I have read 76 books for the year! Past the halfway mark before June. Go me! Visits from Mommy, busy schedule and having too many books that I can’t tear myself away from led to a delay in posting. But, it was an exciting and eclectic week in books so I’m just gonna dive right in!
Etiquette & Espionage, by Gail Carriger: This was super fun. I listened to this, and the reader was quite fabulous too! So here’s the breakdown:
Setting: Victorian England, steampunk style – complete with werewolves and vampires.
The Deal: Sophronia is high spirited, plucky, active and curious, which of course means she must be sent to boarding school to polish up and act more lady like. She is accepted into a well known finishing school that teaches how to dance, curtsey, serve tea, poison, investigate, and assassinate–without ruining your hair of course. Upon arriving at the academy a mysterious prototype is missing and Sophronia can’t help investigating…
Names: I had to give a category to the names, because they are awesome. Ms. Barnaclegoose, Lord Dingleproops and a mcanimal dog named Bumbersnoot are a few of the great names.
Overall Assessment: I loved the writing and tongue-in-cheek tone of the book. It was fun without taking itself too seriously.
Will I Read the Sequel: Yes!
Quote: “‘What’s wrong with liking girly things? I like petticoats and dancing and perfume and hats and brooches and necklaces and–‘ Her eyes glazed over slightly as she contemplated sparkles.” This is of course, the fabulous BFF, Dimity.
Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls, by David Sedaris: Another solid collection from David Sedaris. His quirky and funny essays range from colonoscopies, family life and language learning on the fly. My favorite essay involves Sedaris learning that it is apparent he has a weakness for strange and disturbing items….mostly because I feel the same way. He also has some short fiction interspersed, taking on different voices and topics. These were okay, I think if there had been many more of them it would have been too much.
Overall Assessment: Sedaris’ sardonic essays are great and make for a quick, fun read. This is a good summer pick because the essay form allows for you to sneak in a quick essay and then pick it up later without having to remember any plot. It can easily be read in a sitting or two as well.
Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong, by Prudence Shen, illus. Faith Erin Hicks: Funding is tight and the robotics team needs money to go to competition and the cheerleaders need uniforms — let the battle begin. Nate, Robotics Club President and Charlie, Captain of the Basketball team are unlikely friends and unlikely opponents to Student Body President. Charlie is being forced to run by the cheerleaders so they can get the money and Nate is hoping to secure funding for Robotics. What follows are dirty campaigns, a robot death match, a stolen car as the Robotics Team and Cheerleaders strive to come out on top, dragging poor Charlie along for the ride. Nothing can possibly go wrong, right? (Sorry, I couldn’t help but work that in — it fits so perfect!)
Illustrations: It’s Faith Erin Hicks so of course the drawings and illustrations are fantastic. She has also done the wonderful Friends with Boys, and the delightful War at Ellsmere, among others. LOVE. Nothing can look wrong when she’s at the table.
Overall Assessment: Great pick for readers of all levels and interests. Appeal for boys and girls,readers who are a sensitive to violence or sex and readers at many levels. Must have for libraries and a must read! Plus, robot death match!
The Unseen Guest, by Maryrose Wood: In the third installment of the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series we meet Lord Fredrick’s mother and her potential fiance, Admiral Faucet — who has lost his ostrich. Who better to track the ostrich into the woods than three children who know the woods, have excellent noses and tracking skills and can imitate the call of nearly any animal in the woods? In this delightful and funny adventure we learn more about how the children survived in the woods and their origins as well as some family history about Lord Fredrick. The story wraps up nicely, but still leaves enough unanswered questions to leave me hanging for the fourth installment! I have listened to all of these on audiobook, and again, the narrator delivered fabulously.
Overall Assessment: I adore the adventures of the Incorrigibles and the third didn’t let me down. There was plenty of howling and Poe (and P.O.E.s!) to keep things thoroughly amusing.
The Fifth Wave, by Rick Yancey: This is the book that kept me from writing my book reviews because I could not put this down! Let’s break it down:
The Deal: Aliens have arrived. Instead of making friends they send out attacks on humans in waves. After the fourth wave, no one knows who to trust – who is human and who isn’t. There are a lot of mind games going on, which is super intense. Add a cute boy and close quarters into the mix and the mind if blown. OH SNAP!
Chick Check: Cassie is a bad ass female lead. She loves her M16 and can kick butt and take names. She took karate in the before so she has always been her own gal. Nice.
Overall Assessment: Yancey delivers an awesome and inventive alien tale. I love a book where you don’t know who the bad guys are, and it becomes a mental struggle as well as physical. My once complaint is that I had a hard time following the actual time in the book – I would wonder how long they were in places and the like (maybe I just missed it?). Otherwise though solid kick-butt book.
Last Thoughts? Alien apocalypse!
Will I Read the Sequel? Hello?! Alien apocalypse! Hells yeah!
Coming next review….The Elite, by Keera Cass!
Backbends and Bookends 