Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Stirring Up Strife (4/5)


Stirring Up Strife (4/5)

First in a cozy mystery series where a bible study group tries to solve a murder to clear the name of one of their friends.  Though I am not religious, I enjoyed this book.  It had a good mystery and good characters.  I do enjoy Stanley's Supper Club books much more.  But I will continue this series; I have #2, Path of the Wicked, on my Kindle to read.  I bought Stirring Up Strife from Barnes and Noble.

The Necromancer (YA) (5/5)


The Necromancer (YA) (5/5)

4th in a YA fantasy series, which I love and am excited to see that it looks like there will be book #5.  Nicholas Flamel, his wife and the twins of legend are fighting to save humanity from the Dark Elders and bad magical creatures.  At the same time, Flamel is fighting to stay immortal to save himself.  Good action and good characters made this a great read.  I borrowed this book from my public library.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Current Reads

I have several books going right now:

Handle with Care
The Necromancer (YA)
Firefly Lane
House Rules
Stirring Up Strife
Her Fearful Symmetry
The Killing Edge (Kindle)
Wolf Hall (Kindle)
Real Murders

No wonder it's been a week since I finished my last book--I am juggling too many at once!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Gizmo

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (4/5)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Henrietta Lacks had cervical cancer and her doctors took cells from her without her knowledge to experiment on and these cells became huge in the land of scientific advancement.  Her family got no monetary benefit from these cells being sold all over the world.  This book is part science and part memoir but even a non-science person like me enjoyed it.  We hope to use this with our IB students in the future; there is a lot to discuss in it.

I borrowed this book from my public library.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Bookmarked for Death (5/5)


Bookmarked for Death (5/5)

This is the second book in this series. Tricia Miles owns a mystery bookstore. An author is killed in her store while there signing her books. Tricia begins to investigate the murder and is apparently getting close because the murderer comes after her. A good cozy mystery series. I enjoy the book talk and Miss Marple, Tricia's diva cat.

I bought this book from Barnes and Noble.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

The Lost Symbol (4.5/5)


The Lost Symbol (4.5/5)

I anxiously awaited Dan Brown's new book because I loved The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons so much. This book, while having a bit of a slow start, did not disappoint. Robert Langdon is back to solve symbolic puzzles and there are tons of twists and turns. I read the last half or so straight through because I didn't want to put it down.

I bought this book from Barnes and Noble.

Boo in the motorcycle bag

Here is Boo in Lucky's motorcycle bag--waiting to go for a ride.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Nightlight (YA) (3.5/5)

Nightlight (YA) (3.5/5)

This book is a spoof of the book Twilight. Nightlight has its funny moments and its stupid moments but overall it's a decent quick read. Belle Goose falls in love with Edwart Mullen and is convinced he is a vampire. Some parts are spot on for spoofing Twilight.

I bought this book from Barnes and Noble.

Friday, June 11, 2010

I Heart You, You Haunt Me (YA) (4/5)


I Heart You, You Haunt Me (YA) (4/5)

A verse novel, this book tells the story of Ava, whose boyfriend has recently died in an accident. Ava begins to feel his ghostly spirit surrounding her and at first it is a comfort. But then she begins to wonder if it is healthy to hang on so tightly. A decent read, I can see HS girls really liking this one.

I borrowed this book from one of my students.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Strange Neighbors (3.5/5)

Strange Neighbors (3.5/5)

Merry MacKenzie moves into an apartment building where her landlord is the hot baseball player Jason Falco. The two begin a hot romance. There are some minor details to work through--Jason is a werewolf, apartment 3A is haunted by Chad, a ghost of a man shot in the 1960s, Jason's nosy Aunt Dottie and why a reporter knows more about Merry's past (she was adopted by the MacKenzie) than she does. Readers will like these characters and the other secondary ones as well, most with a paranormal twist. Some explicit sex scenes, just to be warned.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

The Carrie Diaries (YA) (4.5/5)

The Carrie Diaries (YA) (4.5/5)

This book details the high school life of Carrie Bradshaw, one of TV's most famous characters, from the show Sex and the City. It was interesting to see Carrie as a budding writer. I think fans of the TV show will really like this book but non-fans can like it in its own right. It has romance, humor, drama and action all going on.

I borrowed this book from our public library.