To Blog

...or not to blog.

So do I blog the books that I truly do not like? I have blogged some stuff in the past that I found underwhelming, but is there a point in blogging the stuff that I actively dislike?

I have just read 2 titles that I really do not like. One was for a bookclub at school, and one was just a new YA novel that I thought I might like.

Hmmm.

Think of England, by Alice Elliott Dark

This is a grown up book that has been on my shelves for about a year now. The title makes me smile, and I do love the family story, you know!

Jane is the peacemaker in her rather large family. Via, her mom, is a bit dismayed by how her life has turned out. Emlin, her dad, is always at the hospital busy with his patients. Uncle Francis comes to stay with them from NYC, since Jane's grandparents do not approve of his "lifestyle".

It's 1964 and the family is supposed to have a fun filled night of watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Via slyly slips the phone off the hook so that Emlin won't get called in, but prim Jane places it back again. The night seems to go well until Jane hears her mother's shouts, and her father is off to the hospital, worried they have been calling while the phone was dead. Jane shows her father that it was off the hook, and tells him to call into the hospital instead. Emlin decides to go in anyway. That's the last time anyone ever sees him.

Jane grows up, and goes to England to escape her family. There she meets Nigel and Colette...quite the duo. Jane quickly makes them her family, then manages to fall in love with a man who doesn't believe in love.

The reader follows Jane through her guilt ridden days, and we watch as she slowly peels back the onion skins of her life.

A quiet read. No new ground is broken, but it was an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning.

M. T. Anderson

Go M.T. Anderson!

As you undoubtedly know, Octavian Nothing just won the National Book Award for Youth!

Yay!

I was lucky enough to attend the panel this week at Donnell and hear all nominated authors speak. I had read most of the books at the time (still have to read Sold and Lord Death). I have to say, I am very happy.
I had a bit of a yearning for American Born Chinese as it would be a boon to graphic novels everywhere, but Octavian Nothing really moved me.

So Yay!