Wednesday, November 06, 2024

92. Uglies

Uglies. Scott Westerfeld. 2005. 425 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [YA dystopia, YA fiction, YA speculative fiction]

First sentence: The early summer sky was the color of cat vomit.

My thoughts (preview): I first read this one the year it released. It was LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. I thought it was fabulous. I reread it as an audio book in 2018 and hated the narrator. I didn't blame the book, just the narrator for throwing me out of the story. Now that there is a movie adaptation, I was curious to revisit the book. 

From the original review in 2007 for my blog: 

I have nothing but good memories surrounding Uglies. My first introduction to Miss Tally Youngblood, trickster fifteen year old, was in the fall of 2005. From the early summer sky was the color of cat vomit to I'm Tally Youngblood...make me pretty, I was hooked. So much so that I went out to buy my own copy of the book the very next morning.  

From the original non-blog review in 2005:

Set three to four hundred years in the future, Uglies, a dystopia, focuses on a global community of pretty people. Tally Youngblood introduces readers to this picture-perfect community where appearances are not a matter of one's genes but a matter of extensive plastic surgeries planned by the Community of Morphological Standardss. Tally and Shay are best friends awaiting their sixteenth birthdays and their surgeries after which they'll leave Uglyville behind and join the New Pretties. But Shay doubts that the "Pretty Committee" is as concerned with equality and justice as it appears, suspecting that ulterior motives may lay behind the surface. Days before her sixteenth birthday, Shay runs away leaving a cryptic message for her friend to find the way to Smoke, the rebel community of "ugly" outsiders. When the authorities discover Shay's disappearance, Tally is asked to make the hardest decision of her life: betray Shay and the rebel community to the authorities or face living life ugly.

Uglies is a fast-paced novel taking a typical YA topic--self esteem, conformity, and the perception of beauty--and treating it in a new and ultimately satisfying way by speculating about where current values of beauty and perfection might lead us as a society if taken to the extreme. By setting Uglies in the future instead of a contemporary high school, Westerfeld is able to provide reflection and commentary on a serious topic in a new and original way.

My thoughts: The book is decidedly better than the movie--no surprise. Though I will admit that possibly movie-Shay is better than book-Shay. I don't know if I found book-Shay super-incredibly annoying the first time around, but in this recent reread and in the audio book reread, I found her almost insufferable. The plot is DIFFERENT. I haven't decided which changes were for the best and which weren't. Some things do seem to make better sense. But mostly it just felt rushed and like there wasn't much depth or substance. I also think that it might make for a better animated adaptation. It was hard for the concept of "pretties" and "uglies" to come across since this everyone is already glam. 

I definitely don't love-love-love it the same way all these years later. 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Tuesday, November 05, 2024

91. Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret. Benjamin Stevenson. (Ernest Cunningham #3) 2024. 161 pages. [Source: Library] [adult fiction, adult mystery, series book] [4 stars]

First sentence: There are quite a few differences between an Australian Christmas and the stereotypical Northern Hemisphere fare seen in most books and movies. For one thing, we don't get snow down under. What we do get, in my specific experience, is more murders. But before the killing starts (or the recounting of the killings, to be more precise), allow me to introduce myself. My name's Ernest Cunningham.

Premise/plot: Ernest Cunningham narrates his third misadventure. He is an author-detective of sorts. He's lived a CRAZY life and has had plenty of opportunities to live out golden-age mysteries. The previous books include: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and Everyone on This Train is a Suspect. 

In this third adventure, Ernest has gone to help his ex-wife who has been arrested for murdering her boyfriend. He is unofficially-officially-unofficially on the case to find out what really happened. And as it turns out, there's more than one dead body...but is there one killer or more?

It is set during the holidays. Most chapters are an "advent door" to open to reveal clues.

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one. I love the narrative style. I've enjoyed all three books. I would love to reread all three books again--close together--to see if it changes my thoughts. It was a fun Christmas-y read. Definitely think you need to read at least book one before reading this one. (Of course to read all three would be ideal.)

 

 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

October Reflections

In October, I read thirty-nine books. 

