Seeker - Arwen Elys Dayton

February 9, 2015

Publisher:
  Delacorte Press
Release Date:
  February 10, 2015
Market:
  Secular
Genre:
–Young Adult; Fantasy
Length:
–448 pages

 About This Book (from Amazon)

The night Quin Kincaid takes her Oath, she will become what she has trained to be her entire life. She will become a Seeker. This is her legacy, and it is an honor.
As a Seeker, Quin will fight beside her two closest companions, Shinobu and John, to protect the weak and the wronged. Together they will stand for light in a shadowy world.
And she'll be with the boy she loves--who's also her best friend.
But the night Quin takes her Oath, everything changes.
Being a Seeker is not what she thought. Her family is not what she thought. Even the boy she loves is not who she thought.
And now it's too late to walk away.

How and Why I Acquired This Book

I acquired this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

My Expectations about This Book

I selected this book because I enjoy young adult, including dystopian and fantasy YA.  The promo copy said the book would appeal to fans of Divergent, which I really enjoyed, and The Hunger Games, which I found okay.

The book’s cover is compelling and mysterious. 

 CRITIQUE

 Were my expectations met?

My expectations for this book were not met.  If I could sum up the story in one word, it would be “confusing.”  I read many genres of books, a lot that have a confusing start.  But the author manages to pull it all together and make sense of it in the end.  Not so here.  I was sorely disappointed in this book.

Prose & Dialogue

The story’s prose is choppy.  The dialogue (even the internal dialogue of the characters) doesn’t seem natural.  It’s all very stilted in its feel.  Additionally, while some of the time jumps in the narrative make sense, others are completely random (For example, the chapter on Maud’s childhood that comes in the middle of things that have no connection.)

There were similes and metaphors that either didn’t make much sense in context or jolted me out of the story to try to rationalize out.

Characters & Points-of-View

I don’t believe any of the main characters were fully developed.  Most are decidedly bad and only bad.  Quinn, the main character, is a bit more complex but still seems to vacillate between being all good or all bad depending on the section of the story we’re in.

Nothing in the story really made me concerned about the characters, their well-being, how they would end up, etc.  It was all very superficial.

Some supporting characters just popped in and out randomly (Shinobu’s mother) without really contributing to the story or main characters at all.

The multiple points of view (which I’m generally good with in a book) just added to the overall tangle.

Story Structure & Pace

I really was lost in this book from the start.  Just as things would start to make sense and I’d feel like I was getting a grasp on the story or characters, something random would be there to confuse me again.

There were also many inconsistencies in the story where the characters were doing one thing but all of a sudden they weren’t.  For example, the Drudges were cleaning and working on their weapons but the text said that “neither moved as they spoke.”  They were cleaning their weapons; that requires movement.

Back story was interspersed throughout.  Sometimes that helped.  Sometimes it just made the reading more confusing.

As far as the ending, I don’t even know what to say about that other than I finished the book wanting it to be so much more than it was.

Conflict & Tension

All of the conflict and tension seemed contrived.  The characters were definitely at the mercy of their situations instead of being decision makers for their own destinies.

Research & Story World

The author’s note indicated that Dayton does extensive research for her books, visiting the various locales mentioned (Hong Kong, London, Scotland).  I don’t know how much of that comes across in the book since the story is set in the future.

Romantic Tension

There is a romantic triangle that is predictable from the start.

Spiritual Connection & Speculative/Supernatural Elements

I don’t believe there were necessarily spiritual connections or supernatural elements in this book.  There was time travel and fantasy. 

Although there is mention at a few points about energy fields around people’s bodies and how the healers can fix anomalies in those.  I guess that would be a bit New Age.

Questionable Content

More conservative readers would want to know there were sexual vibes, and implications between characters.  Many violent descriptions of fights and murder.  Drug use, drug dens and drinking were common in the story line.  Also, one of the characters is involved in prostitution.

Originality & Predictability

I think that the concept Dayton was working with is a good one.  Characters traveling through time and space (although most of the characters in this book it was just from location to location) to change the past/alter the present/affect the future is interesting.  Having teens train their childhoods in order to do so and believing that it is to right wrongs only to discover something different is compelling.

The story was just too confusing to hash out that plot line.  I spent most of the book trying to figure out what was going on and why that I never was able to engage in the bigger picture.

I was guessing all the way to the end…and even at the end.  In this case, that’s not a positive.

Audience Appropriateness & Appeal

The target audience is young adults 14 and older.  And I believe it would appeal to some.  Readers that age don’t necessarily look for depth of character or consistency in story.  However, I would say some of the content is best left to those who are older. What is the target audience?

