Duff by Kody Keplinger

Duff by Kody Keplinger
Publisher's summary:
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone. And eventually, through this realization, Bianca begins to see how harmful her unhealthy way of dealing with her problems has been, and finds a way to confront them head on.

My review:
Duff by Kody Keplinger is one of those YA novels that feels like it's meant for an older audience. Don't expect a story about simple high school crushes, innocent kisses and awkward moments.  Duff is a very mature novel. If you don't want your teen reading sex scenes, then don't buy this book. However, you yourself just may love it.

The author, Kody Keplinger, is young and gets what being a modern teen girl is like. She does not gloss over the body issues. She does not pretty up the language. She does not shy away from sexual situations. Kody gets it. As a mother, I'd like to pretend that she's wrong. I'd love to imagine a world where teen girls aren't sexually active and don't have to worry about being 10 lbs chubbier than their best friend. But I'd be wrong.

Bianca is one of those female characters that you can immediately identify with. She's sarcastic, but sweet.  Insecure yet a little mouthy. Bianca is awesome.

Most people don't notice her though. She's a Duff. Designated Ugly Fat Friend.  With two gorgeous best friends, Bianca blends into the background.  She's dealing with home issues and her anger manifests itself into one manic moment. She kisses the school playboy, Wesley Rush.  She really wishes she hadn't done it. She also wishes she didn't enjoy it quite so much.

What Bianca doesn't know is that Wesley is struggling as well. Behind his chauvinistic exterior lies a young man who is searching for acceptance and love as frantically as she is. If the two of them could just let their guards down a little, maybe they could connect in other ways than sexual.

I enjoyed Duff. The story is moving and emotional, but not dark. There are definite sexual elements, so of course, keep that in mind with younger teens. Like I've said, it's a very real, modern day teen love story.  There is language, there is sex. There is also a lot of heart and real life emotion in Duff. I cannot wait to hear more from the young and crazy talented Kody Keplinger!

Book Review : Dracula In Love

Dracula in Love by Karen Essex has been touted in many book reviews as “Twilight for grownups”. I can see a few similarities, I guess. Yes, there is a vampire. Yes, there is a love story. But that’s where the resemblance ended for me. Hang on to your Team Edward novelty baseball hats, because this ain’t your teenager’s vampire novel.
     This book is dark. It’s mysterious. It’s sensual. This is a real gothic novel, the way they are supposed to be written. You want to go wandering through mist filled, centuries old cemeteries in the dead of night? How does a visit to a Victorian “insane” asylum sound? Dracula in Love has it all, and then some.
     Karen Essex has taken the characters from Bram Stoker’s classic novel and given them quite an imaginative back story. In the original, Mina Murray is an innocent bystander in an act of revenge between the count and his lawyer, Jonathan Harker. But in Essex’s retelling of the tale, Mina may not be such a innocent victim. She is something else entirely, something she herself has tried to ignore her entire life .As a child, she learned to hide her strange abilities and talents in exchange for a calm, normal life. She dreamed of a beautiful wedding, a doting husband and house full of children. However, nightly visions, sometimes horrific and other times extremely erotic, have her confused and scared. Who is this creature she encounters in her dreams? She finds herself drawn to him in ways she has never experienced, or at least, in ways she cannot fully explain. Yet, he appears to posses knowledge of her every thought, her every desire. The two souls are somehow connected in a way mere mortals could never fully comprehend.
     I enjoyed this novel so much. Essex is an amazingly talented author, giving new life to these classic characters. She deftly intertwines the histories of Mina and the Count into the original story without missing a beat. The blending is flawless. In some instances, when an author attempts to retell a classic tale one of two things tend to happen. One, the older story becomes somewhat forgotten, it’s charm is lost when it’s replaced with a shinier new version. Two, the new version tends to feel, for lack of a better word, stolen. You find yourself wondering why the author even attempted to make these characters her own. They are someone else’s imaginings and they just don’t come to life in the hands of another writer. However, Dracula in Love did not leave me feeling as if Mina Murray was simply a borrowed character. I felt as if she blossomed beautifully under Essex’s care. I also do not feel as if Stoker’s original story is overshadowed by this new novel. I actually find myself tempted to read it again!
     Dracula in Love is a beautifully writtten and wildly addictive novel. I suggest it to anyone, whether you prefer your vampires sparkly and melodramatic or dark and wildly sensuous. But really, when you look at it that way , is there really a choice?

#33 This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

Jonathan Tropper is known for his hilarious and clever novels, and he does not disappoint with his latest creation, This Is Where I Leave You.

Judd Foxman's life is a mess. He comes home early from work to find his beautiful wife, Jen, in bed with another man. And not just any man, but his boss. After moving out of his charming suburban home and into a shoddy basement apartment, he is informed of his father's death. Suprisingly, although he was never a religious man, his dad's dying wish was for his family to sit Shiva for one week, in his honor. Reluctantly, Judd heads to his mother's house.

Judd's family is a comedy lover's dream. Dysfunctional doesn't even begin to describe this clan. His mother is a world renowned parenting expert who can't even begin to understand her own children. His youngest brother, Philip, is a playboy who is constantly finding himself in one crisis or another. He comes to the family home with a guest that no one can quite figure out. Paul, his older brother, harbors a lot of resentment towards Judd. He and his wife are also struggling with fertility issues. His sister, Wendy, is his rock. But she is stuck is a loveless marriage and dealing with her own romantic disasters. Now all these siblings are forced to stay under the same roof. Add to this list a number of oddball mourners who come to pay their respects and you've got a week of dysfunctional comic drama. The repercussions are laugh out loud funny and poignant at the same time.

As I read this book, I couldn't help but think that it would make an amazing movie. The characters are just so oddly lovable and relatable. The family dynamic is incredibly familiar and easy to identify with. The Foxman's are everyone's family. Sure, they are somewhat eccentric and manipulative, but the love they have for each other is clear. Yes, they may despise each other at times, but underneath the chaos is an undying loyalty to each other. And isn't that pretty much how every family works?

#32 The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

I have always been fascinated with Polygamy. Now, put your pitchforks down. I'm not saying I condone Polygamy or approve of it in any way. I am not saying it should be practiced or accepted or even exist, for that matter. I am just saying that I find it..well, fascinating. I am always in search of books on the subject, devouring them when I do. Though, I had never read a book that truly portrayed the Polygamist lifestyle from a young teen girl's point of view. Until I found The Chose One.

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams may be found in the YA (young adult) section of your average bookstore, surrounded by Gossip Girl novels and Twilight copycats, but this is not your typical teen literature. Because the main character, Kyra, is nothing like your typical thirteen year old.

Kyra was born into Polygamy. She has never even thought twice about the fact that her father has three wives. She enjoys her twenty brothers and sisters and is ready to welcome even more. Kyra even accepts the fact that she will one day be a plural wife herself. But when her time arrives, she is shocked with what she has to face.

The Prophet, who is closest to God in their sect, has a vision. Kyra is to marry a 60 year old elder of the church. Not only is he over 45 years her senior, he is also her uncle. Kyra resists, but there is no escaping her fate. She will marry this man, or leave the sect (and her family) forever. But even escaping is not easy, and Kyra will risk death trying to do so. Women before her have tried and were murdered in their attempts.

The Chosen One is, without a doubt, the best book I have read this year. I was completely enthralled, staying up until 3am to finish it. Although I could not directly identify with Kyra's struggles, I could root for her happiness. Whether or not she actually finds it is another subject entirely.

Don't expect a perfect ending. There are a lot of questions left unanswered at the end of this book. But you will find yourself completely immersed into a world that few people even acknowledge exists. This book really makes me wish they're right.

#30 The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradly is such a unique novel! The main character, Flavia, is a great quirky character. She is definitely different than any other character I have ever read about! She is 11 years old and unlike any 11 year old I have ever met! Flavia is a chemistry addict! She spends all her free time in her lab, mixing up poisons and potions. (a few she even uses on her sisters!). Flavia is absolutley delighted whens she looks out her bedroom window early one morning to see a man dying in their vegetable patch! She rejoices in the drama of a mystery to be solved! Who did it? Her dad? The gardener? And why? The rest of the mystery is also centered around a unique stamp. I know, really, a stamp mystery? But it was actually interesting!

I thoroughly enjoyed following Flavia around her sleepy little village, searching for clues. She is quite an interesting little girl! I really hope that Mr. Bradley does a series of these books! I miss Flavia already!

#29 The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Oh, how I adored this book! The only thing that disappointed me was the fact that it ended! I wanted it to keep going! I did not want it to end!

