Duology: "Warcross"

Originally, I was going to include the first book in a compilation post. Then it was a standalone post, but it took me awhile to read it, so I waited for the second book to release in this YA duology in order to create a post showcasing them. I’ve been an established fan of this author’s work since the first story of hers that I read.

Warcross (Sept. 12, 2017) by Marie Lu.

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade, but what do you do if life hasn’t bothered to hand you the lemons? Tattooed teenage hacker Emika Chen (she’s 18) is a bright-haired bounty hunter who’s gone to the physical trouble of taking someone down for the NYPD, only to have the bounty claimed by another. She’s three months behind on rent and is about to be evicted, has a low-paying job and can barely afford mac ‘n cheese when she hacks into Warcross. That game is a global phenomenon, and it was started 10 years ago by Hideo Tanaka. He’s now a billionaire and is all of 21 years old. Emika hacks into the game thinking to make some quick cash, but she doesn’t expect her hack to cause the world to see her when she glitches in. Instead of someone slapping cuffs on her and sending her to jail (again), she finds herself in Tokyo with a business proposition. Only one other person has been able to hack one’s way into Warcross, and they refer to that player as Zero. Emika is one of the players, now professionally playing Warcross, in an effort to find out who Zero is and take her/him down. She’ll come in as a Wardraft Wild Card. She’s gone from impoverished girl with a juvenile record to overnight sensation surrounded by fame, fortune and the best technology available. Also, let’s not forget Hideo Tanaka of Henka Games. He’s a young, attractive, wealthy, elegant genius. By accident, Emika has gotten herself on Hideo’s radar. Good luck turning back now.

            I’ve been a reading fan of Lu’s through her Legend and The Young Elites trilogies. But when it came to this duology, I was uncertain, even though she’s an author whose books I’ve already consistently enjoyed. I still pre-ordered the book, but I know nothing of the gaming world and hacking and all of those tech-genius terms and therefore wondered if I’d find a reading rapport with this book. I put this book off for a long while and now cannot believe I ever doubted it, because I LOVED the book. As soon as I began reading it, I was addicted to the high octane plot, the inventive virtual reality (VR) world and the fascinating characters. Lu plaits everything together like a seamless code. Romance brews in this clever, all-consuming tale. If all VR, science fiction worlds are as kinetic and energetic as this one, then I want a shelf full of these types of YA novels!

Wildcard (Sept. 18, 2018) by Marie Lu.

Welcome to Warcross! The Warcross Championships are fast-approaching, but so much has happened, and more is to come. Firstly, with the presence of illegal power-ups in gameplay, a rematch between the Phoenix Riders and Andromeda has been scheduled, making it the first rematch in Warcross history. Secondly, Emika Chen has been replaced as a member of the Phoenix Riders. Thirdly, Zero has been identified, and the ­­­­Blackcoats resistance he's a part of looks to have morally gray areas, rather like Hideo Tanaka’s plan, though it’s easy to be convinced of the rightness of what the resistance is fighting for. And what the resistance is supposedly fighting to stop is set to launch in mere days when the Warcross Championships are about to commence. A majority of it has already launched, but the beta lenses weren’t in that massive batch. Which means their actions are still their own … for now.

            Emika finds herself at odds with Hideo around the same time she’s avoided being assassinated (life is a little complicated right now). She’s gone to the other side, essentially, by teaming up with Zero, Dr. Dana Taylor, Jax and others associated with the resistance. But Zero wants her to find her way back into Hideo’s good graces so she can gain access to something only he has the key for. And then she needs to corrupt it. But when someone she knows is seriously hurt, what does that say about the resistance? What’s really going on and who’s behind it?

