Elixir by Hilary Duff

genre: young adult

Clea has led a pretty crazy-amazing life. With amazingly gifted parents and jet-setting life, everything was perfect until the disappearance of her father. While working through her grief, she finds solace in her camera until she notices something disturbing in her pictures - something that she has a really hard time explaining. When dreams start feeling more like reality and the mystery of her photographs seems to lead to answers beyond the realm of facts she can believe in, life takes a frantic turn. Could the man of her dreams be even more than he seems?

I wasn't sure what my expectations should be for this book. Can a teen-y bopper actress really write a book I can take seriously? On one level, yes. I did read the book in one sitting (granted, it was a road trip and the last book left in my bag...). It was a unique-ish spin on an old theme and the plot was interesting enough in a paranormal-romance-type way. I will say, though, that time seemed to fly by sometimes in the book in a way that make me confused, and then in other instances, people are doing things for way longer than there was apparently time for. I wasn't sure I believed that Clea was as incredible and famous as the book made her out to be, for some reason parts of her celebrity and camera skillz just didn't ring completely true. She dropped a few major plot points - and the ending left me feeling like maybe there needs to be a sequel to clear things up? But maybe not? (I've since looked at Goodreads and it does say "#1" after it, so that means ANOTHER series???)

If you're looking for one of those love stories, though, it's not completely horrible - I think younger readers would appreciate that it's otherworldly and hip and wouldn't be as frustrated by the things that bogged me down. So, we'll just say that I didn't hate it and I'll leave it to the young adults to maybe love it.

book 27 for the YA Reading Challenge 2010

Libyrinth by Pearl North

genre: young adult

In a future time, all the world’s knowledge is at risk. The books that hold the mysteries of the ancients are slowly being purposely burned and Haly and her fellow clerks are unable to stop it. Those who work at the Libyrinth, like Haly, hate the Eradicants who come to feed the flames with the texts that line the winding shelves. Haly, however, not only is able to read the words – she hears the words. The written word speaks its’ sentences into her mind and when she hears words that reveal a treacherous plot, she finds herself on a journey that will place her among those who want nothing more than to eradicate all that she holds dear.

This book has incredible potential. The plot is intricate – three different societies with their own rites and religions, folklore and legends. The conflict and its resolution are intriguing and there were two specific, rather integral, subplots of science-fiction tossed in with the more post-apocalyptic tone of the rest of the book. I dug all that. I really liked the sprinkling of quotes from different books that wound their way into the story, in that way it’s almost a love song to the power of reading.

What I did not like was the author’s tendency to throw in colloquialisms that completely threw me out of the groove of the text. Words like “crap” or random 21th century cuss words really only served to distract from the flow of the rest of the book, which felt far more polished. That and a few instances of glossed-over homosexual innuendo felt like they were thrown in as an afterthought to please the modern teenager (if that’s what modern teens want) instead of actually fitting in with the story.

On the whole: awesome idea, 85% awesome execution and it wouldn’t have taken much to make it completely awesome. Probably still worth trying if you are a bookie and a young adult lit fan, just be prepared to be sometimes annoyed.

book 26 for the YA Reading Challenge 2010

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

genre: fiction

So, this is NOT the North and South of Patrick Swayze and the Civil War. No no. That is the first thing I learned. This is North and South ENGLAND, which makes for just as compelling of a story. In the South, we have the most pastoral, agricultural and slow-paced life that our protagonist Margaret is used to. In the more frantic-paced, manufacturing North, we have the swoon-worthy Mr. Thornton, mill-owner and self-made man.

Our story follows Margaret as she ends up moving from South to the North, encountering Mr. Thornton and an actively antagonistic relationship begins. Margret's headstrong and sensitive nature clash against Mr. Thornton's more level-headed business sense. Pride reigns on both sides and of course, it's the hope of their eventual love that keeps you reading, a la Pride and Prejudice.

What I appreciated about this story is, not only the romantic storyline, but also Margret's journey as a woman, as she comes to understand both the faults of her native South as well as the merit's of Mr. Thornton's North. She meets interesting characters (some more well-rounded than others) and becomes inadvertently involved in labor troubles in the town. We're given a crash-course in the logistics of Unions and strikes and everyone is affected in some way. Margaret experiences great loss and the tragedy seems endless. It didn't depress me, somehow, all that tragedy. Margaret is strong and resourceful and works through her grief in a strikingly realistic way.

A book of 500+ pages, it's not for everyone. But if books of the Pride and Prejudice genre thrill you and you're willing to spend some pages learning about England's labor movement in the process, this is not one to miss.

book 5 of 5 for the Classics Challenge 2010

The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the Britian by Sarah Lyall

genre: non-fiction

Sarah is an American, but she lives in Britain. She is also married to a Briton, and has worked as a journalist in Britain for several years, so she's in a pretty position to write a book on what it is that makes the people living on that small island so unique. I was intrigued by the idea of this book after hearing the author interviewed on NPR and I was not disappointed. I think what is most fascinating to me is that you'd think Americans and Britons would be so much more alike than we are, based on that common history and everything. From the beginning, Lyall does a great job of getting at the heart of what makes the average Briton tick and how that's different, in general, from what makes us tick :)

She discusses boarding school, the craziness of the government, the weather, socioeconomic class structures, the tabloid newspapers and fast food restaurants. Don't know anything about cricket? She doesn't really either, but she'll let you in on what everyone else says. There is a fascinating chapter all about dental care and the sad reality behind the stereotype. She's also got a chapter all about the sexual repression/fervor that exists under the surface (may be a bit much for some readers).

What I appreciated, beyond the witty tone and excellently balanced factual/anecdotal information, is that you can tell she likes her adopted home. She sees a lot that is good and helps us as non-British readers understand why sometimes things seem a little off to us. I certainly gained a greater appreciation for that stiff-upper-lip mentality - even if I'll probably always prefer turning on my heat rather than sitting in the cold.

Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain

genre: fiction

I'm not sure I've heard a less appealing title for a book - but what can you do? Pudd'nhead IS one of our main characters - an underutilized lawyer living in a small town on the banks of the Mississippi with a penchant for fingerprints and palmistry. At the heart of our story, though, is a case of switched identity - that of an infant light-colored slave and the infant son of his master. What different paths each life is then set upon!

It's an engaging story. I appreciated the intelligence of Twain's way with words - the text is full of good, sarcastic zingers and irony galore. The characters feel a little one dimensional to me now (especially the "bad" ones) but I'm only really bothered by it after the fact. I liked it as I read (and sometimes struggled through the slave dialect) and enough intriguing and horrible things happened to keep me interested. There is race conflict, of course, Italian twins and even a mystery to be solved.

For such a short tale, there is much to think about - how much does our own perception of who we are influence our character? What would you do to avoid your child being "sold down the river?" How much of a person's behavior do we use to judge their character and what flaws do we unconsciously overlook in those we adore? I think we'll have plenty to discuss at book club. Thanks again, Twain.

book 4 of 5 for the 2010 Classics Challenge

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

genre: children's literature

How often do you finish reading a book with your nearly 8 year old son, and the first thing you both want to do is hug each other? I'd say not often, but that was the case with this amazing story about a rabbit who learns how to open his heart and let love in.

Edward the china rabbit has the perfect life. Beautiful home, an owner who provides for his every need, everything a toy could ever want. But one day, Edward gets lost and suddenly, he needs help. He's on his own. And he is completely at the whims of whomever decides to pick him up and bring him along.

I don't want to spoil more of the story, but trust me - it's lovely. I did have tears two times because there is saddness and there is joy. And you know what? My boy didn't even ask me why I was crying. I think that's because he got it. Five stars from me.

Thursday's Child by Sonya Hartnett

genre: middle grade/ya

It takes Harper and her family a while to realize that Tin is not meant from this above-ground world. It's Harper that finally figures it out, since Tin's her younger brother and all, and since she's charged with watching him. Living during the Great Depression, their barren farm and shack of a house are little comfort to Harper as she and Tin grow older and further apart.

Thursday's Child is a growing up story. A Depression story. A broken-family story. A story of a boy who's happier underground and his sister who always seems left behind at home to deal with the struggles of her family. Harper is a brilliantly written character - the responsibilities and worries of an adult but with the frustrated understanding of a child. Hard, hard things happen to her and her reactions resonated with sincerity.

The author is Australian and in my mind I pictured this story taking place in the dry Australian outback, although no cities or countries are ever mentioned by name. Their poverty and Harper's parents' ways of coping create a life of serious hardship for Harper and yet there is a strange hope that she clings to, a strength that allows her to keep loving. While it wasn't so gripping that I couldn't put it down, it was an incredible story of family and the things we do to each other and for each other. I think I just believed it. I fell under the spell of the era and the people - and Tin is a fascinatingly bizarre character. It took me to another world for a time and I have a feeling these characters won't leave my mind any time soon.

book 7 of 8 for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge