Review: Havah by Tosca Lee

Havah tells the story of the first mother, Eve, her life and exile from the garden, and her experiences throughout the rest of her life.

But wait. Before you tune me out because you think: how can this be an interesting and fresh story, since we know how it all ends? Know that I was there. Until I started reading.

Tosca Lee shares the story of Eve in an almost tangible, revelatory way. Eve's curiosity, her innocence from the moment of her creation, her transformation and suffering after the fall from paradise, are moving and well... sensational!

I think my favorite scene-- because I could not imagine it being done in a way that made me truly imagine it or made the story as it's written in the Bible make even more sense-- was the scene directly after the fruit is eaten. (What does this tell you about me, eh? Just kidding... Ahem.)

This is a must-read. Seriously. I have never before read anything historical or speculative that is told with such beauty or intensity. Fabulous read. Did I mention you need to check this out? Do it!!

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Apologies to my, like, 5 faithful blog readers for the lack of posts last week. I had a project come up that needed finishing IMMEDIATELY, so I pretty much dropped the ball on everything else. I most humbly apologize...

Review: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument. His intense faith frequently baffles his best friend, but Johnny can't deny Owen's deep insights and the way he just "knows" things. Or the way tiny Owen Meany can take charge of any event and any group of people-- sometimes without even speaking. It's a story, at its heart, about faith vs doubt. Belief vs unbelief.

It's also a very outside-the-box kind of story, at least it struck me that way. I liked the candid way that faith and religion were discussed through the story. It reminded me a little bit of the way Leif Enger's Peace Like a River was written for only that reason. It felt very genuine to me. I'd like the spiritual themes in my own writing to be even half that genuine.

The narrator is easy to love. Even Owen Meany, with his strange voice, really grows on you. All of the key plot elements wove together simply and amazingly. Some things completely took me by surprise.

I really think any Christian writer who wants to reach a wider audience or considers him/herself to be edgy should read this novel. There's some language and sexual content, but because of the wrestling of faith, A Prayer for Owen Meany really ought to make the reading list of a writer who wants to tackle spiritualism in a realistic, compelling way.

Review: Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen

Sam Carrier can't sit still. He jumps and blurts and twitches almost constantly. That's the nature of the beast. Tourette's Syndrome. The only solace he finds and the only time his limbs obey comes when he runs. But after his embarrassing graduation ceremony, everything changes. His angry step-father expects a large monthly sum for rent, and an unorthodox neighbor hires Sam, but only on the condition that he can use Sam's real name, the name his real dad gave him. Jack.

Everything is complicated further by the recurring appearance of the beautiful Naomi, who always leaves Sam feeling like he's not sure which way is up. When the new mentor in Sam's life sends him on a bizarre quest, and Naomi decides to tag along, Sam finds himself wondering what the catch is. They take off, not knowing where they're going or why, but trusting that it will unravel as they go.

Sam is funny and lovable, even in his anger. His search for the truth about his own past and for connection with other people is real, endearing, heartfelt. I read the book in just over 24 hours. I read parts aloud to my husband-- the butter part was hilarious!

This is a great story. In reading it, I felt like I could identify with and understand the struggles Sam faced, not just in his life, but with Tourette's. Really well done. I will definitely be reading this one again.

Review: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Twlight Saga)

When Bella reluctantly moves to the dark and dreary city of Forks to live with her father, she is not expecting much out of life. A few precious days of sunshine at most. But fate brings something to her that's far more dear and far more deadly. At first Edward Cullen seems repulsed by her presence-- and for no reason at all. Gradually he softens toward her, but still remains aloof though alluring. But once Bella learns his secret, and the war it causes inside him, she begins to understand. He is a vampire, and she has already fallen in love with him.

If you've hit my blog before, you know that since I picked up Twilight, I've been ogling over Edward Cullen. The ultimate bad boy trying to be good. The dialogue is snappy and smart. The romantic tension is intense. I've never been into the vampire thing before, so I don't really know how it's usually done, but I found Stephenie Meyer's interpretation of the vampire condition to feel fresh and thorough. I am already reading New Moon, the sequel to Twilight, and enjoying it just as much. Expect that review next Friday!

Review: An Irishwoman's Tale by Patti Lacy

All her life, Mary Freeman has been alone. She is estranged from her family in Ireland and unable to please her ailing adoptive mother. But all that changes the day she meets Sally, an open Southern lady, whose warmth and affection begin to draw Mary out of her lonely shell. But Sally's friendship carries a price with it-- and Mary isn't sure she can face her haunted past, even with Sally's combined strength. A family crisis forces Mary's hand, and Sally accompanies her back to her homeland, back to her roots, to face the terrors of her past.

This novel is based on the life experiences of a friend of the author. I find I'm always more interested in a story if I know it is based on real people. To be honest, women's fiction isn't really my preferred genre-- but this was one read I am not sorry about in any way! Great story. Really winning characters. Quite a bit of it detailed Mary's growing-up years, so YA readers may be interested in it from that perspective. Overall, the story is very nicely done. I'd definitely read it again.

Review: Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

(I'm on vacation this week, so here is an extra book review...)

After high school football player Keir Sarafian injures another player in a tackle that gives his team possession of the ball, he earns the nickname "Killer." In his mind, he has everything he could ever dream of-- fame, popularity, an acceptance letter to college, and a night with Gigi Boudakian, the girl of his dreams.

The only problem for Keir is-- things aren't always what they seem. He believes in his own good intentions... but his actions may prove otherwise. He tells the story for you to judge.

Ever since I read Raymond's Run in elementary school, I've had a fascination for unreliable narrators. The way the story unfolds in one direction, while the subtext leads you just the opposite. Inexcusable is a great example of just such a tale. Keir's firm belief that he is a good guy, his desire to continue believing it, even as he slides backward down an ugly path, compelled me to turn every page. I read this book in one sitting.

Chris Lynch has written several award-winning novels, but this is the first I've read of his work. I enjoyed it, and recommend it. There is some mature content. But if I had a teenage boy, I'd want him to read this.

Review: Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You by Hanna Jansen

Jeanne’s family and home are destroyed when the radical Hutu group, the Interahamwe, begin a nationwide massacre of the Rwandan Tutsi population. As Jeanne and others struggle to flee the Interahamwe soldiers and simply survive each day, a black hole yawns inside of her, a grief and rage that threaten to swallow her whole. But something else changes. She finds within herself an unyielding strength and will to survive.

It is a before-and-after story, told by Jeanne’s German adopted mother. Each chapter opens with a behind-the-scenes look at the events and the healing that unfolded even as the story was told, as Hanna Jansen walks over a thousand hills with her daughter.

Honestly, as I read Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You, it wasn’t until about the third chapter that I really felt myself captured by this book. But by the middle, I couldn’t put it down. I became entranced by the parallels between mother and daughter, despite their differing backgrounds, and the struggles that Jeanne endured as a child on the run in a very dark time juxtaposed against her battle for inner healing, and the woman who never stopped fighting for her.

Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You is raw, painful… and yet ultimately a beautiful and powerful tale of healing.

Review: Go Ask Alice (Anonymous)

Go Ask Alice is a haunting story of a young girl's descent into drug addiction and her desperate attempt to break free again. It is literally her diary. First printed in 1971, it still remains one of the most popular and definitive works about teen drug addiction.

If you've never read this, I challenge you to do so. It's rough in places-- describes some ugly trips and some raw things. But it is a very real depiction of a life afflicted by drugs.

When I was in school, I had a friend who made some very poor choices. Ironically, I first heard about this book from him. (Even more ironically, I remember him trying to get me to drop acid with him...)

You should be able to find Go Ask Alice in the YA (Young Adult) section of your local library.

Review: The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick

Everything changes the day Spaz goes down to Ryter's to take the old man's stuff. He can't help but be intrigued by Ryter's unwavering and bizarre commitment to write down his own story, and his insistence that Spaz has a story of his own.

When Spaz receives word that his foster sister is ill and needs help, he embarks on a quest that risks his life, simply to see her one last time. In his heart, he hopes that he may find a way to save her. Along with Ryter, Little Face, and Lanaya, one of the mysterious proovs -- genetically improved humans who live in a paradise called Eden-- Spaz must find a way to get to his sister before it's too late.

LOVED IT!! Spaz had me at hello. Really great voice. Nice images and detail. Great story world. I loved it! This is a must-read! Great stuff!! Aimed at middle-schoolers, this is a read anyone from there on up should enjoy. Five stars, two thumbs up, etc etc etc. :)

Review: Maggie by Charles Martin

Since I read and reviewed The Dead Don't Dance, the first book in Charles Martin's Awakening series, last week, you might want to skip this review if you're haven't gotten around to reading it yet and plan to. Because it will be awfully difficult to review Maggie, the sequel, without giving away how things go...

Maggie begins seventeen months after the previous story ends. Dylan Styles and his wife wrestle with their losses and the continued desire for children of their own. But a sinister force begins wreaking havoc on their sleepy South Carolina town. Dylan struggles to protect his family and friends, but there are some forces that no one can be protected from.

I think this one stands as my second-favorite of Charles Martin's books. Well, the ones I've read so far. He has a couple more out that I haven't read yet. But I liked how the pieces of the plot puzzle built as the story progressed and then snapped together. The characters were engaging, as always. I like how Charles Martin's stories incorporate Christian values into the story without giving the reader the feeling of being preached at. Nicely done.