            What a fantastic duology! If Marie Lu were to create a spinoff of this duology or keep up with the current main characters in a new, twisty, exhilarating, gamer-centric plotline, I’d be click-happy in pre-ordering it. I never expected to enjoy stories set in an ultra tech-smart world, and I’ve not only enjoyed it, but loved it. It’s been brilliantly fast-paced, as luminous as the Lamborghinis, Bugattis, Porsches and Luminatii Xs (“the fastest electric car currently on the market”) transformed into the impossible using the NeuroLink. The technology is amazingly immersive, and emotions hold power. What we do out of love can be morally questionable. The stakes are high, and Emika will do what she must.

The Positive Page-turner's Challenge: Take 6

Now closer to the end of the first month of 2019 than the beginning, I hope that the new year is starting off on the right note, right foot, right side of the bed, etc. For my first Page-turner’s Challenge of the year, I’m challenging myself to a year-round challenge. It is simple: Donate a package of bar soap (8-count or greater) for EVERY BOOK I read this year! The soap will all go to Haiti through GoServ Global.

            Books that count are chapter books on up. I’m unsure of how I’m going to handle picture books. If I feature a picture book and/or board book compilation, do I donate packages equivalent to the number of books featured? Or do I donate one package per compilation? Or donate one individual bar soap per book? Does anyone have any suggestions?

            What sorts of challenges or goals have you set for yourself in 2019?

Happy 2019!

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Happy 2019!

Whether last year was terribly tumultuous, amazingly awesome or a riotous mix of both that lands you somewhere in the middle with the many who had an average sort of year, I hope this year is a robust concoction of all those things that will make this year your own. Although I know life cannot be full of happiness 100% of the time or without challenges 100% of your days, look toward the bright side so those happy moments can be even brighter, and in times of darkness, I pray that you have wonderful people and pets around you, for all of us need pillars of support.

2019 is a new year. Looking out at a new year full of possibilities is to look at a blank page in a bare book. Fill it up with adventures large and small, good stuff, tough stuff (because it often can’t be avoided), personal challenges (goals, in this case) and the neutral, routine stuff in our days that keep us grounded. Go write your story and do awesome things!

Peace, love, joy and happy reading,

Lisa

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 11

It’s true. I do read a healthy amount of inspirational fiction, though I still read more YA (young-adult) novels. I don’t just read inspirational fiction titles direct from publishers. I do purchase them as well (including every Amish fiction title that Beverly Lewis writes, as part evidenced in this post). This compilation is a second round of such that I have purchased.

Dead Drift (July 3, 2018) by Dani Pettrey.

*This is the final novel in a series.*

Years have passed since Luke Gallagher was with his closest friends in Baltimore. He has been working as a CIA black ops operator. He reminds himself that he’s been working to help save his country from a major terroristic threat, especially when his actions, under orders, involve morally gray areas. Following the threat takes him back to Baltimore where reside his family and friends. He essentially went off the grid, but he’s kept track of those he cares most about, including Kate Maxwell. He’s never stopped loving her, but the years have changed him, and he can’t be sure she’ll accept the man he’s become, for it’s not always been good.

            Though she won’t admit it right away, Kate hasn’t stopped loving Luke, and she never gave up on her search for him. He’s suddenly back and now the threat he’s trying to stop is a threat to her, too. They will have to work together to unravel the tangles of a terrorist and his twisted mind before a grand biological disaster is released and innocent lives are taken. Working with Luke stirs deep feelings and former hurts and reminds Kate why she closed her heart off after he left. Will she let him back in? Is he here to stay?

            It’s okay for others to disagree, but to me, Dani Pettrey is a powerhouse when it comes to inspirational romantic suspense. The last in her Chesapeake Valor series has showcased this with protagonists and antagonists that are both distinct and dynamic on a timeline like ours but with a plot that could shatter a city’s population if the threat is not stopped. There are no downtimes in this book, as the action is continuous and tension rises as the danger intensifies. This has been a satisfying literary thrill ride, and I look forward to her next series.

            Book One: Cold Shot (did not review)

            Book Two: Still Life

            Book Three: Blind Spot

The First Love (Sept. 4, 2018) by Beverly Lewis.

*This is a standalone novel.*

In 1951, Maggie Esh is going on 18 years old. While still technically in Rumschpringe, she is attending baptismal classes. She occasionally participates in Singings, but is tempted to quit despite her younger sister, Grace, encouraging her to attend. Everyday life is not as easy for Maggie as it once was. She has a cane handy when she needs it and is sometimes in such excruciating pain that it’s hard just to walk across a room due to what she’s been told is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Because she does not live as easily as other youth in her district and therefore sees herself as undesirable, she is convinced that no man would want her as his wife.

            Her cousin, Lila Witmer, asks her to attend a revival tent meeting, and her excitement is so genuine that her curiosity is piqued and she goes. Attending opens up in her a closer relationship to the Lord, and she also hears stories of healing. She cannot understand why He would heal some and not others (such as herself), but her faith is strengthened. She does worry some of her father’s quiet disapproval of the revival meetings, but she reassures him she will be baptized this year. Maggie has also noticed that handsome Jimmy Beiler has been seeking her out. Presupposing that he only feels sorry for her, she tries to keep him at arm’s length, but that’s hard to do when she’s liked him for awhile.

            The “First Love” referred to in this story is not, perhaps, the first love you might be expecting. Lewis has portrayed Maggie as a wonderful character of faith with conviction. She isn’t faithful only because she’s been brought up that way, but because she truly believes in it, and her faith is only strengthened after the revival meetings. It is in our nature to question, and Maggie does, but she also accepts that her life may be filled with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis where no treatment – prescription or homeopathic – will help long-term. Maggie shows us that we can persevere despite the struggles in our lives, large or small or somewhere in between, and create an even stronger bond with God through it. This inspirational, contemporary fiction novel is uplifting and full of promise and hope.

The Road Home (Apr. 3, 2018) by Beverly Lewis.

*This is a standalone novel.*

When a jarring tragedy befalls the Schwartz family, Lena Rose and all of her siblings find themselves displaced, Lena most of all, as she is the only sibling to move outside of Leacock Township, Michigan. And she’s not just in another county, but another state. She moves in with Harley and Mimi Stoltzfus; Harley is a cousin to her father. Lena, an able seamstress, assists Mimi with her seamstress work. Though homesick, Lena is moved by the care of Harley and Mimi and the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, community. She befriends Rebekah Petersheim, who’s got a history to talk about, though Lena Rose doesn’t push it, Lydia Smucker, sweetheart-gal to Eli, Harley’s and Mimi’s youngest, and Arden Mast, a handsome fella with a good soul. Lena has made it known that she has a beau back home. But talking with and spending time with Arden is far more effortless than spending time with her Hans. Unfortunately, it would not do to be involved with a fella in Pennsylvania when she plans to return to Michigan as soon as a family there can take her in.

            “The Road Home” is another sweet story of Amish fiction from Lewis. I continue to be impressed by the storylines she comes up with time and time again. Like her other inspirational fiction novels, Lewis’ books are heartfelt and inviting. They invite us to a warm hearth to get to know new characters and want to know them, though, like any hearth, it can get cold when the embers have burned too low and those characters you’re now rooting for are dealing with tough stuff and obstacles in their paths. Dedicated fans of the author have long since added this novel to their bookshelves, but for anyone looking for Amish fiction literature, this standalone novel may suit you.

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 10

You can’t tell from my posts in recent years, but I read more YA (young-adult) novels than any other book type, and this includes picture books*! Since I made it a personal goal to be more active on my blog in 2018, I decided I might as well put together my second YA compilation of the year.

            * I became an aunt last year, so this could easily change.

All the Crooked Saints (Oct. 10, 2017) by Maggie Stiefvater.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Everyone wants a miracle, but everyone fears what it takes to get one. For those pilgrims seeking miracles, go to Bicho Raro, Colorado, a place filled with mysterious saints, estranged relationships, transformations both amazing and terrifying, miracle-hungry owls, a watchful desert and three Soria cousins. Daniel Lupe Soria (19) is the current Saint of Bicho Raro, and he’s so good at it that even his eyes are soothing. He wants so badly to help someone he is not allowed to help and fears that this fierce desire could ruin his entire family. Beatriz Soria (18) is an eerie and serene woman known as the girl without feelings who prefers intellectual gratification over anything else. She wants to understand how a butterfly is similar to a galaxy and fears being asked to do anything else. Joaquin Soria (16) is suave and clean-shaven. He takes himself very seriously and would prefer everyone else did as well. He has a phobia of dehydration and so always carries enough water to last him for days. He wants to be famous (as his DJ name Diablo Diablo) and fears dying alone in the parched dust outside Bicho Raro.

            Arriving in Bicho Raro of a night in 1962 are Tony DiRisio (a.k.a. Tony Triumph) and Pete Wyatt. Tony is a household-fixture-of-a-DJ who wants to stop having dreams of a specific nature and fears people watching him eat. He’s looking for a miracle. Pete is not. He’s heading to Bicho Raro to talk to someone about a truck. He wants to start a business that, summed up, makes him feel awesome and fears that the empty feeling in his heart will eventually kill him. Miracles may be in store for all of them, but the thing about miracles in Bicho Raro is that they’re never quite what one expects, and they are never straightforward nor easy to obtain.

            While I preferred Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle series over this novel, this one is still a tour de force, a spectacle of imagination. Much of her writing is so lyrical, but not without light and logically-minded moments. It is clear that Stiefvater is a master storyteller. The story does not focus on science and religion, though elements of both shine through in the thoughts and memories of characters from time to time, as the story astutely notes, “Antonia’s kind of belief is not uncommon, but it has done both science and religion a disservice. By relegating the things we fear and don’t understand to religion, and the things we understand and control to science, we rob science of its artistry and religion of its mutability” (p. 185). This fabulism (magical realism) is eccentric but beautiful, dark yet radiant.

The Crown (May 3, 2016) by Kiera Cass.

*This is the final book in a series.*

In the past, princesses born into the family were married to princes in other countries to strengthen relations. This means that Crown Princess Eadlyn Schreave is the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection. What began as 35 potential suitors has been whittled down to the top six. After a family emergency, Eadlyn has dutifully taken on the role of regent and therefore makes all decisions of state until further notice. She’s been training for this her entire life, but it’s naturally more work than she imagined. She’s also trying to balance her Selection process and do damage control since the people of Illéa do not approve of her.

            Someone wanting to read a light romance reminiscent of a certain American TV show might have interest in this series. “The Crown” is the fifth and final book in the Selection series. (Eadlyn’s story is contained within the latter two novels.) Sadly, I never rooted for Princess Eadlyn, although I did want to root for a few of the guys. When I first met her in the previous book, she was very much the stereotypically uppity, pampered princess, and no matter how she tried to emulate her beloved parents, I never felt she’d truly turned over a new leaf.

            Despite my less-than-stellar review, I do not like to focus solely on the negative. Not wanting to give away specific top six names, there were definitely suitors that I rooted for. In spite of the number of characters, Cass did do some of them enough justice that I felt like they truly were supporting characters and not passing fancies. The ending is tied up in too pretty a bow thanks to the happy ending, both for love and the Illéan monarchy moving forward, though that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s simply something I noted.

Everything, Everything (Sept. 1, 2015) by Nicola Yoon.

*This is a standalone novel.*

What would you do if you lived your entire life in a house that you never got to leave? Madeline Furukawa Whittier reads books, and “It doesn’t matter how many you’ve read. I’ve read more. Believe me. I’ve had the time.” Madeline has Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), also known as “bubble baby disease.” Madeline has just turned 18 and a new family has moved in next door. When she starts interacting with the teenage son, Olly, she gains her first nickname of Maddy. And in knowing Olly, she’s definitely going to fall in love, and it will most likely be a disaster. She has her secrets, as she doesn’t want to share the reason she lives in a house that she never gets to leave, and he has his secrets. Chatting with him through emails and instant messages helps pass some of the time – when it’s after 8 p.m. and Maddy’s finally alone – but it is nothing compared to human contact. She so rarely interacts with humans in person that she craves it. Or at least craves Olly. And it appears that he is as curious about her as she is about him. So you see? Disaster.

            Because of how the prose is stylized (as an actual story, as a diary page, list, graph, etc.), I found this YA novel to be fast-paced. I like knowing how many chapters a book has, but this one does not number the chapters; however, each “chapter” does have a heading, so it at least has that going for it. This was Yoon’s debut novel, and the construction of it is so like a new snow under sunlight that it sparkles. It’s an easy story to get caught up in. Even if you’re not into “love” stories, this novel is stunning in its creative writing.

"The Light Before Day" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Light Before Day (Oct. 2, 2018) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

Their grandmother was wealthily unhappy in life, and she was also ridiculously wealthy. In her will, she listed twins Henry and Mehitabel “Hitty” Macy as her heirs. Knowing how critical Lillian Coffin was of them in life, they are befuddled as to why she’d name them heirs of her vast estate and significant holdings. But, oh wait, there are parameters that must be met, otherwise the inheritance all goes to their duplicitous relative, Tristram Macy. All Henry and Hitty have to do is keep the fortune on Nantucket Island (simple enough), move immediately into the Grand House (a cold manor with all the warmth of a glacier) and marry a Friend (Quaker) in which one “Sees the Look” within six years, by what would have been Lillian’s 80^th birthday. Six years seems like plenty of time until you consider that the persons you expect the brother and sister to end up with are neither of them part of the Society of Friends.

            Henry is a bookish, thoughtful thinker. He cannot be rushed into making decisions and will struggle if expected to come to a hasty conclusion. But he moves forward with the idea of starting his own newspaper. As editor, he wants to be an objective observer no matter his subjective thoughts. He also acknowledges the pressure of marrying a Friend in good standing.

            Hitty is actually quite astute, even though she doesn’t realize it, lacking the bookishness of her brother or the inventor mind of Isaac Barnard. While reading has always been a sore spot for her, her opinion on too much wealth is wise, and she has a caring heart, especially toward Isaac’s daughter, Bitsy.

            While I’m not much of a history buff, even I can tell that Woods Fisher exerted a tremendous amount of research for this historical romance. And, not having read stories with Quaker characters, I found the novel to be fascinating. Although I did not love the story, I appreciated the grandeur of it: the Nantucket of old to a Nantucket having to literally rise from the ashes, characters from history becoming fascinating historical characters that you want to root for and support, and the dark corners of self-doubt and pressure flooding with the light of determination and hope. I found this story to have strength of plot and a well-rounded array of characters, both main and supporting.

            Note: There is one character I don’t particularly care for. I won’t name names. All I’ll say is, if someone ever says to me, “Thee looks quite fetching sprinkled in sugar,” I will likely laugh so hard that boogers will fly out of my nose. And no one wants that.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 9

I have dubbed this post as Picture Books 2018: Part Two, because it is. You can find Part One here. You will find two repeat authors, but I think it only helps cement that I am fond of those authors’ stories.

Elecopter (Sept. 3, 2013) by Michael Slack.

The savannah has the best elephant on the patrol. Elecopter is an all-in-one firefighter, with her fire-hose nose, and rescuer with the ability to fly. She doesn’t ask for much in return; she’ll literally work for peanuts. No matter the mission, she will succeed!

            Perhaps the most wondrous thing about fiction is that you can be as imaginative as you want to be. A happy little rhyme with pages full of action and color, this book will likely delight a multitude of young ones. In this story, we are introduced to a character full of compassion and care, one who puts others first. A helicopter elephant – an Elecopter – is realistically impossible … but I still wish to know one!

Emeraldalicious (Jan. 29, 2013) by Victoria Kann.

