TSS: Happy Easter!

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Jenn

Happy Easter, everyone! As Spring Break nears its end, I’m hoping for a relaxing day of reading today!  I had a pretty great reading week last week so I’m crossing fingers that my luck continues!

Here’s a quick wrap up of last week:

Additionally, you’ll see above that my twelve year old (formerly) reluctant reader posted about his frustration about the books available to “nerds” like him. He was thrilled with all the recommendations he received and now has a nice stack of books to try out, including the “I Survived” series. I’m sure he’ll report back when he’s finished!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Posted in The Sunday Salon | 5 Comments

Frightful Friday: Nocturnal by Scott Sigler

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Jenn

Frightful Friday is a weekly meme in which I feature a particularly scary or chilling book that I’ve read that week.

This week’s Frightful Friday featured book is Nocturnal by Scott Sigler:

  • Hardcover: 576 pages
  • Publisher: Crown; 1St Edition edition (April 3, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 0307406342
  • Source: Publisher

Inspector Bryan Clauser of the San Francisco Police Department is horrified of the dreams he’s been having, dreams of horrible crimes that have come true. With the aid of his partner, Pookie, he begins to investigate these crimes. Both become frustrated when it seems that those higher up in the department are attempting to prevent Bryan & Pookie from discovering what is really happening. A common thread among all of the victims: they were individuals known to have bullied a teenage boy, Rex Deprovdechuk.

Rex has quite the horrible life, beat up continuously by a gang of bullies at school, then beat by his ultra-religious mother at home. He’s a bit of a wimp, unable to stand up to those that ridicule him. To seek his revenge, he draws horribly graphic pictures involving cruel punishments beset upon this bullies.  When these bullies wind up dead, cause of death identical to the acts in the drawings, Rex isn’t frightened. He feels empowered.

Forensic evidence indicates the savage crimes originally believed to be performed by an animal are in fact done at at the hands of a human. This is just the beginning of a host of evidence revealing a dark and terrifying world, hidden under the streets of San Francisco.

Joined by Aggie, a vagrant held captive by the very men/creatures who are committing these crimes,  Bryan and Pookie embark upon a war with creatures beyond imagination.

Nocturnal is truly a unique book, a perfect combination of police procedural, urban fantasy, bio-tech science fiction, and horror. At nearly 600 pages, this isn’t a book that you pick up and read within a few hours, but a true investment of time. An investment that is well worth it, in my mind.  The length of the book is necessary, giving Sigler the opportunity to really lay out and develop the characters.  The chapters are short, allowing the reader’s attention to intensify with each turn of the page. While I did take breaks while reading, I found myself melded to the pages, unable to take a break, desperate to learn more. Several late nights were involved in the reading of this book!

As with his previous books, Sigler provides readers with a completely unique and ingenious storyline.  The world he creates is one like none other, filled with monsters that make your skin crawl and force you to sleep with the light on. In other words: brilliant.  Certainly not for the week of heart (or stomach), if you think you have what it takes to face the underbelly of San Francisco,  Nocturnal  is the book for you. Highly recommended.

Following is the book trailer. Also not for the weak of heart (or stomach):

Posted in Crime Fiction, Crown Books, Frightful Friday, Horror, Paranormal Fiction, Review, Science Fiction | 4 Comments

Review: The Song Remains the Same by Allison Winn Scotch

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Putnam Adult (April 12, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 0399157581
  • Source: Publisher

Nell Slattery is only one of two survivors of a horrible plane crash. When she awakens in the hospital she is confused, devoid of all her memories. With the help of her family, some members with their own agenda, Nell pieces through her memories with the aid of music and photographs given to her by members of her family. Trusting the information and assistance given to her by her sister and business partner, Rory; her mother; her best friend Samantha; and her husband Peter.

Against the advice of her family, she agrees to work on a story about her recovery with a local reporter. He, shockingly, is the only individual honest enough to give Nell an accurate look at her life before the accident. Eventually, bits and pieces of her memories start to reappear and Nell is shocked to learn they don’t mesh with what her family has shared with her. As she begins to form sense of self-identity, the new individual she becomes is quite different than her previous self. Before the crash, her life seemed to be devoid of fun, excitement…color! Additionally, her family,  albeit under the guise that it is in her best interest, also try to meld the “new” Nell to be different that the individual she was before. They withhold information from her, information that will have a resounding impact on the relationships they have with her.

A key theme discussed in The Song Remains the Same is change. As Nell regains her memory, she learns of quite a deal of turmoil in her life growing up, specifically surrounding her father. An artist like she was, they had a bond like none other. He would frequently disappear from her life for months on end, yet when he would return she would welcome him with open arms, as if nothing had changed. It was if her own identity was created and influenced by his existence.

“How long had I let him define me? Even when, as an adult, I pretended he hadn’t…Forever. It seems that I had let him define me for just about forever. Whichever version of myself I was embodying at whichever moment, really, weren’t they all in reaction to him?”

Then, when he didn’t return, her life was shattered, upended. Now, decades later, Nell is forced to go through a similar experience in regaining her memory. As she heals, she’s extremely upset to learn that her father, her beacon in life, didn’t make an attempt to come out of hiding to see her after the accident:

I had fallen from the sky and my dad hadn’t come to try to heal me.  Hadn’t abandoned his selfish need for solitude to wander out into the bright lights of the world and rescue his little girl.

It is only when Nell realizes that she, herself, must be the one responsible for her recovery that she truly begins to heal:

“I’m done with people telling me their stories. Turns out, everyone has their own perspective of your life, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the right one.”

Ultimately, using her own advice “scars give you character”, Nell is able to define herself, without the advice, input, and suggestions of those around her.

One of my favorite things about The Song Remains the Same was how music became a key part of Nell’s recovery. It was music, songs on a playlist her sister Rory created for her, that really aided Nell in regaining her memory. The title/heading of each chapter is the name of a song Nell loved growing up. I couldn’t help but find myself humming each song as I turned the pages. Who can’t relate to a song bringing back memories, fond or not, when they listen to a song from their youth or childhood? Who doesn’t still have a collection of mix tapes they created in their teens? How can you not leap back in time the minute you hear those songs play?

Scotch creates a truly sympathetic character in Nell. You can’t help but want to aid in her in healing, to cry in devastation when she recalls a painful memory.  Nell’s character also adds a bit of humor and sarcasm to a story that could be dark and depressing. Without her wit, I think this book would have a completely different feel to it.

Another thing I truly appreciated about this book was that it went against all formulas for books of a similar nature. Nell doesn’t wake up to a flawless life, doesn’t gain immediate happiness. Instead, the process she goes through as she recovers is genuine, believable, and an extremely rewarding to experience as a reader.

Bottom line: The Song Remains the Same is an incredibly thought-provoking, funny, emotional read. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream, but at the end you’ll be rewarded with a completely satisfied feeling, a warmth that creeps into you soul. Highly recommended.

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Putnam, Women's Fiction | 7 Comments

Tales of a (Formerly) Reluctant Reader: I Have Opinions

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Jenn

Typically, this feature is reserved for my formerly reluctant reader son, John-John, to discuss books that he’s read recently. Specifically, books that he believes will appeal to reluctant readers. Instead, I’m turning over the blog today to John-John so he can discuss some issues he’s been having with books and the opinions he’s aching to share.  So, without further ado….

Hi everyone! Today I’m not here to talk to you about a book but instead I wanted to talk about some issues I’m having with books. My mom calls me a formerly reluctant reader because I used to hate to read. Now I really like it, but I’m getting frustrated. My favorite books have always been non-fiction. I like to learn about things, especially space, history, military and more. I’m trying to read more fiction (my mom says it will open up a whole new world for me) but I’m having challenges finding fiction that interest me.  See, I like fiction that is based on “real” things. I loved the Percy Jackson series and the Kane Chronicles and The Heroes of Olympus books.  Now what? It seems to me that not nearly as many books are geared for boys, especially reluctant readers,  if you take a look at the books for girls. Not a lot of my friends that are guys read and maybe this is why? If people want boys to read more, write more books for us!