As a movie, I believe it would be rated PG-13 based on the violence and drugs.

Despite the comparisons made on Amazon, this book has very little in common with Divergent, Hunger Games, and the like.

Engagement, Entertainment & Investment

Seeker was a quick read, as is the nature of most YA books.  I did keep turning the pages in the hopes it would start to make sense and things would fall into place.  It didn’t. 

It is the start of a series.  So perhaps it becomes clear in later books; I have no desire to find out.

This is not a book I would recommend to others.

 CONCLUSION

Pros

·         The concept could have been interesting

Cons

·         Confusing

·         Story has little to no flow

 

***This review will also be posted on The Christian Manifesto review website on 2.26.15

Decision Points - George W. Bush

Publisher:
  Crown Publishers
Release Date:
  November 9, 2010
Market:
  Secular
Genre:
–Non-Fiction, Memoir
Length:
–497 pages
My Rating:

 

 About This Book (from Amazon)

In this candid and gripping account, President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions that shaped his presidency and personal life.

George W. Bush served as president of the United States during eight of the most consequential years in American history. The decisions that reached his desk impacted people around the world and defined the times in which we live.

Decision Points brings readers inside the Texas governor's mansion on the night of the 2000 election, aboard Air Force One during the harrowing hours after the attacks of September 11, 2001, into the Situation Room moments before the start of the war in Iraq, and behind the scenes at the White House for many other historic presidential decisions.

For the first time, we learn President Bush's perspective and insights on:

• His decision to quit drinking and the journey that led him to his Christian faith
• The selection of the vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of state, Supreme Court justices, and other key officials
• His relationships with his wife, daughters, and parents, including heartfelt letters between the president and his father on the eve of the Iraq War
• His administration's counterterrorism programs, including the CIA's enhanced interrogations and the Terrorist Surveillance Program
• Why the worst moment of the presidency was hearing accusations that race played a role in the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina, and a critical assessment of what he would have done differently during the crisis
• His deep concern that Iraq could turn into a defeat costlier than Vietnam, and how he decided to defy public opinion by ordering the troop surge
• His legislative achievements, including tax cuts and reforming education and Medicare, as well as his setbacks, including Social Security and immigration reform
• The relationships he forged with other world leaders, including an honest assessment of those he did and didn’t trust
• Why the failure to bring Osama bin Laden to justice ranks as his biggest disappointment and why his success in denying the terrorists their fondest wish—attacking America again—is among his proudest achievements

A groundbreaking new brand of presidential memoir, Decision Points will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and change perspectives on eight remarkable years in American history—and on the man at the center of events.

How and Why I Acquired This Book

One of my informal reading goals is to read a memoir or biography from all of the U.S. presidents.  This was my start.  It was actually the very first book I put on my “To Read” shelf on Goodreads back when I started using it several years ago.  So it seemed fitting to go ahead and read it to kick off some of 2015’s reading goals.  Add to that the fact I was an adult (just graduating college) when he became president, and it was good to have personal connection to the events and issues discussed.

CRITIQUE

First, my political disclaimer.  I do tend to lean right and be more conservative than liberal.  However, I do not ever vote a straight Republican line (and, really, my ideals tend to line up more with the Libertarian party).  And I do not agree with all of the decision George W. Bush made during his presidency. 

Generally I like my non-fiction history, memoir, biography books to be written in chronological order.  This one wasn’t.  However, I was able to get over that fairly quickly into the book and grew to not just appreciate but like the fact Bush arranged his memoir by major topic (or “decision points”) in his administration.

Former president Bush begins his memoir with a brief overview of his family and some of his earlier work experience, including owner of the Texas Rangers and governor of Texas.  Then he moves into the different critical issues of his presidencies (stem cells, AIDS epidemic, 9/11, Katrina, etc.). 

I believe he handles each topic in a well-rounded and analytical way.  He admits where he made mistakes and where he felt there was only one option.  At other times, he expounds on the information surrounding the issue and the reasoning for the decision he made or the action he did or didn’t take. 

Questionable Content

There is some cursing in the book when different individuals are quoted.

Engagement, Entertainment & Investment

I think reading this book was a good experience.  It was eye-opening in that it made me realize in a way I hadn’t before that our leaders are just humans too.  Yes, they should be held to a high standard.  But they are capable (and going to) make mistakes just like the rest of us.  Unfortunately for them, their mistakes are on a world stage.  I feel like I’ve walked away from the reading with a greater understanding of some of the issues from 2001 – 2008 and of the man in charge.

