#IMWAYR September 26, 2016

#IMWAYR is here again. Hurrah! It's time to share what you have been reading in the past week and find out what other readers have been up to. The adult version of this meme is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. The kidlit rendition is hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.


Now that was a glorious reading week. I abandoned housework, sewing, gardening and other inconsequential things to laze around and read. Ok, all those audiobooks reflect that I managed to get in some long walks and do some cooking. We had two birthday celebrations last week so there were cakes to bake. I also scrabbled out a bit of time to do some writing. I need to set up a schedule so I am more consistent about this, but honestly, I am revelling in the fact that I don't have to have a schedule. I'm sure that eventually I will get bored by this, but in the mean time...

BLOG POSTS LAST WEEK



NOVELS

 Drowning is Inevitable by Shalanda Stanley (NetGalley)

4 stars
This is a NetGalley title that expired while I was busy grieving for my mother earlier this year. I found the book in our local library and read it because the idea of it appealed to me so much (and I have to get caught up with all these books) I enjoyed this story of four damaged teens trying to support each other after a tragic incident forces them to flee from their small town and the police. They make some questionable choices, but we can see how these were inevitable. There is just so much authentic love, heartbreak and growth for the characters in this book. I wept buckets.

Rivers of London (Peter Grant 1) by Ben Aaronovitch Audiobook narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

4 stars
I have no idea who introduced me to this series, but after just one book, I've fallen hard. I love how smart and witty the writing is. It's reminiscent of American Gods and Skullduggery Pleasant. Peter Grant is a young constable just starting out in the Metropolitan Police Service in London, England. One evening while guarding a murder scene with another new constable, Leslie May, a ghost appears to him to tell him what he saw.  When he returns to the crime scene in hopes of interviewing the ghost again, he meets up with Chief Inspector Nightingale. Instead of ending up trapped in a position doing paperwork so real coppers don't have to, Peter ends up as apprentice wizard to Nightingale. I'm anxious to get to the next book in this series.

Sticks and Stones (Upside Down Magic 2) by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle & Emily Jenkins Audiobook narrated by Rebecca Soler 

5 stars
I love, love, love this series. That Mlynowski is a Canadian author, just adds to my pleasure. If you haven't read anything by this team of writers you need to remedy this. Last spring I convinced the teacher of a classroom of learners with language processing issues, to read the first in the series, Upside Down Magic. They loved it, and he came asking if there was a sequel. I think I will purchase a copy of this for him. It tells the story of a group of students in a special class for kids who have magic outside the realm of what is normal.

Stars So Sweet by Tara Dairman

4 stars
I fell in love with Gladys Gatsby, kid chef and restaurant critic in All Four Stars. In this installment, Gladys is trying to balance her cooking life with after school clubs, homework, and friends as well as helping out her favourite aunt. Somehow I missed the second in this series, but it didn't seem to make a difference in my enjoyment and understanding of this one. (Of course, when I discovered that the second was a available at a nearby library, I went for a walk and picked it up.)

The Unmapped Sea (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #5) by Maryrose Wood Audiobook narrated by Katherine Kellgren

3.5 stars
Miss Penelope Lumley has her hands full when the family heads off to Brighton so that the pregnant Lady Ashton can get some sea air. Lord Ashton wants her to find someway to erase the curse on him so that the child can grow up normal. The Babushkinov family, with children wilder than the Incorrigible children, are also spending time in Brighton. Nothing good can come of it. I adore this series, but have to admit that this ending devastated me!


The Firefly Code by Megan Frazer Blakemore

4.5 stars
Mori, and her friends, Theo, Benji, and Julia, live on Firefly Lane in the utopian community of Old Harmonie. Their lives are pretty much idyllic until a family with a daughter, Ilana, move in. Ilana is oddly perfect, but Mori still connects and befriends her. This creates conflict with Julie who is suspicious of Ilana. Then Mori and Theo uncover some uncomfortable secrets about Ilana's background; secrets that shed light on their own realities. Like all of Blakemore's titles, Firefly Code is a tale that presents her characters and readers with all kinds of ethical dilemmas. It is interesting to see how a community that starts out with the best of intentions can get sidetracked by a corporate agenda. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
  
PICTURE BOOKS

Ida Always by Caron Levis & Charles Santoso (illustrator)

There has been a lot positive buzz about this book, but honestly, I'm conflicted as heck about it. On the one hand I see that it is a beautifully illustrated, powerful book about loss and grief. On the other, I'm distressed that polar bears, who migrate hundreds of kilometres in a yearly migration, are confined to a compound in a zoo, irrespective of how large and comfortable we think it is. Further reading about the real life of these magnificent creatures, Gus and Ida, just depressed me more. (Did you know that Gus was put on prozac for neurotic behaviour because of his environment?) On top of all this, here we are getting mushy about a couple of zoo bears all the while ignoring the fact that we are driving polar bears to the brink of extinction as we contribute to global warming. Sorry. I'll stop ranting now. 

GRAPHIC

Fluffy Strikes Back
 by Ashley Spires (NetGalley)

It's Ashley Spires, a local author and illustrator, who is creator of the Binky series and The Most Magnificent Thing as well as many other picture books. She's the person behind those wonderful images in Spare Dog Parts. In this, our hero is Sergeant Fluffy Vandermere, head of P.U.R.S.T (Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel) His job is to protect the world from alien domination (bugs.) It's hilarious and clever. If you still need to find out more, check out my full review.

CURRENTLY

I'm trying to finish Dead Boy by Laurel Gale. (another Netgalley title I didn't get to in time) It's a hard slog. I even went and read the end in hopes of being motivated to read more.  I'm about 1/4 into See How They Run by Ally Carter, but I'm not enjoying that either. There is too much poor pitiful me angst in it. I may end up abandoning both of these. Sigh. 

UP NEXT


The Seventh Wish by Messner, Kate, Summerlost by Ally Condie, and Every Single Second by Tricia Springstubb are due back to the library in a few days, so I have to get them read soon. I've got Moon Over Soho, the second Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch ready to listen to as soon as I finish or abandon See How they Run

21 comments:

  1. I didn't know anything about the Upside Down Magic series so I was glad to read your thoughts. It was very popular at the book fair a couple of weeks ago. You've convinced me to read it.

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    1. It doesn't look like much Lisa, but it sells a powerful message about acceptance.

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  2. Wow, you did read so much this week, Cheriee. Many are new to me, like the Upside Down Magic books and Drowning Is Inevitable! I did like Ida Always, but see your point, too. Additional information from the author might have helped Thanks for sharing your views!

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    1. Thanks Linda, I kind of went overboard with my remarks, but that book just didn't work for me and triggered a lot of issues for me.

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  3. We're reading the first Upside Down Magic for Kids Book Club next month. I'm curious about it. I love the All Four Stars series!

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    1. I hope you enjoy it Earl. There is much more to it than you might think.

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  4. You have a few on your list that I would love to get to soon - The Firefly Code, Stars So Sweet and Upside Down #2. I'm glad they sound like all great reads!

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    1. They are Michele. Hope you enjoy them as much I did.

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  5. These are new picture books to me, but the books on your up next list I have read...and loved!

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    1. Thanks Tara. This is motivation for me to abandon both of the books I am currently in the middle of and go on to something more interesting.

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  6. I can't believe I never connected the Ashley Spires of Binky with the Ashley Spires of The Most Magnificent Thing! Well now I feel silly! Can't wait to see Fluffy--looks hilarious. So many novels I'd like to read now too after reading your reviews. Off to add to the ever growing TBR list!

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    1. I cannot tell a lie. Until I looked at her Goodreads profile, I didn't realize how much work Ashley Spires has actually contributed to kidlit.

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  7. The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner is awesome! Hope you enjoy it, too!

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    1. So do I! I love her work and am wondering what all the fuss was about it.

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  8. I've heard lots and lots of positive about Rivers of London. So glad to see you loved it, too.

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    1. I'm onto the next book in the series already. Although I am not a big Harry Potter fan, I think it would be a good suggestion for older fans of that series.

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  9. I've been really interested in reading The Firefly Code. Thanks for writing about it! You have a lot of great books here, and there are a bunch that were new to me! Thank you!

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    1. It is a great read Ricki. I'm looking firwRd to the sequel.

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  10. I understand how you feel about Ida, Always - that has been playing around in my head too as I read it earlier this week, but no doubt, the art is masterful. Lots of great reads here.

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  11. I worked in a zoo for one summer and so understand the conflicts with Ida. I will want to see Fluffy Strikes Back. Spires is creating some great books.

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