If you liked "To Kill a Mockingbird..."

The Truth According to Us

By Annie Barrows

Hardcover: 512 pages

Publisher: The Dial Press (June 9, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0385342942

ISBN-13: 978-0385342940

Approximate Lexile Level: 650

Publisher’s Blurb:

From the co-author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society comes a wise, witty, and exuberant novel, perfect for fans of Lee Smith, that illuminates the power of loyalty and forgiveness, memory and truth, and the courage it takes to do what’s right. 

Annie Barrows once again evokes the charm and eccentricity of a small town filled with extraordinary characters. Her new novel, The Truth According to Us, brings to life an inquisitive young girl, her beloved aunt, and the alluring visitor who changes the course of their destiny forever.

In the summer of 1938, Layla Beck’s father, a United States senator, cuts off her allowance and demands that she find employment on the Federal Writers’ Project, a New Deal jobs program. Within days, Layla finds herself far from her accustomed social whirl, assigned to cover the history of the remote mill town of Macedonia, West Virginia, and destined, in her opinion, to go completely mad with boredom. But once she secures a room in the home of the unconventional Romeyn family, she is drawn into their complex world and soon discovers that the truth of the town is entangled in the thorny past of the Romeyn dynasty.

At the Romeyn house, twelve-year-old Willa is desperate to learn everything in her quest to acquire her favorite virtues of ferocity and devotion—a search that leads her into a thicket of mysteries, including the questionable business that occupies her charismatic father and the reason her adored aunt Jottie remains unmarried. Layla’s arrival strikes a match to the family veneer, bringing to light buried secrets that will tell a new tale about the Romeyns. As Willa peels back the layers of her family’s past, and Layla delves deeper into town legend, everyone involved is transformed—and their personal histories completely rewritten.

I loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and I was excited to see what Barrows would do on her own, so I was pleased that NetGalley had this book available for review. I enjoyed this book for a couple of reasons. First, it gave me a definite vibe of To Kill a Mockingbird—Willa reminds me a lot of Scout, and the description of small-town, Depression-era Southern life is similar in feel to Lee’s descriptions of Maycomb.

Second, my 7xgreat-grandfather was reputed to be the first white settler in West Virginia. Coming across names like “Morgan” and “Zackquill” made me smile.

Told from multiple points of view, at the heart of this story is the lies that everyone tells—about themselves, about their actions, about their history. Some reviews found the book to be overladen and long, but I was actually surprised to find that it is over 500 pages. (I read it as an ebook, so had no real idea.) The history of the country at the time takes back seat to the history of the individuals and the town of Macedonia, so while Hitler is given a passing mention, world events are not a focus. The publisher’s description is a little over-dramatic. Although the town has its suspicions of what really happened in the Romeyns’ past, it is hardly the fulcrum on which the town balances.

I felt that Barrows’ characters were realistically drawn, albeit quirky. Felix was probably the most difficult for me—it was difficult to find any redeeming qualities in him. He loved his daughters. When it didn’t inconvenience him, that is. But that’s about all I can say for him.

Jottie is the character I was drawn to the most, and where the book leaves her was a bit unsatisfying to me. She seems happy with where she ends up, but I wanted more for her.

Possible objectionable material: Mild cursing, one f-word near the end. Mild violence. Deception. Unmarried sex.

Who would like this book: If you liked To Kill a Mockingbird, you should definitely give this one a spin. I wish there were time in my schedule to use this book alongside Mockingbird. If you like stories of small towns and complicated families, this might be a book for you. High school-aged and up.

One of my favorites, updated

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet

By Bernie Su and Kate Rorick

Series: Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Touchstone (June 24, 2014)

ISBN-10: 147676316X

ISBN-13: 978-1476763163

Approximate Lexile: 950

Publisher’s Blurb:

Based on the Emmy Award–winning YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Twenty‑four‑year‑old grad student Lizzie Bennet is saddled with student loan debt and still living at home along with her two sisters—beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia. When she records her reflections on life for her thesis project and posts them on YouTube, she has no idea The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will soon take on a life of their own, turning the Bennet sisters into internet celebrities seemingly overnight.

When rich and handsome Bing Lee comes to town, along with his stuck‑up friend William Darcy, things really start to get interesting for the Bennets—and for Lizzie’s viewers. But not everything happens on‑screen. Lucky for us, Lizzie has a secret diary.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet takes readers deep inside Lizzie’s world and well beyond the confines of her camera—from the wedding where she first meets William Darcy to the local hangout of Carter’s bar, and much more. Lizzie’s private musings are filled with revealing details about the Bennet household, including her growing suspicions about her parents’ unstable financial situation, her sister’s budding relationship with Bing Lee, the perils of her unexpected fame, and her uncertainty over her future—and whom she wants to share it with.

Featuring plenty of fresh twists to delight fans and new readers alike, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet expands on the web series phenomenon that captivated a generation and reimagines the Pride and Prejudice story like never before.

A few years ago, my daughter started raving about a YouTube series that was a modern take on one of my very favorite books,  Pride and Prejudice. Not only did they have videos, but there was a Facebook page, Twitter, even Pinterest boards from the characters.

I never did get around to watching them, although I keep meaning to.

But now I know what happens! (I mean, I know what happens. I’ve read P&P many times.)

This book followed the original surprisingly well, even allowing for moving it into the 21^st Century. That is both good and bad. On the good side, it’s so fun to see how the characters have evolved. On the bad side, well, we know exactly how it will end.

In fact, that’s been one complaint about this book—people expected it to show MORE than the web series did. As in, what happened next. Instead, the authors stay true to the original material even in that regard. (Spoiler: There’s a sequel coming in September. I have it. I’m not allowed to post a review until the book is released, however.)

The book reads well, with a truly conversational tone. I am jealous about how extensive Lizzie’s diary is. I can barely manage a few sentences a day. Her horror over the events with Wickham and Lydia is genuine; and the reflection and self-analysis it prompts are real.

There’s not really much I can say. I’ve always loved to see favorite stories re-told, and this fits right into that niche.

Possible objectionable material: Unmarried twenty-somethings sleeping together, offscreen. A pregnancy scare. Drunkenness. Adult kids mislead/lie to their parents. Rumors of a sex tape.

Who would like this: Those who like updated versions of old stories. Anyone who likes Pride and Prejudice. Women more than men. Those who like romance. Social media fans.

"Flinch-free fiction"

There's another website out there for those who, like me, dislike getting into a book only to be slapped in the face by something they object to. We all have our own thresholds of what's okay and what's not, and many of us also like to preview books for our kids. Here's another site for those who are looking for some advance info on what's in a book. Clean Indie Reads

Reading can make you a better person

I have always said that reading is good for you. It teaches you things, and allows you to experience things you wouldn't normally experience.

Now science is showing that it can make you a better person, too.

What science says about fiction readers

Lightweight, yummy fun

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

By Amy E. Reichert

Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: Gallery Books (July 21, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1501100718

ISBN-13: 978-1501100710

Approximate Lexile: 550

Publisher’s Blurb:

You’ve Got Mail meets How to Eat a Cupcake in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.
In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern.
Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst.
The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?
Set in the lovely, quirky heart of Wisconsin, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is a charming love story of misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and the power of food to bring two people together.

There’s really nothing new in this book. They meet cute, lots of coincidences and near-misses happen, the truth is discovered, there is anger, angst, and reconciliation. (I don’t think I’m giving anything away by saying that Lou and Al reconcile. We all know how this genre is supposed to function. The fun is in finding out how they get there.)

With all that said, though, I enjoyed this book. I raced through it in a day. It would make a great big-screen rom com, the type of thing Meg Ryan used to star in. (What’s she up to lately, anyway?)

There are two REAL love stories in this book: Milwaukie and food. The author obviously loves both of these deeply. Her descriptions of the various places and events that Lou shows to Al, and the foods they eat there, are detailed and full of love. They make me want to visit those places.

The characters are well-drawn, particularly the supporting cast. The ex-fiance, Devlin, is probably the most stock character. The surprise isn’t that Lou won’t take him back; the surprise is that they were ever together at all.

This is a fun, lightweight read for those times when you don’t want to think too hard and definitely need a happy ending. Perfect accompaniment to a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. (You all know what I’m talking about.)

Possible Objectionable Material: Scantily clad people. Grownups engaging in consensual sex—offscreen, but not without some sensuality on the page first. Mild cursing. As I said—perfect RomCom, probably rated PG.

Who Would Like this Book: Again, romantic comedy! If you like those, this is the book for you. Nothing high school kids can’t handle. A low Lexile level means even struggling readers will probably do fine.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC e-book!

A fresh take on magic

Uprooted

By Naomi Novik

Hardcover: 448 pages

Publisher: Del Rey; First Edition edition (May 19, 2015)

ISBN-10: 0804179034

ISBN-13: 978-0804179034

Approximate Lexile: 550

Publisher’s Blurb:

“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”
 
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.

This book was difficult for me. I had trouble wanting to interact with other human beings, cook dinner for my family, put my child to bed…you get the idea.

The Wood dominates the life of everyone in Polya, not just Agnieszka’s part of it. It threatens neighboring Rosya, as well. It doesn’t help that Polya and Rosya are also at war with each other. Why don’t the people of Agnieszka’s province move? Because they are tied to the land. It is home, and they love it. Besides…the Dragon has helped them keep the Wood back. And all he wants in exchange is a 17-year-old girl every ten years. 

Much to clumsy Agniezka’s surprise, he chooses her. As she finds out, it’s because she is a witch. But her way of doing magic is very different from the formal, precisely recited spells of the local wizard community. Her spells are more instinctive and more bound to nature. This sets her up as a key figure in the battle against the Wood.

The Dragon’s impatience with Agniezka is understandable—she, quite frankly, messes everything up, until she learns to trust her magical instincts (and he learns to let her). Agniezka’s best friend, Kasia, also undergoes a transformation—from the beautiful, talented young woman whom everyone knows the Dragon will choose, into a warrior. I was pleased that she was able to move from being appreciated only for her beauty.

The title, Uprooted, has multiple levels of significance as we progress through the story. The plot had me on an emotional roller-coaster—every time you think things might just be resolved, Novik yanks the rug out from under you.

The conclusion, however, was a little bit out of left field, but satisfying in its own way.

Possible Objectionable Material: Lots and lots of violence. An attempted (but humorously foiled) rape. A bedroom scene that, while unnecessarily descriptive, stops just shy of being graphic. 

Who Would Like This Book: Lovers of fantasy and magic. It hearkens back to eastern European folk tales. Those who like conflict between good and evil. Those who like a little bit of romance. It is being marketed as “women’s fiction,” but, apart from the aforementioned bedroom scene, it would be suitable for the YA audience, given the lower Lexile level and that the protagonist is a fairly typical 17-year-old girl.

I read an E-book ARC provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you!