 

No Regrets Parenting - Harley A. Rotbart, MD

Publisher:  Andrews McMeel Publishing

Release Date:  February 21, 2012

Genre:  Non-Fiction, Parenting

Length:  211 pages

My Goodreads Rating:  3/5 stars

 Summary from Amazon:

No Regrets Parenting is a book for busy parents in our busy times. Juggling family and professional lives is not a course taught in high school or college--many parents find the challenges of being all things to all people daunting. This theme is ubiquitous in today's culture--movies, theatre, books, magazine features, and human interest news stories all find the challenge of raising children to be prime fodder for audiences. How to do it all? How to stay sane while trying to do it all?

  No Regrets Parenting teaches parents how to experience the joy and depth of the parenting experience amidst the chaos and choreography of daily routines. Car pool, bath time, soccer practice, homework, dinner hour, and sleepovers all become more than just obligations and hurdles to overcome to get through the day. They are opportunities for intimate and meaningful time--quality time--with young kids. It's not how much time you have with your kids, but how you spend that time that matters in the life and legacy of a young family. No Regrets Parenting readjusts parents' perspectives and priorities, helping them find the time to do it all and feel good about your kids' childhood.

  There is a simple, single truth for every parent. Your kids need you to be there. They need to see who you are and how you live your life. And, in return, they will help you to see who you are and how you should be living your life. For all of that to happen, parents need time with their kids. Memorable and meaningful time. No Regrets Parenting is about time. Finding enough of it and making the most of it.

 

My Review:

I came across this book in a round-about way.  Dr. Rotbart’s more recent book was mentioned in a magazine (probably Parents).  That one wasn’t available at my library, but this one was.  It sounded interesting, so I requested it.
I have 11 and 14-year-old step-daughters who have been part of my life since they were three and five.  Additionally, I now have my own 17 month old son and another on her way.  The fact that the days are long but the years are short is something I am intimately familiar with.  Along with the feeling that there still aren’t enough hours in those long days and that I am missing critical moments and interactions with my kiddos.  I am smack in the middle of Dr. Rotbart’s target audience.

I will start with the opinion that I could have done without all of Part 1.  It was fairly common sense and kind of boring.  But Part 2 of the book absolutely made up for that.

I love practical.  I love books that aren’t just theory but give the reader a “to do” list of sorts.  That is Part 2 of this book.  It is broken into categories of life (sleep, school, work, home, entertainment) and how to include your kids more into the every day (or to insert yourself more into their every day).  There were suggestions I could implement the day I read it.  Some to put on the calendar in the coming week or so.  And some to keep in mind for the future.

The chapters are short.  In fact, Dr. Rotbart suggests you keep the book in the bathroom to read a chapter during your daily trips there (See…practical!).  So it is easy for a busy parent to get through the reading.  It is also ideal to keep on your shelf as a reference.

Good parenting book to help us all make the most of the short time we have with our kiddos under our roofs.  (Only 940 Saturdays from birth to the departure from college!)

The Boston Girl - Anita Diamant

Publisher:
  Scribner
Release Date:
  December 9, 2014
Market:
  ABA
Genre:
–Historical Fiction, Women’s fiction
Length:
–322 pages
My Rating:

 

 

 

 About This Book (from Goodreads)

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Red Tent and Day After Night, comes an unforgettable coming-of-age novel about family ties and values, friendship and feminism told through the eyes of young Jewish woman growing up in Boston in the early twentieth century.

Addie Baum is The Boston Girl, born in 1900 to immigrant parents who were unprepared for and suspicious of America and its effect on their three daughters. Growing up in the North End, then a teeming multicultural neighborhood, Addie's intelligence and curiosity take her to a world her parents can't imagine - a world of short skirts, movies, celebrity culture and new opportunities for women. Addie wants to finish high school and dreams of going to college. She wants a career and to find true love.

Eighty-five-year-old Addie tells the story of her life to her twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, who has asked her "How did you get to be the woman you are today." She begins in 1915, the year she found her voice and made friends who would help shape the course of her life. From the one-room tenement apartment she shared with her parents and two sisters, to the library group for girls she joins at a neighborhood settlement house, to her first, disastrous love affair, Addie recalls her adventures with compassion for the naïve girl she was and a wicked sense of humor.

Written with the same attention to historical detail and emotional resonance that made Anita Diamant's previous novels bestsellers, The Boston Girl is a moving portrait of one woman’s complicated life in twentieth century America, and a fascinating look at a generation of women finding their places in a changing world.

How and Why I Acquired This Book

I picked up this book because it was on a recommended list from a blogger I follow and happened to be on the "just returned" shelf when I went to the library.  I read Diamant’s The Red Tent years ago and remembered finding it interesting.

CRITIQUE

Were my expectations met?
My expectations for this book were met.  It was an enjoyable read that was not too heavy but still contained themes of substance.

Prose & Dialogue

The flow of this book was ideal for a busy reader.  There are larger sections that consist of shorter chapters.  The sections are labeled with a date range while the chapters each have a sentence out of the chapter as the “title.”  I found it interesting to consider why each particular sentence was chosen to identify a given chapter. 

Because the chapters are shorter, it was easy to pick up and read a chapter or two in five minutes between other things going on through the day.

The story is told chronologically by Addie Baum to her granddaughter.  This gives the whole book a very conversational feel.  The engaging tone draws the reader in from the start.  The only drawback to this is that occasionally Addie breaks from the story of her history to address her granddaughter.  Each time that occurred, it was jarring. 

Characters & Points-of-View

The characters are all well-developed throughout the narrative.  The reader is really drawn into the story of Addie, her choices, and her life.  The secondary characters such as her family, mentors, and friends provide support to the story line through further developing the main character and providing points of conflict.

Story Structure & Pace

The conversational tone of the book draws you in right away.  There are many secondary characters as Addie goes throughout her life.  However, they are introduced at different times as people move in and out of her life.  So it isn’t overwhelming. 

I did feel like the ending was somewhat rushed.  Three chapters cover 1931 to 1985.  However, I understand the need for it as otherwise the book would be forever long.  And I think that Diamant does well at wrapping up all pertinent story lines.

Questionable Content

For the more conservative readers, there are a few swear words (none of the more vulgar ones) and allusions to sex – both married and not.  Also, the book and characters deal with life issues:  family members and conflict, death, disappointment, even attempted rape and abortion.  I believe these issue were addressed in an appropriate manner within the context of the story. 

Pros

·         Instantly engaging
·         Easy to read whether you have small or large chunks of time to read
·         Deals well with some challenging topics

Cons

·         Some swear language
·         The jarring moments when Addie comes out of the story to address her granddaughter

Room - Emma Donoghue

Summary from Amazon:

To five-year-old-Jack, Room is the world. . . . It's where he was born, it's where he and his Ma eat and sleep and play and learn. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.
Room is home to Jack, but to Ma it's the prison where she has been held for seven years. Through her fierce love for her son, she has created a life for him in this eleven-by-eleven-foot space. But with Jack's curiosity building alongside her own desperation, she knows that Room cannot contain either much longer.
Room is a tale at once shocking, riveting, exhilarating--a story of unconquerable love in harrowing circumstances, and of the diamond-hard bond between a mother and her child.




This book…my word. 

It was hard reading at the start due to the voice of the five-year-old narrator.  That took some getting used to.  But by page 50, I was hooked.  I didn’t want to set the book down.  I needed to know what happened.  How Jack & Ma were doing.  What was next. 

Donoghue does a fabulous job of drawing you into her characters.  I had visceral emotional responses to them and their situation.  I would find myself praying for Jack throughout the day.  They became real people in my world. 

I also appreciated the separation from the horror via seeing it through the eyes of Jack.

Really, I don’t know that I have an criticism for this book. 

Learn Me Good - John Pearson

Engineer turned 3rd grade teacher...what's not to love?

I thought that I might struggle with the format.  The entire book is written as emails from teacher, Jack Woodson, to a former coworker at the engineering firm.  But that only added to it's appeal.

I literally laughed out loud at many points.  As a previous junior high teacher, I could picture so much of it in my mind. 

I appreciated how even the frustrating aspects of teaching can be looked at through the lens of humor. 

Witty.  Sarcastic.  Real.  A must read for any teacher.  A should read for any person.

Silenced - Dani Pettrey

Partial synopsis from Amazon:A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.
This is the fourth book in the series, and my ratings on the books have decreased with each new installment. 

I did enjoy visiting Alaska and the McKenna family again.  However, that is about all I feel this book has going for it.

It is lacking in the outdoor adventure aspects that I liked in the past.  It was incredibly predictable - even the plot twist.  But probably my dissatisfaction comes most from the ending, and that has shaped my view of the entire book.

The climax and conclusion came too swift.  It felt forced, and the timeline even seemed inconsistent.  And the result for the villain was anti-climactic at best.

Additionally, there was the whole plot thread of the initial dead climber that didn't seem wrapped up.  The reader is left in doubt on if the right person was apprehended.   

At this point, if there is a fifth book to cover Reef McKenna (the only remaining single McKenna), I will most likely not be reading it.