A Bibliophile’s Pile (11): More Kid Lit

A Bibliophile’s Pile (as in TBR pile) is a new feature for 2017. It’s going to be very similar to my Mini Review posts, but instead of theming each post, I’m just going to list what I’ve read in the past week. Easy peasy.

Read

 The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket (audiobook / library / re-read / with kids)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I must admit that I prefer Lemony Snicket’s narration over Tim Curry’s. Unfortunately, only books 3, 4, and 5 are narrated by Snicket. His speech pattern for Sir is *hilarious*.

Black Cat, White Cat by Silvia Borando (physical / library / with kids)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The black and white illustrations are charming, but the story is . . . odd. My cat obsessed daughter loved it.

I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis (audiobook / library / with kids)
My rating: 3-1/2 of 5 stars

This was, by far, the most difficult I Survived book for me. It’s the first one that I remember the events being described. I thought Tarshis did a good job of describing the events for her target audience – she was clear about the horror of the day, without going into too much gory detail for young kids.

The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries by Emily Brightwell (audiobook / library)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cute British cozy, but nothing particularly special. I’ll probably read another 1 or 2 to see if it grows on me. Mrs. Jeffries is a fun character.

Fin M’Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill by Tomie dePaola (eBook / library / re-read / with kids)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A St. Patrick’s Day favorite! I love that the wife saves the day.

Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola (eBook / library / re-read / with kids)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jamie O’Rourke was the laziest man in all Ireland . . . which is why he’s so funny!

Challenges

GOODREADS

72 of 260

AGATHA CHRISTIE READ ALONGS

None

CLASSICS CHALLENGE

None

BACKLIST READER CHALLENGE 2017

 None

CRUISIN’ THRU THE COZIES 2017

British cozy mysteries (example: Belinda Lawrence series) – The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries by Emily Brightwell

POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2017

A book by an author who uses a pseudonym – The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries by Emily Brightwell

A Bibliophile’s Pile (10): Mostly Kid Lit

A Bibliophile’s Pile (as in TBR pile) is a new feature for 2017. It’s going to be very similar to my Mini Review posts, but instead of theming each post, I’m just going to list what I’ve read in the past week. Easy peasy.

Read

The Soccer Fence: A story of friendship, hope, and apartheid in South Africa by Phil Bildner (physical / library / with kids)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A beautifully illustrated book with a hopeful story. The back of the book provides historical context (and I had already read about apartheid with my children). One egregious grammatical error (not in dialogue) prevents me from giving the book 5 stars.

Dandelion by Don Freeman (physical / library / re-read)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I stumbled across this book at the library – it’s a childhood favorite that I had all but forgotten. Such a sweet story about being yourself.

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk (physical / library)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As a picture book for children, this is fun. The rhyming scheme works well, and the illustrations are cute. As an adult, I have questions: 1) Why is. One of the food in the refrigerator wrapped / in containers? 2) Why does this family have so much fresh produce, and can they possibly eat it all before it goes bad? 3) All of the food in the story is not only sentient, but actually *talks* – so, did Lady Pancake and Lord French Toast eat their friend?! Cleary, this book is meant for kids, not over-analytical moms.

The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket (audiobook / library / re-read / with kids)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The audiobook version we listened to was narrated by Lemony Snicket himself. Wonderful fun!

The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Joyful Children in a Stressful World by Katie Hurley (physical / audiobook / library)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My daughter has a tendency to overreact with negative emotions when she’s frustrated. I also struggle with my emotions ruling me, and I want to help her so that she doesn’t continue to struggle into adulthood. I’m not sure exactly how helpful this book is, but it did make me realize that a few of the coping strategies I use (allowing myself a good cry, deep breathing, and talking back to my negative thoughts) are things that I can teach my daughter to do. It’s a very anecdotal book, and I would’ve preferred more research to balance the anecdotes. A number of chapters were dull for me, because they were “preaching to the choir” – I *know* over scheduling is stressful for kids and parents, I *know* kids need a schedule, lots of sleep and plenty of unstructured playtime.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (eBook (library) / physical (own) / re-read)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I simply do not understand the people who hate on this book, or complain about “second book syndrome” in general. I *love* second books! They aren’t just filler, they’re where everything changes! THG could’ve stood alone. Instead, Collins continued the story, and in Catching Fire she expands the scope of the story dramatically, changing it from one person’s struggle to a whole *nation’s* struggle. It’s epic and wonderful!

