Heart-Shaped Box

by Joe Hill

I was lucky enough to get this book almost as soon as it was ordered by and delivered to the library. And I must say that I was not at all disappointed in it.

You've got to admire Joe HIll for setting off down the road that's been well-traveled by his dad. I think one day though he'll be paving his own road--perhaps it will run parallel to his dad's, but it'll be his own, all the same.

Initially I couldn't rouse much empathy or sympathy for Jude Coyne--an aging heavy metal singer with lots of baggage and a taste for the macabre--his collection includes a snuff film, a skull with a hole bored into it, a noose that was actually used in executions, a witch's confession. His latest acquisition, a dead man's suit, which arrives in a heart-shaped box, comes with its own ghost, and Jude discovers that the seller wasn't kidding about that.

He and his current squeeze are harrassed by the ghost and for a long stretch of the book it doesn't seem possible that they can be rid of it. It's come for revenge. But they discover that there is a way to fight back. I found myself rooting for Jude and all his failings as a person.

That's one of the many things I liked about this novel--Joe Hill did an excellent job of fleshing out the characters. It would've been easy to caricature an aging rock star, but Joe wrote Jude Coyne's character very well. You understood where he came from, what his motivations were, and the best part was that it wasn't developed through boring narration--the flashbacks, the dialogues were written in wonderful but never overwhelming detail.

There were some parts of the book I suspected early on--for example, the truth behind Jude's previous girlfriend's death, and her own back story. I think I've just developed that sense from reading Joe's dad. It didn't spoil the book for me though. And the ending was satisfactory, though I really wished that there had been two fewer dogs sacrificed.

The Higher Power of Lucky

by Susan Patron

This book has been in the news of late because it won the Newberry Prize (I think, currently the most prestigious in the US for children's literature) for 2006 and because it uses the word "scrotum" on the first page, and two or three times more.

The use of the word prompted some librarians all over the US to ban the book as well as lively discussions among parents in chatrooms and listservs.

Really??? "Scrotum"? That's a scientific term. Much more scientific than "nuts" or "balls". And pretty consistent with the character who uses the word.

The controversy would've been good for the book I think if it wasn't a book for young adults, whose reading may still largely be policed by adults. But aside from the controversy I think the book is worth reading for itself. It's short and sweet and very smart.

Lucky is an insecure child--her mother died in a thunderstorm two years before, never knew her father, and is currently looked after by her guardian, Brigitte, her father's first, French wife. She lives in fear each day of being abandoned by Brigitte as well and being forced to leave Hard Pan, CA. She earns a little extra money by cleaning up after -Anonymous meetings (Smokers, Overeaters, Alcoholics) and eavesdrops on the participants (which is where she hears the word "scrotum", though she has no idea what it might be) and is in search of her own Higher Power, in case she reaches Rock Bottom some day.

This is a lovely story of family and hope, with your requisite misunderstanding and high drama. Things turn out okay for Lucky--she finds her HIgher Power and family. And she finds out what "scrotum" means.

How To Be Popular

by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot books are as chicklit as they come. And I mean that in a good way! They're fun, easy, and always capable of making me chortle, at the very least.

This particular book I enjoyed more than I expected. Steph Landry embarks on a project to change her image (that of a klutz) as she begins her junior year, with the help of a book from the 70s named "How To Be Popular". She is smart enough to distill the advice for the new millenium, and her plan begins to work. But of course she's forced to face the reality that getting what she wants may not make her any happier.

There's great mean girl action, best friend confidentials, unrealized love, even a little lust! Plus the requisite happy ending you know you'll get in any Meg Cabot teen-oriented book. (I haven't read her supernatural stuff, so I don't know that she has happy endings in all her books.)

Whitethorn Woods

by Maeve Binchy

I loooove Maeve Binchy. I know her work seems very lightweight, but how can one sneer at writing that usually brings a smile to my face? Her characters are never very complex or surprising. But reading her is like having a massage--very relaxing, very comforting.

I wasn't as excited as I normally am to discover that she had a new book. I was soooo disappointed with her last, "Night of Rain and Stars." That book really had the feel of something dashed off to complete a book contract! (This to me is one of the greatest sins an otherwise wonderful writer can commit.)

I was so happy though to read Whitethorn Woods. This is a lot like one of my other favorite Binchys--Evening Class, a straightforward story built on a cast of characters whose histories she explores. Whitethorn Woods, in Rossmore, is faced with the possibility of destruction in the name of progress--a move is on to build a highway, which would solve a lot of the city's traffic issues, but risks destroying the shrine to St. Ann. Many people have been touched by this saint, and so there is a very real dilemma for the people of the town.

The book is in large part a collection of story dyads--people who've been affected one way or another by the saint or her shrine, telling two sides of their story. It was wonderful to get to know these characters a little--particularly Neddy, Maureen, Helen, Becca, and a few others. While the book doesn't have a lot in terms of conflict or plot, the little stories about a bunch of different people were a fun, easy read. I got emotionally invested in a few of the them, even if in some you could see the ending a mile away.

There was never any doubt in my mind that the shrine would stay safe. Plus, one of the best things in Maeve Binchy's world is that there is always justice--everyone gets what's coming to them.

Thanks, Maeve--this was a delightful read; I'm sure I'll pick it up again in the future when I'm looking for some comfort!

The Ruins

by Scott Smith

AS mentioned previously, I picked this up because of Stephen King's very strong recommendation. (I think he mentioned it in one of his columns for Entertainment Weekly--one of the top ten books of 2006?)

I read this more than a month ago and given that my memory's like fishnet stockings, I don't remember the characters' names. (Four recent American college grads, 2 girls who are best friends and their boyfriends. A German guy, a Greek guy.) Or where in Mexico the story takes place. But so much of what actually happens to the 6 has actually stayed with me, and I think that's a good sign that the book made a strong impression, right?

I'm not keen on making comparisons, especially since I'm not very good at it. But I compare reading this book to watching "The Talented Mr. Ripley." That was just a beautiful, compelling movie; superbly acted and staged and whatnot--but it just wore me out and I left the theater feeling like I'd never feel happy or hopeful again. And I was pretty sure I would never, ever want to see the movie again either.

For starters, this book has no chapters. No breaks, so you can safely say, ok, I can stop at this point, take a pee, whatever. That's one of its genius methods--you feel you have to keep reading on. Actually, worse--you feel like you're one of the six characters, and you can't take a break from the shit that keeps flying at them, either.

The 4 Americans hook up with the German guy because his brother left their beach resort a few days before to go on a dig, and he was worried. The Greek guy came along for the fun, probably because he was drunk, out for more good times, and not aware of what he was getting himself into, since he didn't speak their languages.

Their arrival at the purported dig quickly serves up one horror after another. As I read the book, I was pretty sure there would be only unhappy endings, but until the last 15 pages of so I still kept hoping that something good would happen. I turned out to be right (so don't read this book unless you like horror with unhappy endings), but since I've since recovered from the fear and anxiety.

I'm never going to read this book again, but I enjoyed myself enough for the one-time trip I took in it, and that's clearly a sign that this book was written by a very gifted writer. (It'll be a while though before I feel I can pick up his first book.)

I'm still reading!

In fact, I have 2 books to post about. I just can't get my act together. I find I'm down to about a post a week next door.

But in lieu of books I've actually read, here's a short list of books I'm dying to read but probably won't any time soon since they still haven't been ordered by my library.


Perhaps I should be ashamed of myself for including this book on the list (and listing it first, too!!). IMHO, the Shopaholic series started to get really old and really predictable with Shopaholic Ties the Knot. (Crap, woman, how horrible would it be to have two weddings????? Please stop making problems for yourself, already.) But it's still highly addictive--I picked up this book at the store today and managed to read through 8 chapters before the Boy woke up. So I already can predict that she's going to hyperventilate herself into a tizzy worrying about Luke (WTF does he see in this woman???) and her OBGYN, Venetia, who used to be Luke's girlfriend at university...and I am fairly certain Shopaholic is carrying twins...

but I just can't help myself....I cannot wait to read this and get irritated by this character all over again.


Would this book be on my list if I didn't already know that Joe Hill weren't Stephen King's son? Probably not--but not because I don't believe in literary nepotism! See, I really enjoyed the other King progeny (Owen)'s writing, so Joe's couldn't be too bad. (As far as I know, the firstborn King, Naomi, is a Unitarian minister and not a writer.)

Wonder why there's a big marketing gambit with this book, though--first, why go by the name "Joe Hill" if you're going public about who your dad is? I've seen Joe on the talk shows (looking much like his dad except for a less angular, and thus gentler face, though who can say for sure since he's got quite a beard going), and the hosts always bring up the fact that he's Stephen King's kid....which, if I were Tabitha--SK's wife and also a fine, highly-respected writer--I might be a tad pissed off about, given that she actually shoved the kid through her vjj. Also, I don't remember a similar push with Owen's book.) Third, this book is reviewed by two highly regarded writers on Amazon's site--Scott Smith and Harlan Coben. I know SK loves their work...(in fact his recommendation for Scott Smith's The Ruins was such that I had to read it, and it's one of the books I need to post about)...did they feel obliged to review HSB (with such high praise, too) because of the boost they've gotten from SK from time to time?

But I actually browsed through this book at the store, and I have to admit the few pages I read got my heart pounding with interest and anxiety and anticipation. --The feeling was very similar to the way I've felt when I read through some of my favorites from SK's backlist. I'm almost certain that this book will make people sit up and notice Joe for his own writing ability. (I am also dying to get my hands on this other work of fiction by him.)



Haven't seen the movie of the first book yet, and I can't remember anything about the third book in this series, which makes me think I haven't read it yet...but I still absolutely need to read this book. (I only belatedly realized that Carmen is played by America "Ugly Betty" Ferrera in the film...and I absolutely love America Ferrera!--I suppose it's time to renew the Netflix and watch SotTP.)




I really, really enjoyed the first book and I think this series is a promising "next", once the last Harry Potter book comes out in 5 months. For one, it's very well-written (in both plot and dialogue!). For another, there's so much background story about the gods & goddesses that's really interesting--reading The Lightning Thief made me want to read Bullfinch's Mythology (or something way more fun)--it's potentially very rich territory that kids can engage with.