Books Reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews

76. Dogtown (A Dogtown Book #1) Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. 2023. [September] 352 pages. [Source: Library] [Animal fantasy; J Fiction; MG Fiction] [5 stars] 

77. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. J.K. Rowling. 2003. 912 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [mg fiction; mg fantasy; series book]

78. When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary. Alice Hoffman. 2024. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [mg historical fiction; mg fiction; world war II] [5 stars] 

79. The Hotel Balzaar. Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Julia Sarda. 2024. [October] 160 pages. [Source: Library] [illustrated chapter book; magic realism; j fantasy] [4 stars]

80. The Dead and the Gone. Susan Beth Pfeffer. 2008. 336 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [YA dystopian; YA Science fiction; YA Fiction] 

81. We'll Prescribe You A Cat. Syou Ishida. Translated by E. Madison Shimoda. 2023. 297 pages. [Source: Library] [novellas; international fiction; adult fiction; cats] [4 stars] 

82. Classic Retellings: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens ADAPTED by Tanya Landman. 2024. 120 pages. [Source: Library] [mg fiction, ya fiction, adapted classic] [3 stars] 

83. The Phantom Patrol (Billy Boyle World War II #19) James R. Benn. 2024. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [adult historical; adult mystery; world war II]

84. What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust (Flavia de Luce #11). Alan Bradley. 2024. 298 pages. [Source: Review copy] [adult mystery; series book] [4 stars]

85. The Legend of the Last Library. Frank L. Cole. 2024. 288 pages. [Source: Library] [MG dystopia; MG post-apocalyptic; MG fiction] [3 stars] 

86. The Menendez Murders: The Shocking Untold Story of the Menendez Family and the Killings that Stunned the Nation. (Updated Edition) Robert Rand. 2024. 376 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, adult nonfiction, true crime, biography]

87. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6). J.K. Rowling. 2005. 652 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

88. The Last Dragon on Mars. Scott Reintgen. 2024. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [MG fantasy, MG science fiction] [3 stars]

89. Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop. Joshua S. Levy. 2024. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [MG Speculative Fiction; Friendship; MG Fiction] [4 stars]

90. I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24) Lauren Tarshis. 2024. 144 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [j historical fiction, j fiction, series book]


Books Reviewed at Young Readers

131. Pizza and Taco: Best Christmas Ever! (Pizza and Taco #8). Stephen Shaskan. 2024. 72 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [graphic novel, early reader, series book]

132. We Are Up A Tree (The Dog and Pony Show #2) Jeff Mack. 2024. 64 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [early reader, graphic novel]

133. Bear and Bird: The Adventure and Other Stories (Bear and Bird #3) Jarvis. 2024. 64 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [early chapter book; animal fantasy; friendship] 

134. La La La: A Story of Hope. Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Jaime Kim. 2017. Candlewick. 72 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [picture book, wordless picture book]

135. Good Rosie. Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Harry Bliss. 2018. 36 pages. [Source: Library] [2 stars] [graphic novel, early reader]

136. Anne Dreams. (Anne Chapter Book #6) Kallie George. 2024. 72 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [early chapter book, adapted book] 

137. Are You Small? Mo Willems. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [picture book]

138. Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat. Li Chen. 2024. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [graphic novel; j mystery; j fiction; j friendship] 

139. ABC Learn with Me: Touch and Trace Nursery Rhymes. Editors of  Silver Dolphin Books. 2024. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [board book] 

140. Sensory Ocean. Rose Harkness. Carlo Beranek (illustrator). 2024. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [2 stars] [Board book]

141. Sensory Pets. Rose Harkness. Carlo Beranek (illustrator) 2024. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [Board book] 

142. My Book and Me. Linda Sue Park. Illustrated by Chris Raschka. 2024. 36 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [picture book]

143.  The Book That Almost Rhymed. Omar Abed. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [5 stars]

144. The Little Chefs: Three Stories by Rosemary Wells. 2024. [October 22] 80 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] 

145. Brandon and the Totally Troublesome Time Machine. Seth Fishman. Illustrated by Mark Fearing. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [picture book]


