Sleeping Naked is Green

Sleeping Naked is Green

By: Vanessa Farquharson

4.5/5 stars

Reviewer: Marina

I have a love for all those books where people take on a personal challenge for a year- like reading the Encyclopedia Britannica, eating locally, etc. etc.  With that love in mind I picked up this book about how one woman changed one thing in her life to be greener every day for one year.  I wasn’t entirely sure how it would turn out, but was pleasantly surprised.  Some of her changes are easy and have little impact on the way you live your life- like switching to recycled paper towels- other seem a little too intense for me- like her makeshift bidet replacing some of her toilet paper use.   She does it all with a sense of humor that shines through to her readers.  This book is sure to have you laughing and finding some new ways to make changes in your own life to help make the world a little better. 

If you’d like to see the full list of her changes to see what’s in store for you if you pick up the book, click here.

Nobody's Son

Nobody’s Son

Written by Sean Stewart

4/5 stars

Reviewer:  Will N.

Here is a story that begins where most fantasy stories end.  Shielder’s Mark has done the impossible, and lifted the curse of the Ghostwood.  He has survived the perils of the Red Keep, and emerged a legendary hero.  But as I said, this is only the beginning.  Instead of a comfortable fade into happily ever after, Nobody’s Son continues following our hero, where we see things after his quest are not everything he had hoped they would be.  He is ridiculed at court, his magic sword is claimed by the ancestor of the blade’s previous owner, and through ignorance of court politics he finds himself making powerful enemies with every step.

This book contains ghosts, magic blades, at least one witch, a handful of scheming nobles, and some inadvertent time travel, but at heart, Nobody’s Son is about coming to terms with yourself, and your past.  It explores the relationship between fathers and their sons, how it is essential, and how it can go astray.  There is a somewhat melancholic undertone present throughout the story, asking “Why am I unhappy?  Have I ever been happy?  Is it even a possibility?”  The hero is challenged, and perhaps the reader as well, to find equilibrium with the past, with death, and with growing up.  It is well worth a read.

Zombie in Love

Zombie in Love
by Kelly DiPucchio
5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Dawn

Summary:

Mortimer is a lonely zombie who is looking for love. He has tried all of his best romantic moves on potential love interests, like gifting them with a (maggoty) box of chocolates, a shiny red (real) heart, and even a diamond ring (with a decomposing finger still attached), but to no avail. Mortimer finally gets the idea to put out a personal ad inviting a lucky lady to meet him at Cupid’s Ball. After waiting around the whole night, he is about to give up, and in walks the girl of his dreams – a zomie named Mildred.

Review:
I absolutely LOVED this book. The illustrations are full of little details, which would make multiple reads a pleasure for kids and adults alike. Also, the illustrator chose soft watercolors in a muted palette, which gives what could be scary, a cute charm. I also love that this book would be perfect for Halloween or Valentine’s day, and it is equally appealing to girls and boys. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare before Christmas” or any child (first grade and older) with a sense of humor! (Note: This book was recently announced as a 2012 finalist for the Children’s Choice Book Awards.)

Quiet

Quiet

Author: Susan Cain
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Lydia

I normally enjoy fiction, so this book was a departure for me. In Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain explores the primary differences between introverts and extroverts and aims to dispel the negative connotation of the word “introvert”. Cain argues that introverts are more than just shy, reserved people who enjoy spending time alone or reading—in fact, she flips this stereotype on its head and points out the countless positive attributes of introverted people. From powerful CEOs to grade school teachers, introverts bring a unique set of skills to the table, much the same way that extroverts do.

Caught somewhere between a crash course in psychology and a piece of journalism written in first-person perspective, simply put, this book was a fascinating read. While there are many case studies and a hefty dose of scientific jargon, the book still appeals to a mass audience. I know I’m not alone when I say that Quiet taught me to accept my introversion, because being an introvert isn’t a disease or some sort of anomaly. With such a positive message, embrace your inner introvert and pick up this great book for a good read.

50 Underwear Questions: A Bare-All History

50 Underwear Questions: A Bare-All History
by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
4/5 Stars
Reviewer: Sue

Summary:

This entertaining book takes a look at the history of underwear.  Using a question and answer format, fun cartoon illustrations, and a “private parts” section should give the reader maybe more than they would ever want to know about underwear!  The reasoning behind the “styles” that were worn in the past, and are worn now, is presented in a humorous and interesting way.

 Review:

A fun book, loaded with lots of information!  Not only will you learn about underwear, but you will learn a bit of history as the book describes what is going on in different countries and sections of the world at the time that the underwear is worn. 

One Shot

One Shot

By: Lee Child

4/5 stars              

Reviewer: Marina

One Shot is the ninth book in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, soon to be a movie starring Tom Cruise.  In the heartland of America, a sniper massacres 5 civilians in a public shooting.  The man accused of the shooting in a quick resolution simply says “Get Jack Reacher for me.”  Lucky for him, Reacher, an ex-military cop, does indeed show up to solve the crime.  Reacher is a lone man traveling the country after leaving the military and solving problems everywhere he goes in his own, usually violent, way.  This installation of his story is no different.  One of the great things about Reacher is he is a good guy that doesn’t hurt anyone that doesn’t deserve it.  He gets the job done so that good always wins out over evil and he does it in his way.  This is a great book, just like all the Reacher novels that come before and after and you can pick up any one in the series at any time without losing much background.  If you read them in order, some secrets of his past will unravel for you, but there will always be a hefty dose of mystery for you.  If you want to start at the beginning, pick up Killing Floor.  Otherwise select any one of his books and cheer on Reacher just like I do.    

Gotham Central

Gotham Central

Written by Greg Rucka (Queen & Country) & Ed Brubaker (Criminal)

Drawn by Michael Lark

5/5 stars

Reviewer:  Will N.

                                                  (Eisner & Harvey Award winning series)


There is something to this series that is unique; something that I suspect will interest you regardless of how you feel about graphic novels. This is not the tale of a vigilante do-gooder in tights, though it does share the same world as the caped crusader. It is instead more of a police procedural, with a level of depth and gravitas that sets it well apart from most other DC titles. The focus here is placed on the Gotham City Police Department, specifically the Major Crimes Unit, and how they deal with living in the shadow of Batman.

In the first issue a detective is killed, but instead of being a background victim in a Batman serial, this is a death that matters, impacting story and characters alike (as such a death truly would) and it sets the tone for the rest of the series. This is a story about people, not superheroes. Batman is only a peripheral character, and remains on the outside of the narrative; a vague presence that not everyone is completely comfortable with. At best he is a rival, at worst he is a living reminder of their failures. In this way Gotham Central sets an unusual precedent, wherein you don't want Batman to get involved, or save the day. You want to see the police do their jobs, and do them well.

If you like police procedurals, give Gotham Central a chance. Whether you know anything about Batman or have ever read a comic book before isn’t important. The stories and the characters stand up well enough on their own to warrant any reader's attention.

Me...Jane

Me...Jane
by Patrick McDonnell
5/5 stars
Reviewer: Dawn
(2012 Caldecott Honor)

Summary:

Jane is a curious young girl who loves to be outside with the animals. Often, she climbs to the top of her favorite tree, with her stuffed monkey Jubilee, and dreams of helping all of the amazing creatures in the jungles of Africa. One day Jane awakens to find that her dream has come true. The end of the book has an About Jane Goodall page that delves deeper into her life story and there is also a message from Jane Goodall herself.

Review:

This picture book biography of Jane Goodall is absolutely stunning. Visually, it is a work of art. This book was a 2012 Caldecott Honor Book and it has also won many other awards. There are a number of mediums at work here, including photographs and stamps. Together, they paint a picture of a simpler, earlier time. McDonnell chose to portray Jubilee as alive, which I think works perfectly for a book about following your dreams. In the middle of the book there is a spread of illustrations from Jane’s childhood notebook. It is really amazing to have a peek at games and artwork she created when she was a little girl. The final image of Jane, a photograph of her with a chimp, is the perfect ending to a book about fulfilling your dreams.

State Of Wonder

State of Wonder

Author: Ann Patchett
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Lydia

          

Ann Patchett’s newest novel, State of Wonder, begins slowly but manages to hook the reader halfway through the story and then never lets go. Patchett fashions a believable world as she details the story of Dr. Marina Singh, who travels to the Amazon rainforest to uncover the truth behind her friend and coworker’s mysterious death. Tied in with this tragedy are questions of environmental and human ethics as Marina also tries to make contact with another coworker from her company who is also in the Amazon researching and developing a powerful drug.

In a place populated by savage tribes, poisonous snakes, and deceptive friends, Marina must uncover the truth behind each of these two intertwined mysteries. My favorite aspects of the novel are the descriptions of each locale, as well as the way the characters seem to come to life on the page. There is a major twist (or two) at the end of the book, and these major turns in the novel save this book from the rather slow beginning.

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

By: Sherman Alexie

5/5 stars

Reviewer: Marina

Junior is a half-Indian half-White teen caught between his two cultures and living on The Rez.  Life is hard for him in a world where he doesn’t fit in with either culture, has a full dose of nerdiness on top of that, and oddities like being born with 10 extra teeth!  Despite his trials Junoir tells his story of trying to make his way in this crazy life with a sense of humor, a dash of cartoons he draws, and a sprinkle of four letter words.  It’s hard not to feel for what junior is going through- going to school off rez, his level of poverty, and the teasing he receives from the other Indians from being too white.  Ultimately, Junior is just like any other teen, facing the usual teen dilemmas and is extremely relatable.  Pick up this book for a read and you are sure to laugh out loud and thoroughly enjoy yourself.  

The Snow Child

The Snow Child

Author: Eowyn Ivey
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reviewer: Lydia

The phrase “pleasantly surprised” might seem like a cliché, but I was both surprised and completely enamored with this hidden gem of a book. Eowyn Ivey’s debut novel, The Snow Child, is a promising start to the career of a new writer, and I look forward to her burgeoning success in the future.

The novel is like nothing I’ve ever read before; part fairy tale and part realistic account of farm life in the 1920’s Alaskan wilderness. The story is tender and poignant, yet wild and dangerous—just like the novel’s main character, Faina, herself.

The other two main characters are Mabel and Jack, who are middle-aged and childless, a burden that weighs heavy on both of them. One night in a fit of playfulness they build a snow girl complete with scarf and mittens. The next morning the snow girl is gone, as are the mittens and scarf, and there is a track of footprints leading into the woods. After this Mabel and Jack begin seeing a strange girl in the woods who looks oddly like the snow child they created. What follows next is a story full of surprises and suspense as Mabel and Jack begin to love the child as fiercely as their own.

From the gorgeous artwork on the front cover to the haunting story, this tale of happiness, sadness, loss, pain, and hope is as enchanting as your favorite fairy tale. I plan on rereading The Snow Child many times in the future, as well as impatiently waiting for Ivey’s next work of art.