The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Title: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick
Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 9780545003636

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: This is the type of story you can easily get lost in.  I was actually disappointed it was so short.  I do think I may have missed out on some of the visuals by listening to the audio, but the producers tried to make up for it with sound effects.

 

Rating: 5 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 9/18-9/24

For possible review (on Bookloons):

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

First Reads from Goodreads:

Moonstone by Sjon

The One We Feed

Title: The One We Feed
Author: Kristina Meister
Publisher: JournalStone

ISBN: 978-1-940161-00-6

Why Read?: Early Review

Thoughts: At first, I thought my confusion was because I had not read the first book in the series, but after reading a while and not catching on, I just realized the story itself was confusing me.  The whole time, I felt in a fog, never truly understanding the characters.

 

Rating: 1 star

Mockingjay

Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 9780545101424

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: In the conclusion, Gale finally gets flesh-out, and it becomes even more apparent that there is no chemisty between him and Katniss, which just makes Katniss more infuriating.  The story, though, moves at a better clip than the second book, but Collins still figured out how to incorporate the Games without having the characters in the arena.

 

Rating: 3 stars

Double Star

Title: Double Star
Author: Robert Heinlein
Publisher: Phoenix Pick

ISBN: 978-1-61242-285-5

Why Read?: Book Club

Thoughts: I read Stranger in a Strange Land and could barely get through it, so I was not looking forward to reading Double Star.  Luckily, they almost seem like they were written by totally different people.  Double Star has an engaging plot that is easy to follow and moves at a great clip - everything that Stranger in a Strange Land lacks.

Rating: 4 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 9/11-9/17

For review (on Bookloons):

Mary Astor's Purple Diary by Edward Sorel

Metaltown by Kristen Simmons

First Reads from Goodreads:

Mr. Zip and the Capital Z by Kimberly Bryant-Palmer

The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick

LibraryThing Early Review:

The Cairo Arrangement by Bruce Colbert

Catching Fire

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 9780545101431

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: It sort of felt like Collins was out of ideas going back into the area in the second book.  However, I did think the arena was better this time.  Unfortunately, Katniss is still not likeable, and the love triangle is just so odd since Peeta is so well flesh-out but Gale is very one-dimensional.  And why must female narrators for any YA distopian sound so melancholy?

Rating: 3 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 8/28-9/10

First Reads from Goodreads:

Mything in Action by Simon Spurrier & Ryan Kelly

Tastes Like Murder

Title: Tastes Like Murder
Author: Catherine Burns
Publisher: Gemma Halliday

ISBN: 9781943587087

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction

Thoughts: One of the better food-related cozies I have read in a while.  Good mystery with an unexpected denouement.  Only problem I had is I did not like the main character's best friend.

Rating: 4 stars