Review: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

When Victor Frankenstein completes his research and successfully creates a living being, he realizes with horror the ugliness of it and flees. The creature at first seeks companionship with humanity, but after being rejected, turns again on his creator with an idea for revenge.

Frankenstein is told first as recollections of a North Pole explorer who rescues Victor from an iceberg while on a scientific expedition. It then becomes Frankenstein's tale of horror as he recounts the creation of the monster and the events that led him to the frozen north.

I've never seen the Frankenstein movies, but my vague understandings of them are totally different from the story. The novel is revolutionary-- think how huge the term Frankenstein is, how it is used to reference anytime in which the public perceive that scientists overstep their bounds.

Frankenstein is a moving, sympathetic story. Shelley spins the tale, painting a spell-binding, if horrific, portrait of humanity and the responsibility of those who pursue scientific discoveries.

I enjoyed reading it. I'd say it's a must-read. I'm disappointed that this one wasn't on my reading list in school, particularly with the advances that were made toward cloning during the time when I was in high school. It would have made for some really great discussion. (But no, we had to read Tess of the D'Urbervilles instead....)

Review: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

I LOVE IT!!!! The House on Mango Street is the poignant tale of a young Spanish girl named Esperanza who moves with her family to their first house on Mango Street. The chapters, though short, are snapshots of Esperanza's family, friends, and neighbors as well as her own experiences with the sometimes brutality of life and growing up.

The descriptions are often poetic and always rich. The San Fransisco Chronicle describes Cisneros' writing as "spare yet luminous." I must agree. I devoured every word.

Review: Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff

Last week I read Beautiful Boy, by David Sheff, and this week I took a look at the other side of the story-- the memoir written by his son Nic. It is raw, intense. You take a ride with him on emotional roller coaster of rehab and relapse and coming to grips with the understanding that this addiction is bigger than he is. Or was. It was very moving. I admire his courage, for baring his soul in this way, sharing his experiences so openly.

And I really enjoyed the bits we heard about the PJ stories he made up for his younger siblings. I'd definitely be in line to buy those! Too funny.

Review: The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

When narrator Nick Carraway moves next door to a grand house and discovers that his cousin Daisy shares a past connection with its owner, he determines to learn about the mysterious man who calls himself Jay Gatsby.

Can I be honest?

Wow. Wow! I feel like I need to reread The Great Gatsby again just to absorb it all. The ending so took me by surprise. I read bits and pieces of the forward and afterward, and the notes on the author really struck me. He basically wanted to write something amazing and yet shockingly simple. I have to say, that for a classic, this was a really easy read.

I love reading classics-- but you have to go slower to process what you're reading. Usually. The Great Gatsby read simply and quickly, which was perfect for the setting and pace of the story.

It impressed me to learn that he (F Scott Fitzgerald) continued to revise all the way through the process-- even making major revisions on the galleys. Which probably drove his editor crazy. But I love the idea that he was that committed to making this piece perfect.

If I could write something that stands the test of time, which I think is really every writer's deepest dream, I'd want it to be something like this. Simple. Poignant. Wrestling with issues of the heart. For now, I go back to being in awe and adding this one to my list of "must-own" novels. (Well, and of course working on my own craft... One can always hope. And improve!)

Review: So Yesterday by Scott Westerfield

When Hunter meets a girl with a whole different way of doing her shoelaces, he has no idea the strange adventure that's about to begin. Through her, he winds up invited to a secret meeting at which he stumbles onto a pair of amazing shoes, and the possibility that his cool-hunting boss has been kidnapped. Hunter and his new friend pursue the shoemakers, trying to discover what's become of his boss, Mandy. Full of quirky characters and with Hunter's off-the-wall sense of humor and irony, So Yesterday was a worthy read. Go Hunter, the Mighty Penguin!

The more I read by Scott Westerfield, the more respect I have for him. I guess I'm a little old-fashioned, but I like YA that is cleaner, at least that doesn't brazenly plaster sexual situations across its pages. Scott Westerfield handles these situations elegantly, acknowledging them without overstating them. I like that and really enjoy knowing I can recommend these stories to younger teens with confidence, knowing that it isn't exposing them to thoughts and ideas that are, for now, outside their experience.

(Warning... Rant here...) Yeah, I know that many teens have already had their own experiences. But some have not. I read recently that 46% of couples choose to wait to have sex until they are married. Those stats are much higher than the entertainment industry seems to say they are. People are going to make their own choices with regard to sex and where and when, but my point is: for those who choose to abstain, I am delighted that there is still young adult fiction that acknowledges their innocence and respects that choice. (Okay, stepping off the soap box now...)