The story is told in a series of letter and telegrams, which is always magical to me. I find it amazing that an author (or authors in this case..)can create a story that way. I love stories told in this matter. It feels as if you have come across a chest full of old letters in your granny's attic. Almost as if you are spying on someone else's life.

Juliet is a young woman, living in post WWII London. She is single, and quite sure that she will never find true love, especially in her war torn city. She makes her living writing a column for a daily paper, called "Izzy Bickerstaff Goes to War". But when the war ends, she finds herself struggling for new story ideas. As if by fate, she receives a letter for a complete stranger, asking for help locating a book. The stranger is a pig farmer named Dawsey, living on the island of Geurnsey. Geurnsey was occupied by the Germans during the war and the residents are just coming out from under their thumb. But they've got plenty of stories to tell. Juliet and Dawsey begin a regular correspondence and soon other islanders are sending letters as well. A strong friendship is formed and soon Juliet finds herself visiting the island. She has come to collect the stories, both happy and truly heartbreaking, for a book. But she manages to find much more than just inspiration for a story. She finds real people with real hearts and real frienships, along with a love of books.

Some of the stories she hears are absolutely horrific. Others are heartwarming and funny. But all of them are completely absorbing and fascinating.

I fell in love with each other characters, all who are as different from one another as possible. The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is truly amazing. I cannot recommend it enough!!

A meme.. 'cause I've got nothing today..

1. What is your current obsession?
I have a very obsessive personality, so there are usually a few going on.. right now, it's online scrabble, books about the civil rights movement, and shopping online for spring clothes.

2. What’s a good coffee place?
My kitchen! Actually I hate to say it, but I love Starbucks. (I know, they are taking over the world.) But, if I see an independent coffee shop, I ALWAYS stop.

3. Who was the last person that you hugged?
My pug, Dexter

4. Do you nap a lot?
Oh God, I adore napping. Every weekend I have my Sunday nap and it freaking ROCKS!


5. Tonight, what’s for dinner?
Crap, I don't know.. am I suppossed to plan that stuff out ahead of time??

6. What was the last thing that you bought?
People Style Magazine and a pack of Reese Peices, cause I spend my money wisely.

7. What is your favorite weather?
I love a nice snowy day. I love it when we are "snowed in" and can't go anywhere!

8. Tell us something about one blogger who you think will play this week?
I have no idea who will play along.. but those who don't will suffer long and painful torture. (you will be forced to watch reruns of Macgyver)

9. If you were given a free house that was fully furnished, where in the world would you like it to be?
Um, where I live. Duh.

10. Name three things that you could not live without.
My family, my pug, and candy.

11. What would you like in your hands right now?
Oh, I know what you want me to say, and I'm not going to say it. You filthy perverts.


12. What’s one of your guilty pleasures?
Rocking out to 80's songs with hubby in the car. We do some awesome choreography and there is a lot of "pass the mike" going on.

13. What would you change or eliminate about yourself?
I am a hypochodriac... big time.
Here is a link to emphasize that fact.

14. As a child, what type of career did you want?
I always dreamed of being a writer. I used to write stories for my parents and then for my friends as I got older. For awhile, in High School, I gave up the dream and decided to be a preschool teacher. But then I learned that I hate kids. Ok, wait. That sounded bad. I hate ugly, bratty kids. There that sounds better.

15. What are you missing right now?
Ambition.. I seem to have none lately.

16. What are you currently reading?
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

17. What do you fear the most?
That one day my daughter's stuffed animal collection will come to life and kill us all in a bloody massacre. Well that, and spiders.

18. What’s the best movie that you’ve seen recently?
Hmm... it's a tie between Edward Penishands and Breast Side Story. Both cinematic masterpieces, the acting superb. Although I must say, the camera work during the love scenes was very intense.

19. What’s your favorite book from the past year?
Um... don't ask me that... that's too hard. Fine, if I have to choose, this one.

20. Is there a comfort food from your childhood that you still enjoy?
Um, yes... all comfort foods. But especially the fatty, cheesy, greasy ones.

#24 The Help by Kathryn Stockett

YOU HAVE GOT TO READ THIS BOOK! I just finished it last week and I am still thinking about it. This is the kind of book that you find yourself savoring, reading slowly trying not to get to the end. But I did get to the end, and now I have to tell you about it.

