Twofer: two brief reviews

I slacked on writing a review again, so I have two different book reviews to write tonight. One I loved loved loved, and one I super duper didn't like at all.

taken from Goodreads.com

Oh my goodness. I loved this book. I loved this book so much I put it in my top 5 books ever. I loved the characters - the sweet, sweet, lovable characters - and I loved the twists and turns, and I loved the commentary on books and book people and I loved the whole thing. Not to be too dramatic (unless I've already crossed that threshold), but this was the kind of book for me that buries itself down deep in my heart and that I know I'll read many more times in the future. Sigh...so good. Also, as a small sidenote: something that I really appreciate is when a book or movie that is about a certain thing does a good job with that thing (translation: Jack Black's character in the The Holiday is a composer for movies, and the score for The Holiday is fantastic). Well this is a book about really good books, and it's indeed a really good book. I know I've given you absolutely nothing about plot or any information, and that's kind of on purpose. I don't want to spoil any of the surprises for you, and it's hard to give you much of a plot synopsis without doing that. So I'll just say this: read this book. Please read this book. Good golly, I'll probably buy it for you for Christmas to make sure you read this book.

taken from Goodreads.com

In contrast...eh. This book was surprisingly bad. I feel like I'm not allowed to really say that, because it's a classic. And it's Ray Bradbury. But goodness. I was bored out of my mind and when I wasn't bored out of my mind I was confused. There were good moments and good points made, and definitely some great commentaries on what the world could (and probably already has) easily become...but aside from that, whew. It was 4 CDs of pure effort for me. Sorry if that makes me a terrible former Language Arts teacher, but I'm just telling you the truth. But hey. I feel more well rounded, I suppose.

In Defense of Food: a brief review

taken from Goodreads.com

I'm in the middle of reading Jen Hatmaker's book 7, and in it she mentions that she read this book, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. I'll save the backstory for when I finish and review 7, but let's just say that she convinced me to check this book out. And it's incredibly interesting. Pollan's main argument is that we need to be eating food, not food products or imitation processed food or things that resemble food. He takes you through the history of how our Western diet has evolved over the course of the last couple generations, and how there is very little about our diet now that our ancestors would recognize. He explains the politics and nutritionism behind all of the food-related rules and standards we take for granted as being based in truth, when in reality they have been leading us further and further away from real food for decades. He has definitely made me think about some tweaks that can be made to help bring in more whole foods and less processed foods/food products. 

Liar & Spy: a brief review

taken from Goodreads.com

Yeah, so remember in the last post when I said it was book #50, but I never actually wrote a review for book #49? I'm sure you were all paying suuuuper close attention and picked up on that. Well anyway, I finished Liar & Spy before I read Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, and it's a perfectly fine and cute Young Adult book. I've kind of been half and half with whether I like Stead's books or not, and this one was probably my favorite of hers so far. It was grounded in reality (which her others have not been, which has bugged me), and the characters are genuine and very likable. It's a short, easy read and I liked it a lot.

Ghosts of Tupelo Landing: a brief review

taken from Goodreads.com

Ghosts of Tupelo Landing is the sequel to Sheila Turnage's book Three Times Lucky, which I listened to and loved a couple months ago. I really liked this book as well - which picks up the story of rising sixth graders Mo and Dale right where the last story ended - but the audiobook was unbearably terrible. Just awful. And it's such a bummer because the first audiobook was great. This one had a different reader (why?) and the sound quality was just awful. So I definitely don't recommend the audiobook, but I do very much recommend this series (a third book is due to come out in the beginning of October).  The characters are super adorable and original, the dialogue is hilarious and clever, and the plots have enough mild twists and turns that you genuinely want to keep reading to find out what happens. I really do love these books, and even though I kind of sort of like the first one better, I blame the crappy audiobook. These are great, and I definitely recommend them.

Friends, a brief extension to the post is needed to acknowledge that this is my 50th book so far this year! I can't believe it. My goal for last year was to get to 40 books and I only made it to 32. Granted, I did have a baby in that year, but I had a rolling, crawling, climbing baby in this year and I've already far surpassed last year's goal. I will admit, though, that 33 of the 50 books so far have been audiobooks. I cannot stress enough the way audiobooks have changed my reading game. I'm already bummed about how I'll have to change things up again a couple years from now when Charlotte will be able to hear and understand the things I'm listening to...but I'll figure something else out then. For now, audiobooks are incredibly helpful. It is so much fun for me to get to read and cross books off my list and feel productive. It's been really great, and I'm enjoying it a lot. I also highly recommend audiobooks :)

Al Capone Does My Homework: a brief review

taken from Goodreads.com

Al Capone Does My Homework is the third and last of the Al Capone/Alcatraz series from Gennifer Choldenko. It was my least favorite of the three, but it was still super cute and I liked it a lot. Moose's dad has become the Assistant Warden, which means that Moose feels a whole new weight of responsibility on his shoulders as he attempts to protect his father. Al Capone makes a cameo just like in the other two books, but this time it's to help Moose. I really like all three of these books, and highly recommend them; they're great historical fiction for middle schoolers.

Okay for Now: a brief, passionate review

taken from Goodreads.com

I read this book for the first time a handful of years ago, and I absolutely feel completely in love with Gary Schmidt. Really and truly fell in love. And this is my favorite of all his books. I love this book. I love this book. I love the characters, I love the dialogue, I love the writing style, I love the tears it makes me cry....I love this book. It is literally and concretely my favorite of all books. My favorite of all time. That's a big deal. So read this book, and then read the rest of this books in this order: Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Trouble, The Wednesday Wars, and then don't under any circumstances read What Came From the Stars. He was apparently on LSD when he wrote that book.

He doesn't have the popularity or public awareness of a John Green or whoever, but I think that's a shame. Because, like I've said now lots of times, this is my favorite book. And he is an incredible writer.