ALA Recap

I'm back from ALA Midwinter!

It was awesome. I saw a lot of great friends and had a lot of fun. I had some cupcakes that were TRANSCENDENT.

I spent a lot of time in meetings. I'm super, super, super excited that the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction chose Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin. It was such a wonderful experience to be a part of this committee. It was also exciting to see Bomb get recognition from the Siebert and Newbery committees.

Being at the Youth Media Awards is so exciting and fun. Especially this year, with crazy disco lights for each winner and the YALSA President Jack Martin's energy and enthusiasm.

I also met with some of my committee members for Outstanding Books for the College Bound-- I am really excited to get started working on revising this list. I also got to talk to a lot of people about the list, how librarians and their students use it, and what it means to them. Lots of good food for thought about what we're doing.

Sadly, I didn't get as much time as I wanted in the exhibits to talk to publishers about what's coming out. I had a little bit of time on Saturday morning, but I didn't get to go back until the Monday afternoon free-for-all mass grab. (In the land of ARC gate, the Monday afternoon free-for-all mass grab is totally ok, because it's when the publishers try to get rid of EVERYTHING as they pack up. I don't like being a part of it though, because it's hard to tell which books are free and which ones are for sale, and which booths are letting anyone in, and which ones have lines. I'm always afraid I'm being THAT PERSON and cutting in line or taking something I shouldn't.)

There are some books I am excited about though. Of course, I can't remember them in all the sleep deprivation, and I mailed my notes to work instead of the house, so that post is coming.

In the meantime, I'm super glad that I have a personal copy of In Darkness to read. I also CANNOT wait for The White Bicycle. When I was working on my Awards Roundup post of YA Reading List, I became very intrigued. Later, talking to Printz committee member Sarah, she totally sold me on it. Cannot wait.

Of course, the conundrum-- do I catch up on Downton Abbey? Or read? My life is full of awesome problems.

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Kiki Strike: The Darkness Dwellers

Kiki Strike: The Darkness Dwellers Kirsten Miller

First off, I need to offer a great big THANK YOU to all that is good in the universe for FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY giving us another Kiki Strike book. IT HAS BEEN FOREVER.

And, has the wait been worth it? Oh yes, yes it has.

Kiki is off to Pokrovia to claim her crown and renounce it, officially supporting the democracy that has sprung up. When she leaves, she leaves Ananka in charge of the Irregulars.

In New York, Ananka and Betty stumble across the L'Institut Beauregard, a finishing school for New York's finest families. Ananka is already aware of them--every year they turn more of her classmates in zombies, completely draining them of their interesting personalities.

Meanwhile, Kiki doesn't make it to Pokrovia-- she's been kidnapped in Paris, but happens to meet two interesting young men with very extensive knowledge of the catacombs. While Amelia Beauregard takes Betty to Paris to help investigate a mystery from WWII, and Kiki and her friends are investigating more recent disappearances, the Irregulars at home are figuring out why Oona's been banned from every shop in Chinatown and trying to defeat an evil pharmaceutical company. Of course, there's still that bit about Kiki's kidnapping and Pokrovia's future as a democratic nation.

I love, love, love how Betty really comes into her own in this one. None of the other irregulars really trust her, because she's the nicest of them. But when she's in Paris, she's more or less on her own and has to prove what she's made of, and she has to decide how she does it. It's really well done. Actually, there's a lot in this one about the dynamics of the group and their relationships with one another. It's been so long since the last one, I can't remember if that's normal or not. All I know is that I love it.

I also loved the exploration of another city's underground. I loved the change in location and mysteries and secrets of the Paris catacombs (which, unlike the underground city that the Irregulars frequent in New York, is actually real.) I also like how much takes place in the catacombs that the tourists don't get to see.

The history buff in my appreciates that the older mystery was just as important as the recent ones-- it's never too late to solve a mystery.

I am not sure how I feel about the cover redesign (they're rereleasing the others as well in the new style).

Fans will not be dissapointed. I can only hope/pray/wish that there is more, and it is coming soon.

ARC Provided by... a friend, who knows how much I love Kiki. (THANK YOU DAVID!!!)