The Help takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962. It is the story of three amazing women. Skeeter is a young privileged white girl who just graduated from Ole Miss. She dreams of being a writer. She is instructed by a mentor to write about things that bother her. She quickly looks around her town and finds something. Abileen is a black maid who has raised 17 white children. She loves them as if they were her own, only to realize that one day they will treat her as badly as their parents do. Minny is Abileen's best friend. She's another maid and leaves her own children to raise someone else's. She's a saucy, mouthy woman who seems strong, but is dealing with a very serious situation at home. All three women embark on a project to tell the world about the lives of black maids in Missippi.

I am shocked that The Help is Kathryn Stockett's first novel. It is so well written. The story sucked me in immediately and held on. I was so moved by each woman's story. There were moments that I cried for them. There were other moments where I burst out laughing (Minnie is HILARIOUS!).

If you read one book this summer, let this one be it! It is amazing!

#23 The Condition by Jennifer Haigh

I'M SORRY FOR THE SHORT BOOK REVIEWS THIS WEEK, BUT I AM A LITTLE SWAMPED WITH STUFF TO DO RIGHT NOW... HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND.


Jennifer Haigh is fantastic at telling a "real" story. Her characters are so well developed and true to life that it's hard to believe that they really don't exist out there somewhere. Her plots are intriguing but also believable. The Condition is a shining example of her ability to tell the story of a family and all of it's idiosyncrasies.

The Condition is about a dysfunctional family living in Massachusetts. The father is a scientist, who barely has time for his kids until late in life. And of course, by then, they want nothing to do with him. The mother is a control freak and a nag. The kids all have their own issues. One son is hiding a secret from his parents. The other is dealing with issues with his own wife and children. The daughter, Gwen, suffers from Turner Syndrome, which has left her the height of a 12 year old for the remainder of her life. I found their struggles to be very intriguing. The story is tied up nicely at the end, but not too nicely. (which I can't stand..) All in all , a great book.

Again, I know this review sucks, but I am so backed up right now, it's ridiculous.

So, what are you reading??

#22 The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

Wally Lamb can't write a bad book. It's impossible. He is too talented of a writer. The Hour I First Believed was a good book, but... there is a always a but...

The book was just jam packed. I love an adventerous plot, but my God.. there was just so much going on. The story is basically about the aftershocks that a traumatic event can cause. In this case, the traumatic event was The Columbine shootings. The main character, Caleum, is married to a school nurse who witnesses the violence. She quickly falls into a world of depression, anxiety and drug abuse. Caelum is left fighting to help his wife and save their marriage. At the same time, he is also dealing with the death of the aunt who raised him and trying to piece together his family history. Along with this are the stories of people who are affected by Caleum and his wife. It's alot to swallow all at once.

That said, it was good. But before you dive into this book, be prepared for the long haul.And it is a haul, both physically(it's big!) and emotionally. But as with Lamb's other books, the work is worth it in the end.

#21 Austenland by Shannon Hale

If you are a Jane Austen nut like me, you will love Austenland by Shannon Hale!

Like many women, myself included, Jane Hayes has a crush on Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. But not just any Mr. Darcy, she is enchanted by Colin Firth's version of the BBC's adaption. (You know the one... and you know you love him too!) But Jane is not your typical Darcy fan. She is not content to just watch the dvd, drool a little, and then put it away. Jane is obsessed. Her constant failed relationships are proof of that. She compares every man she meets with her ideal man, aka Darcy.

A concerned family member bequeths her the most amazing gift, an all expenses paid trip to England. But not just any old England...Regency England! That's right, she's sent to Pembrook Park, a unique resort where everyone dresses and acts as if they are living in one of her beloved Jane Austen novels. Handsome actors are paid to give guests the most realistic Austen experience possible, including romances! Jane has decided to use this most generous gift to finally get Darcy out of her system. If she can live out her fantasy one time, she can finally let go. She is plunged head first into Pride and Prejudice. Can she deal with all the rules of society? Can this modern girl adjust to their strict etiquette? More importantly, can she resist falling in love with Mr.Nobly, the very epitome of a real live Mr. Darcy? And just how scandolous would it be if she was caught chasing around that dashing gardner she's spotted on the grounds?

Austenland was such a fun book, that I found myself wishing I could go there myself!!

#20 The Sister by Poppy Adams

Let me start out by saying, that I am the type of person who cannot NOT finish a book. If I begin a book, I have to finish. It's a problem. And this was one of those books that I really wanted to just give up on. I tried several times. And my OCD brought me back. I kept thinking, that maybe it will get better. I was afraid I would miss some amazing plot twist if I gave up on it. So, I suffered through it, hoping to be rewarded for my dedication. I wasn't.

