Woah. In a good way.

All Good Things Die in L.A. by Anhoni Patel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


All Good Things Die in L.A. by Anhoni Patel truly lives up to it’s title. The book chronicles the sobering stories of three individuals; united both by their patronage to a small Hollywood eatery and their dreams of “making it” in Los Angeles.

Patel’s unrestrained and hauntingly realistic storytelling made this book difficult to put down. I was completely mesmerized by her straight forward, crude approach to debauching the American dream. The ending left me emotionally raw and yearning for more.

I completely recommend this book for a quick and dramatic read, preferably if you are interested in a completely captivating train wreck. My only complaint is that it was very short. Regardless, I know I’ll be looking forward to reading more from Anhoni Patel.



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3 Star Island...

Star Island by Carl Hiaasen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was my first Carl Hiaasen book and it may also be my last. I chose Star Island because I share the same unhealthy interest in celebrities as the rest of America and I looked forward to some good satire. The beginning of the book seemed promising; Cherry Pye is a clear caricature of some real life starlets in distress and I thought the premise of her double, Anna, was genius.

I did enjoy the smooth pace of the plot but I absolutely hated most of the characters. There were a few moments where I was so completely disgusted and irritated by the excessive profanity that I put the book down and shuddered; actually skimming until I thought I could read again.

I despised Bang Abbott, which I suppose is the point, and I didn’t really understand the necessity for the governor. I would skip this book despite the rounded up 2.5 stars I’m giving it. Hiaasen did a great job interweaving wildly ridiculous situations but the characters leave something to be desired.



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Another interesting NetGalley read

The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Whole Story of Half a Girl is a superb coming-of-age book by Veera Hiranandani that allows the reader to view how a young girl learns about her identity. We meet Sonia, the main character, right at the end of her fifth grade year. Sonia has been attending Community, a private school that is rich with diversity, has intimate class sizing and no formal grades; all of which encourages each student to learn at their own pace. She looks forward to having the same teacher for sixth grade as well as remaining with her best friend, Sam.



Right before summer Sonia learns that her father has lost his job and therefore can no longer afford for her to attend Community. She begins sixth grade at public school and is confronted by questions of her cultural and social identity immediately.



I completely recommend this book for young readers. It allows a very realistic look into how pre-teens deal with different social situations using believable characters and situations.



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Another old book review that I've been meaning to type out

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I really wasn’t sure I would like this book when it first came out. I’ve read every other book by Sophie Kinsella but for some reason “Twenties Girl” just didn’t seem appealing. I finally bought it on my Kindle but waited a few more weeks before trying it out.



At first I really didn’t like it. I thought Lara came off as hopelessly mopey while Aunt Sadie bordered on being obnoxious to an offensive degree. I kept reading, however, and I’m glad I did.



Kinsella’s books are definitely a little formulaic, but I ended up enjoying this book anyway. Once I got into it I found that I liked the little references to the twenties! Would I say this is my favorite book by this author? Not by a long shot. It was a nice fluffy read with enough of Kinsella’s wit to make me finish. I wish I could give it three and a half stars.



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From a few months ago but totally worth a review.

The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club: True Tales from a Magnificent and Clumsy Life by Laurie Notaro

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I chose this book entirely based on the title. I figured it was another semi-sappy chick lit book with some injected humor and a happy ending. I had read Spooky Little Girl a few months back and enjoyed it enough to try something else from Laurie Notaro. I’m am so damn happy I did.



The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club is a HILARIOUS collection of short articles Notaro wrote for a weekly humor column. There were parts of this book that made me laugh so hard I shook, cried and peed a little... in public. I’ve even tortured my friends and relatives reading excerpts because I think some sections (ie. the public bathroom one) are just too funny to keep to myself.



I think anyone who can appreciate a little self-deprecation and sarcasm should read this book, or at least try. There is sure to be some section that will have you laugh out loud.



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Easy does it!

I've been reading a lot of YA books lately for both pleasure and for netgalley.  I decided that before I read any of the other two books I have for review, I'd pick something from my "to-read" list.  Of course, due to my lack of decision making skills, I have actually picked three books: Star Island by Carl Hiaasen, All Good Things Die in L.A. by Anhoni Patel and A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron.  I'm about three quarters of the way through Star Island and I'm completely enjoying it.  I'm normally not into crime thrillers but there is just enough satire for me to be hooked.  

Great book for middle school kids...

Calli by Jessica Lee Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Calli, by Jessica Lee Anderson, is a fantastic YA (focus on the ‘Y’) novel about growing up. Calli is a self-conscious fifteen year old girl who is faced with pretty unusual situations in an otherwise usual setting. In addition to dealing with standard teen struggles, like friends and boyfriends, she also has to learn how to cope with a new foster sister and the stigma of having two moms.



Anderson does a very convincing job of voicing Calli through the slightly immature and insecure way she reasons and acts throughout the book. This allows the reader to pick up on the subtlety of how Calli starts gaining perspective and new insights into the situations she faces.



While I did enjoy reading Anderson’s writing, this book is definitely one for a younger reader. I think children in middle school would gain the most from reading how Calli’s character evolves and takes her first step into adulthood and maturity. I would absolutely recommend this book to pre-teens both in and out of the classroom.



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