What I've been reading

Sweethearts, by Sara Zarr
This is a short book, but it packs such an emotional punch. As children, Jennifer and Cameron are picked on and ignored and bullied by their peers; but they have each other. A traumatic event ends up separating the two for a while, but years later they are brought together again. They must confront their shared history, the different paths they've taken, and figure out where to go from there. It's beautiful and heartbreaking; a look at love in an untraditional way. Zarr is so good at creating characters and stories that just burrow right inside of you.

Big Stone Gap, by Adriana Trigiani
Set in the mountains of Virginia in 1978, Big Stone Gap is the story of Ave Maria Mulligan. Ave Maria is content in her life, a life full of work and friends and community involvement. Until one day she receives some news that shakes her whole world and causes her to question everything about herself. This isn't a fast-paced story, but it doesn't drag either. There's a sense of simplicity and unhurriedness. I enjoyed the sense of place that the author created. And while normally I don't like "life-crisis" type of stories, Triginani managed to create a story free from the melodrama I often associate with that kind of book. Plus, the book was about more than just Ave Maria's crisis, it was about the town and the mountains and the people who lived there. It's about family and love and frienship.

Romance

I love a good love story. But you know what's better than a good love story? A real-life love story. Ask your friends, ask your grandparents, your aunts and uncles, your co-workers....be warned: not every real-life romance has a happy ending. But for those that do, you won't be dissappointed.

Review - Pegasus

Pegasus, by Robin McKinnley

I've been slowly rediscovering author Robin McKinnley, and am enjoying every minute of it. Pegasus, her most recent novel, is a story of friendship, love, family, loyalty, and growing up. As a member of the royal family, Sylvi is bonded to a pegasus in an important ceremony on her 12th birthday (every little girl's dream, right?). This tradition is part of the treaty forged between humans and pegasi when the human's discovered the pegasus country and helped them defeat their enemies. For the most part, humans and pegasi must communicate through magicians and shamans, but Sylvi and the pegasus Ebon are able to communicate in the unspoken and telepathic way most pegasi communicate. Their unusual relationship is unusual and challenges centuries old traditions. And has some rather unintended consequences.

The characters in the book are very well-drawn. I love the picture of Syri's family; it's family in which people are encouraged to be themselves, yet fulfill their duty and responsibility as a monarchy. The families (both royal families -- human and pegasi) love each other. I also enjoy the development of Syri and Ebon's relationship. Because they are two different species, McKinnley is able to show the development of a real, loving, deep frienship without any of the expectations (and sometimes hinderances) of a romance. (not that I don't love a good romance -- because I do. But life is more than romances). I also love watching Sylvi and Ebon grow up, watching them go from enthusiastic kids, to young adults who have to face some pretty heavy stuff -- and some pretty intense consequences to their unusual relationship. The story jumps a bit between the reveal of the history of this land and the current events. But it has the rambling quality of listening to your Uncle George tell you a story. There aren't "history breaks"; it's more narrative. Sometimes I can get put off by rambling, but in this case it's charming and cozy.

I'm pretty sure there is going to be a sequel. If not, I'm going to be banging on Robin McKinnley's door asking her why she is so cruel!

Bottom line: excellent book!

A new job plus Scorpio Races!

So, I started a new job this week and I'm still adjusting to a new, busier, crazier schedule. But the good news: I like the job so far! Better news: it's Friday!

I'm super excited about Maggie Stiefvater's new book The Scorpio Races. You should all check out her trailer for it, which I have conveniently put in this post...enjoy!

Review - Chime

Chime, by Franny Billingsley

Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment.
Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know. -summary from Goodreads

I absolutely adored this book, and would read it again in a heartbeat. The writing style is lyrical and musical and haunting; perfect for a book that is set in this world, but has a part of it in another world. I loved the characters. Briony, Eldric, Rose, Tiddy Rex...even the characters who don't get a lot of page time are fully developed. By the end of the book, you know them. And no one is a caracature. I loved Briony's sass and spirit, even though her heart was broken; and I loved that Eldric was fun and irreverant, but with a hidden maturity. And as far as the story goes, I loved the way it unfolded so delicately. You know pretty early that there's more to the story than what Briony knows and believes, but you have to stick with her as she finds it out.

Bottom line: read this book!

Review - Under the Dome

Under the Dome, by Stephen King

Under the Dome begins with a bang - literally. A mysterious force field appears out of nowhere, causing plane crashes and car crashes along the perimeter of Chester's Mill, Maine. All attempts at breaching the Dome -- from acid to bombs -- fail. The town's population -- at least those who were in town on Dome Day -- are stunned and confused. Some in the town have big secrets to hide, others see this as an opportunity to seize power and control, some see the Dome as their chance to get away with whatever they want, and others are just trying to figure out what in the world is going on.

I read this book for book club, and have to say that I really enjoyed it. I haven't read a ton of Stephen King's books, but of the few I've read this is my favorite so far. I don't really do horror, and this was more of a drama/adventure/mystery type book. Horrific only as you see what kinds of things human beings are capable of doing to each other (and I will admit, there were a few things that made me go ewwwwww. Junior, you are one sick puppy). Sometimes I have a problem with King's pacing in his books, but this book was very well-paced for such a huge story. I was also impressed with the characterization in the book, particularly given the large cast of characters. There was a fun good guys-bad guys element to the book, which was also maddening at times because WHY ARE THE BAD GUYS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS JUNK! I was invested, that's for sure.

Bottom line: fun, entertaining, and slightly disturbing.

Odds and ends

Hello strangers! I have been prepping for vacation, going on vacation....and I'm not quite advanced enough yet in this blogging thing to have prepared stuff to post while I'm gone so...there you go. Of course I've still been reading, and will hopefully get back to posting regularly very soon. In the meantime, happy reading everyone!