Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog by Kitty Burns Florey

Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences by Kitty Burns Florey, 176 pages

In fifth grade, I learned how to diagram sentences and I fell in love. Combining two of my favorite things - reading and drawing - it made my schoolwork considerably less dull and helped me understand language in a way I hadn't before.  Kitty Burns Florey had a similar experience, which she outlines in Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog. 

Maybe it's the grammar pedant in me, but this book isn't a dry history of a grammatical fad. It's an engaging essay, an ode to a lost skill, waxing philosophical and poetical in turns.  I really enjoyed it. 

 

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

320 pages

★★★★★

The psychology and sociology behind past and current cults are revealed in the power of language by Amanda Montell in this collection of nonfiction essays. The way Montell addresses the fact that many things found “normal” in modern day society use language to control people and can be considered a cult by this standard was extremely interesting. Things such as SoulCycle, MLMs, social media influencers, QAnon, etc. all use language to manipulate the everyday person into following them blindly and wholeheartedly with nothing but the power of words, just as Jonestown, the Manson family, and Scientology have. 

This was eye opening and gripping from start to finish, not using words or ideas that are too technical for the average reader, who are the ones who need to learn this information the most.

The Broker by John Grisham

The Broker, by John Grisham 432 pages
"In his final hours in office, the outgoing President grants a controversial last-minute pardon to Joel Backman, a notorious Washington power broker who has spent the last six years hidden away in a federal prison. What no one knows is that the President issues the pardon only after receiving enormous pressure from the CIA. It seems that Backman, in his heyday, may have obtained secrets that compromise the world’s most sophisticated satellite surveillance system.

Backman is quietly smuggled out of the country in a military cargo plane, given a new name, a new identity, and a new home in Italy. Eventually, after he has settled into his new life, the CIA will leak his whereabouts to the Israelis, the Russians, the Chinese, and the Saudis. Then the CIA will do what it does best: sit back and watch. The question is not whether Backman will survive—there is no chance of that. The question the CIA needs answered is, Who will kill him?"   
Oh my goodness. This was my first Grisham novel (that I can recall) and I couldn't wait to get to the end. Absolutely loved it. 

Hexed by Michelle Krys

Hexed by Michelle Krys, 384 agonizing pages

The books description had me excited about reading the story. A witch that doesn't now she's a witch with a mom that is murdered for her Witch Bible and now Indigo has to do everything in her power to obtain that bible or lose everything. However, it ended up being a very dumb, horrible waste of time. The characters are the kind you love to hate. The main heroine is suppose to be in the top three of her class, but she's as dumb as a box of rocks. The love triangle is ridiculous as well.  Too much time is spent wallowing at teen parties and other silliness that drags the story on.

Love as a Foreign Language, v 1, by J Torres, 200 pages

  Love as a Foreign Language, v 1, by J Torres, 200 pages

This is a sweet and humorous manga about a Canadian named Joel who is teaching English in Korea.  Apparently, he hates Korea- he eats McDonalds because he can't stand the food, he thinks everyone is making fun of him, and he misses home.  He is all set to quit, when he finds out the new secretary at his ESL school is a beautiful woman named Hana.  I liked this- I wish I could find the rest of the series more easily than through ILL.  It had a Scott Pilgrim sort of humor to it- but not in an annoying Scott Pilgrim way.  (Anyone who liked the first Scott Pilgrim but hated the rest of the series will know what I'm saying). I think that both teens and adults would enjoy this- especially anyone who has considered going to Korea to teach English.

Autumn Rose by Abigail Gibbs

Autumn Rose by Abigail Gibbs, 385 pages
(Book 2 in Dark Heroine series)

I think all the built up anticipation for this book over the last year is likely the cause of so much disappointment. The story was well done, but lacked the attraction of the first book in the series. 15 year old seer Autumn Rose is one of the Dark Heroines we read about in the first book. I will admit after meeting her through the eyes of Violet Lee (the main character of the first book), I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about who she was. This book gives us a look into her life (how her grandmother died, what role she plays in the school/Sage/her world) and what part of the prophesy she fills --from her point of view. She is a sage, a duchess no less, who acts as guardian for her public school until the day the Sagean Prince Fallon shows up. Romance, mystery, murder, and secrets follow in the building of the story. The interaction between Prince Fallon and Autumn Rose is not as intense as it was between Voilet Lee and Kaspar... Likely that is because Fallon and Autumn are young teens, but I still think the author could have done more with their story.  I hope the next book in the series is much better than this one. (I had to drag myself through the last 10 chapters). I think I'll hold off on purchasing it until I've borrowed it first.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, 328 pages

It's the 80s (my favorite decade) and high schooler Eleanor has just returned to her very abusive home. Overweight with frizzy hair, poorly dressed Eleanor tries to keep a low profile and ends up facing the horrors of bullying ... at home and at school. She keeps it together by forming an unusual friendship with Park. Park is oriental boy who is very small in stature. He has his own demons to fight but for some reason comes to Eleanor's defense (passively) by offering her the seat next to him on the bus. Every day they ride together to school without a word to each other. Every day Park notices Eleanor watching him read his comics. He starts to share them with her and slowly music is added to the mix and they become friends. Their friendship is a life line for both. As Eleanor opens her world to Park they realize they are much the same in likes as much as their worlds are very different. Park does what he can to save Eleanor from the horrors of home and school. It's such a beautifully written book alternating from both viewpoints that I found often found myself with tears streaming down my face. This is a book every child (and parent) should read and understand what bullying does to a person. Sometimes all we see in kids is the shell... and not what is inside. Such bittersweetness ends this story and I think that it ended exactly as it should have.

Switched by Amanda Hocking

Switched by Amanda Hocking, 318 pages
(Book 1 of  the self-published Trylle series)

Wendy is a changeling. A creature left in place of a child that has been stolen away. That's what's explained to Wendy when she finds herself nearly kidnapped by brutal strangers. Wendy is shocked to hear this, but at the same time wonders if that's why her life has been so difficult. Her own mother always made it a point to say Wendy was not really her daughter. She even tried killing Wendy at her 6th birthday party. Had it not been for her human brother, Wendy would not have survived.  Learning there is a chance that she can really discover who she is, Wendy follows her "tracker" to seek her new life. What she finds is unimaginable danger and heartbreak around every corner. The story behind the switch of human children with supernatural creatures is an interesting one. The author does an excellent job in presenting this self-published story. Self-published is the keyword. This book is really enjoyable if you can overlook the lack of professional editing.

The Dark Heroine: Dinner With A Vampire by Abigail Gibbs

The Dark Heroine: Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs, 534 pages
(book one of The Dark  Heroine series)

Romeo & Juliet meets Twilight sums up what this book is about. Seventeen year old Violet Lee's life is changed forever when she witnesses a mass murder before her eyes and is taken prisoner by the murderers. Everything she thought she knew about her world is false. There are monsters in the world and they aren't just evil men. They are vampires. Caught in a web of lies and betrayal, Violet Lee's life is threatened on a daily basis. Yet she finds herself drawn to her captor, Kaspar, at the same time as loathing him. As their attraction for each other grows, truths come out that will shatter everything they hold dear.
I was done with this book in one day. It's pretty easy to figure out the plot line, but it doesn't stop the book from being enjoyable.

Breath by Jackie Morse Kessler

Breath by Jackie Morse Kessler, 321 pages
Final book in the Riders of the Apocalypse Series

WOW! This book is a must read when it is finally out for sale on April 16th, 2013. I could not put it down. The only bad thing about the book is the fact that it is the final in the Riders of the Apocalypse series. Each of the four books in the series deal with issues. In Hunger, the first I read, the issue of eating disorders is brought up and exposed to the light. In Loss, the second, the issue of bullying and also Alzheimers was addressed. In Rage, we learn about cutting and uncontrolled anger. In Breath the issue is depression. While you are waiting for the book to be published, pick up the three others in the series and read them first. Otherwise, you'll be completely lost in this story. A word of warning, all of Kessler's books have adult content including language. They are very good reads, though, and would be fine for teens _AT LEAST_ 15 or older.

Grave Mercy by Robin L. Lafevers

Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers, 549 pages
Book 1 of  "His Fair Assassin" series

Ismae was born with a terrible scar from the effects of her mom trying to abort her. She has grown up in a horrible environment where she is mistreated, abused and called the daughter of death. When her father tosses her into the hands of an abusive, sadistic husband, Ismae thinks her life is over. But really it's just beginning. Saved by the very priest who wed her to husband, she is whisked away to a convent where she learns she truly is Death's handmaiden. Raised as an assassin to serve the Duchess, she carries out Mortain's (Death's name) will - dispatching those who bare His mark. When suspicions have fingers pointing in every direction, she teams up with the Duchess's half-brother to ferret out the truth. Filled with historical facts and fantasies, this book is well-written, though at times a tedious read.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, 328 pages

Aislinn, like her grandmother and mother before her, can see faeries. She has always lived by strict rules to keep her secret safe from them. When the Summer King takes notice of her and selects her, it's all she can do to keep her secret and stay away from him and the rest of the fey. She is finally given three choices, none of which are pleasant ...but one of which she must make. One choice will cost her everything she loves. The second choice will give the Summer King all that he desires. The third choice will leave her cold. Which choice will she make? Added to the mix are one very bad villain who will do anything to see Aislinn dead and two very sweet love stories - That of Aislinn and her bestfriend Seth, and the Summer King and his lost love. All in all, this was an excellent and quick read.

"Hunger" by Jackie Morse Kessler

"Hunger" by Jackie Morse Kessler, 177 Pages

Hunger is quite the serious read. I absolutely loved it.  Lisabeth Lewis is anorexic. After being teased for her weight, she started on the road to anorexia. Her boyfriend and her best friend see the signs and try to help her. When Lisabeth has enough, she attempts suicide. Death awaits her and offers her the role of Famine - one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. As Lisa takes on the mantle of Famine, she discovers much more about herself than she imagined. This book gives good insight to how the mind of a person with an eating disorder works. Interestingly enough, the author was once a bulimic herself. This is a really quick read and worth every minute. It does have language and adult content.