Visit any library or bookstore and venture into the Young Adult section, where you'll find shelves full of dystopian/post-apocalyptic books.
But this particular genre-within-a-genre isn't one to be dismissed so lightly. Out of this came the spectacular 'Hunger Games', 'Mazerunner', and many, many others. They are books so well-written and fast-paced that I hungered for more once I finished them. Unlike adult fantasy, YA fantasy novels are written in a simpler manner in order to engage young minds, but, and not surprisingly, adults have latched onto them. I have read so many of them that they are too numerous to count.
And I loved them. They took me out of myself and into a world full of desperation, young love (and sometimes delicately-written lust), and the sense that right will always win out over wrong. Isn't that what fairy tales tend to demonstrate?
Having just finished reading 'Wasteland', a new YA novel from the writing team of Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan, I couldn't wait to pop onto Book Hog and let everyone know about this story.
The teenage residents of Prin, a decaying city, don't have the typical problems that plague other teens. Their lives are full of desperation, hopelessness, and constant hunger. At 15, they marry. At 17, they reproduce. At 19, they die. There is also the looming threat of disease, acid rain, starvation, and attacks by the local tribe they have called the 'variants', people who are similar to the early Native American people. With every city comes one who leads, and not always with the citizens' best interests at heart. Levi lives in an old office supply building, which the citizenry have named 'The Source', and it is there where Levi stores the town's essential food and water, and only giving out that sustenance when the work crews bring him the results of their scavenging.
Esther is tired of the forced labor under a relentless sun, and longs to live with her best friend, a variant named Skar. When a mysterious stranger named Caleb bicycles his way into town, life unravels, and he and Esther must convince the town to fight for their lives and the freedom of Prin.
Kim and Klavan have given us a story that is fast-paced with great character development. I found the chapters dealing with Levi to be darker and more dangerous than those scenes set within the town itself. Although the plot is simply written, the surprises are many, and the authors will soon present us with the second in this trilogy.
I, for one, can't wait.
'Wasteland' will be published on March 26, 2013 by Harper Teen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan previously collaborated on the graphic novels 'City of Spies', and 'Brain Camp'.
Lately, I've been devoting most of my reading time to historical novels. The stories are well-written, and the research has led me to investigate particular eras. I've learned a lot about perfumery (thanks, M.J. Rose!), Middle Ages abbeys (thanks, Nancy Bilyeau!), and other assorted time periods. The reading can be exhausting, but the rewards are well worth the effort.
A particular favorite time period for me is early 20th century New York, a time of conflict, innovation, and the fight for women's rights. It was a rough-and-tumble period in American history. And the architecture! What seems dated now is, in my opinion, majestic and timeless. When I was a little kid, visiting downtown Portland with my mom and/or grandmother, I was in awe when I looked up and saw the beauty of the buildings. But now that I'm older, most of those same buildings are gone, and the ones that do remain are fighting the good fight in order to survive. Why must we replace such beautiful edifices with structures made of chrome, glass, and concrete? There is no imagination, no interesting embellishments. No gargoyles. Le sigh...
But instead of lamenting, I did some reading, and what I found was wonderful! 'Astor Place Vintage', by Stephanie Lehmann, was just what I needed. Ms. Lehmann did a fantastic amount of research in chronicling this story about a contemporary woman who has found a journal written by a woman who lived in New York in 1907.
Amanda Rosenbloom is the owner of Astor Place Vintage, a vintage clothing store in Manhattan. While she is appraising clothing from an elderly wealthy woman, Amanda discovers a journal sewn into a fur muff. Written by Olive Westcott, a young woman who had recently moved to Manhattan, Amanda learns about Olive's life and her job as a counterwoman at a department store. She also learns about Olive's friendships, and her attraction to Joe, the brother of her friend, Angelina. Although Victorian ideas held women back from pursuing their dreams of freedom, Olive slowly realizes her self-worth. As Amanda reads the journal, her life unravels as the coincidences pile up.
'Astor Place Vintage' is a slow, delightful read at the beginning, but as I kept my nose in the book, I appreciated its darker tones and subtle shift in character perspective. The author's research into early Manhattan was deep and very well presented. And the vintage photographs made the story even more meaningful.
But most of all, it made me glad to be a woman right now, when I can vote, and pursue my dreams without being held back. When I'm not afraid to talk about menopause and childbirth.
This story, dear reader, is more than 'chick lit'. It's a story that speaks to all of us.
'Astor Place Vintage' will be released in June 2013, by Touchstone Books, a division of Simon & Schuster.
Today, Catholic cardinals have elected a pope. Although the 'election' of a new pope is newsworthy, this one is a bit special, as the new guy takes the place of a pope who retired, the first one to leave his post in hundreds of years.
I wonder what Jesus thinks about this? Is He happy that the new pope takes his papal name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi? Or because the new pope is a humble man? Or because he's the first non-European man elevated to the papacy?
Well, they had to find someone...
Too bad it wasn't a woman. In Christianity's infancy, women (that's right: Women) led the secret services. If caught, they, along with their entire congregation, were murdered by the Romans.
But, as much as I'd love to see a woman become Pope, I've had to settle for the dream that perhaps the next holy messenger will be a...woman. God's daughter.
'The Second Greatest Story Ever Told', by Gorman Bechard, is a cross between Christopher Moore (his novel, 'Lamb', is my favorite of all his books) and Douglas Adams. Set in contemporary time, the story concerns the Second Coming. Only this time, God decides to send his daughter, Ilona Ann Coggswater. Born in Cooperstown, New York in 1970, Ilona reveals herself to the world in 1988 (one of my favorite scenes in the whole story). Her most important passions in life are the Mets (they never lose while she's watching them play), Charlie Chaplin, Elvis Costello, and drinking Tab (remember Tab?).
Her message to the world is quite simple: Be kind. Be kind to the environment, be kind to each other, be kind to all living things. But when certain someones don't heed her message, all hell breaks loose.
This novel pokes fun at fundamentalists (lots of irony here, folks!), the NRA, and celebrity. But scattered throughout this little gem of a story are tender passages that will, perhaps, bring a tear to your eye.
But it's mostly funny. And timely.
Perhaps there's hope for us yet.
Some stories come and go; easily digested, easily forgotten.
But there are some stories which tend to linger; such is the case with 'Three Graves Full', the debut novel by Jamie Mason.
And what a first novel! Very original, very daring, and darkly amusing, Ms. Mason has brought to us a cast of characters (including one sharp dog) that are fully developed and unforgettable. And the premise, dear reader? Oh, my...
Jason Getty is a young, mild-mannered widower who has killed a man and buried him in his backyard. But just as the stress of what he's done is beginning to dissipate, the landscapers he has hired to work on his yard have uncovered a body...but not the body Jason buried at the far end of his property. When the police come to investigate, they find yet another body. Jason tries to stay a step ahead of the investigators, but everything he's trying so hard to hide is almost uncovered by the least likely person.
While reading Ms. Mason's unique story, I was almost biting my fingernails in suspense. There was never a thought in my head as to how this story would end. I had no desire to 'read ahead'. I just wanted to know!
And that's a good thing. The Coen Brothers would have a field day making a film from this book.
So, the lesson learned is do not, under any circumstances, bury a body in your backyard. You just never know if you'll retain your sanity.
Lose it in this wonderful story, instead.
'Three Graves Full', author Jamie Mason's debut novel, is published by Gallery Books (a division of Simon & Schuster).
For the past week, I've been suffering from the most horrendous cold and cough, just like the rest of America. Strangely enough, the book I have been reading dealt with a subject that made me glad that all I had was a cold.
'Fever', written by Mary Beth Keane, the author of the extraordinary 'The Walking People', is not a run-of-the-mill historical novel. It delves into the tragic case of Mary Mallon, a.k.a. 'Typhoid Mary', an Irish immigrant with a talent for cooking. The first known healthy carrier of typhoid fever, Mary came to the United States at the turn of the 20th century, ignorant of the danger she posed.
Cooking for upscale families and determined to rise above, Mary unwittingly spread typhoid among the members of the households; some survived, some died. But as the bodies piled up, one enterprising and ruthless 'medical engineer' hunted her down and placed her in quarantine at North Brother Island, where she was kept in isolation from 1907 to 1910. After her release, she was banned from ever cooking again. But, as history teaches us, she defied the edict.
The facts are in the public record, but Ms. Keane takes Mary's story a bit further. Exploring Mary's life in a more humane way, the author brings to the reader's imagination the terror and guilt Mary felt every day of her life. But the burden of guilt could not keep Mary away from the job she loved the most: Cooking. After her release from quarantine, Mary became a laundress, a job she considered well beneath her. But the temptation to cook grew too great, and under assumed names, she worked in a bakery and a hospital.
I was mesmerized by the retelling of Mary's story, especially so when I read about the relationship between her and her lover, Alfred, who was quite a tragic figure, himself.
Early 20th century New York is brought to vivid life in this compelling story of a dynamic woman who just couldn't stop herself from following her dreams at the expense of human life.
Mary Beth Keane, an award-winning author, was chosen as one of the '5 Under 35' by the National Book Foundation. 'Fever', her newest offering, will be published in March 2013 by Scribner.
If you're like me, a little inspiration goes a long way. Although some of the inspirational posts on any social website can be a bit...much, it's the simplest ones that tend to stay with me. I have many friends who write, either for pleasure or profit. Sometimes, even both. I'm one of the 'writing for pleasure' folks, and there are times when I just don't want to sit down and devote an hour or two or five to the story on which I'm working.
And that's where inspirational posts come in. I was recently offered a copy of '101 Ways to Rock Your World', written by radio personality and inspirational guru, Dayna Steele. I felt a bit apprehensive when I received the package; "Is this yet another long, vapid, new-age book full of rambling, nonsensical tips?"
Nope, dear reader. It's not long. It's not rambling. And it makes sense.
Dayna has listed 101 ways to not only inspire the reader to succeed in business, but also in life. The tips are common sense: Write a handwritten note to someone (who doesn't love getting a piece of personal, real-life mail?); dress for the job you want; pick one thing you want to accomplish each day. And so on.
The book is a 'quick read', but it stayed with me. I try to do some of these every day, such as waking up early, having a plan for the day, and thinking positive. The other tips are just as worthy, but start small, and before you know it, you'll be doing each tip every day.
We all need some success in our lives, and this simply-written (and amusing, I might add) book is key.
And the bonus? You can download the list from Dayna's website and carry it with you all the time...or tape it to your bathroom mirror...or share it with coworkers, friends, and family.
By the way, I do have to put a plug in here for her husband's novel, 'Specific Impulse', a book I reviewed last year. Apparently, Charles Justiz has been fortunate enough to be inspired every day by his wife.
And now we're the lucky ones, too.
Dayna Steele is a successful entrepreneur, Hall of Fame rock radio personality, and the author of 'Rock to the Top'. '101 Ways to Rock Your World' is available through www.iuniverse.com
As much as I hate to do this, I have to write a negative review. It pains me, it really does.
But 'The Watchers' by Jon Steele disappointed me. This little Book Hog tries to read a few books a week, and the time I had to devote to this story was overwhelming. Point: The story didn't go anywhere until right near the end. Big sigh.
Oh, the whole premise was familiar and exciting; it seems to be based on 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' by the incomparable Victor Hugo. But that's where the similarity ends. Although 'The Watchers' carries the theme of supernatural 'good vs. evil', it took forever for the whole story to go anywhere.
Editing would have been the best choice for this story. Cut, cut, cut. With no remorse.
Here's the gist:
Marc Rochet is a man-child, devoted to being the bell-ringer at the Lausanne cathedral in Switzerland. Katherine Taylor is an introspective hooker. Jay Harper is an amnesiac detective. When they finally meet, the battle is on against the forces of evil determined to open the gates of Heaven.
That's about it. The back stories are very, very, very long.
If you have time to waste, read 'The Watchers'.
And let's hope Mr. Steele listens to his editors.
The teenage residents of Prin, a decaying city, don't have the typical problems that plague other teens. Their lives are full of desperation, hopelessness, and constant hunger. At 15, they marry. At 17, they reproduce. At 19, they die. There is also the looming threat of disease, acid rain, starvation, and attacks by the local tribe they have called the 'variants', people who are similar to the early Native American people. With every city comes one who leads, and not always with the citizens' best interests at heart. Levi lives in an old office supply building, which the citizenry have named 'The Source', and it is there where Levi stores the town's essential food and water, and only giving out that sustenance when the work crews bring him the results of their scavenging.
