In My Mailbox (118)

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

Here's what I got this week!

Borrowed from the library:

• Just One Day by Gayle Forman
• Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz
• Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
• Fall to Pieces by Vahini Baidoo
• The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan
• Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli
• The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen (who is only writing this because his therapist said he had to, which stinks) by Susin Nielson

DVDs borrowed from the library:

• Frankenweenie
• The Bourne Legacy
• The Odd Life of Timothy Green
• Beasts of the Southern Wild

Whew! I've got my work cut out for me this week!!
What did you get?
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

The Namesake

The Namesake by Steven Parlato
Merit Press, January 18, 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

Gifted artist? Standout student? 
All his teachers are sure certain that Evan Galloway can be the graduate who brings glory to small, ordinary St. Sebastian's School. 
As for Evan, however, he can't be bothered anymore. 
Since the shock of his young father's suicide last spring, Evan no longer cares about the future. In fact, he believes that he spent the first fifteen years of his life living a lie. Despite his mother's encouragement and the steadfast companionship of his best friend, Alexis, Evan is mired in rage and bitterness. Good memories seem ludicrous when the present holds no hope. 
Then Evan's grandmother hands him the key--literally, a key--to a locked trunk that his father hid when he was the same age as Evan is now. Digging into the trunk and the small-town secrets it uncovers, Evan can begin to face who his father really was, and why even the love of his son could not save him.
In a voice that resonates with the authenticity of grief, Steven Parlato tells a different kind of coming-of-age story, about a boy thrust into adulthood too soon, through the corridor of shame, disbelief, and finally...compassion.

This was the third book I accepted from Merit Press, the new YA imprint from F&W. I thought the premise of this one was the most interesting of the three--Evan attempts to discover who his father really was after his father commits suicide. Sadly, I enjoyed this book the least out if the three (click to read my reviews of Louder Than Words and Girl in the Wall). I felt the story itself was strong--Evan discovers through his father's journal, art and cassette tapes that Evan Sr. was repeatedly molested by a trusted and respected adult in his community. It's a topic that needs to be discussed.

What kept me from truly enjoying the story was all the subplots. Evan is supposed to graduate early but I see no evidence why and I think this plot point could have been deleted. Likewise, he's supposed to be a super-talented artist like his dad, but we hardly ever see him create anything. Everyone says he's such a great student and kid but we don't see that. The relationship between Evan and his best friend Lex (who he loves, naturally) isn't as developed as it should be. Lex gas suffered from her own family trauma (we're led to believe molestation), but there's no reason for this plot point either. She is of no help to Evan once he discovers his father's past. There's a subplot involving a local restaurant that yes, does relate to the plot, but there are all these extra details that only divert your attention from the main plot.

Finally, there is one scene in the book that is so graphic that it just doesn't have a place in YA fiction. Now, you guys know me--you know that I don't get grossed out easily. This one thing, though...it was just too much for me. Especially because **spoiler** the majority of the molestation is glossed over or alluded to. It seems that the author went to great lengths to make the descriptions of the molestation appropriate for teens, but this one thing just seemed to slip through. I don't know. For that reason I would recommend this title for older teens (emerging adults?) and adults.

ARC received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

January DVD Reviews

Obviously I"m not doing a great job on my resolution to blog more in 2013. While I'm not in a reading slump, per se, I haven't been reading as voraciously as in the past. I have, however, been trying to catch up on my DVD movie viewing. Want to hear some thoughts on them? 

The Hangover, part 2 (rated R): Loved the first movie, and heard they're working on a third, so wanted to catch up. I was disappointed that the plot was almost exactly the same. I love Bradley Cooper, but Ken Jeong clearly stole this movie. And I like saying Zack Galifianakis LOL

Ted (rated R): I had such high expectations for this movie but sadly, it wasn't as...bad...as I had heard it would be, which meant that it wasn't as good as I was hoping it would be. I know, I'm demented if Ted wasn't raunchy enough for me! I've always had a crush on Mark Wahlberg (yes, even back when he was Marky Mark) so that was definitely a bonus. And Mila Kunis continues to amaze me--her role as Jackie on That 70's Show gave no indication that she would become a beautiful, stellar actress. As for Ted himself, I'm sorry, it was just so hard for me to listen to him talk and not picture Peter, Stewie or Brian Griffin. It was a funny movie, just not as pee-in-your-pants-funny I thought it would be.

The Words (rated PG-13): I love Bradley Cooper, have I mentioned that? OMG so much. And so I wanted to see this movie no matter what. It was an interesting story--Dennis Quaid reading from his book about a man who published a book as his own, that actually belonged to yet another man. A thinking movie, you know? And great casting--not just Cooper, but Dennis Quaid, Zoe Saldana, Jeremy Irons, Olivia Wilde--who I don't think I've seen in anything before, but she's stunning--even Michael McKeon and JK Simmons (the Farmers Insurance guy!). 

Have you watched anything awesome lately? Let me know in the comments!

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

In My Mailbox (117)

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

Here's what I got this week!

Borrowed from the library:

• My Beautiful Failure by Janet Ruth Young (YAY!)

Eep, that's it for this week, but one book from one of my favorite authors is better than 20 from authors that are just OK. Plus, I've got some TBR stuff, and I've gotta start on my assigned reading list for the 9-12 section of the award committee I'm on!!

What did you get? Enjoy your reading!
Christi

In My Mailbox (116)

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

So here's what I got this week!

Borrowed from the library:

• Heads in Beds (adult nonfic about the inner workings of hotels) by Jacob Tomsky
• Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (adult fic)

eGalleys from NetGalley:

• The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher
• The Sin-Eaters Confession by Ilsa Bick

What did you get?
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Best of 2012 Winner!

Thanks to all who entered my Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop! Rafflecopter has selected a winner, and the lucky person who will be receiving The Fault in Our Stars, Ask the Passengers, and F in Exams is....

Jill O!

Congratulations!

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Something New: Reason I Read It

*randomness explained below*

I was thinking about how I'd like to improve my blog in 2013, and besides the obvious--review more books--the one thing I wonder about when I read other reviews is what caused the reviewer to pick up that book in the first place. And as you might recall, I'm not participating in any challenges this year (except for my 150 books on Goodreads), so I thought it would be nice to just jot down a note or two about why I read and reviewed that particular book. I'm going to attempt to keep this reason on my Books Read in 2013 page, and also on any reviews I post. I thought "Reason I Read It" was a fairly catchy-ish title and I don't think it's one I've heard before--please do make me aware if I'm treading on someone's copyright or something!

What do you think? Do you guys often wonder why people read what they do or do I let my mind wander too much??

*Another thing I think I want to do is add some more of myself to the blog, so this might be the year you learn a little more about me. My first revelation is that I love all things Disney, including the cupcake pictured above. It's called the King Cupcake and you can find it at Disney's Pop Century Resort in Walt Disney World. It's a chocolate cupcake with banana filling, peanut butter frosting, and garnished with bacon. Yes, bacon. And it. Is. Delicious!

Enjoy your reading!
Christi