When Pinkalicious Pinkerton makes a new wand, she discovers that it has magical properties. With naught but a simple rhyme and use of the word love, Pinkalicious and her younger brother, Peter, transform a park, which looks like a garbage dump, into a “greenatastic” garden.

            There is a great message in this story to encourage recycling, even though we can’t wave a magic wand and transform a garbage dump into a garden in a few seconds. It also shows a nice bond between sister and brother. Pinkalicious still has her moments where she wants it to be her turn (even if it really isn’t) and she wants it right now, but the bond is strong enough where Peter cedes. The pictures are full of recycled wonder and imagination, but the story fell a little flat for me. Although this is a picture book aimed toward, approximately,  preschoolers to second graders, I was expecting the wishes to be more about the betterment of the surroundings than about what they mostly wanted because it looked pretty or cool.

Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly (Feb. 5, 2008) by Jane O’Connor.

   Robin Preiss Glasser, illustrator.

The fanciest girl around has planned out what to wear to her best friend’s butterfly birthday, but Nancy can’t go. Not only is Bree her best friend, but she’s fascinated by butterflies and is “practically an expert.” Will Nancy hold onto her furiousness? Or will she find a new setting where she can still be glamorous?

            Nancy is a far cooler kid than I ever was and with a marvelously colorful and creative wardrobe to boot! Her fascination with butterflies will hopefully inspire other youngsters to be fascinated by them as well. The writing will perhaps add a vocabulary challenge to some, but the style is meant to be fun. The fun of the writing is enhanced by the illustrator’s colorful illustrations. This is an adorable picture book.

Honey…Honey…Lion! (Aug. 25, 2005) by Jan Brett.

In Africa, it is said that the honeyguide leads the honey badger to honey. The honey badger obtains the honeycomb, and the two share it. But one day, the honey badger is greedy and eats it all, not saving even a morsel of sweetness for the honeyguide. She retaliates by leading him to a candle pod acacia tree to teach him a lesson. What waits for the honey badger at the acacia?

            This story is based on a legend told in Botswana about what happens if you don’t share honey with the honeyguide. Other animals in the story pass along this tale through sounds (shown on the outside margins of the pages), which is called a “bush telegraph.” I enjoyed this tale tremendously, not only because I enjoy Brett’s picture books, but because she didn’t make up the tale for the sake of making something up. She brought in a cultural aspect, a legend from another nation, and created a story with a lush landscape. Her pictures are, well, picturesque. And her main characters show that, even without talking animals, greed and the ideal of teaching a lesson can be written in a beautifully entertaining way.

Skippyjon Jones: Cirque de Olé (Oct. 16, 2012) by Judy Schachner.

Is it a bird? Or a plane? No. It’s the Siamese-kitten-imagined-handsome-Chihuahua called Skippito Friskito. He’s a tightrope-walking, triple-spin-backflip-diving acrobat-ito that his sisters term a Chi-wu-lu. He needs to become los músculos for his muchachos so they do not crumble-ito. The pint-sized star is ready for his moment of glory. ¡Olé!

            For those who work with or have young ones who are most entertained by busy stories, not just in prose, but in illustration, then this is a picture book to add to your collection. The rowdy feline and his Chihuahua alter-ego feature in illustrations colorful and vibrant, which suggest they are as tireless and unruly as the star of the show. Schachner’s writing is high-octane to match Skippito Friskito, and the dual-lingo continues. “Circus berserkus” indeed! (clap-clap)

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 8

I will be the first to admit that I rarely read nonfiction novels. And when I do, they are on the humorous side. In this compilation, you will find featured nonfiction literature to tickle your funny bone. Granted, there are only two books, but didn’t I already mention that I rarely read nonfiction novels? If you’ve read any funny nonfiction lately, please share in the comments!

Scrappy Little Nobody (Nov. 15, 2016) by Anna Kendrick.

Hey! It’s that girl from the Twilight films! And the gal from all of the Pitch Perfect movies. So, even if you don’t know her (most of us don’t), you’ve probably heard of her or can remember that you did see her in that one movie and are just now realizing it. This is Anna Kendrick’s memoir. Despite being a “child actor” (her Broadway debut was at the age of 12 – did you know that?), she had a fairly normal upbringing: parents, a brother and the very real role of the unpopular girl at school (because, yes, she went to school and sat in classrooms like most of us). She talks of her big move to Hollywood and the struggle of seeming like she had it all ($1,000 shoes!), when what she really had were a couple pieces from IKEA and a small bank account, while sharing an apartment with two guys and a tar-stained floor. Quite the opposite of glamorous, but very real.

            The actress and singer’s wit do come through the pages. I found her writing to be self-deprecating and droll, but I also got the impression that being an “obstinate, determined little ball of anxiety” fits her to this day and not just her three-year-old self. Most of us are anxious human beings, but I expect that she over-thinks things more than she should, which just confirms that she isn’t wholly unlike the majority of us. I certainly laughed aloud at times and actually found her non-adoration toward fashion to be refreshing, as it seems that all famous people (or the ones we see photographed in magazines) are all up on fashion trends and designer labels. Not saying she isn’t now that she’s successful, but someone who doesn’t mind wearing sweatpants and lounging while watching Netflix and eating a bowl of mac ‘n cheese is all right in my [hypothetical] book. This scrappy little nobody is, these days, a snarky, still little*, somebody.

            * Take heart, Anna Kendrick, as, if Google is correct, you have an entire one inch over me**.

            ** Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. And, even then, I’m still short.

Unqualified (Oct. 24, 2017) by Anna Faris.

The book’s author has advice for us, but she is unqualified to give it. It will not stop her from sharing advice and stories, though. From her fairly ordinary upbringing surrounded by loving parents and an older brother to simultaneously love (because you have to) and annoy (because it comes naturally) to the travails of college relationships (or in general) to tackling Hollywood (in her own way), the author brings us candid and sympathetic stories, often from a humorous standpoint. In between all of that are her first relationships, failed relationships, Chris Pratt and their son, Jack. This book is part memoir, part relationships, part  “Unqualified Advice” and all Anna Faris.

            Overall, this book was reasonably entertaining. From the viewpoint of someone who’s not familiar with her podcast, I felt like this story was written with her podcast audience in mind. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but there seemed to be too much over-sharing (which I won’t go into for those with sensitive minds). I appreciated her candidness, in spite of (or, perhaps, because of) her inclusion in Hollywood, and there were definitely moments – plural – that I chuckled aloud. Her chapter on son, Jack, was sweet, funny and stressful (he was premature). In that chapter, you felt like you were looking at fragility of life with both parents and baby fighting to persevere and be strong. In the way she writes, she comes across as personable and engaging. It would definitely be cool to run into her on the street. And, Anna? If you still feel like the Short Girl, let’s talk. I once had someone use “Shorty” in his pick-up line to me. Did he really think that line was cool? Because no. Just no.

The Positive Page-turner's Challenge: Take 5

Months have passed since my previous Page-turner’s Challenge, so I figured I’d get another one underway before the frenzy of holiday fun and stress and busyness are upon us. Knowing there’s a good chance I won’t read as many books as I want to, I am making this a two-part personal challenge.

1.)    Donate $10 for each book you see in this photo. (There are 19.) Easy! Complete! Check written out for $190 for my home church’s Haiti Fund!

2.)   For the months of October and November, donate a package of bar soap (eight-count or greater) for every book read (chapter books on up). For example, if I read 12 books between the two months, I will buy 12 packages of bar soap. This soap gets boxed up and will eventually go on a cargo container when next GoServ Global sends one to Haiti. In addition to GoServ Global’s website, you can find their blog here.

If anyone reading this has put in volunteer efforts or is participating in one’s own personal challenge, please share it in the comments. I don’t want to make anyone feel guilty about what they are or are not doing. But if you’re doing, I definitely want to celebrate it and live vicariously through your passion projects. Plus, who knows what fun ideas I can gain from others? And we from each other?

