[Helen Posts: 224 Status: Offline WWW]

My Year with Eleanor…a memoir by Noelle Hancock

The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz (A Sherlock Holmes tale from the viewpoint of Watson.   Horowitz wrote the scripts for the Foyle's War series.)

[Stephanie Ruble Posts: 1,904 Status: Offline author/illustrator WWW]

I've been reading a lot lately, even though you wouldn't know it from looking at my, "To Read," stack!

YA: Fox Forever by Mary Pearson - a great end to an excellent trilogy! I wasn't expecting the ending, which made it even better. Love this book and the whole series.

MG: Beswitched by Kate Saunders - a wonderful middle grade novel with time travel, well drawn characters, and a really great story.

MG: My Very UnFairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski - a middle grade full of adventure, original and wacky fairy tale characters, an imaginative fairy tale world, and a fun story.

MG: Doll Bones by Holly Black - a wonderful story about imagination, growing up and friendship. Loved the story! Loved art by Eliza Wheeler too! I'm already telling people to read this book, and it's one I might have to read again to see how she made it so amazing. I'm not a re-reader, but this book, and the next one make me think I could start to be one!

YA: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - a story about two teens just trying to survive school, bullies, growing up, the 80s, and their families. It's a love story and a friendship and so much more. It's got a truth and beauty to it that's slaying me as I read. I can see why everyone has been going gaga over it. I'm going to have to re-read this one to see how she did it too! But first I have to finish reading it ... but I don't want it to end!

[ChristineSarmel Posts: 230 Status: Offline WWW]

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson -- adult lit with a highly unique premise.

It's the story of an English woman who is born in 1910 and lives through war time, but each time she dies, she's reborn at exactly the same time. As in, deja vu isn't a queer feeling, it's because you've lived this exact life before - several times.

Kudos to the author for having the chops to pull that off. I'm not done, but the book's covered the story of Ursula's birth numerous times. Each time, it's recognizable as the same event, but not a word is the same - events are described in a different way or from a different POV or starting at a slightly different point.

[Jennifer D G Posts: 670 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I loved, loved, loved Eleanor & Park!!!

[J-Bert Posts: 257 Status: Offline WWW]

Just finished THE MOON AND MORE by Sarah Dessen. I love her books and this one did not disappoint, although I don't think it tops my favorites.

[jenklein Posts: 76 Status: Offline WWW]

Ooh, I haven't gotten the new Sarah Dessen yet, but I always love her work.

Am currently reading ESCAPE THEORY by pub-sister Margaux Froley.  Not that far along and I'm already sucked in!

[kategoka]

J-Bert, just curious, what would you consider her best works? I want to dive into her books, but not sure where to start.

And everyone here who recommended ELEANOR AND PARK, you were not kidding about how crazy good it is. I think it's the best book I've read in a long while. And reading it has helped me with my own writing immensely.

One last book to recommend is SHIFTY by Lynn Hazen. Wonderful writing that is deceptively simple, but packs a lot of emotional punch.

Happy reading everyone!

[jenklein Posts: 76 Status: Offline WWW]

Just finished ESCAPE THEORY (Margaux Froley) and really loved it.  Sort-of a slow build, haunting, sweet but aching.  She's a pub-sister so I'm thrilled to be in her company!

Next up: THE SWEET DEAD LIFE by Joy Preble (also Soho Teen!). 

[J-Bert Posts: 257 Status: Offline WWW]

J-Bert, just curious, what would you consider her best works? I want to dive into her books, but not sure where to start.

My favorite two are THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER and ALONG FOR THE RIDE, but honestly I don't think you can go wrong. (My least favorite was her first one KEEPING THE MOON, I think it was called. It wasn't bad at all, just more ho-hum. I didn't sink into it the way I do with pretty much all her others. But then I also still can remember bits of it and it's been at least five years since I read it so that says something too.) Her books are reliably good and consistent in feel, I think. So if you like one you will probably enjoy all.

Actually, now that I think about it, she includes cameos in her later books of characters from the earlier ones, so it could be fun to start with earlier titles for that reason. But you won't miss out on anything or be confused in the later titles if you don't know a character appeared in an earlier novel.

