A Safeway in Arizona by Tom Zoellner

On January 8, 2011, twenty-two-year-old Jared Lee Loughner opened fire at a Tucson meet-and-greet held by U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. The incident left six people dead and eighteen injured, including Giffords, whom he shot in the head.

Award-winning author and fifth generation Arizonan Tom Zoellner, a longtime friend of Giffords's and a field organizer on her Congressional campaign, uses the tragedy as a jumping-off point to expose the fault lines in Arizona's political and socioeconomic landscape that allowed this to happen: the harmful political rhetoric, the inept state government, the lingering effects of the housing market's boom and bust, the proliferation and accessibility of guns, the lack of established communities, and the hysteria surrounding issues of race and immigration.

Zoellner offers a revealing portrait of the Southwestern state at a critical moment in history- and as a symbol of the nation's discontents and uncertainties. Ultimately, it is his rallying cry for a saner, more civil way of life

In the beginning of the book Zoellner states, "This book is an attempt to make sense of a fundamentally baffling event." and "this is not a work of objective journalism". One of these sentences is true. One is definitely not.

It started off well, recounting the happenings of January 8, 2011 in Tuscon, Arizona. It was interesting reading the details of the day, including who was there, why and where. It was even heartbreaking in parts. But a few pages in it started losing it's appeal to me. I appreciate the fact that the author wanted to really detail everything but he went into incredible detail about things that we didn't really need to know. Zoellner could have left out some of the minute details and saved the reader a lot of useless descriptions.

The book jumps from one subject to another in an instant. First you are reading about that tragic day, next you are reading about the Kennedy assassination, then pieces of history of Arizona. The author even threw in stories about his childhood, which did eventually bring us to his meeting with Gabrielle Giffords, but not without boring us first.

I feel this book is more of an transcript of a rambling, grief stricken man, trying to make sense of a personal tragedy, then a work of literature. Though I did learn quite a few things about the state of Arizona I would never have known if I hadn't read this book. That is the only reason for the 2 stars.

So, in case you were wondering the first statement was false. This didn't make sense of the event at all. I don't think you can blame an economy or history for one persons decision to take lives.

Maybe I'm just not the audience the author intended this book for. Other may very well enjoy this book. I did not.

So if you think you may like it, give it a try. You may like it more than I did.

2 out of 5 stars.

It is in stores on December 29. You can pre-order it here: A Safeway in Arizona: What the Gabrielle Giffords Shooting Tells Us About the Grand Canyon State and Life in America

I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust by Livia Bitton-Jackson

his is the memoir of Elli Friedmann who was thirteen years old in March 1944 when the Nazis invaded Hungary. It describes, in intimate and excrutiating detail, how her world was shattered by their arrival. She tells what it was like to be suddenly forbidden to attend school, talk to neighbours, to forceably leave home and move to a ghetto, lose all privacy and almost starve. But worse was to come in Auschwitz concentration camp. She recounts what it was like to exist there as one of the few teenage inmates and the tiny but miraculous twists of fate that helped her survive against the odds. 

It is impossible to say you enjoyed a book such as this. This book is too bittersweet and heartbreaking to say you enjoyed it. I can say that it moved me.

Elli lived in Czechoslovakia in 1944,  along with her brother, mother and father, when Germany invaded their homeland. After having to leave school, part with valuables and wear yellow stars on their clothing they are sent to a ghetto. Shortly after they are sent to concentration camps and split up. The story tells all from the beginning when Germany first invades in 1944 until their liberation in April of 1945.

I have read several books about the Holocaust and books from survivors but this one is unique. Not often do you read a book about a survivor making it through concentration camps with her mother at her side. They go through many struggles and are moved from camp to camp yet they do it all together.

The authors detailing of events is remarkable. She brings you deeply into the camps and the atrocities the Jewish people went through. Though we will never know the pain and horror they felt, Bitton-Jackson brings us as close as I have ever read. Her writing is simple and straight forward and brings you straight into the events and doesn't let you out until the end.

