Karen's Book Nook

I love Avi, historical fiction, and series so reading Crispin: At the Edge of the World, the sequel to Newbery Medal winner Crispin: Cross of Lead was thoroughly enjoyable.

About the book: The more I came to know of the world, the more I knew I knew it not.

Now Crispin and Bear have set off to live their lives as free men. But they don’t get far before their past catches up with them: Bear is being pursued by members of the secret brotherhood who believe he is an informer. When Bear is badly wounded, it is up to Crispin to make decisions about their future—where to go, whom to trust. Along the way they become entangled with an extraordinary range of people, each of whom affects Crispin and Bear’s journey in unexpected ways.  To find freedom and safety, they may have to travel to the edge of the world—even if it means confronting death itself.

My thoughts: I loved this sequel and look forward to more.  Whenever I read Avi, it’s like watching a movie in my mind. This one was no different. Who can help but pull for Crispin and cheer him on?  Avi definitely ended the book with the promise of more adventures to come.

Rating 4.5/5

In this riveting sequel to the Newbery-Award winning Crispin: The Cross of Lead—the second book in a planned trilogy—Avi explores themes of war, religion, and family as he continues the adventures of Crispin and Bear.

I’ve finally been able to concentrate on a book and finished an easy one, To the Nines by Janet Evanovich. It’s part of the Stephanie Plum Challenge.
About the book: Stephanie Plum’s got rent to pay, people shooting at her, and psychos wanting her dead every day of the week (much to the dismay of her mother, her family, the men in her life, the guy who slices meat at the deli… oh, the list goes on). An ordinary person would cave under the pressure.
But hey, she’s from Jersey. More here.

My thoughts: I really liked this story that took Steph, Lulu and Connie to Vegas and it was a good one to get back into the reading groove with. I always crack up while reading the Stephanie Plum novels and this one was no different. As always, silly and far-fetched but fun.

Rating 3.5/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Stephanie Plum Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge

I continued in on my Barbara Holloway series with Desperate Measures by Kate Wilhelm.

About the book: Barbara Holloway has a reputation for taking on the toughest cases in the Pacific Northwest… and winning them. But this time it looks as though she’s up against an unbeatable opponent, her father, the lawyer who taught her all she knows.
2001

My thoughts: I always like to listen to these books on Audio and I likes listening to the series in order. The characters have remained constant throughout and the book followed the same pattern as all of the others… with a twist and Barbara always prevails.

Rating 3.5/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,

My little purse book was The Power of No: How to Keep Blowhards and Bozos at Bay by Beth Wareham.  I read snippets here and there when I had a few moments.

About the book: The terrible yes years. You know them well: You’re suckered into working late and often, unflattering haircuts and poodle perms, back-fat-exposing blouses, too small jeans, treacherous friendships, and dudes who kiss like a Saint Bernard all because you couldn’t use that one little word that one little word with so much power N-O. More here.

My thoughts:  Much of this book was irrelevant to me because I’m not in the dating scene but I did get a few laughs from it. Her  writing style is “in your face” and she didn’t beat around the bush. It was a good little book to carry around and read in sections.  Since I feel that I have a good balance of commitment and being able to say No in my life, it wasn’t a “necessary” read for me but for some folks, it may be.

Rating 3/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge

I picked up The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook  by Murdoch because the colors of the photos really grabbed me and screamed  Buy Me!

About the book:

Product Description

Offering handy tips and advice to help get the most out of vegetables, this volume features double-page spreads on particular ingredients and recipes.

My thoughts: This was a different kind of cookbook as it grouped foods together by occasions rather than ingredients. The pictures were beautiful and made me hungry!  It wasn’t written in American English so the spellings of words were the European way.  I read the sidebar sections completely and scanned recipes that I found interesting. While I haven’t cooked any yet, they seem easy enough and I’m looking forward to trying them.

Rating 3/5

Counts towards: 100 Book Challenge,

I finally finished the second book in the Mortal Instruments series, City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. It’s  not that the book wasn’t good, I was just very busy this month and didn’t have much time to read paper books.

About the book: A murderer is looks in New York City and the victims are Downworlder children.  Clary Fran and her fellow Shadowhunters have a strong suspicion that Valentine, Clary’s father may be behind the killings. But if he is the murderer, then what’s his true motive?

My thoughts:  While it took me awhile to carve out a chunk of time to actually sit down and read this book, I managed to read 3/4 of it in one afternoon to finish it.  I like the fantasy genre and while it is a Teen book, there are a couple of mature situations in it.  The author did not play it safe and I think it added to the book and makes me really want to read the 3rd one, City of Glass,  to see how things will play out. Are things not really what they seem?

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,

The Diva Code: Miss Piggy on Life, Love, and the 10,000 Idiodic Things (Men) Frogs Do as told to Jim Lewis caught my eye at the library.

About the book: From one of the most famous divas of our time, Miss Piggy has gleaned, glommed, and garnered much wisdom about what’s wrong with everyone else and what’s right with her. Now, in the latest book from the Muppets, Miss Piggy is ready to share with vous her best advice on love, fashion, career, attitude, and her secrets of diva-dom! It’s time for you to release your inner diva!  Get what you deserve! And give others exactly what they deserve!

My thoughts: This was a very funny book of anecdotes and advice delivered in true Miss Piggy style!  Although I read a paper copy, I could hear Miss Piggy’s voice sharing her infinite wisdom to all.  It was a series of quotes, lists and advice. Very fun and a great purse book or filler.

Rating 4/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge,

My latest read B is for Beer by Tom Robbins, is a funny look at the facts about beer set in a fictional story involving a kindergartener. It’s touted as A Children’s Book for Grown-ups AND A Grown-up Book for Children. 

About the book: A Children’s Book About Beer? Yes, believe it or not–byt B is for Beer is also a book for adults, and bear in mind that it’s the work of maverick bestselling novelist Tom Robbins, internationally known for his ability to both seriously illuminate and comically entertain.

My thoughts:  I found this “once upon a time” story to be silly and funny and a quick entertaining read about beer. While it’s definitely far out there, the short book was fine for a “filler” read.  I haven’t read any of his other work but I will likely give it a try.  Not for everyone, but I thought it was cute.

Rating 3/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge,

Continuing with the the Barbara Holloway series, I read book number 5, No Defense by Kate Wilhelm.

About the book :No Defense
Vinny and Lara Jessup’s wonderful marriage comes to a tragic end and Lara is accused of staging the accident that killed her husband. With only the word of an accused woman and a mysterious box of papers about the unsolved murder of Vinny’s son, Barbara Holloway takes on the widow’s case.
2000

My thoughts: This book continues in the series about Bobby and her father Frank along with the other workers in the law agency.  As in all the others, Barbara has a difficult case and has some digging to do. Frank took a much smaller role in this book and we continue to see the development of Barbara’s personal life.  I read it via audio book.

Rating 3/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,

I wanted to read The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger before seeing the movie as I always prefer to do it that way. This one was no different.

About the book:

This bestselling and innovative debut novel from Audrey Niffenegger explores the perfect marriage, one that is tested by challenges the couple can neither control nor predict. An imaginative extension of everyday life, the story asks: What if two people who loved each other deeply, married, and faced a life in which one person remained constant while the other slipped fluidly in and out of time?

A modern love story with a twist that invites us to linger over questions of how life and love change over time.

My thoughts: I listened to the unabridged version via audiobook. While I was a bit confused at first and had a little bit of a hard time following it initially, once I got into the groove and had some good chunks of time to listen, as opposed to a few minutes here and there, I found that I was unable to tear myself away. This is one of those books that I often thought of when I wasn’t reading it and couldn’t wait to get back to. That to me is a sign of a good book on my scale.

Rating 4.5/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge,