The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin 343 pages

This book was so amazing.  I try to read a few chapters of all our new books, just so I can speak knowledgeably about them to our young patrons.  I couldn't put this one down.  The story is about a girl, Suzy, who is just in the first part of seventh grade who decided to stop speaking.  She states that small talk amounts to nothing, so she may as well say nothing to begin with.  Suzy notices that she becomes nearly invisible, a fact she thinks very interesting...do we see more with our ears than our eyes, she wonders?  The main part of the story, though is her moving through a heavy guilt and grief.  You don't find out until near the middle of the book why she feels guilty, but the grief is due to her best friend drowning while on vacation.  Suzy hates that because of something she did the last image she has of her friend was Franny walking away in tears.  Suzy doesn't want to be the bad guy in this story and becomes fixated with finding out if perhaps a jellyfish sting is really responsible for the drowning.  There were several points in this story where I felt for this kid so much, I was crying.  The author did an excellent job of giving this character a believable voice and a realistic story.  No one was over the top mean, or precocious, or exuberant.  It was a very believable story, which was why it was so moving.  I highly recommend this to all ages, but probably 5th grade and up will appreciate it the most.

Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke, 276 pages

I am not a fan dark and depressing books where there is no hope or light.

I was not a fan of this book.

A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George, 592 pages

This is book #19 in the Inspector Lynley series by Elizabeth George.  This is a modern mystery series featuring New Scotland Yard and I have to admit, I don't always like them.

For me, this book was perfect.  The main characters, Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers were both prominently featured, along with other characters I've grown to know and appreciate.

The main storyline is a classic murder mystery wtih Barbara desperately trying to prove herself and keep her job after her adventures in #18.  Thomas Lynley is doing everything he can to assist Barbara.

Feast upon this great book and hope with me that George does it again in #20.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 438 pages

It has been ages since I have blogged.  I was in a rut and it seemed nothing was inspiring me.  Well, let me tell you, that has changed!  "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah will knock your socks off!  It is unlike anything else by her that I have read. 

"The Nightingale takes place in France during WWII.  It is a tale of the French Resistance and 2 sisters, Vianne and Isabelle.  Vianne's husband is off to fight in the war, the Germans occupy France and Vianne's home is taken over by a German officer.  Vianne has no choice but to cooperate, or she and her daughter will suffer.  But things go from bad to worse.  Not only is food scarce, but the winters are brutal, her neighbor and best friend is a Jew, and word comes that her husband is a prisoner of war in Germany.  But Vianne, humble, starving, desperate Vianne, finds a way to save lives.

Meanwhile, Isabelle, rebellious, reckless and beautiful Isabelle, is risking her life as part of the French underground, rescuing downed pilots, guiding them over the mountains into safety.  Like her sister, saving lives. 

This is a book about resiliency, bravery, self-sacrifice, and the long term effect of one person's actions on the lives of others.  Would you be brave enough?

Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin 348 pages

What happened to Tessa when she was sixteen was truly the stuff of nightmares. Now 20 years later the wrong man may be executed for the crime. So Tessa has to go back in time, has to find a way to remember details she has spent a lifetime trying to forget.  

If you like Psychological thrillers you will love this book. Beautifully written, fast paced, with lots of twists and turns, Black-Eyed Susans is a read in one sitting book that you don’t want to end even though it’s also sad and disturbing, and makes you want to scream at Tessa to just do what needs to be done even though you’re pretty sure that if it happened to you, you would probably do the same.

It’s not all dark though. It’s also a story of hope and life and courage and the good that comes from facing what you fear most. 

The Second Confession by Rex Stout 197 pages

Now that the library offers audiobooks by Interlibrary Loan, I can fulfill my dream of listening to all the Nero Wolfe mysteries!  This title, however, is one that we have at our own library.  I must have heard it before, but didn't remember much about it.  Nero Wolfe is hired by a man to discover whether the young man his daughter is dating is actually a communist.  This would not do as far as the client is concerned, for him or his daughter.  All he needs is proof to show his daughter so that she'll break it off with him.  Well, Wolfe confirms with the client that the job is actually to discourage the daughter from carrying on with this young man, for any reason and gets to work.  As always, that means that Archie is really doing the work.  Wolfe can just sit and deduce from reports.  In the process of discovering the young man's political affiliations, Wolfe is contacted by a possible nemesis.  They have not been on opposite sides of an investigation yet, which is how Wolfe hopes it remains, since it will mean he has to go into hiding.  When the young man under investigation is found dead, run over, and by Wolfe's car, things really kick into high gear.  This book was read by Michael Prichard, which is how it is best to enjoy a Wolfe mystery.

George by Alex Gino 195 pages

This is a lovely book that dealt with a topic most readers don't usually get to read about.  The main character, George, is a 9-year-old child who was born a boy, but has always felt like she is really a girl.  The use of pronouns was a very powerful tool to drive home that this is who George is.  She feels this way, she loves these things, she wants to be Charlotte in the school play of Charlotte's Web.   It had a sensitive approach to it without being saccharine.  The only thing that might have been a little unrealistic was the glossing over of negative reactions.  This is how I would like to see children able to express themselves, it is not the reality of anyone I have ever personally known.  There were no moments in this book where I felt this would be unsuitable for a young audience either.  In fact, it will quite possibly be very helpful for kids who have friends or who themselves are questioning how to let the world know that the person they appear to be is not the person they are.  I really hope that this book can help someone be more comfortable and content in themselves.  I loved this book.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani 488 pages

This book is an awesome read!  It is layered and surprising, it gets you right from the beginning and you have no choice but stay for the ride.  Two girls are friends in a village called Gavaldon.  Sophie, like everyone else in town, is convinced that someone will be whisked away to become fairy tale legend.  Agatha, who lives in the graveyard and only has one friend - Sophie, thinks it's a lot of nonsense.  The night comes and sure enough, Sophie is snatched for what she expects will be her 'happy ever after'.  Agatha gets dragged along trying to rescue Sophie.  They are flown to the School for Good and Evil.  Then an unexpected thing happens that will test everything they each believe about themselves and each other.  This is a great story about magic, right and wrong, fantasy, but more than anything, it is a story of friends.  I highly recommend it!

The Mistake I Made by Paula Daly 347 pages

Roz is desperate. She’s lost her business, her parent’s nest egg, her husband to another woman and her child is acting out at school. If that wasn’t bad enough she’s two weeks from being evicted. So when a possible solution presents itself, Roz jumps on it without really considering possible consequences. So begins the first mistake and from there they snowball until Roz’s life spirals out of control.

Perhaps, Daly should have named it, ‘All the Mistakes I Made.’

Despite the fact that Roz’s actions set matters in motion, and she only spends the briefest of time being remorseful before she moves on to the next silly choice she’s still a  character that you can’t help but root for. A page turner and read in one sitting kind of a book. Can’t wait until the next one.

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, 392 pages

Oooh, I was in the mood for this sweet little fable of a book that included romance and bromance and healing and love.

 Jean Perdu is 50 years old and lost the love of his life, Manon, 21 years ago.  He never recovered from that and has cut himself off from life.  He owns a Literary Apothecary (book store on a barge) and prescribes books to people.  He's very good at helping other people, but hasn't been able to help himself.

A new woman arrives in his life and he learns something about his lost love and he does a runner to try and get himself together.  He leaves Paris and sets the barge free for a trip to the South of France.  Along for the ride is his neighbor and superstar writer, Max Jordan, who is also running from life and writer's block.  The best part of the book for me was the bromance between Jean and Max.