Books Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

46. Tracing God's Story: An Introduction to Biblical Theology. Jon Nielson. 2024. 384 pages. [Source: Review copy] [christian nonfiction; theology] [5 stars]

47. Strong: Psalm 1. Sally Lloyd-Jones. Illustrated by Jago. 2024. 18 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book] [4 stars]

48. Festival Days: A History of Jewish Celebrations. Chaim Raphael. 1990. 144 pages. [Source: Bought] [nonfiction] [3 stars]

49. Trekking Toward Tenacity. Chris Morris. 2024. 187 pages. [Source: Library] [parenting, mental health] [2 stars]

50. Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion. Allie Beth Stuckey. 2024. 224 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [christian nonfiction]

51. Waiting for Christmas. Lynn Austin. 2024. 288 pages. [Source: Library] [novella; christian fiction; historical fiction; holiday; Christmas; romance] [3 stars]



Bibles Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible


21. CSB Baker Illustrated Study Bible. God. 2019. 11, 411 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars]

22. King James Version, Center Column Reference. Nelson 4505 BG. 1120 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars]

23. Legacy Standard Bible, Giant Print Reference. 2023. [July] 1984 pages. [Source: Bought] [Bible] [5 stars]

Totals for 2024

Books Read in 2024311
Pages Read in 202493488
January
Books read in January36
Pages read in January6875
February
Books read in February 38
Pages read in February9731
March
Books read in March39
Pages read in March6730
April
Books read in April32
Pages read in April9367
May
Books read in May21
Pages read in May10246
June
Books read in June24
Pages read in June8253
July
Books read in July25
Pages read in July3980
August
Books read in August23
Pages read in August8603
September
Books read in September34
Pages read in September7874
October
Books read in October39
Pages read in October21829

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Saturday, October 26, 2024

90. I Survived the Black Death, 1348

I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24) Lauren Tarshis. 2024. 144 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [j historical fiction, j fiction, series book]

First sentence:  I'm dying. That's all eleven-year-old Elsie Archer was thinking as she lay on a sweat-soaked straw mattress. Burning with fever, head throbbing, Elsie thrashed and moaned. The air around her stunk of sickness...and death.

Premise/plot: Lauren Tarshis' I Survived series travels way, way, way back in her newest: all the way back the fourteenth century! It stars Elsie and her best friend, Humphrey, villagers of Brambly, England. The two are in a dangerous circumstance or situation before the Plague sweeps through the village. (Being in the wrong place at the wrong time OR being in the right place at the right time...just getting caught by the bad guys). The plague might just work in their favor--in an odd way--but life will never be the same after the Black Death. 

My thoughts: This might be her most compelling book that I've read in quite a while. I didn't love the author's note. I get it. I do. But I didn't love it. The comparison linking COVID and the Black Death. I can see how kids might think these two are super similar, but, I didn't appreciate the comparison nearly as much as an adult reader. Perhaps I've just read too much history and historical fiction set in the middle ages. Perhaps I think the comparison only works on the surface level. Either way, the book itself I definitely recommend to fans of the series. Though perhaps this one isn't "typical" of the series.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

89. Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop

Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop. Joshua S. Levy. 2024. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [MG Speculative Fiction; Friendship; MG Fiction] [4 stars]

First sentence: My first bar mitzvah took forever.

Premise/plot: Two strangers become friends when they realize they have much in common: a) they are both celebrating their bah mitzvah (in the same hotel, different ball rooms) and b) they are both stuck in a three-day time loop (Friday morning through Sunday afternoon). Can Ezra and Finn find a way to move ahead into the future? Or will they be reliving the same weekend hundreds or thousands of times. Is there anything worse than being stuck in a time loop? Maybe. Maybe not. 

My thoughts: This speculative fiction time-loop themed novel has dual narrators--Ezra and Finn. I enjoyed both narrators. I enjoyed meeting both families. The boys definitely have some adventures and misadventures as they brainstorm potential ways out of the mess. Time loop stories (along with time travel stories) are among my favorites. This one did not disappoint.   

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews