Sunday Salon: The Best Books You Aren't Reading

Kelly at YAnnabe is hosting a Blog Blitz of Forgotten YA books. Coming up with the list is pretty easy-- if you're on LibraryThing, go through all the books you've rated with 5 stars that are tagged with YA or your tagging equivalent (Because I don't have a tag list, mine are tagged with "ya" "young adult" or "teen") that have less than 500 members. (For some perspective, Twilight has is in 26,220 libraries Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging is in 2,058).

Now, to clarify, I don't list everything I read in LibraryThing. I use it to catalog all the books Dan and I own. I don't own most of the books I read. But, I still have a strong list of books that you should be reading (and buying.) And I'll be honest, some of the results didn't surprise me, some made me really sad, and some were shocking.

Sadly, it appears that one of my favorite authors is not even on most people's radars. I'm talking about Jaclyn Moriarty. Almost all of her books is on this list! Most of her books are told in notes and journal entries and other "things" to piece together a narrative. In Feeling Sorry for Celia deals with what happens when Elizabeth's best friend, Celia, runs away. There are notes left of the fridge from her mom. Notes from such organizations as The Best Friend Society telling her she's a bad friend for not trying harder to find Celia. Meanwhile, she has to balance the hole Celia left with a new friend made through a school assignment... funny and poignant. You should also check out her Murder Of Bindy Mackenzie and Spell Book Of Listen Taylor. Right now my big question is do I wait patiently for her newest, The Ghosts Of Ashbury High to come out this summer, or do I break down and order it from Australia now?

Two Moons in August by Martha Brooks was my favorite book when I was a teen. I can't tell you how many times I've read it and I'm so happy it's back in print so others can discover it. Set in small town in Canada in the 1950s, Sidonie is slowly learning how to open herself up again after the death of her mother the summer before. After her mother died, her family fragmented and this summer, she tries to pull them together again. This book is the reason I own A Night in Tunisia. Also, her older sister's totally hot and cool boyfriend is Chinese and it's... not really an issue.

My Cup Runneth Over: The Life of Angelica Cookson Potts by Cherry Whytock (also, the just-as-wonderful sequels, My Scrumptious Scottish Dumplings, and My Saucy Stuffed Ravioli) Angel is a bigger girl (as in, she's got curves and her out of control body can be tamed with a decent bra and wearing clothing that works with it, but she's not fat) who lives a fabulous life in London. It's predicable British chick-lit fare, but has a few things that separate it out. Angel's family is super rich (their grocery store is HARRODS!) but Angel's fairly normal and down to earth. Not a lot of conspicuous consumption of brand names. The biggest thing in the story that's wealth dependent is that their family has a chef and Angel spends most of her time in the kitchen, learning to cook. Her parents are major characters and create a lot of the slapstick comedy. (Her mother is a former supermodel, her father a puddering older man who used to be England's most brilliant barrister.) Also, there are recipes after most of the chapters of something Angel's made or eaten. I've made a few of them, and they're pretty tasty. And, it's illustrated. And the illustrations have arrows with labels. Also, it gets props for having a gorgeous model on the cover who is closer to a size 12 than 2, much like Angel herself.

Now, I first picked up Diva without a Cause because of blog reviews. It's a book that I got from the library and loved it so much I bought it, and ordered the rest of the series from England. It's a hilarious look at working-class England and one of the most unforgettable voices I've ever read. Shiraz Baily-Woods is a proper legend and you MUST meet her.

The First Daughter series by Mitali Perkins. The first one is all about Sameera being on the campaign trail with her father, who is running for president. But when his advisers and handlers get a hold of her, packaging her into what they think the American people want, well Sameera has a few things to say about that. It has the best use of "Free Bird" in a book, EVER. And, look! A person of color on the cover with her whole head! One time, my friend Aimee came over to check on Sassy while we were away. There was a thunderstorm, so Sassy went and hid in the closet and Aimee couldn't get her out. So, Aimee figured she'd just sit down and wait. She grabbed a book off the bookshelf (this one!) to entertain herself. I came home to a note saying she had become engrossed and ended up borrowing both of them because she couldn't wait until I got home to ask and she hoped I didn't mind. (Not at all)!

Gamma Glamma by Kim Flores is a super fun book about science, makeovers, and homecoming. If Luz's science project is beyond outrageous, her teacher won't make her go to regionals, which are on the same day as homecoming. But, he likes it. So, Luz is inventing jelly beans that give you sparkling personality, as well as formulas to make your hair and nails grow in an attempt to make over her friends. But, not all of them want to be made over, and everything might explode right in her face, on national TV. Hilarious! I love a science nerd with a sense of fashion! And, you can't see her face, but I'd believe the girl on the cover is Latina.

Simon Pulse's Once Upon a Time series is a little hit or miss, but mostly it's hit. Different authors retelling different fairy tales. All of the volumes in this series appear on the list (yes, I checked the ones I don't own yet.) I've read all of them, and liked most of them, and loved many of them. Some of my favorites that you should check out? The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey, which is Scheherazade's version of Arabian Nights and The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn, which takes on The Twelve Dancing Princesses and King Arthur.

Along those same lines, last year's Morris winner, A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth Bunce is a fantastic retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. Additionally, it is a wonderful look at English life at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and the problems that face a small family mill when more and more people are turning to large factories. This got a decent amount of blog buzz, so I'm pretty surprised to see that it's in so few libraries.

DC's doomed Minx line has some unloved titles that deserve a second glance--Kimmie66 by Aaron Alexovitch explores reality and death and virtual friendship, Good as Lily by Derek Kirk Kim shows what happens when, on Grace Kwon's 18th birthday, her 70, 30, and 6 year-old selves show up and Confessions of a Blabbermouth by Mike Carey is about high school, step-fathers, step-sisters, writing and life, from the point of view of a British teen blogger.

Really? Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller? A group of Girl Scout rejects dress up like ninjas and fight crime in New York and you haven't read it yet? There's a horde of gold, Kiki Strike might be a princess, an assassin, or a kung fu movie star, and in general this is just a most awesome book. Excellent characters, lots of action, and more mystery than there appears on the surface. Sooooooooo goooooooooooood.

Seriously guys? Both volumes of The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation? I understand the idea of a sprawling epic written in authentic 18th century English about slavery and freedom in the American Revolution is complicated and scares some people away, but they're so damn good! Also, do I have to remind you that the first one won the National Book Award? And that both received Printz honors? Also, the second cover prominently displays a person of color. And while it is a book about slavery, it's a much different narrative than we usually get.

Where is the love for Justina Chen Headley? North of Beautiful is a Cybils nominee and has been all over the blogosphere for a year! And yet, it's only in 239 libraries! WTF? Girl Overboard also isn't getting the attention it deserves, and that was another one that all of us were raving about when it came out! But I really want to give my shout-out to Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies). Patty Ho is a bi-racial teen sent off to math camp. Sure, she does dorky things like math proofs for what's going on her life, and there's the Mama Lecture series, which reproduces the text of her mother's more frequent lectures. If you like her other work, you have to read this one. Also, the girl on the cover? Totally looks like she's half-Tawainese, half-white.

Also, Elizabeth Scott seems to be the blogosphere's darling, so why is EVERY ONE OF HER BOOKS on my list? If you want a good, fun romance with some meat to it, check out Perfect You or Bloom. They're so refreshing. If you want something darker that will haunt you for years after you've read it, try Living Dead Girl. I cannot wait until The Unwritten Rule comes out in April.


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Stitches Review

Stitches: A Memoir David Small

This graphic novel memoir tells of David Small's early life, how he was often sick and how the treatment at the time-- frequent sinus x-rays, ended up giving him throat cancer, robbing him of his voice. Moreover, it's a look at parents who didn't love each other, and a mother that didn't love him.

What I wanted more of was his story of emotional and mental recovery. The bulk of the book is devoted to his awful childhood, and the end rushes through the explanation of how he overcame that. There's a brief paragraph at the end, where he relates information about his mother that he learned later in life that allows him to be more sympathetic to her. I wanted more of that shown in the book, not just as a note in the back matter. I'm much more interested in stories of overcoming adversity, not stories of a crappy life. Small fulfilled his dreams of becoming an illustrator, but we're not shown or told how. I'm inclined to agree with Tyler Cowen, who says "This much-heralded story of a sick child, mistreated by his parents, struck me as professionally done but pointless."

But, oh, it is so beautifully done. I (think) it's watercolor and pencil, all shades of gray. Here's a (rather low-quality) picture of my favorite panel, showing Small's isolation after the removal of the tumor leaves him voiceless:



It was the art that wouldn't let me put it down.


Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Year of the Historical/ Poetry Friday

Snow

Had to check
yesterday morning
to make sure that was
snow
on the ground,
not dust.
But you can't make a dustball
pack together
and slam against the side of the barn, and
echo across the fields.
So I know
it was snow.

Out Of The Dust Karen Hesse

So, I wanted to read this for a few reasons:

1. It's one of Silvey's 100 Best Books for Children*

2. It's a Newbery winner! And won 80 bajillion other awards!

3. A lot of the schools that the kids I work with attend assign this, so I thought I should read it too.

So, if you're like me and haven't read it yet, it's a verse novel that takes place in Oklahoma in the Great Depression. Billie Jo likes apples and playing the piano. It's the piano that gives her most of her joy in life. Then, there's an accident that kills her mother and leaves Billie Jo's hands badly burned and mangled, making her unable to play.

I really liked the fact that while the Depression and Dust play a huge part of this book (it's a big part of daily life) it's not the actual focus of the book. The book is about Billie Jo learning to recover physically and emotionally from the accident. I also like that Billie Jo's family stayed in Oklahoma and didn't move west.

That said... eh. When this came out in 1997, verse novels were really new and cutting edge. But, there isn't a lot of poetry here. I can see why this book is assigned a lot and I can see why it won all the awards it did, but if it were to come out today, I'm not sure it would do the same.

Poetry Friday round up is over at Liz in Ink (hey did you know she wrote the Caldecott honor book this year, All the World)? How cool is that? Also, it's a poem, and as it is Friday...

*OMG. I typed "Best books for Children" in the associates search window for that link and the first hit was this. I threw up a little in my mouth. And died inside.

Book provided by... my local library

But, seems I'm talking about the Dust Bowl, let's work in another review!

Years of Dust Albert Marrin

This was a Cybil's nominee and a nonfiction book for middle grade readers about the Dust Bowl. I think it would pair well with Out of the Dust.

Most noticeably, it's visually stunning. There are many photographs, many of them full-page, of the time period, all in sepia tones that evoke the dust and landscape. I was most struck by the many photographs of huge walls of dust coming towards the photographer.

Years of Dust tries to be many things-- American history, environmental history and warning, science book about dust storms, coffee table picture book... and often, it's just trying to do too much and loses focus. I wanted it to do a lot less, so it would in the end, do a lot more. It's beautiful to look at, but a little "eh" to read.

I also suggest you read Debbie Reese's post about the book. Marrin does largely ignore Native Americans in his history of the American West. And, when he does talk about them, it isn't good.

Book Provided by... the publisher, for Cybils consideration

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Year of the Historical: Splendid End

WARNING! This is the 4th (and last) book in a series. While there are not spoilers for this book, there are spoilers for previous books in the series! 'Tis the nature of the beast.

Splendor Anna Godbersen

Can it be possible that the final book in the fantastically wicked Luxe series is the best yet? Yes, yes it can.

Diana's a bar girl in Havana, looking for Henry. Penelope is reentering society. Elizabeth is happy that being pregnant allows her to stay away from society. Henry has sunk into a well of self-loathing...

But we haven't even begun to see the scandals that are about to erupt as much loved and much reviled characters come to their conclusions. Some get happy endings and some get what they deserve, some both and some neither.

One thing's for certain though-- Godbersen saved the juiciest bits for last. This is a book that will make you late for work, because you will not be able to put it down.

This is also my first review for the Year of the Historical Challenge. Hi people finding my blog and this review that way! This review is light on the details because it is a series book and I can't give too much away without ruining it all. In general there, The Luxe is like Gossip Girl set in 1899. It's the rich and powerful and young and beautiful in New York at the turn of the century and all the mischief they get into wearing really pretty dresses. I love it.

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Nonfiction... Tuesday?

ARGH! I really wanted to get this posted yesterday, but for many reasons, it just didn't happen (I even had the day off, and yet... ah well.)

So, ALA announced the winners of their Youth Media Awards yesterday, as I'm sure you know by now.

There are now two nonfiction awards-- The Sibert award is for children and then YALSA (the division of ALA that deals with teens) has a new nonfiction award (rather boringly called the "YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award").

Both winners are books I've read and haven't reviewed yet! How's that for luck?

But, can I just say I'm gutted that The Frog Scientist didn't get any love?

First up, the Sibert winner was...

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream Tanya Lee Stone

(This book was also shortlisted for the YALSA award)

This is the story of the women who wanted to be astronauts in the early days of the American Space Program. At that time, a woman pilot was an idea that didn't sit well with many people, let alone a woman astronaut. But, some women tried and proved they were better suited than men for the job.

But, in the end, the groundbreaking women who tried, failed to get into space. It wasn't until 1983 that the US sent its first woman into space. Even then, she was a Mission Specialist, not a pilot. It wasn't until 1999 that the US had its first woman commander of a space shuttle.

With a lot of cultural history thrown in, this book focuses not only on women in flight and space, but also on the role of women in society in the last fifty years. The end looks at why there still aren't that many women in space. Part of the problem is lack of women going into science and engineering and possibilities why.

There has been a lot of talk about how this is history that's trying to make a point. See, for instance, Liz's excellent post. I don't have a big problem with that. Most history books (and this gets truer the older the intended audience is) have an agenda or point of view. Personally, I like a more blatant point of view, because it's easier to then think about what's not getting said to prove the point. This is a very good teaching moment for children in evaluating sources and knowing that just because a source has a point of view doesn't mean it's not valid.

Overall, this was very interesting and an enjoyable read. It's also very well documented, with a further reading list, extensive bibliography, source notes, and index.

I read this for the Cybils and would have been on my personal short list if I were allowed 10 books instead of 5.

Book Provided by... the publisher, for Cybils consideration.

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith Deborah Heiligman

This is the story of Charles and Emma Darwin's marriage and life together. There is certainly much of Charles's work and research, but it is more a sketch of their home life, and the work is mentioned in how it affected their family. When it comes down to it, it was a question of faith-- Charles's science led him more and more towards atheism, while Emma, although rather liberal (especially for the time) in her theistic views, was still deeply religious and often feared for her husband's soul. But this didn't cause much strain in their relationship, instead, Emma acted as Charles's sounding board, helping him determine all the objections he would have to address in order to make a convincing argument.

We also see how Darwin observes everything around him to think about his theories of evolution-- he looks at his children, at the plants in the garden, and spends much time talking to experts in every field to learn more and more and more.

I most enjoyed seeing how they raised their children. Unlike many Victorians, their children were allowed to run all over the house and freely voice their thoughts and feelings. It was nice to have proof that even though the Darwin's weren't the norm, some people didn't believe that children needed to be "seen and not heard."

An engaging read, and interesting and different window into Darwin's life. One of the things that makes it so engaging is how much the Darwin's wrote to each other (especially about religion, deep fears were hard to express face to face, so they'd write letters, even when they weren't apart) so there is a lot more dialog and feeling in this biography than you normally get. AND! It's all sourced at the end, so you know it's not fictionalized. There's also a really helpful family tree in the back that I wish I had noticed before I finished the book! Everyone's related and several people have similar (or the same) names, so it can be a little hard to keep everyone straight.

While I don't think this book will be picked up by many teens on their own, it will be enjoyed by those that give it the second look and open it up.

Book provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

China Challenge: January Reviews

I apologize for getting this post up so late, but add your links to reviews posted in January below!

Guardian January Reviews

I apologize for the lateness of this roundup post. We're coming to the end of the challenge. Many of you have already linked to your wrap-up posts, and if you haven't, I'll have a final post in February for the finish line. (If you've already given me yours, no worries!) There will be more prizes, but not straight from England this time.

I had a great time with this challenge and am thinking about doing it again (with a few tweaks) next year? Is anyone else up for another round? Please let me know! In the meantime, leave your January links below!

Sunday Salon: ALA, new computers, and more

Greetings! I am blogging this from my brand new computer. No more will I be a victim to my computer's slow and painful death! No more I say! I still need to do my spreadsheet post and also do my 2009 wrap up! But I need to wait until my files finish transferring from my old computer. Also, I made the switch from PC to Mac. It's taking awhile to get used to. What the @#@$% is this command key? Where's my page down key? What do you mean I can't forward delete. Ah well. The biggest thing is that the key board is just a slightly different size, so my typing is suffering as I adjust.

In the meantime, how about some predictions for tomorrow when the ALA Youth Media Awards are announced?

Caldecott:

The Lion and Mouse by Jerry Pinkney. Hands down.

I'm also a big fan of The Negro Speaks of Rivers.

Newbery:

I'm not sure who will win and who will honor, but I'm pretty sure these books will be there:

When You Reach Me
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice
Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Siebert:

Claudette Colvin will win. Day-Glo Brothers and Frog Scientist will honor.

Coretta Scott King illustrator:

The Negro Speaks of Rivers

Printz:

Not sure which will win and which will honor but we'll see the following on the list:

Marcelo in the Real World
WIntergirls
If I Stay

The New YALSA nonfiction award:

Claudette Colvin


Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Nonfiction Monday

So, the Cybils shortlists are out, which includes the shortlist for Middle Grade and Young Adult Nonfiction, which I was privileged to help put together. While there are many nominated titles that I haven't reviewed yet (and they are coming) there was only 1 from the short-list that I hadn't actually reviewed yet.

Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland Sally M. Walker

So, I was sick over the holidays and spent a lot of time on the couch watching TV, where I became addicted to Bones. But even better? When they were doing all their medical mumbo-jumbo (the bones haven't fused yet, so this was obviously a younger person who...) I knew what they were talking about, just because of this book.

Yes, I'm a little partial to it because, for me, it's local history (and I learned SO MUCH that I didn't already know!)

Walker follows around a team of forensic anthropologists as they look at up colonial remains and try to discover who these people were, how they lived, and how they died.

There is one major missing factor in this, and it's one the author addresses up front-- the information is only about the colonists (both European and African.) There is nothing on the lives of the Native Americans who were already living here. This is because of cultural and religious concerns of several Native American tribes about the handling of remains. As Walker says in the introduction, "This choice [to not include Native Americans] is meant not to diminish the importance of Native Americans in the history of the Chesapeake region, but rather to respect the desire of their descendants to see their remains treated in a manner that respects cultural customs."

But, what it does cover is how scientists excavate remains and what different clues tell us. When Walker talks about how you can tell if it's a child or adult by fusing of the bones, she gives the readers pictures so we can see what fused and unfused bones look like. There's a picture of a female and male skull, which arrows pointing out the differences.

We learn about the science of forensic anthropology, as well colonial history-- burial customs, work customs, diet, and all sorts of other things.

Parts of it are not for the squemish, but it's a great book for your science kids and your history kids. I kept telling Dan what I was learning and showing him the pictures. A fantastic book in a year of fantastic nonfiction for younger readers.

Round up is over at Whispers of Dawn!

Book Provided by... the publisher, for Cybils consideration

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Bloggiesta!

Well, I didn't get all my goals done, because my computer keeps being... stupid. It gets slow, it freezes, takes forever to reboot. It's been wonky for awhile and yesterday it just needed to be put on timeout all day so it could sit there and think about what it had done.

Now, it seems to be ok, if I don't try to do too much. Running iTunes is apparently, too much. (Amazingly, if I'm only listening to this week's Chinese lessons, then I'm ok. I'm sure the universe is telling me I need to study my Chinese more. But, I can't listen to my Chinese class and blog at the same time! My brain would explode!) So, as I blog today, I'm being surprisingly old school and... listening to my CD player. It's crazy, I know. Sadly, I only own Glee digitally.

