#88 - 8 Bit Christmas by Kevin Jakubowski

A huge thank you to Kevin Jakubowski, JKS publishing and Netgalley for allowing me an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

As a full on 80's kid I found this modern twist on the "A Christmas Story" premise to be incredibly delightful!  My soul needs a light hearted easy read in a world that is full of some seriously heavy novels and 8 Bit Christmas fit the bill exactly.  I remembered the anticipation of being a kid on Christmas morning exactly.  The plotting and planning and, yes, the Cabbage Patch Doll that my mom somehow found for me when I was seven.  I loved every bit of this tale.  

Thanks for the memories

Goodreads rating: 4 stars (really more of a 4.5)

On Deck: Perfect by Rachel Joyce

#87 - We Live In Water by Jess Walter

I have really been into the short story collections as of late and I have to say that this one was just excellent. The author's voice is so clear and you could hear that it was truly his own experiences that shaped the characters in these stories. While all of the stories are great in their own ways, my particular favorites include "Don't Eat Cat" which I didn't think I would like because I am sick to death of zombie stories but the twist that Walter threw in was just the right tone. "Virgo" about the horoscope stalker, and "Wheelbarrow Kings" which was just the right balance between funny and tragic. I even giggled in my car listening to the author himself read the last chapter about his beloved hometown...

I'm definitely going to be looking into more of Jess Walter's writing. It's strong and inventive and so much of what has been lacking out of my last few reads. 

Goodreads Rating: 5 stars (4.5 rounded up)

Date read: Nov 21, 2013

#86 - Cartwheel by Jennifer DuBois

I must be missing something. I am reading all of these glowing and fantastical reviews for this book and I, honestly, just didn't get it. At all. The writing was intelligent but meandering and I found the whole book to be simultaneously pretentious and inane which is an impressive feat indeed. It seemed as though pages could elapse between one character positing a question or statement in a conversation and when the reply came. In between was an elaborate backstory that really had little to do with the plot we were dealing with at the time. 

Much has been said about the story being less about the who but more about the why but I reread the last chapter twice and I am no closer to understanding why this happened, why I had to know about Eduardo and Maria and honestly, if she ever really did it. 

Sorry everyone but this just wasn't my favorite. I do want to extend a thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

Goodreads rating: 2 stars

Currently Reading: 8 bit Christmas by Kevin Jakubowsky (nook)
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller (audio

#85 - Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat Pray Love was one of "those" books that was recommended, purchased and sat on my shelf for several years (in fact it was #4 on my to read shelf so one of the first I put on there when I joined this site). Ironically, it was finding it on the Overdrive Audiobook site through my library and finding out it was read by the author (I'm a sucker for autobiographies read by the author) that got me to finally indulge in the story. 

There were things I loved, I was completely envious of the opportunity that Liz had to travel while unattached, to truly experience a year of her life the way she wanted to unencumbered by the strains of daily life. If I had that chance, my bags would be packed in no time. I love her writing pattern and hearing her read it brought everything into light. I especially loved her love of the Italian language, food, picking up friends as she went along and how she left a legacy behind for her friends by buying her a house. Quite lovely.

There were things I didn't love. I know its a true story but her getting to glide off a year of intense self discovery just to end up with a man was a crazy turn off for me so the whole last half of Indonesia part just totally took my interest off the rails. Call me a cynic but I much prefered her banter with "Richard from Texas" or "Mario the Hotel Clerk" to her relationship with her latin lover.

I'm still glad I read it not only to say that I did but to say what I would do with a free year of my life and nothing to tie me down. See ya in Bali!

Goodreads rating: 4 stars

Date read: November 15, 2013

#84 - About Alice by Calvin Trellin

 I don't know what book I was picking up at the library (I think I thought I was getting Still Alice by Lisa Genova) but that being said, it ended up being a happy accident.  I knew nothing about Calvin Trillin's writings using a character loosely based on his wife accident but now I want to read everything that she has written about her ever!

This book was written after Alice had passed away and Trillin's love and respect for his wife saturates every single page.  It must not be easy to be a subject for a fictional satirization of yourself but everything that this book showed seems to indicate that she handled it all with grace and beauty and it makes me want to know more.

I definitely recommend this sweet and short little collection and I can't wait to dive into more of his writing knowing then what I know now ;)

Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

Date read: 11/1/2013

#83 - The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

I first started reading the Percy Jackson series with my now 12 year old son a couple of years ago.   Let's be honest here, the writing is not the greatest and now that we are nine books into the character (4 in this Heroes of Olympus series) I think Mr Riordan is finally out of ideas.  The idea for this installment was really intriguing, Percy and Annabeth get dropped into Hades and the rest of the crew have to meet him at the doors of death I mean the whole thing shouts dark themes - right up my alley!

Was it really 600 pages worth of intriguing? Not really.  Some of the side stories could have been cut out with no problem and still been a solid book.  The final battles and a lot of the character development were very easy to read and worked really well with the two parallel storylines. It was just about 200 pounds too heavy to make it better than a three star read.

Date read: Nov. 3 2013

Goodreads rating: 3 stars

#82 - Cruel & Unusual by Patricia Cornwell

It has been awhile since I have dipped into the Kay Scarpetta books but after some pretty heavy reading lately, it was nice to slip into some old characters and an easy and enjoyable read.

All in all it was a good installment of the series, not much more to say than that.  Some fun twists and turns but I'm pretty down the middle as far as rating is concerned.

Goodreads Rating: 3 stars

Date read: October 29th