The plot summaries I read sounded so tempting, two sisters reunited after almost 50 years apart. The setting was ideal, a crumbling mansion in Dorset, England. But that's where the attraction ended for me. I just could not get into this story. The characters were boring. The story itself was boring. Even the "shocking" twist towards the end was foreseeable from the middle of the book. And the worst part of all was the "bug talk". The sister's came from a long line of lepidoptrists, moth and butterfly scientists. There was an amazing amount of moth descriptions. I am not talking one or two paragraphs. I am talking about pages and pages of descriptions of moths, their mating patterns, their life spans... etc. Gah... so unbelievably boring. (maybe not to a lepidoptrists.. but definitely to me.).

I hate to give a negative review and I rarely do. Even if I don't particularly like a book, I can usually find a few positive aspects of a story. Sadly, not this time. Poppy Adams seems like a good writer, but maybe the story subject did absolutely nothing for me.

woo hoo! free books.

The UPS man just dropped off these free books from Simon And Schuster! I was so excited! I kissed him.
On the weiner.

PS. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME HOW I MANAGED TO GET FREE BOOKS. WELL, SIMON IS THE PIZZA DELIVERY GUY AND SCHUSTER IS OUR MAIL CARRIER... SO YOU FIGURE IT OUT.
(actually I am on the S&S advisory board...)

#19 The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

I could not have loved this book anymore! I adored it and did not want it to end.

Tiffany Baker's first novel begins with the birth of Truly Paice. She is so huge, that before she is born, local townsfolk start taking bets on just how big she will be. Her poor mother is so swollen and enormous that she becomes a spectacle to her neighbors. But that is nothing compared to the spectacle that Truly becomes, when she arrives in this world as a giant. She is so big, that she is blamed for the death of her mother, and must live with that guilt and shame as well as the embarrassment of her girth. She must also deal with the fact that she is the polar opposite of her stunningly beautiful sister, Serena Jane, who is the town's princess. Her childhood is filled with harassment, heartache and confusion.

But Truly is a strong, both physically and mentally. When she thinks the hardships of childhood are over she is called to step in and take care of her sister's family. Serena's little boy is a joy, but her husband is another story altogether. Once again, Truly is face to face with a bully.

Truly is an amazing character, as big with heart as she is in size. And though she is famous for her enormous bulk, she also become known for her kindness in times of true desperation. Can Truly really be a savior to those who tortured her? Can she look beyond the abuse and torment to help those who are helpless and begging for her assistance? And is it possible for her to ever find love in a town where she is considered a "freak"? Can anyone see beyond her massive size? And can she get beyond her massive wall of anger and resentment to let anyone see?

#18 American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

I recommended this book to our book group, Girls with Books, because I had heard so much hype about it. It was touted as a "fictional account of Laura Bush's life". Curtis Sittenfeld had taken certain real aspects of the former first lady's life and created a novel around them, including a horrific accident that occured in her teen years and her marriage to a very controversial president. The rest is said to be pure fiction. But that's kind of hard to swallow. As I read the book, it felt like a autobiography. I had to keep reminding myself that this is not Laura Bush narrating the story, but the imagined character of Alice Blackwell. I could feel myself, at times, commiserating with the real Laura Bush and at other times, hating her. But the book is not about Laura Bush! Such a hard concept to wrap my head around and to be honest, I am still struggling with that. Sittenfeld wrote a very controversial book, in any case.

When I turned the last page, I thought.. "I hate this book." And then a few minutes later, I felt I loved it. I struggled with my personal opinions of the Bush presidency affecting my opinion. Once I was able to put my political views aside and look at the book for what it was, fiction, I decided that I really enjoyed it. When you allow yourself to remember that is not about the real Bush family, and it is not about politics, but about a fictional woman's life and choices,it becomes a great book. Alice Blackwell felt very real, and her story was interesting to me. I did not understand or agree with many of her actions, or better yet, her refusal to act, but she was intriguing.

If you are able to set aside your political views and see the book as a work of fiction, I think you will enjoy it. Curtis Sittenfeld is a an amazing author. If you have not read her previous books, Prep and The Man of My Dreams, you are missing out. They are not as controversial, but just as well written.

#17 The River Wife by Jonis Agee

This is not a particularly big book, but there is a whole lot of story packed into the pages!

The River Wife tells the tale of four women. Annie Lark, a young handicapped wife in the 1800's.Her life is filled with tragedy and heartbreak. She marrys a french fur trader, Jacques Ducharme who seems to be her savior. However, she quickly learns of his greedy side and discovers his pirating schemes and greed. Her life is ended early, but she continues to haunt her husband and future inhabitants of their home.

Omah, a freed slave , soon becomes Jacques partner and "right hand woman." She builds a fortune off of other people's treasures and has to fight her own conscience as often as she fights off her enemies.

Litte Maddie, is Jacques daughter. She finds herself alone at 17 and learns to take care of herself and her father's farm when he goes missing. She is a young woman on her own in the 1800's and is not respected or even expected to survive.
To everyone's surprise, she proves herself and then some. But when it comes time to collect her father's fortune, she learns that her father set quite a few traps for her.

And lastly, Hedie Rails, marries Jacques great-grandson, Clement, in the 1930's. He seems to have inherited his ancestor's greedy nature and makes a living as a gangster and booze runner during Prohibition. Hedie now lives in the house where
the three previous women inhabited and finds the "family book". She reads their stories and is shocked at how similar her own life is. Is there a Ducharme curse? And did the old river pirate, Jacques Ducharme, try and save the future generations?
Will Annie Lark ever rest in peace? And will the family curse finally end with Hedie and Clement or will the past repeat itself?


This book truly felt like four novels in one. I am amazed at Joni Agee's ability to intertwine all these stories and still maintain a real storyline. I loved the book, and though it was truly heartbreaking, it did end with a little light of hope.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story, whether you like historical fiction or mysteries. (cause everyone loves a treasure hunt!). Romance lovers will rejoice in the love stories and heartache.

Kim's Book Bands!!

I won some book bands from Kim's Keepings last month, and I totally forgot to post about it!

These things are awesome... especially if you always carry a book around with you, like I do! I always have a book in my purse, and my bookmark falls out! But these hook around the entire book and can't fall out!!

If you're a booklover, go check Kim out and get some book bling!

New Book Blog....

Cammie at Life in the House of No Sleep and I have started a new book blog! We will be posting book reviews and recommendations, new release alerts, and book discussions! I would love to get a monthly group read going eventually too. I am still going to post my book reviews here as well.

Do you love books? Do you want to be a contributer?? Email me if you want to be a contributer!

The new blog is called Girls with Books. Check us out... and remember we are in our very first stages and construction is ongoing!! Come to the site and become a follower to be notified when we really get going!!

#16 The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

I have always had an interest in the Salem Witch Trials. I've read lots of nonfiction and historical fiction about those horrific events in Massachusetts. This book is,by far, the best fictional account I have read. Kathleen Kent is actually a descendant of Martha Carrier, one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged for witchcraft. The story is, of course, heartbreaking and sad. It is so hard to get over the fact that those trials ever even happened. That the stories of a few young girls lit such a ferocious fire of suspicion, murder and sorrow. But the story is also hauntingly beautiful. Kent tells the tale through the voice of Martha's oldest daughter, Sarah. Sarah's relationship with her parents is rocky at times, but their love is always apparent. We all know how many of these trials ended, in death, but their story is still shocking and amazingly sad.

Sidenote: I recieved a few emails with people asking me if I get paid for book reviews. I do not. These are all books that I either own or have borrowed from the library. I post the reviews to let my friends know what I thought, and just to have a record of the books I have read.

#15 The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff

I don't know what to say about this book. I wanted to love it. I really did. I liked it, but I wouldn't say love. The premise of the story was great...a woman returns home to her idyllic small hometown to recover after a broken heart. Her small town is filled with mysteries and scandal (and yes, even a lake monster!). The town characters are charming and interesting. However, when the author takes us into family's sordid history, things get way too confusing. I should have taken notes. Maybe I would have cared a little more if I could keep the family lineage straight. But what ended up happening was that I got bored. Really bored. I found myself wanting to skip right over the long chapters detailing the ancestreal history of the townspeople. Everything made sense in the end, but the trip to get there was way too long and winding. The story did have the magical aspect of the lake monster and there were also some ghosts.. but even those didn't save the story for me. I think the premise of the book was great, but there is such a thing as overkill when it comes to family dramas. Everything was just so tangled that by the end, I just didn't really care.