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A Night to Surrender

A Night to Surrender Tessa Dare.


As frequent readers may have picked up, I've rediscovered my love of Romance. However, it's a bit of a daunting genre to find good reads in, due to sheer number of books. I need some good reader's advisory in this area.

Anyway, I picked up this one because Colleen mentioned it. Romance isn't something she usually talks about, so when she mentioned it, I made sure to pick it up. It took awhile though, because there was a pretty long holds list at the library!

This first book in the Spindle Cove series. Spindle Cove is a seaside holiday resort filled with women who don't quite fit into London's society. Something about them doesn't fit the ton's notions of physical beauty. They're too smart, too outspoken. Spindle Cove offers them a safe haven, with very few men around. Susanna Finch is both the local gentleman's daughter and someone who has been treated horribly by society's expectations of women. She runs and guards the town with passion.

That all changes when Victor Bramwell arrives. 8 months ago, he was shot through the knee and has had a hard time getting reassigned to the front. His father was friends with Susanna's father, and needs his connections to get him back to the Peninsula, where he feels he belongs. Mr. Finch instead has him named the Earl of Rycliff (a long dormant title) and orders him to raise a militia. If he succeeds, he'll be sent where he wants.

The last thing Susanna wants is a militia threatening her safe haven. The last thing Bram wants is a bunch of interfering spinsters threatening his ambition.

A very fun and witty battle of the sexes. I appreciated that Bram found Susanna's brain a plus rather than an "in spite of." While both tend to forget who they are when in each other's presence (and have the tendency to do the most indecent things in rather public places) it is a very fun (and hotttttt) romance. It's also very funny. Bram comes equipped with a Rake of a cousin and some of the ladies have a rather Mrs. Bennett like mother. Then, of course, there is a pet lamb named Dinner.

A very fun book. After reading the first chapter of the next in the series that was included at the end of this book, I'm not sure I can wait until my hold comes in at the library. Luckily, the Kindle prices on the entire series are heavily discounted. ($2.99 for books 1 and 3, $3.79 for book 2.)


Book Provided by... my local library

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A Hat Full of Sky

A Hat Full of Sky: The Continuing Adventures of Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men by Terry Prachett.

This book is hard to review because all I really want to say is "Terry Prachett is the bomb."

So, this is a Tiffany Aching book from the Discworld series (is series really the right world for Disworld? It doesn't quite fit, but I can't come up with a better one.) Tiffany's excited to start learning how to be a witch, but it turns out her apprenticeship has more chores than magic. The one bit of witch-y stuff she does get is flying, which makes her horribly ill. But, an hiver is after Tiffany. An hiver that possesses her and controls her body, and tries to take over her mind.

Seriously guys, Terry Prachett is the BOMB. He writes this quirky and hilarious books set in this crazy universe, but at the same time, raises really deep points and makes you contemplate the larger questions of the universe, all while laughing your head off.

In this book, I especially enjoyed the other apprentice witches and the high school girl dynamic you get with them and how Tiffany sees through it without seeming cynical or over-mature. Plus, lots and lots of MacFeegles trying to help and create as much mischief as possible.

I do recommend Discworld even to those who aren't fantasy readers. I only picked up my first one because it was assigned reading, and I'm so, so glad I did.

Must read more Discworld. MUST.

Book Provided by... my wallet

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Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff--and it's all small stuff Richard Carlson

I’m not sure why I picked this up and read it, but I have to say I’m glad I did. Carlson offers 100 tips for reducing stress and writes a page or two explaining each tip.

Some of it is cliche and trite.

But, as I read through it, I did find several ideas that sounded like good things to incorporate into my own life. A lot of them have to do with my interactions with other people.

I’m a reference librarian. I spend most of my day interacting with people who need or want something from me or the library.

And you know what? PEOPLE CAN BE MEAN AND CRAZY.

A lot of librarians were (rightfully) upset last week when Librarian was listed as one of the least-stressful jobs with a job description that didn't match anyone's reality. Right now, I work in a small, quiet branch with a very low level of mean or crazy, but my last job was at a very large, busy branch with a very high level or mean and crazy, or just noise and activity. I found this book offered a lot of practical advice and new way of looking at situations that changed a lot of the way I interact with people and it's made for much more pleasant situations for everyone involved.

