Love Curse of the Rumbaughs

Now. This is my kind of book. Creepy. Odd. Super-well-written. And, in my opinion, overlooked.

Ivy was always drawn to the twins. Ab and Dolph were identical. Pharmacists. Taxidermists. Elderly.

It has always been Ivy and her mom. She went to the twins place afterschool, in the hours before her mother came home from work. She had a play area in the basement, but little did Ivy know that her cottage of oversized pharmacy props were not the only things existing in the basement.

Then on the fateful Easter that Ivy was 7, she made a discovery that would alter her perception forever. What she discovers in the twin's basement is horrific, yet appealing to Ivy.

What follows is a true gothic story. Without giving too much away, all I can say is that pages 177 and 180 are truly stupifying. In a rueful smile way. Am I making any sense?

I do know that there was a bit of a discussion about this title on adbooks. I steered clear since I knew I wanted to read this title. This is one of those books like Funny Little Monkey and 33 Snowfish that elicits extreme reaction. I think that Gantos has outdone himself. This is simply brilliant!

Sweet and Low

Every now and again, some nonfiction comes along that TOTALLY captures me. First it was Devil in the White City, then it was Maximum City, and now it's Sweet and Low, by Rich Cohen.

Like the jacket says, "Millionaires. Mobsters. Power. Corruption. Fraud. Scandal. Saccharin". (And an A-Z Read!)

I love when I learn stuff. Like Canarsie used to be a swamp where the mob dumped bodies. Like the sugar packet wasn't invented until the late 1940s. Like Saccharine isn't a carcinogen (What!)

This is a family tragedy of epic proportions. It's a study of that 3 generation theory. He who is hungry builds the business. Next in line holds the fort. Next in line watches it all float away. While that isn't exactly what happens here, the reader cannot help but feel badly for patriarch Ben, who though quite unlikeable, really built something from nothing. Imagine watching your son screw the whole thing up.

Post war NYC has always fascinated me, and though it sounds cliche, I will say it ... the city is a character in itself. After living here for a decade, I feel an uncomfortable kinship with NYC, and I delight in reading about it.

Cohen's style is incredibly readable. Though I slow down for nonfiction, I was compelled to have at it until it was finished (3 days of commuting). I loved it. My colleagues are probably sick of hearing about it, but Sweet and Low is one of those books that makes me say, "No really...listen to this! You won't believe this!"

Just read it!

devilish

Ahhhh. Nothing like a little Satan around the holidays!

It is Big-Little day and Jane is a little concerned that her bestfriend Ally won't have any freshman want to be her little. Ally is a little strange. Well, she tries too hard, anyway. The reviews from the junior judges were out, and while Jane came off ok, nothing was spared in mocking Ally's looks.

Just before the Big-Little ceremony is to begin, Ally runs up to Jane, cupcake in hand. It was in her locker with a note reading "Will you be my big?". Jane thinks she can relax a little. Then the whole thing starts. Several of the girls have plenty of freshmen who want to be paired with them, but Jane and Ally stand alone. All of a sudden Jane recognizes the pale and pasty look on Ally's face. But it's too late. Vomit. Projectile. Everywhere.

Is there anything more humiliating in highschool than actually puking on people in front of other people?

Jane is trying to help Ally in the restroom when a tall girl enters. Jane hasn't seen her before, but she can tell that she's a sophomore from her blazer. She tells Jane to go to class and that she wants to be Ally's little.

Ally lays low for awhile, but returns with trendy clothes and a fashionable do.

Would you sell your soul to end the torment? Would you sell your soul to save a friend?

Maureen Johnson has written a smart and sassy story that Buffy fans will adore. Yes, the devil exists...but not as you would assume. And yes there are forces working to save the souls that the devil wants. And they are not who you think they will be. Fun, fast, light and dark at the same time, Devilish will appeal to girls (and boys) who recognize highschool popularity for what it is!

And hey, I managed an A-Z read as well!

A-Z Read

I read about this challenge on SassyMonkey earlier today and I was intrigued. I thought, what the heck...I will give this a try.


Voila! Here is my list for 07. Let's see what I can get through!




A-Z Challenge


Amulet of Samarkind, by Straud

Born to Rock, by Korman

Caddie Woodlawn, by Brink

Devilish, by Johnson

End (The), by Snicket

Fairest, by Levine

Glass Castles (The), by Walls

Hole in My Life, by Gantos

I Capture the Castle, by Smith

Joy in the Morning, by Smith

Keturah and Lord Death, by Leavitt

Love Curse of the Rumbaughs, by Gantos

Mansfield Park, by Austen

No Flying in the House, by Brock

Our Eleanor, by Fleming

Places in Between (The), by Stewart

Queen Sophie Hartley, by Green

Reading Like A Writer, by Prose

Sweet and Low, by Cohen

Turn of the Screw, by James

Under the Persimmon Tree, by Staples

View from Castle Rock, by Munro

Weedflower, by Kadahota

Final EXits, by Largo

Yellow Raft in Blue Water, by Dorris

Zero at the Bone, by Walker


As you can see, it's quite the ecclectic mix of adult, classic, children's and graphic novels. I am interested in seeing what kind of priority I put on these books in the face of bright, shiny arcs coming across my desk!