Ending my Sarah Dessen dissertation now. . .

[Shannywriter Posts: 505 Status: Offline Believe in yourself and never give up WWW]

Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald

[onestepp Posts: 138 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Actually I'm reading "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" one of my favorites.

[ChristinefromCorona Posts: 806 Status: Offline]

I've been on a book binge lately.   : 

Dinner With the Smileys (adult  nonfiction) by Sarah Smiley. Funny, touching true story.

Pi in the Sky (MG) by Wendy Mass. Loved her characters and world-building; am still in awe of her plotting skills. 

Currently reading and enjoying The Astronaut Wives Club (adult nonfic) by Lily Koppel (continuing the space theme).

And...just bought a new YA, How (Not) to Find a Boyfriend by Allyson Valentine.

[hairaplenty Posts: 1,456 Status: Offline Don't ever quit!]

I also loved Along for the Ride--Not crazy about Lock and Key. (Dessen books)

[Andi W. Posts: 546 Status: Offline WWW]

BEHOLDING BEE by Kimberly Newton Fusco. A brilliant, beautifully written MG. You want to understand voice? Read this book.

[rab Posts: 533 Status: Offline WWW]

Yarnspinner, I'm reading The Astronaut Wives Club, too.

Fun fact: Sarah Dessen's dad was my Shakespeare professor.

[kategoka]

Thanks J-Bert! 

[Ruth Donnelly Posts: 660 Status: Offline WWW]

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler - adult novel told from the POV of a child protagonist who was raised in *ahem* an unusual way (not to throw out any spoilers).

Also The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin

[ChristinefromCorona Posts: 806 Status: Offline]

I want to read Temple's book, too, after I whittle my TBR pile down a bit.   :

rab, that's cool!  I met Sarah at a booksigning for Along for the Ride, and she was really nice and encouraging.   

[Iris Posts: 30 Status: Offline]

Just finished Ruth Padel's 'Where the Serpent Lives', three-quarters of the way through Rainbow Rowell's 'Eleanor and Park'.  Whee!

[Pons Posts: 2,507 Status: Offline]

I'm reading Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley. It's the fifth in the Flavia de Luce series and is amazing. His voice is pitch perfect and I find myself re-reading sections just for the pure pleasure of the experience.

[jenklein Posts: 76 Status: Offline WWW]

Onestepp: if I had to choose just one book as my favorite, it would probably be A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN.  Love love love.

[JonathanMaberry Posts: 27 Status: Offline Knowledge is power. Read. Become Powerful. WWW]

I just read A.S. King's forthcoming REALITY BOY for a cover quote. And...wow. I'm always knocked out by Amy's writing, and her fearlessness when tackling tough issues. This book is really superb.

[rab Posts: 533 Status: Offline WWW]

Just started Sterling Lord's Lord of Publishing: A Memoir.

[Marissa Doyle Posts: 2,975 Status: Offline Charles Bewitched: out now! WWW]

Oh, I just downloaded The Astronauts' Wives' Club.  Looking forward to it.

[AnneB Posts: 3,577 Status: Offline]

I just read Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (for you young'uns, it's about a TV show that was big a long, long time ago in a galaxy that now seems very far away).

A lot of it is about the writers, and it's an instant cure for the revision blues because you see how very much collaboration goes into the writing of a hit. Well, maybe not a cure, but it alleviates the pain somewhat.

[JonathanMaberry Posts: 27 Status: Offline Knowledge is power. Read. Become Powerful. WWW]

Just picked up a copy of DIVERGENT. Looking forward to diving in. Heard great things.

[Nanci Posts: 31 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I just picked up Sisterland.

AnneB, I'm so glad you posted about Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted. Sounds
like something I would love. Loved that show!

[ameyers]

Just finished reading 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseini. And his new book is out now too!!!

[Vonna Posts: 1,776 Status: Offline WWW]

I'm enjoying The Rithmatist right now. AnneB, I'm also glad you posted about Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted. That does sound like an interesting read!

[rab Posts: 533 Status: Offline WWW]

Listening to Lauren Oliver's Delirium; reading in print Sara Zarr's The Lucy Variations and Colm Toibin's The Master.