The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Warrior (Iron Fey #7; Call of the Forgotten #3)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2015

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 330

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retelling; Finishing the Series; 52 Books - W18

Waking after a month on the brink of death, Ethan Chase is stunned to learn that the Veil that conceals the fey from human sight was temporarily torn away. Although humankind's glimpse of the world of Faery lasted just a brief moment, the human world was cast into chaos, and the emotion and glamour produced by fear and wonder has renewed the tremendous power of the Forgotten Queen. Now she is at the forefront of an uprising against the courts of Faery—a reckoning that will have cataclysmic effects on the Nevernever.
Leading the Lady's Forgotten Army is Keirran himself: Ethan's nephew, and the traitor son of the Iron Queen, Meghan Chase.To stop Keirran, Ethan must disobey his sister once again as he and his girlfriend, Kenzie, search for answers long forgotten. In the face of unprecedented evil and unfathomable power, Ethan's enemies must become his allies, and the fey and human worlds will be changed forevermore.

A fitting end to the Iron Fey series. I can't say it was my favorite book from the series, but it was good. The last book left the read with one hell of a cliffhanger. I'm glad this one picks up basically where that one left off. We get to see the final confrontations play out. We see growth in relationships. And Ethan and Keirran finally find their places. I'm glad I stuck with the series to see the end. But I must say that Grimalkin and Puck are still my favorite characters. Too much fun!

The Iron Fey

The Garden Intrigue by Lauren Willig

Title: The Garden Intrigue (Pink Carnation #9)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library 2012

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 388

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books

Secret agent Augustus Whittlesby has spent a decade undercover in France, posing as an insufferably bad poet. The French surveillance officers can’t bear to read his work closely enough to recognize the information drowned in a sea of verbiage.
New York-born Emma Morris Delagardie is a thorn in Augustus’s side. An old school friend of Napoleon’s stepdaughter, she came to France with her uncle, eloped with a Frenchman, and has been rattling around the salons of Paris ever since. Now widowed, she entertains herself by holding a weekly salon, and loudly critiquing Augustus’s poetry.
As Napoleon pursues his plans for the invasion of England, Whittlesby hears of a top-secret device to be demonstrated at a house party. The catch? The only way in is with Emma, who has been asked to write a masque for the weekend’s entertainment. In this complicated masque within a masque, nothing goes quite as scripted—especially Augustus’s unexpected feelings for Emma.

Still loving this series, but I will say this volume wasn't my favorite. I was a fan of Augustus and Emma, but the pacing seemed very off. The ending felt very rushed and a bit far-fetched. I would have loved to spend a bit more time wrapping up the storyline and getting a better declaration of love the two main characters. I just didn't completely buy into their ending. Possibly we will see these two characters again... Can't wait to see what happens in the next volume!

Pink Carnation:

#1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
#2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
#3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
#4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
#5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
#6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
#7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
#8 The Orchid Affair
#8.5 Away in a Manger
#8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
#9 The Garden Intrigue
#10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
#11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
#12 The Lure of the Moonflower

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Title: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

Publisher: Random House 2011

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 374

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Popsugar - NYT Bestseller; 52 Books - W17

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

Holy cow! I am blown away by this book. Everyone I know needs to read it so we can discuss further... I was immediately sucked into the world of OASIS and Wade's life in and out of OASIS. Cline created such a detailed world that I can see everything perfectly in my mind. The characters are all very realistic. But the best part of the book is all the 80s references... I am in awe of how many references are included in this slim novel! I can't wait to have the twins and J read the book so we can discuss further.

The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst

Title: The Lost (The Lost #1)

Author: Sarah Beth Durst

Publisher: Harlequin 2014

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 350

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Popsugar - First book you see in a bookstore (library); Women Authors

It was only meant to be a brief detour. But then Lauren finds herself trapped in a town called Lost on the edge of a desert, filled with things abandoned, broken and thrown away. And when she tries to escape, impassible dust storms and something unexplainable lead her back to Lost again and again. The residents she meets there tell her she's going to have to figure out just what she's missing—and what she's running from—before she can leave. So now Lauren's on a new search for a purpose and a destiny. And maybe, just maybe, she'll be found….
Against the backdrop of this desolate and mystical town, Sarah Beth Durst writes an arresting, fantastical novel of one woman's impossible journey…and her quest to find her fate.

This was the first book I saw at the library last week and something about the cover drew me in. I picked it up without really thinking yesterday and somehow finished this book in a day and a half. I was immediately pulled into Lauren's story. More than anything I was fascinated by Lost. The place becomes a character itself. I loved the visual details especially elements like the ocean and the train. Overall, I sped through the book on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Lauren would be able to figure out what she lost and the conclusion of her relationships with Peter and Claire. I loved this book until the very last page. The volume leaves the reader on a huge cliffhanger. I did some digging into the series, but it seems like the rest of the books aren't being released anytime soon. Oh well... Leaving off that last page, I loved the book.

The Lost

#1 The Lost
#2 The Missing
#3 The Found

After You by Jojo Moyes

Title: After You (Me Before You #2)

Author: Jojo Moyes

Publisher: Viking 2015

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 352

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Women Authors

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.
Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .
For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

It took a few chapters before I really dove into this book. But once I did, I read the entire thing over two days. I dove right back into Louisa's life and I really enjoyed reading about how she's moved past Will's death. There were a few times that I got a bit choked up, but no instances of ugly crying like with the first book. Still, I really did enjoy it. Definite recommendation.

Failure is Impossible by Lynn Sherr

Title: Failure is Impossible: Susan B Anthony in her Own Words

Author: Lynn Sherr

Publisher: Times Books 1995

Genre: Nonfiction -- History; Biography

Pages: 384

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd; Feminism); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W16

Juxtaposed with contemporary reports and biographical essays, the words of this legendary suffragist reveal Susan B. Anthony as a loyal, caring friend, and an eloquent, humorous crusader. "More than a collection of well-arranged quotations, the work informs, inspires, and gives historical perspective."

Full disclosure: I am a huge history nerd. I also have a B.A. in Women's Studies and Susan B. Anthony has always been one of my favorite historical figures. That being said, I really wanted to love this book. I was fascinated by the idea of using mostly primary sources to get an insight in Anthony's life. Unfortunately, the volume fell flat. I couldn't get beyond the unusual format both in terms of the primary sources being the focus and the chapters divided by topic rather than time period. I just couldn't really get into this one at all. Definitely not the book for me...

Pink Carnation Series Short Stories by Lauren Willig

Title: Away in a Manger (Pink Carnation #8.5) and Ivy & Intrigue (Pink Carnation #8.7)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library 2011

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 14; 95

Rating: 3/5 stars 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; 52 Books - W15

In this bonus chapter to "The Mischief of the Mistletoe", Turnip and Arabella lose their way in a snowstorm on their way from the wedding. Will Turnip’s wedding night be snowed out? Will Arabella’s nose lead them to safety? (Oh, wait. That’s Rudolph. Never mind.) Was the storm a cunning ploy caused by the French in their quest for domination of the world pudding market?

A silly little chapter involving Turnip and Arabella. Not the greatest story I've ever read, but decently enjoyable.

In this novella (a sequel to "The Secret History of the Pink Carnation"), the newly married spy, the Purple Gentian, and his bride find more than mince pie when they head home for the holidays.

This novella was a great little sequel to Richard and Amy's story. We get the reappearance of some of my favorite characters (Miss Gwen, Miles, Hen, Jane) and learn more about the mysterious Deirdre. Plus we get bookended chapters focused on Eloise. Definitely glad I picked this one up from Amazon. A lovely addition to the series. Now I can move on to The Garden Intrigue.

Pink Carnation:

#1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
#2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
#3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
#4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
#5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
#6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
#7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
#8 The Orchid Affair
#8.5 Away in a Manger
#8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
#9 The Garden Intrigue
#10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
#11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
#12 The Lure of the Moonflower

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Title: A Dance with Dragons (Song of Fire and Ice #5)

Author: George R.R. Martin

Publisher: Bantam 2011

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 1152

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NPR Scifi/Fan); Read My Own Damn Books; 52 Books - W14

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance once again--beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has three times three thousand enemies, and many have set out to find her. Yet, as they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.
To the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone--a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, will face his greatest challenge yet. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.
And from all corners, bitter conflicts soon reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all. . . .

It took me almost two weeks, but I finally finished the last book that's been published in A Song of Ice and Fire. And it was amazing! I was concerned at first because the beginning moved fairly slowly. Once I fully dove in, I was hooked. I loved catching up with Dany and Jon and Tyrion. They were always my favorite characters in the series. Plus we get to see more story from Aria and Davos and some other great characters. Martin has a way with crafting a compelling storyline and characters. I couldn't even predict what was going to happen in the story and that's why I loved it. Martin surprised me at every turn. And that ending was one hell of a cliffhanger. I cannot wait until The Winds of Winter.

A Song of Fire and Ice:

#1 A Game of Thrones
#2 A Clash of Kings
#3 A Storm of Swords
#4 A Feast for Crows
#5 A Dance with Dragons
#6 The Winds of Winter

The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig

Title: The Orchid Affair (Pink Carnation #8)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library 2011

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 403

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; 52 Books - W13

Veteran governess Laura Grey joins the Selwick Spy School expecting to find elaborate disguises and thrilling adventures in service to the spy known as the Pink Carnation. She hardly expects her first assignment to be serving as governess for the children of André Jaouen, right-hand man to Bonaparte's minister of police.
At first the job is as lively as Latin, but Laura begins to notice Jaouen's increasingly strange behavior. As Laura edges closer to her employer, she is surprised to learn that she has much in common with him. And Jaouen finds he's hired more than he's bargained for...

A lovely change of pace for the series to move the action to France. I immediately fell for Andre and Laura. I love their characters. I loved their relationship. I loved the double-crossing and spy work. It was great to get more from Delaroche (that odious man!) and even an appearance from the Purple Gentian himself. Definitely a great addition to the series. I sped through this one in just a few days.

Pink Carnation:

#1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
#2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
#3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
#4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
#5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
#6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
#7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
#8 The Orchid Affair
#8.5 Away in a Manger
#8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
#9 The Garden Intrigue
#10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
#11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
#12 The Lure of the Moonflower

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Title: I, Robot

Author: Isaac Asimov

Publisher: Gnome Press 150

Genre: Science Fiction, Short Stories

Pages: 253

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NPR Scifi/Fan); Read My Own Damn Books; Book to Movie

The three laws of Robotics: 1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm 2) A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
With these three, simple directives, Isaac Asimov changed our perception of robots forever when he formulated the laws governing their behavior. In I, Robot, Asimov chronicles the development of the robot through a series of interlinked stories: from its primitive origins in the present to its ultimate perfection in the not-so-distant future--a future in which humanity itself may be rendered obsolete.
Here are stories of robots gone mad, of mind-read robots, and robots with a sense of humor. Of robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world--all told with the dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction that has become Asmiov's trademark.

My first Asimov! J has been trying to get me to read his works for years now. I've always been too scared. I dove in this short story collection and really enjoyed it. My favorite story has to be "Catch that Rabbit." I love the storyline but more that that, I really enjoyed the commentary on human psychology. Overall, this short story collection has some intriguing commentary on humanity highlighted through the use of robots. Looking again at the publication information, I was so surprised to find this kind of work being produced in the late 1940s. Very fascinating! With this volume under my belt, I may be ready to tackle the Foundation series...

Movie:

So, this movie isn't really based on any of the short stories in the collection. There are hints here and there. And of course the inclusion of the three laws of robotics. But the plot and characters are definitely something else entirely. I wasn't a huge fan of the movie when it was released and I still am not a huge fan after reading the book and rewatching the movie. I just wasn't that excited about the plotline or characters.

Dear Mr. You by Mary-Louise Parker

Title: Dear Mr. You

Author: Mary-Louise Parker

Publisher: Scribner 2015

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 240

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction

An extraordinary literary work, Dear Mr. You renders the singular arc of a woman’s life through letters Mary-Louise Parker composes to the men, real and hypothetical, who have informed the person she is today. Beginning with the grandfather she never knew, the letters range from a missive to the beloved priest from her childhood to remembrances of former lovers to an homage to a firefighter she encountered to a heartfelt communication with the uncle of the infant daughter she adopted. Readers will be amazed by the depth and style of these letters, which reveal the complexity and power to be found in relationships both loving and fraught.

Our book club selection for April (yeah I finished it early). And I must say that I wasn't a huge fan at all. I just couldn't get behind her style of writing. Some of the essays were very intriguing, but others fell flat for me. I really enjoyed the one about her grandfather. Very moving. I just don't think this book was for me...

Fables Vol. 22

Title: Fables Vol. 22 Farewell

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Graphic Novel

Doubling as the final volume of the series, creator Bill Willingham, artist Mark Buckingham and a host of the industry’s finest artists deliver the end to this legendary Vertigo series that sees the final fates of beloved characters Bigby Wolf, Snow White, Rose Red, Boy Blue, Pinocchio and countless others. Ready or not, ever after is here.

A fitting end to the Fables series. I was so excited to open this volume and see how some of the storylines were wrapped up. I loved how they answered some of the big lingering questions. I loved following Snow and Bigby's children's throughout the volume. I got a little choked up with the last Boy Blue story. Sad to see my favorite comics series end, but such a great end it was.

The Walking Dead Vol. 24

Title: The Walking Dead Volume 24: Life and Death

Author: Robert Kirkman

Publisher: Image Comics 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel, Zombie

Pages: 136

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries;Graphic Novel

As the fair opens at Alexandria, old friends return from afar and new adversaries make their introductions.
Collects THE WALKING DEAD #139-144.

Holy cow! That was one crazy volume. It's always something the world of The Walking Dead, but this one was a real shocker. I was floored by the end of the last page. I can't believe what happened. Now I need to find Volume 25.

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

Title: The Mischief of the Mistletoe (Pink Carnation #7)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library 2010

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; What's in a Name -- Tree (cheating just a bit here)

Despite her dear friend Jane Austen's warning against teaching, Arabella Dempsey accepts a position at a girls' school in Bath, just before Christmas. She hardly imagines coming face-to-face with French aristocrats and international spies.
Reginald "Turnip" Fitzhugh-often mistaken for the elusive spy known as the Pink Carnation-has blundered into danger before. When Turnip and Arabella find their Christmas pudding yielding a cryptic message, they are launched on a Yuletide adventure. Will they find poinsettias-or peril?

I so enjoy this series... This volume was a nice callback to the Twelfth Night celebration and Dovedale. I loved seeing the same party but from a different perspective. Arabella and Turnip were a great couple. They definitely fit well together. And it was nice to see that Turnip wasn't a complete idiot. My favorite parts were his interactions with Pinchingdale. Very fun! And it was nice to re-encounter characters from previous volumes. On to number 8!

Pink Carnation:

#1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
#2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
#3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
#4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
#5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
#6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
#7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
#8 The Orchid Affair
#8.5 Away in a Manger
#8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
#9 The Garden Intrigue
#10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
#11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
#12 The Lure of the Moonflower

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig

Title: The Betrayal of the Blood Lily (Pink Carnation #6)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library 2011

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 512

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; 52 Books - W11

Whisked away to nineteenth-century India, Penelope Deveraux plunges into the court intrigues of the Nizam of Hyderabad, where no one is quite what they seem. New to this strange and exotic country- where a dangerous spy called the Marigold leaves venomous cobras as his calling card-she can trust only one man: Captain Alex Reid.
With danger looming from local warlords, treacherous court officials, and French spies, Alex and Penelope may be all that stand in the way of a plot designed to rock the very foundations of the British Empire...

Another great volume in one of my favorite series. Penelope wasn't a very likable character in the previous books. At first, I wasn't fan of her in this book. But then we got a deeper understanding of her character and I actually started to like her. Alex was a great hero and I loved him from the start. The two of them were a perfect pair. I loved their journey, but the ending of the book was a bit abrupt. I was hoping for more. However, the change of scenery to India was a very nice move. I loved getting a glimpse of Hyderabad in the early 1800s. And finally we get another French operative unmasked in the process. A very successful volume of this series. Can't wait to dive into #7.

Pink Carnation:

#1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
#2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
#3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
#4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
#5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
#6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
#7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
#8 The Orchid Affair
#8.5 Away in a Manger
#8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
#9 The Garden Intrigue
#10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
#11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
#12 The Lure of the Moonflower

The Manhattan Projects Volume 3-5

Title: The Manhattan Projects Volume 3, 4 The Four Disciplines, 5 The Cold War

Author: Jonathan Hickman, Nick Pitarra

Publisher: Image 2013; 2014; 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 152; 144; 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Graphic Novel

What if the research and development department created to produce the first atomic bomb was a front for a series of other, more unusual, programs?

It's the fourth volume of the world's greatest secret science history, The Manhattan Projects! "The Four Disciplines" follows our fractured cast as they focus on their own diverse, secret experiments and global power plays resulting in inevitable betrayal.

It's the fifth volume of the world's greatest secret science history, The Manhattan Projects. "The Cold War" reveals the dark days of the 'real' Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of an American President, and the end of the Manhattan Projects-Star City alliance.

Three more awesome volumes of The Mahattan Projects. So many twists and turns. The storyline wraps up a few threads and begins a few others. Plus, we get to see what happens to the Soviet-American alliance and what's out there in space. I sped through these three volumes on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to see what happens next!!!

Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr

Title: Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World

Author: Anthony Doerr

Publisher: Scribner 2007

Genre: Travel memoir

Pages: 210

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction

Exquisitely observed, Four Seasons in Rome describes Doerr's varied adventures in one of the most enchanting cities in the world. He reads Pliny, Dante, and Keats -- the chroniclers of Rome who came before him—and visits the piazzas, temples, and ancient cisterns they describe. He attends the vigil of a dying Pope John Paul II and takes his twins to the Pantheon in December to wait for snow to fall through the oculus. He and his family are embraced by the butchers, grocers, and bakers of the neighborhood, whose clamor of stories and idiosyncratic child-rearing advice is as compelling as the city itself.

I listen to a podcast called What Should I Read Next? This was a recommended read a few weeks back. I loved Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See so I was intrigued about his travel memoir based on part of the time that he wrote the novel. This slim volume is a love letter to Rome punctuated by musings of parenthood and insomnia. I loved getting to know Doerr and his family. I especially loved his descriptions of the fountains of Rome. Overall, I really enjoyed this memoir. It made me want to travel to Rome immediately.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner #1)

Author: James Dashner

Publisher: Delacorte Press 2009

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 374

Rating: 3/5 stars Movie: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NPR YA; 100 YA); Popsugar - Recommended by Someone You Just Met; Books to Movies

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.
Everything is going to change.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. Remember. Survive. Run.

I feel like I would have really liked this book if I was a 13-year-old boy. (In fact, maybe I should give it to the twins to read this summer...) As I am not a in fact a 13-year-old boy, this book felt a bit tired and predictable. It definitely has a big influence from Lord of the Flies. And it reminded me of The Hunger Games series. Which isn't to say that it's a bad book. I just think I've read too much to be blown away by it. Other than the predictability, my biggest complaint is with the lack of characterization. I wanted to get more from the characters and their motivations. Unfortunately, the books glosses over a lot of that in favor of lots of action. Oh well. I'll keep reading the series. Now I want to know more about WICKED and the trials.

Movie:

J and I both agree that the movie was better than we excepted, but it still wasn't that good. I understand most of the changes from the book. They make sense for the movie. And I did enjoy the visuals for the maze. Nice to see it up close and personal. I wasn't a fan of how they changed the grievers. I like their design in the book much better. I still have issues with some of the character motivations and the entire premise of the series. But that's to be excepted. We have the second movie sitting on the server, but I would like to read the second book before watching the movie.

The Maze Runner

#0.5 The Kill Order
#0.6 The Fever Code
#1 The Maze Runner
#2 The Scorch Trials
#2.5 Thomas's First Memory of the Flare
#3 The Death Cure
#3.5 The Maze Runner Files

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Title: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Author: Robin Sloan

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux 2012

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 305

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Popsugar -- Set in Home State (bit of a cheat, but I'm claiming California as my home state now)

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone—and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead "checking out" impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he's embarked on a complex analysis of the customers' behavior and roped his friends into helping to figure out just what's going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore.

One of my book club selections for March. It was recommended by a friends, and I'm so glad we choose it. By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked. A mysterious bookstore in San Francisco? Sounds like the perfect place! As the story progressed, the plot went someone I did not anticipate, but was definitely entertaining. I loved following the twists and turns and attempting to solve the mystery before Clay. While some of the characters were not my favorite (hello Kat), I enjoyed most of them and realize their place in the story. Definitely recommend to all the bibliophiles in my acquaintance.

The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell

Title: The Partly Cloudy Patriot

Author: Sarah Vowell

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2002

Genre: History

Pages: 197

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W10

In this insightful and funny collection of personal stories Vowell travels through the American past and in doing so ponders a number of curious questions: Why is she happiest when visiting the sites of bloody struggles like Salem or Gettysburg? Why do people always inappropriately compare themselves to Rosa Parks? Why is a bad life in sunny California so much worse than a bad life anywhere else? What is it about the Zen of foul shots? And, in the title piece, why must doubt and internal arguments haunt the sleepless nights of the true patriot?
Her essays confront a wide range of subjects, themes, icons, and historical moments: Ike, Teddy Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton; Canadian Mounties and German filmmakers; Tom Cruise and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; twins and nerds; the Gettysburg Address, the State of the Union, and George W. Bush's inauguration.

So I love Sarah Vowell. She is funny, but also insightful and relevant. Sometimes she writes exactly what I am thinking about a situation. I think she's my spirit animal. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of essays. I love her perspective. My favorite essay was about Gettysburg. I had many of the same thoughts when I visited years ago. My only issue with this collection is that some of the essays feel very dated when reading them 14 years after the fact. I remember the events, but wow, such old news. Still an entertaining read for this history buff!