteristic of his regular body of work: romance that isn’t too lovey-dovey, even if occasional lines teeter on that line, and has a strong message of love overcoming all, even when the going is rough. But the twist is the thriller element with a couple of Dawson’s relatives. They’re so broken in their deranged state that their thoughts are cringe-worthy. The story is heartfelt and heart-wrenching and may even have you shedding a few tears before the end.

The Bridesmaid (Sept. 11, 2012) by Beverly Lewis.

In this standalone second novel in Lewis’ Home to Hickory Hollow series, Joanna Kurtz is a single Amish woman in her mid-twenties. In the eyes of others, she is practically considered an old maid amongst the Amish. Residing in the fictional area of Hickory Hollow in the real Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, she longs to find that special someone. She wants him to exist in reality, not only in the fiction stories she jots down as a closet writer. While visiting Virginia Beach for the funeral of a relative who spent his life in Hickory Hollow and Shipshewana, Indiana, Joanna meets Eben Troyer. From Shipshewana, Eben is taken with Joanna right away and vice versa. He is fully prepared to move to Hickory Hollow to be with Joanna, but circumstances may not be in their favor …

            Is Joanna destined to remain a bridesmaid, but never a bride?

            As always, Lewis’ novel shines with love, sadness, happiness, betrayal, and above all, a devoted connection to the Lord. Her books continue to show her readership the strength of characters in their trust, faith and devotion. And after Joanna is betrayed by someone so dear, Lewis shows us Joanna’s willingness to forgive and her perseverance to keep tenacious, hurtful thoughts away. Are we as willing to forgive others as Joanna is?

The Five Chinese Brothers (Oct. 7, 1938) by Claire Huchet Bishop.

   Kurt Wiese, illustrator.

I read this on a recommendation from my Aunt Patty awhile back, and I’m so glad she recommended it to me, for it is a clever read. For those of you who’ve read it, you know it is not a happy-go-lucky story, but it’s witty. This Chinese folktale is about five Chinese brothers who all look identical to one another and each has a special talent. When the First Chinese Brother is condemned to death for something beyond his control, the brothers subsequently stand in for each other and employ their special talents to avoid death. What is the judge’s verdict at the end? The story is illustrated with simple pictures and little color, but that does not detract from the text.

Girl of Nightmares (Aug. 7, 2012) by Kendare Blake.

In this sequel to “Anna Dressed in Blood” (the first entry in Part 6), Cas cannot get Anna Korlov out of his mind. He sometimes sees her when he’s asleep and other times when he’s awake. Each time he sees her, Anna is being tormented in twisted and sadistic ways. His friends tell him to let her go – she’s truly gone this time – but he cannot. After a mysterious picture arrives, he is adamant about going to England, and he takes Thomas with him. He sees his old family friend, Gideon Palmer, and eventually Carmel shows up. They meet new faces, though they’re not entirely trustworthy, including Jestine Rearden, a teenager with the Order of the Biodag Dubh. No matter the animosity or danger, Cas will do anything to save Anna, but there will be a price. There is always a price.

            What I mentioned about “Anna Dressed in Blood” applies here as well, including a positive reaction to the book despite its darkness. It is simultaneously as ominous and horrible as it is moving and tender. Blake pulls you into a world both terrible and exciting. She’ll take you on a rollercoaster ride of fear, love, panic, desperation and light romance. Hang on tight and be careful of the Obeahman’s teeth. He bites.

Insurgent (May 1, 2012) by Veronica Roth.

Taking right off from “Divergent” (see Part 3), Tris Prior is seeking refuge after surviving the massacre on Abnegation (the selfless) that Jeanine (Erudite, the intelligent) initiated using the simulation-serum-induced Dauntless (the brave). The serum didn’t affect Tris due to her Divergent abilities. Tris moves a lot in this novel. She goes momentarily loopy when given too much peace serum in Amity (the peaceful), undergoes an interrogation by truth serum in Candor (the honest) and spends time with the factionless. She even chooses to walk herself over to Erudite and the traitor Dauntless twice, but each time for completely different reasons. She can’t handle even holding a gun right now, and she is at times so consumed with guilt and grief that it might overpower her.

            This is very much Tris’ story. Her mentality weighs more due to the weight of grief and guilt she carries, which doesn’t say much except that her actions are sometimes less Dauntless-brave and more reckless-suicidal. This occasionally makes for an annoying, self-pitying character, but despite that, Tris is still able to think logically, selflessly and bravely when she truly needs to, touching on her Divergent points. There is a reveal that hints at their gated origin. Roth’s two books are must-reads for anyone who’s into dystopian settings.

Little Known Facts about Well-Known Places: WDW (Aug. 25, 2011) by Laurie Flannery.

The title makes it obvious that this book is of very specific interest. This is a fun little book full of tidbits about Walt Disney World (WDW), most of which you probably didn’t know the history of or the story behind. I am a HUGE fan of WDW (please do not confuse it with Disneyland -- it will grieve me). In fact, I feel very passionate toward the vacation spot. So for me, this book is a good choice and may be for you as well if you love WDW as much as I do or enjoy learning random facts about different places. And, if you are heading to WDW anytime soon and need something to read on the airplane, grab a copy of this book. Just think how smart you’ll feel being able to blurt out random facts about WDW!

The Mark of Athena (Oct. 2, 2012) by Rick Riordan.

Riordan scores big again with his third installment in the Heroes of Olympus (HoO) series. The seven demigods have embarked on a quest after a friendly visit to Camp Jupiter becomes unfriendly. Aboard the magnificent Argo II ship – built to float and fly – dangers await all the demigods, both those from [Greek] Camp Half-Blood and [Roman] Camp Jupiter (especially for Annabeth, a daughter of Athena). From headache-riddled gods to angry Roman demigods to kill-hungry monsters, it’s just another day for a demigod, particularly for those on a quest. Good thing they have their mixed-martial-arts-obsessed, battle-happy, satyr-chaperon, Coach Hedge, with them. And their joint arsenal of superpowers doesn’t hurt, either. But all will cross humbling/intense obstacles. Can they all work together to protect each other and save Rome?

            Enthralling plot. Convincing characters. Dangerous expeditions. Marked with comedy. It is what I have come to expect from a Riordan novel. It’s a no-brainer must-read for already-followers of this series (or his previous ones). But, for newcomers to Riordan, you won’t want to simply start at Book One of HoO, you’ll want to start with the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. This book follows four demigod protagonists: two we’ve known since Percy Jackson and two we just met in HoO. Time to brush up on your Greek mythology with Roman counterparts!

The Night Before Father’s Day (May 10, 2012) by Natasha Wing.

   Amy Wummer, illustrator.

Whether you think this Father’s Day is long past or next year’s is too far in the future (or both), don’t ignore this most recent title from Wing’s “Night Before” series. While the dad is away on a [fairly lengthy] bike ride, his family gussies up his garage and makes his car shiny clean. As expected, it is written in rhyme and is a cute little story. Read it to your little ones or little ones you know and perhaps they’ll be inspired to make the next Father’s Day an extra nice one!

Rizzoli & Isles: Last to Die (Aug. 28, 2012) by Tess Gerritsen.

In the tenth installment, Boston PD Detective Jane Rizzoli and Boston Medical Examiner Dr. Maura Isles are back to keep three twice-orphaned teens safe. The parents of Teddy Clock, Claire Ward and Will Yablonski were once all murdered within a week of each other. Orphaned once. One-time survivors. Then two years later each of their foster families are murdered. Twice orphaned. Twice survivors. The three kids are sent to Evensong, a boarding school/sanctuary surrounded by acres of Maine wilderness with a locked gate and a state-of-the-art security system. Anticipating that there’s no place safer, imagine the surprise and fear when violence and death enter Evensong’s premises. Can these kids escape death a third time?

            Before “Last to Die,” I hadn’t read anything by Gerritsen, and I’ve never watched Rizzoli & Isles on TNT, but I expect I’ll read more from her. Her books are the type of thriller fiction that I prefer to read: bothersome moments, but not nightmare-inducing, and harmful scenarios without all the detailed, messy gore. There is some technical jargon, as is likely more expected from adult fiction than for a YA fantasy (though, fairly, those stories usually have their own set of “technical” lingo). I wasn’t sure I’d like this book, but I was immersed from the beginning, and it had a crafty ending. Smartly written. Additionally, the book was stand-alone, thus allowing me to not feel lost in back stories and tons of characters.