Books are my best friends
A new crop of books have been harvested since last time I wrote my recommendations.
The Angel Factory, by Terence Blacker. This is relatively short and very easy to read. Thomas Wisdom's "life is perfect. Almost too perfect." Thomas learns more about who he is, about his past, and about what he wants to do in his life. Really explores the big questions--good and evil, free will, etc. I enjoyed this book, but honestly, I was expecting more. Blacker did manage to surprise me with one twist, so that was pretty cool, but overall, I was expecting it to be better.
This Gorgeous Game, by Donna Freitas. Olivia wins a writing contest, and her prize includes the chance to take a coveted summer writing course and receive one-on-one instruction with Father Mark Brendan, a local priest, professor, and famous novelist. But is all the attention good and innocent, or something more? An excellent book that I couldn't put down. You're right there with Olivia, wondering if something's wrong or if it's all imagined. Although most of the book focuses on Olivia, obviously, and her thoughts/feelings/inner monologue, I'm impressed at the cast of supporting characters. Without giving them much page time, Freitas has managed to create diverse, multi-dimensional friends and family. A few times I thought the pace was a bit slow, but overall, really good.
XVI, by Julia Karr. Totally awesome dsytopian novel. Granted, I have a weakness for dystopian novels, but still, this was great. The year is 2150; the city is Chicago. On a girl's sixteenth birthday, when she comes of age, she receives a XVI tattoo on her wrist, mandated by the government. Somehow this keeps girls safe (I guess so you're not raped before the age of 16?), but in reality, girls are then treated like sex objects. Nina is fifteen and dreads her sixteenth birthday, unlike her best friend who can't wait to turn "sex-teen." When tragedy strikes, Nina has to uncover a mystery surrounding her family, the government, and teenage girls. So so so good!!! Obviously I'm going to like any book with an anti-sexism message, with a strong female protagonist, and a dystopian setting, so maybe I'm biased... But seriously, great book. I couldn't put it down. The ending was a little fast, but the build-up was great, all the tension, all the slow clues.
Change of Heart, by Jodi Picoult. I love Jodi Picoult's novels, and this was no exception. There's so little I can say without giving so much away. Hmm. June, Shay, Father Michael, and Maggie's lives intersect in a way none of them could have expected. They learn about forgiveness, about love, about God, and about compromise. That's almost as vague as the description in the book jacket. Once again, Picoult has written a brilliant novel with not just one but two twists. I saw the first one coming, but the second one came out of nowhere. Like, damn. She's such a good writer.
The Angel Factory, by Terence Blacker. This is relatively short and very easy to read. Thomas Wisdom's "life is perfect. Almost too perfect." Thomas learns more about who he is, about his past, and about what he wants to do in his life. Really explores the big questions--good and evil, free will, etc. I enjoyed this book, but honestly, I was expecting more. Blacker did manage to surprise me with one twist, so that was pretty cool, but overall, I was expecting it to be better.
This Gorgeous Game, by Donna Freitas. Olivia wins a writing contest, and her prize includes the chance to take a coveted summer writing course and receive one-on-one instruction with Father Mark Brendan, a local priest, professor, and famous novelist. But is all the attention good and innocent, or something more? An excellent book that I couldn't put down. You're right there with Olivia, wondering if something's wrong or if it's all imagined. Although most of the book focuses on Olivia, obviously, and her thoughts/feelings/inner monologue, I'm impressed at the cast of supporting characters. Without giving them much page time, Freitas has managed to create diverse, multi-dimensional friends and family. A few times I thought the pace was a bit slow, but overall, really good.
XVI, by Julia Karr. Totally awesome dsytopian novel. Granted, I have a weakness for dystopian novels, but still, this was great. The year is 2150; the city is Chicago. On a girl's sixteenth birthday, when she comes of age, she receives a XVI tattoo on her wrist, mandated by the government. Somehow this keeps girls safe (I guess so you're not raped before the age of 16?), but in reality, girls are then treated like sex objects. Nina is fifteen and dreads her sixteenth birthday, unlike her best friend who can't wait to turn "sex-teen." When tragedy strikes, Nina has to uncover a mystery surrounding her family, the government, and teenage girls. So so so good!!! Obviously I'm going to like any book with an anti-sexism message, with a strong female protagonist, and a dystopian setting, so maybe I'm biased... But seriously, great book. I couldn't put it down. The ending was a little fast, but the build-up was great, all the tension, all the slow clues.
Change of Heart, by Jodi Picoult. I love Jodi Picoult's novels, and this was no exception. There's so little I can say without giving so much away. Hmm. June, Shay, Father Michael, and Maggie's lives intersect in a way none of them could have expected. They learn about forgiveness, about love, about God, and about compromise. That's almost as vague as the description in the book jacket. Once again, Picoult has written a brilliant novel with not just one but two twists. I saw the first one coming, but the second one came out of nowhere. Like, damn. She's such a good writer.