Another thing-I sort of get overwhelmed when I see a huge gigantic book on the shelf. Another way to attract kids who don’t like to read is by making books that are shorter, broken up either by pictures or comics. This is why I loved books like Frankie Pickle, Big Nate, and The Wimpy Kid. I didn’t feel like it was a challenge to read them because all of the writing was broken up.  Now those books are below my reading level but I return to them when I can’t find anything else to read.

Also, I love graphic novels. But you know what? Not a lot of graphic novels are available for kids my age.  The violence level is usually too high or there is too much foul language. I discovered the Star Wars Clone Wars graphic novels and love them but there should be more like those.

I was lucky enough to discover books published by Capstone Books, books that are written for kids like me. They are one of the few publishers out there that seem to “get” kids like me. They publish books in graphic novel format, books on subjects that interest me. Hello, Tony Hawk! They’ve got him! You would think that other publishers would do the same, but they don’t.

I guess the point of me writing this post was to ask publishers to write more books for boys like me. I’m not into sports and I’m not afraid to admit that I’m a bit of a nerd. So, publishers and authors out there, can you please write more books for nerds like me?

Thanks!

John-John

Posted in 7-10 years of age, 8-12 years of age, Tales of A (Formerly) Reluctant Reader | 20 Comments

Review: These Girls by Sarah Pekkanen

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Jenn

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Washington Square Press; Original edition (April 10, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 1451612540
  • Source: Publisher

Three young women, Cate, Renee, and Abby, have come from vary different backgrounds. They all wind up in New York, each escaping and old life, desperate to start a new one.

Cate is the new features editor for Gloss, a high-end magazine. Her new position is a challenging one as she’s desperate to come up with a unique feature story. She’s encouraged her roommate, Renee, to apply for her old position as beauty editor. While trying to live up to her new position, she can’t help but worry that a lie that might dig out of her past and resurface, potentially destroying her career, and her friendships.

Renee has the qualifications for the job, but her own self-image holds her back. When the three candidates are told the public’s vote will decide who assumes the position, Renee’s issues with her weight put her in a panic. She tries the traditional routes of diet and exercise but with no pay-off. When she discovers diet pills belonging to a former fashion model roommate, she begins taking them, liberally. The side effects of a racing heart, insomnia and fainting don’t sway her to stop using them for the rapid weight loss is exactly what her self-esteem needs.

Abby is the sister of Trey, a simply breathtakingly attractive man that both Cate & Renee have their eyes on.  Abby had the perfect job as a nanny for a gorgeous toddler, Annabelle. This little girl quickly earned a place in her heart, like she was her own child. Burdened with the memories of the death of her brother when she was just a few years older than Annabelle, Abby frequently experiences panic attacks while driving. Uncertain of the cause of these attacks, unable to confront her parents, she is forced to deal with them herself. When her relationship with Annabelle’s father crosses the line into a romantic relationship, Abby is unable to deal with the flood of emotions that overcome her. She leaves her job, racing to New York  where Trey, her salvation, lives.Desperate to help his sister, Trey asks Renee & Cate for help. Abby stays with the two roommates while Trey travels, eventually becoming a permanent addition.

All three girls have seemingly perfect lives. What makes them real, genuine characters is the existence of faults within each of them. The friendship that they share with one another is what brings them together, saves them from the chaos raging in their lives. Pekkanen has this uncanny ability to understand the intricacies of  female relationships, creating completely flawed, yet genuine characters. She doesn’t sugar-coat the issues they are each experiencing, yet lays each of the problems out for her readers to devourer. One can’t help but root for each of these women, finding that we all have a bit of each of them residing inside us.  I saw aspects of my own friendships and relationships in Cate, Renee, and Abby. Upon completing this book, I emailed each of my closest friends just to let them know how much our friendship means to me.

The secondary characters are also ones that we can each identify with. From Trey, the perfect guy, incredibly supportive brother to Nigel, the creepy editor-in-chief of Gloss magazine, they each propel the main characters, in their own (sometimes unique) way, to become the women they seek to be.

Several statements Pekkanen made in her novel ring true to me. Following are just a few samples:

“…the hardest things to talk about are also the most important things to talk about.”

“The process is more important than the result. That’s where the real learning is.”

I believe each of these statements can be applicable to almost any major decision, process, obstacle that we all face in life.

Bottom line: These Girls is a book that one can’t help but savor, devour, in one sitting as I did. Highly recommended.

Posted in Review, Simon & Schuster, Washington Square Press, Women's Fiction | 6 Comments

Review: The Woman Who Wasn’t There:The True Story of an Incredible Deception by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr.

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Touchstone (April 3, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 1451652089
  • Source: Publisher

After the tragic events of 9/11, those who survived the terrorist attack sought out others in attempts to seek solace and understanding for the feelings they were experiencing.  One of the women who played an active role in the creation and direction of the World Trade Survivors’ Network was Tania Head, a young woman who escaped the carnage of the  seventy-eighth-floor sky lobby of the south tower. In addition to losing her fiance in the other tower, Tania suffered serious burns and injuries. Her retelling of the experience gave other survivors the courage to step forward themselves and thus begin the healing process.

As one of the leaders and advocates for the 9/11 survivors, she was key in saving the “Survivor Stairway” one of the few remaining pieces of the then demolished buildings, as well as providing survivors the opportunity to tour the grounds of the WTC reconstruction.  However, as time continued, as Tania became more prevalent in the press, questions were raised about her retelling of the tragic events of 9/11. When a New York Times reporter attempts to contact Tania to get answers to some of these questions, Tania would cancel scheduled meetings and interviews. She refused to answer even elementary questions about that day.

Eventually, the truth was revealed. Not only was Tania not a survivor of 9/11, she wasn’t even in the city that day. She didn’t have a fiance who perished in the attack, either. The survivors who relied on her for strength had to undergo yet another period of grief, as if the woman they looked up to for so many years had perished herself.

In The Woman Who Wasn’t There: The True Story of an Incredible Deception, Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr a film-maker and once friend of Tania Head, shares the unbelievable story of this individual’s desperate attempts for attention and acclaim after an event that rocked out country. It reads like a thriller, seeming to be unbelievable, for how could a woman manipulate those individuals already suffering so tremendously into believing she was one of them?

Once I started this book, I couldn’t stop. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, unable to stop until I finished it. Afterward, I desperately sought to find out why Tania Head would do such a deplorable thing? I found a great deal about this case online. I found myself surprised that I haven’t heard of this story earlier but honestly, so many stories popped up around this time about fake charities and the like I probably glossed over the story.

While the obvious feeling to experience after reading a story like this would be hatred or anger. That said, after I pondered the story over the weekend, there was a happy ending to this story. Despite all the horrible things Tania did, she was able to give hundreds of 9/11 survivors the strength and the confidence to heal, gave them a voice in the construction of the memorial, a voice thus far unheard.

It could be said that this book is once again giving Tania Head undeserved attention and praise, but I implore you to look beyond the story of this woman who betrayed hundreds and instead look at the progress these survivors have made over the years. This is a book that I encourage many to read; those directly affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks may find it too overwhelming to read but I do still encourage them to give it a chance. For ultimately, while there is a great deal of betrayal portrayed, there is a constant glimmer of hope, a glimmer that helped the victims of this tragedy rise up and begin to heal again.  Highly recommended.

Posted in Non-Fiction, Review, Simon & Schuster, Touchstone Books | Tagged , | 8 Comments

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Jenn

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week? This is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finish this week. It is hosted by Sheila from One Person’s Journey Through a World of  Books so stop by and join in!

Books Completed Last Week


Losing Clementine by Ashley Ream (review)
The Thirteen by Jessie Moloney (review)
Edge of Dark Water by Joe R. Lansdale (review)
Nocturnal by Scott Sigler
The Woman Who Wasn’t There: The True Story of an Incredible Deception by Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr. and Robin Gaby Fisher
The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht (book club)

Currently Reading

The Rook by Daniel O’Malley (audio)
The Coldest Night by Robert Olmstead

Books to Complete This Week

The Song Remains the Same by Allison Winn Scotch
The Night She Disappeared by April Henry

What are you reading this week?

Posted in It's Monday What Are you Reading This Week | 2 Comments

TSS: March Monthly Roundup!

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Jenn

It’s been a truly great month of reading. Now that Spring is here (read: horribly itchy eyes and allergy headaches) I’m looking forward to the warm weather so we can spend more time outside (read: wearing out the boy so I can curl up with a great book!)!

I had another wonderfully bookish week, celebrating the paperback release of Alma Katsu’s THE TAKER. I cannot wait to read THE RECKONING (out in June). My review copy has been hidden from me, at my request, because I have this horrible habit of reading a book far too early and being forced to wait months (years!) until the next one.

I digress…following is a round up of what I’ve reviewed this month:

Total number of books reviewed: 13

Favorite book of the month :
This is always the most challenging part of my monthly roundup. As in the past, I’m unable to narrow it down to just one book. Instead, I’ll name there: Dead Harvest because it’s a completely unique and original mash-up of two genres, Edge of Dark Water because it’s simply brilliant, and Helsinki White because it’s a continuation of one of my favorite series and in it, Thompson evokes such strong emotions in the reader, one cannot help but love it.

Significant events this month: 

I celebrated my four year blogiversary sharing Things I Wish I Knew As A New Blogger.

Additionally, I’m attempting to revitalize Literary Road Trip.  If you are interested in taking part and celebrating local authors, visit the page to find out more.

That’s about it for now! How was your reading month? What was your favorite book?

Posted in Month in Review, The Sunday Salon | 2 Comments

Review: Save Me by Lisa Scottoline

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 384 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin’s Press; First Edition edition (April 12, 2011)
  • ISBN-10: 031238078X
  • Source: Publisher

Rose McKenna volunteers to be a lunchroom volunteer when she learns her eight-year-old daughter Melly has been bullied by another little girl.  Melly was born with a red birthmark that covers a large portion of her face. Amanda is a classmate of hers who relentlessly makes fun of Melly’s birthmark and her obsession with Harry Potter.

Right in front of her eyes, Rose witnesses a bullying incident, sending Melly to the bathroom in tears. Lunchtime is ending, children are filing outside for recess. Rose holds Amanda behind to talk to her about the incident. Before she has the chance, however, an explosion rocks the cafeteria, knocking Rose unconscious. When she awakens, the cafeteria is on fire, filling with smoke. She must decide which child she should save first: Amanda or her own daughter.  She chooses to quickly usher Amanda outside before tending to her own daughter. Believing that both girls have been rescued, her soul is broken when she learns that Amanda ran back inside the school.  When found, she’s severely injured, in a coma, on the brink of death.

Almost immediately, the other parents and townspeople blame Rose for Amanda’s injuries. They call her selfish, putting the life of her own daughter before the other children. Amanda’s parents intend to file both civil and criminal complaints against Rose.  Her marriage put to the test, the future and stability of her family put at risk, Rose begins to start her own investigation. It soon becomes obvious that the explosion at the school was no accident. Rose risks everything to discover the individual(s) behind this brutal incident, and eventually, a history of criminal activity.

I was intrigued by the story immediately upon discovering it was based on a bullying incident. My own middle-school son was the victim of bullying so from page one, I had an emotional investment in this book.  The first half of the book thrilled me, I couldn’t get enough of it. Rose was plagued with a decision no parent wants to make: in an emergency, do you put the safety of your child’s life before that of another?

That said, I began to loose interest near the second part of the book. So many other side stories, characters, etc. were rolled in, almost making the second half feel like another book.  Rose, a character intent on devoting all of her spare time with her children, especially after the accident. She decides to drop of her two children with an elderly couple that are friends of the family. At first for a few hours, then for a few days. Totally out of character for Rose, it almost seems as though the author was grasping for a way to go all Nancy Drew without the burden of her children.  Additionally, she nearly forgets about her husband, step-father of Melly. They are supposed to be in a loving relationship but she keeps secrets from him, makes rash decisions that impact that family without his input, and more.

