Stacked Shelves

I have a confession to make: You know that book Wonder by R.J. Palacio about the boy with facial deformities who attends public school for the first time and it's difficult for everyone involved, but in the end everyone's heart grows at least four sizes and we all feel good? I didn't love it. It's OK. And the movie was probably OK too. But as far as plot, character development, the style of the writing... I thought it was just OK. That's how I feel about The Story of Arthur Truluv , which is really all the things the various blurbs about the book says it is -- heartwarming, moving and sweet. You may even cry a little. But, unfortunately, it's like a much-watered-down version of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Which is a far better book.   Arthur is too good. And Maddy's story is somewhat unbelievable (Why is she bullied? How does she get into the situation she gets into?) and too cliche (goth teen going to art school?). Lucille'

M.T. Anderson is one of my favorite YA writers. Teen and children’s librarians who have worked with me know that I’m always recommending his book Feed . In that book, which takes place in a near-future, the Internet is implanted in your brain so that you get a near-constant stream of advertisements and sites that the Internet has deemed perfect for you. Like Google or Facebook, but directly to your brain. (As I like to tell the teens, it’s happening now!) So, I was glad to pick up one of his latest books, and not just because it’s short (149 pages). Landscape With Invisible Hand imagines a future in which we have been invaded by an alien race—the Vuvv—who sold us on their advanced technology. We welcomed them at first. But then some rich people got richer and the rest of us got very poor (most jobs were lost to the advanced tech) and often sick (the aliens stopped treating our water, so water-borne diseases are common-place and only a few can afford the Vuvv medicine).

I gave Nightblind two stars on Good Reads -- I originally gave it three, but while writing this I realized shouldn't have graded on a curve.   The mystery was almost nonexistent.   There wasn’t a real investigation. And the part of the book that was probably meant to be Very Important (whole chapters set in italic!) is boring. I don't understand the 4- and 5-star reviews the book has gotten. Our policeman protagonist – Ari Thor -- suffers from the flu through the first half of the book, making him sluggish and whiny. Then he figures out who the murder is through a chance remark. And we’re done! (The book is only 200 pages – short for this type of novel.) Between the flu and the murderer’s confession, we get odd side stories about drugs, partners considering leaving other partners, those italic pages, and Ari Thor wondering if he’s ever going to get a promotion. Many people read police procedurals because we like the detective, but Ari Thor isn't even likable in t

It’s December and that means book lists – best books of the year, best gift books, Oprah’s favorite books, books that may be up for awards, readers’ favorites, and on and on. It also means librarians, especially those who care about Reader’s Advisory, may feel overwhelmed. I’m going to do my darnedest to look at these lists and not feel like I haven’t read enough this year. I’m going to read some of lists, remember some titles as good recommendations and not feel like I have to add to my seven-page books-to-read list. I will not do well on that last part. Humble brag: I’ve read 126 books so far this year. (Look for me on Goodreads.) I expect to read at least three more. So, how can I be behind on all these book year-end lists? It’s because there are too damned many of them. Let’s look at the NPR list , because it seems to me the most overwhelming and the most aspirational. It has a mix of fiction, non-fiction, young adult, children’s, and even picture books. But 374 BES