But, I did get some stuff done. I did a lot of work my spreadsheets (and I'm working on a post on them, so you can see my full geekiness). I read about 1500 blog posts. I wrote 1 review. Not as much as I wanted, but pretty good work for about 12 hours...


Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Argh!

I apologize to everyone who may be waiting for my spreadsheet post or bloggiesta wrap up. My computer has the dumb and is misbehaving so I'm posting from my phone. It's annoying. I see a trip to the apple store in my future. The promised posts will come as soon as I get time on a machine that doesn't make me want to hurl it out my window.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

And Even More Challenges

As part of my Bloggiesta-ing, I've been catching up on my Google Reader, and, as such, have found even MORE challenges to join. Yay, challenges! So here's the latest bunch:

Classical Bookworm's Mexico Challenge. Read 3 books of Mexican literature, history, or art by the end of the year. Part of the reason I'm excited is I'm going to make my sister tell me which books to read. She's a high school Spanish teacher who's undergrad work focused on Latin American politics and culture, with an emphasis on Mexico (which is where she did her study abroad.) Also, my sister is just all-around awesome with great taste in books (she turned me onto The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 and Tales of the City, off the top of my head.)

In the Shadow of Mt. TBR is hosting a Welsh Reading Challenge. I'm signing up for the easiest level, Efydd bathodyn, which has me reading 1-3 Wales-related books this year. I must think about my list, beyond Jasper Fforde's new one, Shades of Grey.

The 2010 Pub Challenge. So, read 10 books that are/will be published for the first time in the US (or wherever you live) in 2010. The catch for me? They have to be adult books, at least half fiction... that makes it a little more difficult. But it's a challenge, right? Right.

Booklover Book Review's Aussie Author Challenge. I'm signing up for the tourist level, so I have to read and review 3 books by 3 different Australian authors.

Book Chick City's Typically British Reading Challenge. I'm signing up for the "cream crackered" level, which has me reading 8 British novels in 2010. Except I'm going to define it down a bit to English, because of the Welsh Reading Challenge.

The 2010 Global Reading Challenge. I'm signing up for the Medium Level, so I need to read 12 books, once from each continent (not including Antarctica.)

Graphic Novel Challenge. I'm signing up for the Expert Level, so I have to read 10 graphic novels by the end of the year.

Poetry Friday

Dan and I are celebrating our 7th anniversary on Monday, so of course I had to do a love poem today. And, we spent our honeymoon in Edinburgh, so I thought a Scottish one would be good. (The picture above is from our afternoon in Paris this fall. Over on the left, you can just see the top of the Eiffel Tower.)

O, my luve is like a red, red rose,

That's newly spring in June.

O, my luve is like the melodie,

That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,

So deep in luve am I,

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi' the sun!

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only love,

And fare thee weel a while!

And I will come again, my luve,

Tho' it were ten thousand mile!

Robert Burns

Round up is over at The Miss Rumphius Effect!

Bloggiesta!

Maw Books is once again Bloggiesta, and it has started!

So, what are my goals this weekend?

Read 1000 posts on my blog reader (sadly, this is a task that can be repeated a few times.)
Review 10 books (this can also be repeated)
Preschedule 10 reviews (as can this)
I live my life on a spreadsheet, especially my reading/blogging life. I'm still working on getting my 2010 spreadsheets ready to go, so let's work on that.
I also have a few other minor tasks that need to get done, so yeah...

Let's get to work!

Lips Touch: Three Times

Lips Touch: Three Times Laini Taylor

Three stories, three kisses, three women marked with dark and supernatural forces.

Kizzy's the perfect target for the goblins. Though she lives in modern times, she should know better. Her family is weird, her family believes. Her desire to be normal is what makes her a perfect target. But, when they come for her, will she notice? Will she even care?

In the days of the British rule over India, a bargain with a demon saves twenty-two children from an earthquake, but leaves one cursed with the most beautiful voice, but anyone who hears it will die. She grows up, silent, not wanting to test it, to see if it's true, but curses can't be real, can they?

The Druj are immortal, magic-working, shape-shifters. They keep human children as pets. A girl-mother and her unborn child have escaped, but fourteen years later, there will be a price to pay, and it must be paid.

Every story starts with illustrations, a wordless picture book introduction with backstory.

Such a wonderful book that lives up the hype and the rewards. This is a perfect example of teen appeal and amazing literary quality. How can you not love such writing like this:

Kizzy laughed and it came out as a throaty chuckle, almost a purr, the closest she had yet to come to the sultry voice she would grow into as she grew up and learned how to wear her skin. If she grew up.

Oh, the foreboding.

The last story, "Hatchling" is the longest, and also my least favorite. The first, "Goblin Fruit" with its juxtaposition of Eastern European (Roma, possibly?) beliefs and culture with modern American high school life just works so well... and it's dark and spooky without being horror. Just a fairy tale gone darker than Grimm.

So delicious.

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Melissa de la Cruz Interview!

Yay! Melissa de la Cruz, author of Blue Bloods and The Au Pairs is finally answering my questions, instead of just raising them with each new installment of the Blue Bloods series!

Revelations and The Van Alen Legacy are extremely hard to blog about, due to the huge plot details that you want to gush over, but also not spoil. What's your advice for bloggers on how to deal with later books in series such as yours? What do you prefer as an author, and as a reader?

Interesting question! I do prefer if bloggers would not spoil the plot points and just talk about the story in a general manner. As a reader, I don't read reviews with plot details at all because I don't like to find out what happens, I just like to find out if the reviewer recommends the book, that's usually all I need to know. As an author I feel the same way.

The Blue Bloods sure do like to travel! Have you been to all the cities you describe in such detail? What are your favorite places to visit?

Yes, although I also rely on research assistants who have lived in the city for a long time to help me with details. My absolute favorite place to visit is Italy – I set a lot of Blue Bloods in that country so I get to go a lot!

Many pieces of history are important to the Blue Bloods story--everything from the fall of Caligula to the lost colony of Roanoke. What's your favorite period in history to learn about?

I love the Roman Empire, I love the decadence, and the urban drama, and the culture, that whole feeling of 'all roads lead to Rome' – it was a place where everything happened, it reminded me so much of living in New York – that feeling of being in the center of the world. I think that's why I relate to that time period so much.

You mention on your website that you have an outline for the Blue Bloods series, but in The Van Alen Legacy you work in the current economic crisis and the devastating effects it has on the Blue Blood community. How specific is your outline and how much did you have to tweak it to work the recession in?