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley (audiobook (library) / physical (own) / re-read)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Always and forever my favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling! I literally hugged the book when I finished re-reading.

Challenges

GOODREADS

66 of 260

AGATHA CHRISTIE READ ALONGS

None

CLASSICS CHALLENGE

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley

BACKLIST READER CHALLENGE 2017

None

CRUISIN’ THRU THE COZIES 2017

None

POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2017

A book with career advice – The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Joyful Children in a Stressful World by Katie Hurley

A Bibliophile’s Pile (9): Highs and Lows

A Bibliophile’s Pile (as in TBR pile) is a new feature for 2017. It’s going to be very similar to my Mini Review posts, but instead of theming each post, I’m just going to list what I’ve read in the past week. Easy peasy.

Read

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge (audiobook / library)
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Ugh! Why did I keep going?! Nyx is a wishy-washy, wannabe, who falls in instalove with 3 guys over the course of the book. The world building, based on Greek mythology, is interesting, which probably explains why I listened to the whole thing, even though I kept rolling my eyes at Nyx. The ending felt completely ripped off from Doctor Who (the Pandorica Opens / The Big Bang). No, just NO! The audiobook narrator was *very* good though – I will try other books she narrates.

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman (physical book / own)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was so fun! A secret library, spy like librarians, an alternate London populated with Fae, werewolves, and vampires, Steampunk tech, and *fabulous* characters!

Challenger: America’s Space Tragedy by Michael D. Cole (physical book / library / with kids)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a difficult book for me to read aloud to my kids. I cried several times while reading. The Challenger explosion is the first major event that I remember, as I was 7-1/2 years old at the time. I had forgotten, or never knew, that the crew cabin didn’t explode. That surprised me.

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket (audiobook / library / with kids / re-read)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this series, but I had to deduct a star for 2 reasons: 1) The use of the word “damn” – while it was funny, and my kids are old enough to know not to repeat profanity, plenty of younger children read these books too. Darn would’ve worked fine for the joke. 2) The voice Tim Curry used for Uncle Monty was awful! Sunny saying “Ackroyd” instead of “Roger” cracked me up!

Banana Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke (ebook / library)
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Ugh, this series has gone downhill. I still enjoy the familiar characters, especially Michelle, but the dialogue is SO stilted, Hannah is SO dumb (she can’t use the basic functions on a cell phone, doesn’t know what pale lager is and doesn’t bother to ask anyone or look it up, I could go on), and Ross is annoying (he calls her “Cookie” ALL the time) and shady. This particular mystery was boring, easy to figure out (for me, if not for Hannah), and the final chapter was just weird. I’ll still probably read the next book though, since I’m 20+ books into the series and they’re super quick reads (250 pages, minus all the recipes, is basically a novella).

Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay (audiobook / library / re-read)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Usually, seeming something categorized as “sci-fi and fantasy” is frustrating, because the two are different things. This novel, however, is actually both. It takes place on another planet where humans have landed after leaving a dying Earth. The planet is full of magic. It’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling, with the familiar elements – a beautiful girl, a monstrous boy, roses, hate-to-love romance, and a curse. But it takes those elements and runs away with them, creating a new story. Well done.

Challenges

GOODREADS

59 of 260

AGATHA CHRISTIE READ ALONGS

None

CLASSICS CHALLENGE

None

BACKLIST READER CHALLENGE 2017

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

CRUISIN’ THRU THE COZIES 2017

Your choice! (freebie!) – Banana Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2017

A book that’s been on your TBR list for way too long – The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

A book by or about a person who has a disability – Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

A book that’s published in 2017 – Banana Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

A book based on mythology – Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge