Book Shopping

So I did a little book shopping over the past few days while visiting my family for the holidays. It was my first time in Cover to Cover Books (I had a gift certificate to spend). I really enjoyed it. Great prices. The House on Mango Street was only $1.

Of course I had to hit Powell's while I was in the area. And despite getting ripped off in the parking garage, it was another wonderful experience. I grabbed a few young adult books to start off the Young Adult Challenge, and The View from Saturday because it's such a powerful book for middle readers.

I just don't know where to put them when I get back home. Bookshelf overload as it is.

A Long Way Down

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

I couldn't have picked this novel up at a better time of year. A Long Way Down tells the story of four strangers who meet on a rooftop on New Year's Eve under distressing circumstances. Told from the alternating point of view of each character, their back stories unfold: a confused teenager, a has-been (never was?) musician, a tv talk show host fresh out of prison, and a middle-aged mother.

The interaction between the characters is the heart of the novel. And here comes in the dialogue that Hornby is known for. (Ever wonder why High Fidelity the film is at times word for word the novel? Because the writing is genius.) For a girl who will always enjoy good British slang, the exchanges between Jess and Martin, in particular, are bloodly brilliant...Sorry Maureen!

Reccomendation: A pleaser for Hornby fans and those to yet experience his delight as well.

Wigfield: The Can-Do Town that Just May Not

Wigfield: The Can-Do Town that Just May Not by Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, & Stephen Colbert

I don't really know what to say about this book. I was looking for an easy humorous read for the holidays and stumbled across Wigfield. (Not sure how!) I was familiar with Amy Sedaris having read her book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. And of course I knew Stephen Colbert from the Colbert Report. Paul Dinello... I don't know much about him, but I can guess.

Basically, the book is the story of Wigfield, a small "town" in the shadow of a dam. It's told from both the perspective of journalist Russel Hokes and the townspeople themselves. The town is distraught over the government's proposal to tear down the dam and obliterate the town. What will the residents of Wigfield do?

It would be an understatement to say this book is crazy. I would honestly say it's out of control. Although it was a humorous read, the same effect could have been accomplished in half as many pages.

Recommendation: If you have time to spare, give it a try. If you're not into off-the-wall humor, stand back.

Young Adult Book Challenge (Revised)

I've done some reworking of my list. I weeded out the young ones... but I am keeping a few that are borderline because I've seen them on other people's lists!

The List:
1. Misadventures of Maude Marche: Or Trouble Rides a Fast Horse by Audrey Couloumbis
1. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
2. Stumptown Kid by Carol Gorman
2. Slam by Nick Hornby
3. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
4. Chicken Boy by Frances Oroa Dowell
4. Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky
5. Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
5. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
6. Criss Cross by Lynn Rae Perkins
7. The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
7. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
8. Holes by Louis Sacher
9. Frindle by Andrew Clements
9. Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
10. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
11. Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
12. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I picked up Holes and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn over the past few days. Now I'm really excited to get started!

Young Adult Book Challenge

I'm very excited to join the Young Adult Book Challenge.

After taking a closer look and thinking over my list, I realized it's really more on the Juvenile Fiction side of things. Especially considering I created it based on Newbery Award winners and Young Reader's Choice nominees, (in addition to other books). But... I haven't come across an "Upper-Intermediate Grade Level Almost Young Adult Book Challenge" so hopefully no one protests. (And I really kinda like that it's 2/3 female authors.)

The List:
1. Misadventures of Maude Marche: Or Trouble Rides a Fast Horse by Audrey Couloumbis
2. Stumptown Kid by Carol Gorman
3. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
4. Chicken Boy by Frances Oroa Dowell
5. Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
6. Criss Cross by Lynn Rae Perkins
7. The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
8. Holes by Louis Sacher
9. Frindle by Andrew Clements
10. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
11. Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
12. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I can't wait to get started.

A Book Blog?

Books. Books. Books.

I love books so much that often I feel overwhelmed. I walk into Powell's and feel joyful, excited, distracted, and often a sudden urge to pee. I know, inconvenient for one, overshare for two.

Recently, I rerouted my career path a bit. Instead of heading straight into the classroom for the next 40+ years... I'm heading into the classroom, back out for graduate school, and then into the library as a Media Specialist (Librarian!).

Generally, I keep long lists of the books I've read in random-ish places. This blog is a place to organize my reading. It will also serve as my "memory" for books. As my sister will verify, my memory is... lacking. Hopefully this blog will help me remember all the wonderful details of my favorite books... making it easier to recommend and discuss books with others.