My outline is very specific on the plot points but not on the details of the environment they are in– the recession was easy to work in because it wasn't a plot detail, just a fun kind of filigree to add to the book to make it current. The story is classic – it can be told in any time period - but I like to root the story in what is happening now, at least on the surface. So that's fun to do.

If you could go back in time and talk to your high-school-freshman self, what would you tell her?

That life only gets better after high school.

What's your favorite place to write?

I can write anywhere as long as it is quiet. I have an office at home that I write in, but I can also write at my husband's architectural studio/office as long as there isn't too much noise, which is hard because contractors and clients are always coming in and out. I actually prefer writing in a corporate environment, since for years I wrote while I had my day job, so I find the sound of softly ringing phones and keyboard typing very soothing. But I haven't had a day job in more than a decade and I don't think I can just barge into an office and ask if I can write there. J

What are you reading right now?

Julia Powell's Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession, Emma Mclaughlin and Nicola Krauss's Nanny Returns, and Tad Friend's Cheerful Money. I try not to read in my genre, I find it limiting. I'd rather read books that are very different from mine. I loved the The Nanny Diaries, though, (which was an inspiration for The Au Pairs) so I'm really excited about Nanny Returns.

What are you listening to these days?

When I take breaks I dance around to Lady Gaga. Although for the first time ever I really feel old—because whenever I see her on TV, I always think, "Madonna already did this! Kids today…" (shakes head) LOL!

Also, if you've already read Revelations, I have an extra question on the Spoiler Blog. It will only make sense if you've read the book though, so, you know, read the book first!

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Blue Bloods: The Van Alen Legacy

BEWARE! This is a review of the 4th book in a series. There are not spoilers for this book, but there might be spoilers for previous books in the series. 'Tis the nature of the beast. All you need to know is that this series is awesome, as is this installment.

The Van Alen Legacy Melissa de la Cruz

The Conclave blames Schuyler for Lawrence's death, so she's on the run with Oliver. Bliss is in seclusion, trying to fight the visitor in her mind. Mimi's a Venator, looking for the truth. Jack's just looking for Schuyler.

Oh Hello! Just when we think we're going to get some answers, de la Cruz just throws more questions at us! And apparently, a spin-off series to be starting soon.

What I loved most about this was that she works in the recession. For a bunch of wealthy vampires who live off returns on investments, the stock market crash hits them, and hits them hard. Things must be scaled down, which goes over oh-so-well with the more spoiled among them.

BUT! While Melissa de la Cruz keeps me asking questions, I do get to ask her a few directly. My interview will be posted later today! Look for it!

Book Provided by... a publicist, for review consideration.

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Blue Bloods: Revelations

BEWARE! This is a review of the 3rd book in a series. There are not spoilers for this book, but there might be spoilers for previous books in the series. 'Tis the nature of the beast. All you need to know is that this series is awesome, as is this installment.

Revelations Melissa de la Cruz

Lawrence may be the new Regis, but Schuyler is stuck living with the Forces, where Jack won't even acknowledge her existence. Meanwhile, underneath a mountain in Rio de Janeiro, at Corcavado, a monster is stirring, a monster that must be stopped.

And in Corcavado, all will be revealed and our big questions will be answered, but we'll be left with ones we hadn't even thought of yet...

I can't say too much without giving things away and none of it would make sense if you haven't read the series, but I love this series. The quality of writing (and difficulty!) remains much higher than one expects of such things, which makes it that much more addictive and wonderful.

Vampire war is coming, and in de la Cruz's vampire-verse, this probably means a battle between good and evil, Heaven and Hell. It's starting to heat up.

I'll have an interview with Melissa de la Cruz about Blue Bloods up tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

In The Wake of the Boatman

In the Wake of the Boatman Jonathan Scott Fuqua

This is the story of a life, of Puttnam Douglas Steward, starting from his birth until middle age, largely seen in the relationship with his father. The father/son dynamic might just be a guy thing (not being a guy, I wouldn't know) or a Tolstoy thing (all unhappy families...)

Either way, it's a compelling character study of a novel.

We follow Putt as he grows up, gets in and out of trouble, goes to college, enters the army and beyond.

We see him most in his relationship with his father, but also with his best friend Milt, his sister, and his brother-in-law.

Part of Putt's eternal struggle are some sexuality issues he cannot come to terms with. Unfortunately, Fuqua tries to put events in his childhood as a root cause of this, which is harmful and just... not right. It put a dissatisfying ending on an otherwise very interesting read.

Book Provided by... the publisher, for review consideration

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Sunday Salon

Well, another year is over, and another has begun.

Here were my goals this year:

1. Blog at least 5 books a week for 260 total, or to keep up with reading habits, whichever is less. I did 254, which is close! Almost!
2. Read at least 20 nonfiction books 54, suckas
3. Read at least 50 books from this year's scary list. FAIL. I did 24, but last year, I only did 16, so I got a little better
4. Never have more than 5 pleasure reading materials checked out from the library at a time. FAIL. I am getting better at this though. Much better.
5. Finish read the rest of Silvey's top 100. (This is only 26 books, 7 of which are picture books. I can do this! Listening totally counts.) FAIL. I only did 5. I still have 21 to go.
6. Never be more than a year behind on reviewing. I will catch up with 2006 books by the end of January. FAIL. I still have books from April 2007 to review! Aiy yai yai.

And here's how we are on the left over reading challenges:

TBR Challenge: I only read 8 out of the 12. Ah well. I'll try again this year.

Buy Books: I was supposed to buy and read 12 books. I bought 48, I read 14, but only reviewed 7.

Fall into Reading: I read 27 out of my list of 90. When I made my list, I didn't take all that Cybils reading into account.

Here are this year's goals:

1. Review at least 5 books a week for 260 total, or enough to keep up with my reading habits, whichever is less.

2. Read any book I haven't read yet from 100 Best Books for Children by Anita Silvey.

3. No more than 5 pleasure reading books checked out at a time.

So, here are the new reading challenges (in addition to the ones I mentioned in November.)

Here's my list for 2010's TBR Challenge.

I'm going to do the A-Z Challenge. Because I love a Challenge, I'm doing the one where I need a book AND an author for each letter. I'll be keeping track here.

I'm also doing Year of the Historical. 12 Historical Fiction books this year? Yes Please!

Once Upon a Time Challenge asks us to read 5 fairy tales that aren't Disney by the end of the year. Oh yes please!

War Through the Generations has me reading 11 books about the Vietnam War (I'm doing the swim level.)

The Colorful Reading Challenge wants me to read 9 books with a color in the title. Yay!

Coming up this week!

My best of 2009 list!

An interview with Melissa de la Cruz!

More book reviews!

Back Creek

Back Creek Leslie Goetsch

The summer of 1975 starts when Grace witnesses Tommy White commit suicide by driving his boat into a pier. The morning of his funeral, her mother leaves for good and her estranged sister returns home.

In this summer before Grace goes off to college, as family secrets unravel, she'll learn the hard truth that people aren't always what they seem, even when you've known them your entire life.

I'm not sure whether this is a book for teens, or an adult book about a teenager. Goetsch's writing lacks the immediacy that most YA novels have. Her prose and slow and languid, like the hot summer days she's describing. It's one that your bookish teen readers (those who, like Grace, hide away in the classics) will enjoy, as well as adult readers. Goetsch writes with an amazing sense of place (I do love books with a good sense of place, where the setting is another character) that makes me want to journey a bit to the south to more fully explore the Tidewater region. It's a landscape my mind keeps returning to, long after finishing the book.

This is one I'll want to reread this summer when it warms up.

Book Provided by... the publisher, for review consideration.

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

A public service announcement: Support Your Library!

The end of my vacation is drawing near.

My library system closed at the regular time on December 23rd and it won't reopen until Monday morning. This was a combination of days we would have been closed anyway for the holidays, and furlough leave. (Not to mention that our hours were wonky December 19-23 because of the snowpocolypse!)

The kids of my county only had virtual library service over their winter vacation.

These furlough days we've had this week aren't the only ones we have this year. We're also closing early one night a week. Other branches lost entire days.

But, we haven't had to close any branches, or cut staff hours, or lay anyone off. It could be worse.

Next year will be worse. We don't know how, we just know that, once again, the state has a huge budget gap, which will mean cuts that will find their way down to us. Cuts on top of the ones we've already made.

It's rough out there, not just in my county. Philadelphia almost lost all of its libraries, for good. Here in Virginia, Fairfax county had to lay off 300 librarians. Hawaii is begging for money, and looking at at least twelve furlough days between now and the end of May. And that's just what I can come up with off the top of my head.

When systems are faced with budget shortfalls like these, service, staff, and hours are the last things to be sacrificed. Before they make such noticeable cuts like these, acquisition budgets are slashed, so they wait until a book comes out in paperback before buying it, they buy conservatively, with titles and authors they know will circulate well, making it much harder for new authors to get a spot on the shelf. Hiring freezes are implemented, so branches and departments are frequently understaffed.

At the same time, usage rates are skyrocketing. Everyone's trying to save money, so instead of buying books, they come to the library. They check out movies instead of renting them. They've canceled internet at home, so come use the library for ours. They're depending on librarians to help them find and apply for jobs, often with unfamiliar technology.

Write to your city council, your county board, your state rep, your congressperson, your senators.

Tell them that libraries are important. In this economic crisis, budgets will be cut, because they can't give us money they don't have, but tell them that libraries are important. Tell them how much you need and use your library. I often laugh at library stereotypes of quiet, dusty rooms, and old ladies with severe buns shushing anyone who rustles too much paper, but these stereotypes are hurting us. We're seen as old and outdated, an easy target for budget cuts. But these budget cuts hurt all of us.

And it sucks.

Crazy Lady

Crazy Lady! Jane Leslie Conly

Vernon is a big, clumsy kid who got held back a year, as if he didn't tower over everyone else already. He's growing up poor in Baltimore, the middle child of 5. After school, all his friends can come up with for entertainment is to make fun of Maxine and her son Ronald. Maxine's an alcoholic and Ronald is special needs. But after failing most of his classes and faced with being held back again, Vernon starts getting tutoring from Maxine's next door neighbor, Miss Annie. Miss Annie knows Vernon can't afford to pay her, so she makes him work it off by helping Maxine and Ronald. What happens next transforms Vernon, Ronald, and the entire neighborhood.

Here's what makes this book something special (it won a Newbery Honor in 1993)-- the plot description above could very easily describe a really saccharine, cheesy book. And this isn't that. While some things change, some things don't, and this book doesn't offer a fairy tale version of life. Not everything that Vernon discovers in what is, more or less, a coming of age tale, is because of his friendship with Maxine and Ronald, but it's all tied together during the same time period. And being able to see a different side to these people who thought he knew helps him to see a different side to his family, friends, and other neighbors. Also, a great addition to the list of "books about poor people that aren't historical fiction or about race."

Book Provided by... um... not sure. It was on my bookshelf, so I'm assuming my wallet?

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Holidaze

To my Christmas-celebrating friends, I hope it's a good one.

To all my friends, today's a perfect day to curl up with some Meg Cabot. How do I know? Because EVERY DAY is a perfect day for Cabot!

Ready or Not Meg Cabot

In this sequel to All-American Girl, Samantha Madison is still trying to balance her new-found fame, being UN teen ambassador, her awesome boyfriend, and her usual loser-dom middle sister status. Add to this the fact that her parents have made her get a part-time job and she's started taking life drawing lessons (which she didn't realize would involve naked people) and Sam doesn't have that much time on her hands. Then, David (the awesome boyfriend, who just happens to be the President's son) asks her to spend Thanksgiving with them at Camp David, which can only mean one thing-- he wants to take their relationship up a level and Sam's not so sure she's ready for that.

Lots of agonizing about ready or not Sam's ready for sex and how to handle the situation. Coupled with this is that Sam's supposed to show support for the President's new (and highly controversial) "Return to the Family" initiative. Overall I really liked this. Of course Sam's sister Lucy reads Cabot's She Went All the Way and Sam shares a few things with Allie Finkle (a cat named Mewsie and a dislike of red food. I have a mental list of things that frequently pop up in Cabot novels. If I ever get to interview her, I'm totally asking her about them!) Overall, a fun, funny read about sticking up for yourself and what you believe in, and making the right choices for you.

Book Provided by... my local library

How to Be Popular Meg Cabot

In 6th grade, Steph Landry tripped and accidentally spilled a Red Big Gulp all over Lauren Moffat's white skirt. She apologized and even bought Lauren a new skirt, but for the next 5 years, Lauren has made Steph's life hell. (Anytime anyone does something dumb, the catch phrase for the entire town is "Don't be such a Steph Landry!") Steph's had enough. She found an old book in her grandpa's fiancee's attic called How to Be Popular. Steph's going to use it, get the star quarterback and rule the school. The amazing thing is, it actually works. But, Lauren's not letting go that easily and Steph's other friends have some serious issues with the new-and-improved Steph Landry.

I'm not going to deny that it was rather predictable and didn't offer anything earth-shattering, but it was still funny and fun. I loved the character of school bimbo goddess Darlene, who had hidden depth. I loved how close Steph was with her grandfather. (Also, can I just say, I love the families in Meg Cabot books?! I know her home life wasn't great growing up, but her books regularly feature parents that are involved with their kids and who their kids generally get along with. We don't see this a lot in literature, especially books for teens. The parents are rarely around and if they are, they're often a main source of conflict.) I also really appreciated that the story takes place in a small town that is not populated by quirky characters.

But seriously, what is it with Meg Cabot and red food? Steph's little brother also does not eat red food.

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Piper Reed

Piper Reed Gets a Job Kimberly Willis Holt

Piper and the Gypsy Club need a club house where they can meet away from prying little sisters. The found the perfect one, but it costs $1999 so obviously Piper needs a job. She starts a birthday party planning business, agrees to illustrate Sam's new book, and gets a job babysitting triplets. Of course, this means she's too busy to do her big report for school...

While the hijinks are almost over the top, they are still very believable and entertaining. I love the adults in this book. They're funny without being characatures, and aren't absent parents. Unlike the other books, this has very little to do with military life, except that it takes place on base. I most loved how Michael takes to baking, which is a surprise for all involved.

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Token

Token Alisa Kwitney and Joelle Jones (there should be an umlaut over the first e in Joelle)

This is the final installment of the doomed Minx line. Shira lives in South Beach in the 80s, feeling out of place and out of time. She's the odd duck out at school and her best friends are her grandmother and another elderly woman in her building. She's the school loser and when her lawyer father starts dating his secretary and everything starts changing, well she's had enough. With the help a mysterious Spanish guy, rebelling has never been so fun.

Lots of things packed into this story about finding your place in a changing world. I most appreciated how most of the drama wasn't self-created. Shira's father was a bit of a one-dimensional jerk who didn't listen to her feelings, but I think some of that was just Shira's perceptions of the situation. South Beach in the 80s was also a really interesting setting. I've been there once and it didn't go much for me, and Shira's South Beach is a little run down and getting a bit seedy. She longs for its heyday, when Rat Packers would ask if you wanted ice in your champagne and casually toss in a diamond. Overall, one of my favorite Minx titles. I really miss the imprint. I liked the direction it seemed to be going in, but DC seemed to have doomed it from the start, never actually doing any of the things they said they would. Ah well.

Book Provided by... my wallet

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Princess Plot

The Princess Plot Kirsten Boie, translated by David Henry Wilson

Jenna's mother has always been freakishly overprotective. So, when a movie crew shows up at school to hold auditions and tells Jenna she has the part solely due to her presence, well... on hindsight maybe she shouldn't have fallen for it, but she wanted an adventure, she wanted to be special, so she went with the movie crew to Scandia. Once she gets there, she finds out her final audition is to stand-in for the Scandian Princess, who wants some time to herself. It takes awhile for Jenna to discover what the reader has known all along--the Scandian Princess has run away and the Regent needs someone for the cameras to help get some controversial legislation accepted by the people of South Scandia. Legislation that spells doom for the people from North Scandia.

There are several plot lines running through this middle grade political thriller with frequent shifts of point of view as different pieces come to light. There are several things adult readers will figure out very quickly and there are several things the readers get to see way before most of the characters do. That said, I think this one will keep most middle grade readers guessing, especially when it comes to who Jenna can trust and who she can't. I most enjoyed the conflict Boie builds between the two groups of North and South Scandia that parallels situations in several countries today. Boie gives middle grade readers a lot more credit than many authors do, and I love her for it. Better yet, lots of court and political intrigue, all while still being a fun and entertaining read.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Leviathan

Leviathan Scott Westerfeld

I'm usually not a huge steampunk fan and no matter how true the descriptor of "rollicking good adventure" is, it won't draw me in. Neither of these are things that will turn me off a book, but they also won't make me go "ooooooo" the same way saying "China" or "Fairy Tale" or "Hysterical British Girly Book" or "World War I" will. Oh, wait, "World War I?" Yeah, that's what made me pick up Leviathan. World War I will get me most of the time.

So, Leviathan is World War I, but a steampunk slightly alternate history version of it. Alek is the only child of the Archduke Ferdinand, roused out of bed and sent running for his life after his parents are assassinated in Sarajevo. Derwyn has disguised herself as a boy to join the British Air Force. All she's ever wanted to do is fly like she did with her hot-air ballooning father. There's more, of course. The Central Powers are known as Clankers, relying on intricate machinery for their armed forces. The Allies are Darwinists, combining several strands of DNA from different species to create fabricated beasts for theirs.

The action follows both of these characters before their stories collide. Beyond the intriguing premise (and the rollicking good adventure) it's just a damn fine story of people finding themselves and trying to save themselves and war and friendship and all sorts of good things. I like the conflict within the Darwinist countries-- there's a subgroup called Monkey Luddites who feel that fabricated creatures are soulless and evil. I also like how much politics comes into play, especially with Alek's plot line, which closely follow the actual politics of the day. Westerfeld's ending note is also great, commenting on what is real and what isn't, both in terms of war and politics, and also the technology used. Cannot WAIT for the sequel. (Also, due to the placement of the ending, you might actually want to wait to read this until the sequel is out, so you can read them together.)

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Chop Suey

Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States Andrew Coe

Coe attempts to explain how Chinese food in the States evolved over time from what was solely eaten by Chinese immigrants to what we know today from our local take-out place.

Coe is a food guy, not a China guy, and there are some China-things that he just gets wrong that drove me up a wall. Such as inconsistent transliteration. I'm also not sure he realizes that Nanjing and Nanking are two different transliterations of the same city (南京) instead of two different cities. More disturbing is the fact that some of the history is off. Most glaringly, on page 232, "After Mao's death, they [Shanghai party leaders] would become key members of the radical Communist group known as the Gang of Four." The Gang of Four were blamed for most the excesses of the Cultural Revolution, and they were all arrested within a month of Mao's death, so I'm not entirely sure how you could become a key member after the death of Mao.

There are other odd inconsistencies. Coe attributes the acceptance of the Chinese restaurant by "main stream" America on Prohibition, because Chinese restaurants often had player pianos and dance floors but had never served alcohol so weren't affected by the loss of sales like many other establishments, but two pages later (1/2 of which is taken up by a picture) he says, "These restaurant owners were all two aware that they weren't selling caviar and champagne, but chop suey, ham and cheese sandwiches, and the like--food everybody liked by nobody wanted to spend much money on. The real profits were in volume and in liquor; the businessmen rented the largest possible spaces and featured a wide array of exotic cocktails on their menus." (191)

Such errors throw the rest of the book into doubt, especially as Coe makes some big claims in the history of Chinese food, such as the history of Chop Suey. The story I always heard was that it was invented in San Fransisco's China town. Coe claims that the main urban legend is that visiting dignitary Li Hongzhang introduced it to the US on his 1896 visit. Coe asserts that in fact Chop Suey was common peasant food in Toishan and brought to the States by gold rush immigrants. Because it was southern peasant food, it wasn't recognized as authentically Chinese by later immigrants who came from better off backgrounds and points further north. It's an interesting theory that I would like to explore more, but Coe did not convince me. The history-of-Chop Suey section came before the errors I mention above, but I remained unconvinced, a feeling that was thrown into sharper relief as the book wore on.

If you're interested in the history of American Chinese food, read The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer 8 Lee. If you want to know more about Chinese immigration to the US and the issues surrounding that, read Iris Chang's The Chinese in America: A Narrative History.

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

snOMG

My favorite pizza place, Lost Dog, was open tonight, so Dan and I bundled up and walked on over. It was surprisingly full, and the pizza was fantastic, as usual. On the way home, we saw this poor inflatable snowman, a snowpocolypse victim:



This is the latest from my backyard. The snow seems to have pretty much stopped. Poor Sassy--the snow is almost as deep as her body. She doesn't know what to do! It's much deeper than the level of water she tolerates for swimming in...



It's about 3-4 inches deeper than when I posted this afternoon. As best I can measure, it's about 16-18 inches.

SNOWPOCOLYSE!

Or, as they're calling it in twitter-ville, #snOMG

This is what my backyard looks like:



Sassy's doggy water cooler is completely buried. I've curled up with coffee and a book and have no plans to leave my house for a few days.

We've been measuring the snow on our roof top, but had to give up an hour or two ago, because our 14-inch ruler was completely submerged. I've always complained that DC doesn't get enough snow... I've been doing a happy dance all day.

BUT! I must thank Devourer of Books for being a Most Awesome Secret Santa.



YAY!

So, if you are also caught in #snOMG, stay off the roads, have a nice warm beverage, and read a good book! Merry Blizzard!

When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me Rebecca Stead

Things have gotten very weird in Miranda's life. Her mom's going to go on $20,000 pyramid. Her best friend since forever doesn't want to be friends with her anymore. Oh, and she's getting really weird notes that tell her what's about to happen. One of the weird notes asks Miranda to write the anonymous note-sender a letter. This book is Miranda's letter, full of anger and bewilderment at what's happening.

I can't say too much about it, because it gets spoilery quickly and it might ruin a large part of the mystery of what the heck is going on here? Now, I knew the major thing before I read the book, and it didn't ruin it for me, but I'm trying to be nice here.

I just loved this book. I loved Miranda's anger at the note-writer for scaring her. I loved the pain and confusion and reasons behind her changing friendship with Sal. I loved her relationship with Julia and how Miranda was so fixated on perceived slights from second grade. I loved how bits and pieces came together to form this amazing puzzle of, well, awesome. Also, I love the fact that Miranda is named after Miranda Rights. So, obviously, I just loved this book. Love love love.

BUT! Read A Wrinkle in Time first. This book should have a spoiler warning for Wrinkle of Time! Big, Huge, Wrinkle in Time spoilers!

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

Top 50 Books For Our Time

Senator Joe McCarthy Richard H Rovere

I read this as part of My Friend Amy's Newsweek 50 Books Reading Project.

Newsweek said this was one of the books we should be reading now because it is "An elegant short-form primer on the machinery of Washington's morality-and a timely reminder of what happens when demagogues gain access to what Rovere calls "the dark places of the American mind."

When Amy wanted volunteers, this was my top choice because it McCarthy and I share a hometown of Appleton, WI (where he is, to many people, our hometown hero) and he did most of his damage in my current town of Washington, DC.

What is initially most striking about this book is when it was written. 1959 was a mere two years after McCarthy's death and only five years after his political downfall. It's interesting how focus has shifted since then. While parts of Joseph Welch's cross are quoted, his most famous line, "Have you no sense of decency?" is never mentioned. We get a deep exploration of the roles of other people-- McCarthy's staff (and brains of the operation) Roy Cohn and David Schine, as well as other Senators and politicians and the roles they played. Looking back from today, it can be hard to remember that McCarthy was not acting alone. At the same time, the book is very beltway-insider focused, so it's hard to truly get a sense of how the American public felt about things and what the effects were on the people that McCarthy named as being Communists. Rovere covered McCarthy (as part of his Washington beat) for the New Yorker, so parts of the book are told in first person and Rovere has a different perspective than the historians and biographers of today.

The problem of course, with such things, is that the original audience of the book knew the basics of the story, that they lived through the hours of TV coverage and probably watched it. They knew which names were named and what happened and how far and deep it all went, all of which can't necessarily be said of current readers. Overall it is a deep and penetrating look at man who only believed in one thing-- himself. Anti-communism wasn't a deep cause of his except in that it could be used to springboard himself to fame. Today, I think McCarthy would have aspired to cable news instead of the Senate. An author today would be better comparing him to our talking heads than Rovere's disappointingly frequent comparisons to Hitler. Sadly, it also shows that McCarthy succeeded because the American people wanted soundbites and drama, not intellectual conversation. America's focus was on McCarthy's made-up list of 205 communists instead of missile defense, diplomacy, or a myraid of other issues facing the nation.

The arguements here ring so soundly true of our current political climate that it is deeply chilling as it shows how ripe we currently are for another like him. And THAT'S why this is one of the books we should be reading now.

And a footnote from page 215 to file under "the more things change, the more they stay the same:"

"In the perspective of 1959, it appears more vital than ever. Russian progress in missile development increases the need for effective warning systems, and ours, as of this writing, is not as effective as it needs to be. An intercontinental ballistic missile fired from Soviet territory would take thirty minutes to reach this country. It takes twenty minutes for the countdown on the best of these we have in various stages of development. This leaves ten minutes for detection, the elimination of ambiguities, and the making of the decision to retaliate--which, under existing law, requires Presidential approval. The elimination of ambiguities is far from easy. A flock of geese could be mistaken for unrushing missiles by our radar; a bombardment of aluminum foil might thoroughly confuse us. The Fort Monmouth people were working on these problems, among others, and their work was clearly essential to the national interest."

But, in 1954, the Fort Monmouth people were on trail in the Army-McCarthy hearings creating headlines and newsreel, not working on missile defense. Sadly, if you replace "Soviet" with our more recent communist enemies (North Korea anyone?) this sounds eerily familiar?

Book Provided by... my local library

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Poetry Friday

I have a million things that still need doing in every aspect of my life, but I have a long winter vacation ahead of me (over two weeks of annual leave, holidays, and the dreaded furlough which is closing the entire library system between Christmas and New Year.) We're supposed to get a foot of snow tomorrow, so I look forward to curling up with some cocoa and taking care of these small tasks so that I can enjoy my vacation/temporary lay-off.

Today's poem is by Oliver Herford, which I discovered through Angela's blog.

I Heard a Bird Sing--

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

‘We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,’
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.

Round up is over at Susan Writes!