With all of this considered, I would recommend this book for the first portion of the book, with the warning that the second part is a little far-fetched.

Following are some other takes on this book:

Julie from Booking Mama
Teresa’s Reading Corner
Jen from Devourer of Books
Kathy from Bermuda Onion 

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Review, SheKnows, St. Martin's Press | 7 Comments

Frightful Friday: Rise Again by Ben Tripp

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Jenn

Frightful Friday is a weekly meme in which I feature a particularly scary or chilling book that I’ve read that week.

This week’s featured book is Rise Again by Ben Tripp:

  • Audio CD
  • Publisher: Tantor Media; Unabridged,MP3 – Unabridged CD edition (January 30, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 1452656053
  • Source: Publisher

Danny is a battle scarred (mentally & physically) battle-scarred Iraq war vet who has returned to her hometown of Forest Park, a small town outside of Los Angeles, and now serves as the sheriff. It’s Independence Day and the town is celebrating by awarding Danny with a key to the town. Danny has her mind on other things, mainly her sister, Kelly, who has taken off with Danny’s prized Mustang. Danny raised Kelly on her own, admittedly not doing the best job since she returned from the war.

During the parade, however, things change. People begin running like mad, arms flailing, screaming at the tops of their lungs. Danny searches the crowd hoping to find a source but is unable to find one. Suddenly those individuals who were running fall dead, right in their tracks.  The crowd of “infected” individuals grows dramatically, suddenly the town is full of hundreds of them. Danny rounds up the survivors, a small group of people who haven’t been affected by the outbreak.  But before they are able to get far, the most horrific incident transpires: the dead rise.

So begins a life-threatening escape from their once quiet, peaceful small town. The outbreak isn’t isolated there, soon Danny and the survivors realize it has affected the entire area, including the city of Los Angeles. Danny attempts to put on a strong front and lead the citizens of the town to safety, but she’s unable to put all of her effort into it. In the back of her mind, she worries about Kelly, about whether or not she’s safe, if she’s alive or one of the walking dead.

Her hope and spirit is challenged as she journeys across the California desert. She has flashbacks of her experience in Iraq. It’s no shock, the world around her is just a shell of what it used to be. She arrives in San Francisco to find that the military is attempting to cover up the outbreak, attempting to continue to exist as status quo.  They are reluctant to listen to Danny’s experience with the zombies (which they refer to as Zeroes). Danny knows the zombies are evolving, getting smarter. Unable to convince them, Danny returns to the motley group of survivors only to find them ambushed by a rouge team of paramilitary, known as Hawkstone. Now, it’s not only the zombies/zeroes they must protect themselves against, but also their own kind.

Danny’s character is on one hand infuriating as she risks the lives of those who rely on her for safety in order to find her sister. However,I can’t say that I’d do different, honestly. On the other hand, she’s a incredibly strong-willed, stubborn individual. She’s also completely flawed but she uses that to her advantage, in a sense.

Don’t be put off by the fact that this is yet another zombie novel. In Rise Again, Tripp provides readers/listeners with a completely unique spin on the traditional zombie novel. While their creation is similar to other zombie books/movies, the similarities end there. Tripp’s zombies evolve. First it is minute differences like their ability to go dormant until they smell a human in their presence. Then, however, they begin to progress more rapidly, forming the ability to run, to hunt, to shoot, to….speak. A completely engaging and rewarding experience, Rise Again is a must read/listen for any zombie fan.

Audio production: Rise Again is narrated by Kirsten Potter. Potter did an outstanding job in her narration, accurately portraying the devastation suffered by the survivors of the outbreak while also successfully showcasing the power behind Danny’s character.  Click here to listen to a sample of the audio.

Posted in Frightful Friday, Horror, Review, Tantor Audio | Tagged , | 1 Comment