P.S. I am VERY behind in my reading. Looking at this photo, I have only read three of these books as of this posting date!

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 7

Because it is my favorite category, I read a lot of YA (young-adult) novels. And because I have received them from publishers, I next read a healthy amount of inspirational fiction titles. Then I read a fair amount of middle-grade stories. I will read from any age category, though certain age categories hold more weight for me than others. This compilation features novels geared for adults. However, since I don’t read a lot of adult fiction, there are only two titles here.

No Easy Target (Apr. 25, 2017) by Iris Johansen.

*This is a standalone novel with occasional recurring characters.*

Some people say they like animals more than humans. Margaret Douglas would be one such person, but it’s for a far more unique reason: she has the ability to communicate with them and understand them in a way that the animal understands. She changes her name as needed and never stays in one place overlong. The violence in her past has a name, and it’s Stan Nicos. He knows her ability, and he wants to use it for nefarious purposes. She escaped from him once and vowed never to return to Vadaz Island. But John Lassiter found her. It took him far longer than he’d have liked, but found her he has. Someone close to him is a captive of Nicos’, and he’s prepared to use Margaret as bait. Naturally, she fights that, and the two try to outwit the other until something of a tentative understanding comes to light. They have a common enemy, so they need to match wits to outwit him.

            I’ve been reading Johansen’s novels now for so long, that I automatically preorder them when a mass market edition is available, but I do ask myself why I keep buying her books. They are action-filled thrillers with macho men and steely women. A splash of the supernatural (like with Margaret’s ability) is not uncommon. The bad guys are always the great evils of the books. The baddies never have a moral compass, and the word “ethics” is probably not in their vocabularies. It’s a lot of the same, but with different characters and different locales.

            Perhaps 2019 will be the year that I quit preordering her books. I do not read those she writes with her son, Roy Johansen, so I’ve got that going for me. Her books are not bad; they’re simply very predictable.

Two by Two (Oct. 4, 2016) by Nicholas Sparks.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Idyllic life for the Green family is about to fall apart. Russell has missed all the telltale signs. After he leaves his job (before being fired), entrepreneur Russ starts the advertising company he’s dreamed of: Phoenix Agency. But building a client base is slow-going, which prompts his wife, Vivian, to get a job. She quickly secures a well-paying job. Suddenly, Russ finds himself bussing London to her numerous activities (even though she’s only five/six), while trying to gain his first client. Vivian’s new job is demanding, and she’s often on overnight trips. When they’re together, she’s very hot and cold. Vivian’s also masterful at making Russ feel like the guilty party. Every. Single. Time. While it’s so obvious from a reader’s perspective, it comes as a shock when the 32-year-old Russ sees the fault lines of his life are cracks that cannot be repaired.

            Mr. Mom-type character. Good idea. Banter between Russell and his older sister, Marge. Great. Emily’s a strong character, though it takes awhile for her to be involved in the story. Overall, unfortunately, I struggled to read this novel. I was bored. I started this book months ago, and I’ve read almost 20 books in between. Perhaps I missed the lack of suspense as in his more recent novels. Or, and I can’t believe I’m saying this about a Nicholas Sparks novel, it could be that he created an over-watered storyline with lackluster characters. Russ is a needy, over-thinking, naïve, hopeless romantic. Vivian, while a good mother, comes across as vain, spoiled and only beautiful on the outside. Both have woe-is-me mentalities, which, if this were real-life and not fiction, I expect would be damaging in the long-term to London. You know what the outcome of the couple will be, so you can only watch them spiral out-of-sync. The story ended conclusively; it was even a bit emotional, but don’t expect surprises. The disappointment of this novel won’t stop me from reading the next one, but unless you’re a loyal Nicholas Sparks fan (*raises hand*), I’d pass on adding this one to your bookshelf.