One thing I've started doing is being more helpful. As librarians, we tend to teach rather than do. We'll walk someone through all the steps of using the computer. Depending on the situation, I've just started doing what needs to be done for the patron. This is what they want me to do anyway, it's faster and less stressful for all involved. I don't deal with the tension of trying to make someone learn something they don't want to learn. The customer gets what they need in a timely fashion and exemplary customer service. Me going that extra step means everyone ends the interaction MUCH happier, and it takes 1/4 the time. WIN WIN.

One theme that goes through the book that really resonates with me is that there are things in this world that are worth getting angry over, but we spend most of our rightous indignation on the little things-- traffic, bad customer service, the jerk that puts his bag on the seat next to him on bus so you have to stand... if I’m expending all my anger and energy at stupid stuff like that, how can I effect real change at stuff that I do need to get worked up over? It’s really allowed me to look at things and say “you know what? I have much better things to do with my time and energy than to continue to waste it on this clown who’s driving super slow in the left lane.”

Which of course, leads to me a line that I thought about a lot at my last library branch:

Be the calm eye in the storm of human drama that surrounds you-- it’s hard not to get caught up in the frantic energy and squabbles that come with having a packed children’s section after school. I’m working on being that calm eye-- it’s really nice (when I manage to do it.)

Already, I’m coming home in a much better mood.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Queen of Babble

Queen of Babble Meg Cabot.

Lizzie Nichols is graduating from college, except she may have ignored a major paper she had to write for her independent major. But that won't stop her from spending her summer in England with her British boyfriend! Except, when she gets there she realizes Andrew is not what she remembered and not what she made him out to be in her head. And when she opens her big fat mouth and gets him into trouble at the dole office, she's stranded in Europe. Except... her best friend is spending the summer working at a castle in France. So Lizzie's on a train to see if she can help out. And she can, as long as her big fat mouth doesn't just make everything worse.

I love Lizzie and how she deeply cares about the people around her and tries to help them (usually with slightly disastrous consequences, but you can see where she's coming from and don't want to smack her.) It's also a fun modern take on the house-party romance theme. I also really loved Lizzie's best friend, Shari and how she helps keep Lizzie grounded. They've been friends forever and it shows.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Book Provided by... my wallet

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The Woman Who Died A Lot

The Woman Who Died A Lot Jasper Fforde

I can't believe this book was out for a few months before I knew about it. INTERNET! THIS IS WHAT I NEED YOU FOR!

Well, Thursday has been successfully restored to the land of reality and is slowly recovering from her ordeal. Meanwhile, Spec-Ops is reforming. Thursday wants to be head of SO-27, but instead she gets stuck as the Library Director. Now sure, in Fforde's world library staff have guns and tanks to make sure fines get paid, as well as collections budgets you wouldn't believe, but... Thursday's not ready for a desk job yet. Luckily, Goliath is trying to kill her and Aornis is up to something sneaky...

Of course, it may all be moot, as Swindon is scheduled for a heavenly smiting at the end of the week. Unless Thursday can stop that, too.

I have to say I liked this one much more than One of Our Thursdays Is Missing. I liked the focus on the Jenny mindworm plot, which has just been a minor thing for most of the series. But, overall, I like the focus on Thursday coming to grips with aging and how her battered body can't do what it used to. It's a transition she has a really hard time accepting and adjusting to. Thursday was deeper and a bit more human than she has been in the past.

That said, one of the consequences of Thursday's injuries is that she can't read into fiction anymore, so we don't get to hang out with JurisFiction in this one. But, we do get a Nancy Pearl shout-out.

Fforde's Swindon is as crazy as ever. His world is so fun to be in for awhile. I can't wait until I get to go back.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Beauty and the Beast: The Only One Who Didn't Run Away

Beauty and the Beast, the Only One Who Didn't Run Away Wendy Mass

I was so excited to see that Mass's Twice Upon a Time series was getting a reboot-- new covers and releases for the old ones that were out-of-print AND a third book for the series. For those unfamiliar, this series takes fairy tales and retells them, but gives us both sides of the story, with the guy and the girl getting alternating chapters.

Beauty's story starts off more or less the same as always. A girl named Beauty who is smart and resourceful, but not beautiful. A spoiled and silly sister (although her sister was ditzy and shallow, she's also really nice and always has the best intentions.) The Prince is a bit different. He's the younger son and interested in chemistry, astronomy, and the bagpipes, but not balls and court life. Their family comes across an evil fairy, gives the youngest some good natured ribbing and poof! He's a beast and they're all invisible.

But, before the two meet, Beauty and some friends have to go on a quest. In fact, there's so much set-up and Beauty's odd quest storyline that the two don't actually meet until page 212, and there's only 282 pages in the entire book. The quest does vaguely relate, as it involves the same evil fairy but, overall, it felt like that was a separate story for a separate book.

Also, it was a bit insta-love-y. While insta-love is a frequent complaint in fairy tales and romances, I've never seen it happen before in Beauty and the Beast. Maybe it should get a pass, because if you insta-love with the Beast, it's because you stayed up all night talking and you do rather like the insides, rather than the hotttt outsides, but insta-love is still insta-love.

That said, I loved the comic relief the Beast's invisible family provided. Especially as the invisible queen kept chiding her husband that just because they were invisible didn't mean he didn't have to wear pants. Or shower. Also, older brothers who are invisible are that much more annoying. I liked Beauty and her sister and I liked the touch that Clarissa was a good person, even if she was a bit preoccupied with shiny objects.

So, overall, it was fun and I'm still glad the series is back and I do really hope for more installments, but this was not my favorite.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Who Could That Be at This Hour

Who Could That Be at This Hour? Lemony Snicket

When Lemony was a young man, he had an unusual schooling and apprenticed with a secret organization. Lemony purposely apprenticed himself to the worst option, thinking it would give him more time to work on a side-project, but he gets swept away to a weird town that used to be by the sea, but wasn't anymore, but still had a seaweed forest and weird times when you had to put on funny masks. There, they investigate a theft of an object that hasn't been stolen.

Like A Series of Unfortunate Events, most of the adults are clueless and just get in the way (the librarian's pretty good), but Lemony finds some kids to help. Until one double-crosses him. While the adventure wraps up, the ending only leaves more loose threads than we started with, and more questions which may or may not be the right ones and may or may not be answered.

If you're familiar with A Series of Unfortunate Events, you'll be familiar with the overall tone and mood of All the Wrong Questions. It's smart and sinister and rather odd, with a ton of references that younger readers won't understand (or even know they're missing, just as naming the librarian Qwerty.) I like that he kept all the vocabulary lessons. I am intrigued most by Moxie and Ellington. I'm not sure how I feel about Lemony as an actual character, as he still remains a bit shadowy, in spite of playing the lead.

I'm interested in seeing where this ends up going.

Book Provided by... my local library

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A Notorious Countess Confesses

A Notorious Countess Confesses Julie Anne Long

This is the latest book in the Pennyroyal Green series. Evie Duggan, Lady Wareham, has arrived in Pennyroyal Green, hoping to outrun the scandal in London. Sadly, everyone in the village knows all about the "Black Widow"-- actress, courtesan, and after being won in a card game, countess until her husband died rather suddenly. Alone, and lonely, Evie wants friends and turns to Adam Sylvaine, Eversea cousin and vicar for help in getting in good with the local ladies...

Yes. They're named Adam and Eve.

But, I love Evie. I loved that she didn't apologize (nor see the need to) for who she is and what she's done in life. It was also really funny-- the whole scene where the Lady's Society tries to scare her off really did make me laugh out loud. It's one of the funniest books in the series.

And, tantalizingly, more plot developments in the Olivia/Lyon story. And not just revelations of what happened, but NEW plot developments... cannot WAIT until we get their book.

A note-- there are some proofing issues in this book-- most notably, Lady Wareham randomly becomes Lady Balmain in some chapters. A few pronouns get switched, too. I knew about this going in and it didn't really phase me. According to her Facebook group, Long knows about the issue and they're fixing it, so if that's something that's going to trip you up, you may want to wait for a corrected edition.