I am amazed by her story of survival but even more moved by Elli's strength and perseverance. She overcame everything and still turned into an amazing, beautiful and strong woman. With a PhD even!

This is a very touching story. I will be reading the follow up books also

5 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE:I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust
And here is the link to the authors Amazon page. It lists all of her books and you can purchase them there:Livia Bitton Jackson

Zombie Fairy Tales by Jill Myles

Collected here are 7 short, slightly twisted fairy tales retold from a zombie perspective. What if Cinderella had been undead when she went to the ball? What if Little Red Riding Hood went to Grandma's house to eat her? 

Included are:
Zombie Cinderella
Beauty & The Zom-Beast
Sleeping Zom-Beauty
Little Red Rotting Hood
The Princess and the Zomb-Pea
Moldy-locks and the Three Bears
Rapunzombel


At only 76 pages this is a very fun and quick read.

There really isn't too much to say about such a little book. The writing is good. The stories are very quick and fun. I found myself laughing out loud a few times. None of the stories were amazing though. I think a lot of the stories could have been much better if there was a little more to them. They are fairy tales though so they are supposed to be short. It can get a bit gross at times for those who don't have a strong stomach.

I did like the book. Nothing great but it is enjoyable. My favorite was Zombie Cinderella, more because of the Fairy Godmother.

3 out of 5 stars

This is another one that is only an e-book. Here is the link to the Kindle version.
Zombie Fairy Tales

The Portal by Christopher Allan Poe

Cody isn’t like other little boys…he sees things he shouldn’t. Vivian Carmichael has been hiding in the San Bernardino Mountains for more than a year now. Far from cell towers and video cameras, she's finally found a safe place to raise her four-year old son Cody. Until the night he crawls into bed and whispers two words that fill her with terror. “Daddy's home.” Now running for her life, she's horrified to learn that her estranged husband Jarod is not quite human anymore. Can she unravel the mystery of her family's dark secret before he can steal her son, claiming her as his next victim?

The Portal is a very fast paced, action packed story. From the very first page the action starts and it doesn't stop until the book ends.

Vivian and her son Cody have been in hiding for a year when he climbs into bed and whispers the words Vivian fears the most, "Daddy's home". Vivian is now fighting for her and Cody's lives when she finds out she may be in over her head. Jarrod, her ex, isn't quite human anymore and Cody isn't quite himself. What is going on? She needs to figure it all out before it's too late for everyone.

It was a very easy read. I got through it fairly quickly. Poe knows how to bring you into the story from the page one. The only problem with this is that there is barely any back story and a lot of questions go unanswered through the book. I still don't know why certain things happened. The characters weren't as developed as I would like, either. The other world, though, is very well imagined. The creepiest parts of the book for me was when Cody went into his trances and when they entered Cody Town.

I do feel that Poe tried to put so much paranormal into the story in such a short amount of time that it felt jumbled at times. He had villains, monsters, possession, an imaginary world, lots of bumps in the road and still tried to keep the love story of a mother and son in tact. It was a bit much for this book.

This doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book. I did. I got sucked into it and had a hard time putting it down. There was plot twist after plot twist and it really was fun to read. I think with a better editor and some more back story it would have been a great book. Instead it was just good.

If you like fast paced paranormal thrillers go ahead and check it out.

3 out of 5 stars.


BUY IT HERE:The Portal

Rain Song by Alice Wisler

Nicole Michelin avoids airplanes, motorcycles, and most of all, Japan, where her parents once were missionaries. Something happened in Japan...something that sent Nicole and her father back to America alone...something of which Nicole knows only bits and pieces. But she is content with life in little Mount Olive, North Carolina, with her quirky relatives, tank of lively fish, and plenty of homemade pineapple chutney. Through her online column for the Pretty Fishy Web site, she meets Harrison Michaels, who, much to her dismay, lives in Japan. She attempts to avoid him, but his e-mails tug at her heart. Then Harrison reveals that he knew her as a child in Japan. In fact, he knows more about her childhood than she does...


This was a free e-book I downloaded on a whim. I'm glad it was free, I wouldn't want to spend money on it.

The story was like many others I have read. There was a tragedy that changed the main character forever, a strong family member who keeps the main character together, a chance encounter, a bad event that puts a bump in the road and self-discovery. Not only was it boring though, it was also poorly written.

Nicole, the main character, is passive and hard to relate to. I found myself annoyed with her instead of feeling sympathetic. I got tired of hearing her excuses for everything. I understand a tragedy like the one that happens to her can change your life but you can't use it as a crutch forever. The people who do annoy me to no end. She rambled, too. She would be in the middle of a thought and just go off on a tangent.

The story dragged. You spend a lot of time hearing about Nicole's fear of Japan, among many other things, and then how she needs to go the Japan to find out about her past only to read about 4 pages of her actually there.

This is a Christian book, which I did not know until about 1/2 way through the book when it started to get a bit preachy.

This is another book I didn't enjoy and I do not recommend reading.

1 out of 5 stars

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives at night, without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within nocturnal black and white striped tents awaits a unique experience, a feast for the senses, where one can get lost in a maze of clouds, meander through a lush garden made of ice, stand awestruck as a tattooed contortionist folds herself into a small glass box, and gaze in wonderment at an illusionist performing impossible feats of magic. 
Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves.

I loved this book. It was magical, pun intended.

Celia and Marco are bound together before they even meet. They are the key players of a game. A very unusual game that no one truly understands. Because of this game Le Cirque des Reves is born and with it come a plethora of unique characters that you won't soon forget.

The writing in this book is the best I have read in a very long time. Morgenstern entrances you with her talent of description. The imagery is mesmerizing. It is like a dream, an incredibly vivid dream and sometimes a nightmare. It pulls you in until you are in the circus tent or eating the food at a Midnight Dinner. There were many time I went back and reread a passage because I wanted to feel it all again.

There were many characters throughout the story and at times it got a bit confusing. Most characters were well developed but some I wanted to know more about. The two main characters are great. You get to know them and feel the emotions. I did fall in love with Marco, though maybe that's just the girl in me.

I'm conflicted with how I feel about how the book is laid out. I found it confusing with the time jumps and switches in characters. But now I think it makes the story that much more enchanting. The confusion adds to the mystery and magic of the plot. Everything unfolds slowly but at precisely the right time. Though, I didn't see that until I finished the book.

There is so much more I want to write about The Night Circus but I don't want to give anything away and take from your own experience with the book. Just read it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to read it. I don't think you will regret it.

I believe this will go in the very small pile of books I will read over and over again.


5 out of 5 stars.


BUY IT HERE: The Night Circus

The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank

Nothing comes easily to Sophie Applebaum, the black sheep of her family trying to blend in with the herd. Uneasily situated between two brothers, Sophie first appears as the fulcrum and observer of her clan in "Boss of the World." Then, at college, in "The Toy Bar," she faces a gauntlet of challenges as Best Friend to the dramatic and beautiful Venice Lambourne, curator of "perfect things." In her early twenties, Sophie is dazzled by the possibilities of New York City during the Selectric typewriter era -- only to land solidly back in Surrey, PA after her father's death.

I'm not sure I understand the point of this book. Or if it even had a point.

The story is narrated by Sophie Appelbaum as she tells us about the mundane events of her mundane life.

Sophie is a boring and unlikable character. She trudges through life and doesn't learn anything from the many varying relationships she has. There is no growth in any of the characters actually. Everyone goes through so many changes in their lives but not a single one learns anything from them. It's pretty frustrating.

I didn't like Bank's writing. It was simple and not in the good way I have mentioned before. Nothing ever caught me and made me want to read more. There was no climax and it was cliche after cliche. So many people were mentioned throughout the story too, most of which just dropped out of it. It was hard to remember who was who. There were times when Banks introduced a character like we already knew them when they weren't previously mentioned. It was very frustrating to read.

I hated the structure of the book, also. It was told in little vignettes, a lot of which didn't make sense. There were huge gaps in the story. There was no continuity from one chapter to the next. Plus important events in Sophie's life were just given a passing mention. If these events were explored more I think I would have felt much more for her.

This was, yet again, a book that I finished only because I cannot stand not finishing a book. 

1 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE: 

The Wonder Spot

Sentence of Marriage by Shayne Parkinson

In nineteenth century New Zealand, there are few choices for a farm girl like Amy. Her life seems mapped out for her by the time she is twelve. Amy dreams of an exciting life in the world beyond her narrow boundaries. But it is the two people who come to the farm from outside the valley who change her life forever, and Amy learns the high cost of making the wrong choice.

There is a reason I don't read these kinds of books. I just do not find them interesting enough. This was no exception and it was dark and sad to boot.

The writing was good, just very simple. There were no bells and whistles, which is not a bad thing. I did find that Parkinson rambled on sometimes but it wasn't excessive. The characters are well hashed out, also. I did find myself caring about some of the them. In general, though, I found it boring. I know it is supposed to be a realistic look at the time period but I could not get into it. It was a bit predictable too. I had quite a few things figured out before they even became big events.

Almost immediately bad things start happening to the main character, Amy, and they just don't seem to end. It was very depressing. After reading all that happens to her you keep hoping for a happy ending but you don't get it. I felt the ending was a little abrupt and depressing. It leaves you hanging, which I now understand because this book is the first of a quartet. Either way, it was disappointing.

Part of me wants to read the other three books to find out what happens to Amy but I don't think I could stand to read another book like this one.

2 out of 5 stars

Here is the link to the entire series
BUY IT HERE:  Shayne Parkinson books

Blue by Lou Aronica

Chris Astor is a man in his early forties who is going through the toughest stretch of his life. Becky is Chris's fourteen-year-old daughter, a girl who overcame enormous challenges to become a vibrant, vital young woman - and now faces her greatest obstacle yet. Miea is the young queen of a fantasy land that Becky and Chris created when Becky was little, a fantasy land that has developed a life of its own and now finds itself in terrible, maybe fatal trouble. Together, Chris, Becky, and Miea need to uncover a secret. The secret to why their worlds have joined at this moment. The secret to their purpose. The secret to the future. It is a secret that, when discovered, will redefine imagination for all of them. Blue is a novel of trial and hope, invention and rediscovery. It might very well take you someplace you never knew existed.

I have mixed emotions about this book. There were things I liked but there were also several I did not like.

This is less a fantasy book and more a book about family with some fantasy thrown in. It is Chris and Becky's story overall. It wasn't quite what I expected when I read the blurb. That isn't necessarily a bad thing though.

The concept of the book is great. A father and daughter create an imaginary world to get through the daughters fight with cancer. Once in remission and after the divorce of her parents, Becky calls off the story making. 4 years later she finds herself, literally, in the world she once created. 

The beginning of the story starts off pretty slow and a little confusing. There is just so much back story to get through before you can fully understand what is going on. It was also very predictable. I had it figured out almost from the beginning. The character Gage really didn't fit in well for me either. I think Aronica could have left him out and instead built on some of the other key characters that felt one dimensional. Also, the writing wasn't all that great, it was good but not great.

Now on to the good things.  The descriptions of Tamerisk are great. You get pulled in and visualize this fantasy world with great detail. It was fun to visualize these unique colors and animals that were in this other world. Who wouldn't want to live in a world that smells like chocolate?! Plus, Becky was a great character. She was smart and funny and I sympathized with her. I felt for Chris, Becky's father. As a mother, I couldn't imagine the things he went/is going through.The last bit of the book was the best. I think Aronica handled it perfectly. I will admit I shed a little tear. It was a perfect end to the story.

It wasn't the best fantasy I have read but it was heartwarming and sweet.

3 out of 5 stars

BUY IT HERE: Blue

There is also a prequel Blue that I have not read yet but you can check it out here: Until Again: Prequel Novella to BLUE