Book Provided by... my wallet

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Perils of Pleasure

The Perils of Pleasure Julie Anne Long

Ack. I read this book awhile ago, and wrote the review awhile ago, and for some reason it never posted!

So, this is the first book in the Pennyroyal Green series, but I read it fourth. It’s also the first book I read to feature the Everseas! Huzzah! Based on the first three books I read, this is what I know about the Everseas-- rogues and charmers, Olivia is why Lyon dissapeared and the only time Isaiah Redmond ever swore was when Colin Eversea failed to hang.

The book opens with Colin’s hanging and his rather dramatic rescue from the gallows. Colin doesn’t know who, or why, he was rescued, only that he was about to hang for a crime he did not commit. Madeleine Greenway is known for being able to get things done. She doesn’t know who hired her, but shortly after successfully rescuing Colin, it becomes very apparent that whomever hired her wants her dead. She and Colin are on a race across London and beyond to uncover the truth about who made Colin’s witnesses disappear before the trial, who rescued him, and who’s after Madeleine.

To be honest, I’m glad I was immersed in the world of Pennyroyal Green before I learned the giant twist at the end. Knowing more about the characters and their tangled webs made it that much more unexpected and shocking.

Plus, grave robbing! Secret pasts! Blackmail! London’s seedy underbelly! It's very cool and fun, but there’s a bit of research overload, which isn’t a problem in the other books.

The Everseas are very different from the Redmonds. I’ve had three books of Redmond scoffing at Eversea luck, charm, and exploits, as compared to the straight-laced and proper Redmonds. And the bit of information we learn at the end of I Kissed an Earl does cloud a bit of my Eversea picture, but... reading about them, they’re just damn fun. It’s a much happier house than Redmonds.

Also, this isn’t about this book in particular, but the series in general, can I just say how much I adore the minor subplots of the marriages of the Eversea and Redmond parents? It’s a nice touch.

But, let’s talk about Madeleine-- she’s not your average romance novel heroine, especially in a Regency Historical. There’s the obvious from the plot--she does just as much rescuing as being rescued and she’s not a member of the ton or a hanger-on. She knows her way around a pistol and darker sides of London. But... she’s older, more experienced, and not a virgin. She’s a widow. She used to have a shop. She’s a VERY nice change of pace from sheltered ladies in pretty dresses who play out their stories in various drawing rooms and dance floors (not that I don’t LOVE that, but... something different is always good.)

PS-- Please check out my latest project, YA Reading List.


Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

YA Reading List

I love book lists. I love reading them, I love making them. I find them helpful and interesting as a reader. I find them indispensable as a librarian.

It is with that in mind that I have created YA Reading List. I'm aiming for a cross between Nancy Pearl's Book Lust books and Anita Silvey's Book-a-Day Almanac. Basically, every day has a book list based on what's happening that day.

So yes, that's a book list a day. I've been working on this since August, and have already made most of my booklists (with room for change as I discover books throughout the year) so that posting remains consistent.

My hope is that my lists are just jumping off points and that you will add your favorites in the comments.

Please, check it out and keep checking back. I hope you enjoy it.

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

The Turning of the Year

I feel like I've neglected my blog a bit lately. There are, of course, reasons for this.

Part was my work on the nonfiction committee, as I decided it was easier to not blog about the books I was reading than try to separate the review from my feelings from the book in relation to the award. Plus, I read a lot of the same books over and over and over as we narrowed down our list.

Part of it was adjusting to my new job. I went from being part of a children's (0-12) team at a large and busy branch to being a department of 1 for youth servies (0-18) at a tiny and less-bustling branch.

Part of it was my brain needed a break this fall.

BUT. A really big part was my TOP SECRET BLOG PROJECT. It required a ton of research and prep work. IT DEBUTS TOMORROW. Stay tuned. I'm really excited by this.

And, of course, I'm busily reading and reviewing so things should be back in swing here very soon!

I hope everyone has a wonderful new year and is looking forward to all the possibilities that a new calendar brings...

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

NW

NW: A Novel Zadie Smith

I don’t know why I’m having such a hard time writing this review. It’s taking me longer to write about than to read, and it took FOREVER to read this book.

We start with Leah, who falls for a scam, who doesn’t want the kids her husband is desperate for, who thinks that if she still acts like she’s 18 (because she still feels like she’s 18) then she won’t have to grow up. Leah’s section of the book is choppy, much like Leah’s mind. Part is in poetry.

Felix’s section is next, told in more traditional narrative style, covering a day in his life as he visits his dad, buys a car, and attempts to finally end things with an old girlfriend (because things have gotten that serious with his current girlfriend.) And then it goes horribly wrong.

The final section is Natalie’s, Leah’s best friend from childhood. Natalie is the most successful, having left behind the council estate and gone to college and law school and now leads an upper middle class life. But she leads her life the way she thinks she’s supposed to, and can’t find herself in there anymore, and starts looking for ways to feel something. Natalie’s section is mostly told in very brief vignettes, covering most of her life until the present.

All three stories overlap, timeline-wise. There isn’t much of a plot, it’s more like three character sketches, where most things are shown, rather than told.

I say this book took me forever to read, and it did. Part of that had to do with my discovery of a certain game called Tower Madness. Part of it had to do with the fact it wasn’t a rush-through-breathlessly-to-see-what-happens next type book. I did, however, like it. I liked it a lot. I enjoyed the shifting narrative styles. As they changed with character, it didn’t seem too much like “uh-oh, your craft is showing!” It’s also a refreshing challenge to read something where so much is left unexplained, left for the reader to figure out by reading closely. As someone who reads a lot of fiction, where this isn’t done as much, it took a while for me to get used to that. It was a difficult book for me, and I enjoy a challenge. Most of the stuff I read tends to make sure you know what's going on. Sometimes a little too much. I read a lot of plot-heavy books (and nonfiction, where everything should be spelled out.) I'm hoping with my Outstanding Books for the College Bound, I'm going to step out of what I normally read. This book reminded me that I like being challenged in my reading by craft/form. (I don't enjoy as much when I'm challenged by content.)

Book Provided by... my local library

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Fairest: Wide Awake

Fairest, Vol. 1: Wide Awake Bill Willingham

A new spin-off series, this one focusing on the princesses. The main story arc picks up with a character who's been asleep for many, many issues.

Part of Fabletown's plan during the final showdown with the Adversary was putting the Imperial City of sleep with an ancient curse. All Sleeping Beauty had to do was prick her finger and the entire city would fall asleep until she was awoken with true love's kiss.

Enter a Bottle Imp with a master plan, a master thief (Ali Baba), a newly awoken Princess, and a newly awoken Snow Queen. The Snow Queen likes stories, and the Bottle Imp has one-- Sleeping Beauty's.

Y'all know how much I looooooooooove back story. And so much back story! I love how this one ties Sleeping Beauty's backstory with her newly awoken life. I love the mix of the Snow Queen with Ali Baba and the Bottle Imp. I love the look at what true love can mean in different circumstances--it's not always the fairy tale ending we wish for. And oooooo.... all the fairies! A great addition.

I also just really love what Willingham has done with princesses in general in this universe. Snow White is the tough as nails administrator who tamed the Big Bad Wolf. Beauty can't quite fill her shoes, but is no slouch. Cinderella seems all beauty and nice, but is a kick ass spy. Ozma looks like a child, but was able to step into Frau Tottenkinder's roles. So far, Sleeping Beauty has fallen asleep (but was willing to do so when strategically necessary). This one fleshes her out a little more.

And then, something that looks like a fun 50s comic noir, but turns into a SHOCKING revelation about one of our princesses.

I am looking forward to see where this series goes-- it's gotten off to a wonderful start.

Book Provided by... my wallet

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Werewolves of the Heartland

Fables: Werewolves of the Heartland Bill Willingham

Bigby is looking for a new place for Fabletown, someplace away from too many Mundys. On a tip from King Cole, he checks out Story City, Iowa, a place where Blue Beard had many investments. As he gets closer, he smells something in the wind that he recognizes, but can't place, which is troubling, but not as troubling as what he's about to discover.

Werewolves. Werewolves that are built from a Nazi experiment and faces from Bigby's time in WWII.

Ugh. Guys. I ordered this book over two years ago, as the release date kept getting pushed back. I had HUGE hopes for a hardcover one-off special story, all about Bigby.Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall is the only other hardcover one-off, and probably my favorite book in the entire Fables world. I was hoping for something of that caliber.

Sigh, it was not to be. The art is very pale and washed-out and that reflects the story, too. The political situation is not fleshed out enough, nor is the culture of Story City. There's lots of shape-shifting (werewolves!) so lots of nudity. To the point where it gets excessive. Overall, I just wanted so much more from this, and it failed to deliver. Maybe if it had been part of the regular arc, an omnibus of a 5-issue story arc with some other issues thrown in, it would be "not my favorite" in the series, but as a separate thing, it was disappointing, especially with all the build-up to it.

Book Provided by... my wallet

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Cinderella: Fables are Forever

Cinderella: Fables Are Forever Chris Roberson

Yay! More adventures in Cinderella's double life as one of Fabletown's spies! I love this other side to her!

As I mentioned on Monday, the closing scene of Inherit the Wind sets up the story for this one (although we start with a flashback, so it doesn't appear right away.)

The person who killed Kadabra is an old, old nemesis of Cindy's--one she thought she buried a long, long time ago. We start in the USSR, in the early 80s. Lots of sexy ladies in hot tubs. That was the last time Cindy met her old advesary.

Remember how I said we were going back to Oz? Meet Dorothy Gale, mercenary. We get some good backstory on her, too.

With Mr. Kadabra's death, many old secrets and enemies are coming home to roost, with issues involving the other Fable communities around the world. I like the backstory that flushes out these characters that don't quite fit into the main Fables narrative. I also love the deeper look at the international Fable politics.

PLUS! Anansi! ANANSI! What a wonderful surprise to see him turn up as a character.

I hope we see much more of Cinderella's adventures, as she really does open up the the Fables universe.

Plus, she knows how to fight.

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Jack of Fables

I always wanted to like this series so much more than I did. It just never clicked and I kept reading out of loyalty. I did like the Page sisters and the crossover battle and the metafiction, but... that was just a part of the overall series. Jack never met an adversary like the Fabletown authority and it just never worked as well.

Luckily (?) it's done. And I have to say, I do really like the way it ended.

Jack of Fables Vol. 8: The Fulminate Blade Bill Willingham

At the end of Book 7, Jack had turned into a dragon and Jack Frost was still off being a hero. This book has no Jack, and it's all Jack Frost being a hero in a weird space/sci fi world. With your Babe the Blue Ox episodes (which I've never appreciated.) Anyway, I'm not entirely sure what this volume has to do with anything. I can't explain it into the larger plot besides pure filler.

That said, it is really fun and I do like Jack Frost, so I'm not complaining too hard about it.

Jack of Fables Vol. 9: The End Bill Willingham

Ok first off, I'm not entirely sure what's up with this book cover from Amazon, because that's not what I have.

ANYWAY! It's the last one! We have a dragon in the US! And a newly minted hero! Heroes slay dragons! But this hero doesn't know that the dragon is really his father!

BUM BUM BUM.

And that's all I'm going to say, because, well, SPOILERS.

BUT! I did like this one. I think it's a pretty strong ending to the series and one that I really like. It's fitting for all the characters (especially Jack of Fables) and it's fitting for the Fables universe in general. As much as I struggled with this series, I did not struggle with how it ends.


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Fables

It's Fables week! I am horribly behind on reviewing this series. There are several spin-offs in this sprawling universe, so we can cover a different aspect every day this week. We're starting with Fables proper, and I have four omnibus editions to look at, so let's get started.

Fables Vol. 14: Witches Bill Willingham

Fabletown is destroyed by Mr. Dark. Some are trapped in the business office, but most have evacuated to the farm. The first issue focuses on Mr. Dark and a bit of his backstory. The main story arc involves the witches trying to find a way to defeat Mr. Dark. We get into the witches politics and there's a lot of Frau Tottenkinder, which is always WONDERFUL. Ozma and Buffkin also play a big role, setting up the rising role of Oz coming up. (It's kinda fun reviewing these books so late, because I've read other books in this series and other spin-off series, I can see the set up and how odd things come into play later... Willingham is a master at the slow, twisty plot that eventually all ties together.

The end is a story in about a baseball game in Haven. We get some of Fly's personal life and the tough choices of justice that a leader has to make. I love Fly so much. So very, very much.

Fables Vol. 15: Rose Red Bill Willingham

Things are getting complicated. More Dunstan and Bellflower. Promises between the Beast and the Blue Fairy that's going to cause MAJOR drama in the future (not that we've seen yet, but it's going to come 'round.) But the main focus is Rose Red. She's spent the past few issues in bed, depressed and guilty and unable to lead when the farm and the community needs her most. We get A LOT of backstory on Rose and Snow. I love backstory. There's a throwaway about a world in a teacup on the back of a turtle-- remember this.

There's so epic battling. I really like how this battle ends. A lot of little stories, a new enemy made AND! some fun bits at the end-- fan questions, a prose story, a game... lots of fun little bits for fans (because let's face it, if you've made it this far, you're a fan.)

Fables Vol. 16: Super Team Bill Willingham

This is pretty light-hearted compared to the last volume. Pinochio thinks he has the answer, found in the comic books he loves so much. Too bad he's more into the costumes and names than an actual plan...

But, the Dark storyline wraps up, but how it ends opens up a new can of worms, and we're brought back the heart of the Empire, to wrap up some sleeping ends that were left there in the war. And here's something that happens in the master plotting-- one of these storylines picks up in the next issue of Fables. The other picks up in the new series, Fairest, which I'll review in a few days.

Fables, Vol. 17: Inherit the Wind Bill Willingham

BACK TO OZ! Buffkin leads a band of rebels, but not too well. Shocking ending that has me waiting at the edge of my seat for Fables Vol. 18: Cubs in Toyland (comes out at the end of January.)

This big storyline is that one of the cubs has to be chosen as a successor for the North Wind. Bigby and Snow aren't happy about this, and either are the other cardinal winds who want to chose the successor--one they can control.

Christmas opens up a whole host of other issues and questions. One leads directly to Cubs in Toyland, one opens up new questions about Rose Red's new role, and I'm just waiting to see what happens with Nurse Spratt. That's something that's been simmering for a long time and I can't wait for that to explode.

Remember that turtle and teacup? We get a whole issue about that.

There's a backstory story about a magician in the Empire, back when the Empire still ruled the home worlds. He ends up dead on the farm, which seems odd, until you realize that the discovery of his body is the first scene in Cinderella: Fables Are Forever, which I'll review later this week.

Stay tuned for more of the Fables universe!

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Excellence in Nonfiction

Yesterday, YALSA announced the shortlist of the Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.

This is why blogging has been slow these past few weeks-- I've been busily reading and re-reading the nominees over and over again to help whittle down the list to these 5. I'm so excited about the 5 books we chose-- they are all excellent.

1. Titanic: Voices From the Disaster Deborah Hopkinson

This book may have ruined all other Titanic books for me. Seriously. I was listening to the audio version of The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic by Allan Wolf. It's a WONDERFUL book and the audio is fantastic, but... about halfway though I realized all I really wanted to do was reread the Hopkinson book. So I did.

2. Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon Steve Sheinkin

Sheinkin has a gift for making history really come alive. This one follows several different storylines in the US and Europe as scientists and spies try to make an atom bomb, keep the other guys from doing it, and/or just stealing their research.

3. Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95 Phillip Hoose

Red Knot Rufas are small birds that migrate every year from the Canadian Arctic to Tierra del Fuego. And back. B95 is one bird that's done the journey so many times, that he's flown enough miles to get to the moon. More than following this one bird, Hoose describes bird conservation and tracking efforts and the complicated inter-tangled issues at play. Now, based on that plot description, I'd be like "eh" but he does it in a way that's utterly fascinating. Plus, really wonderful maps.

4. Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal

Using a commencement address as a framing device, Blumenthal paints great warts and all biography of on of Steve Jobs. I learned so many interesting things about Jobs (when he was a young man he was on a weird diet and thought that because of this he didn't need to shower. Anyone who smelled him disagreed) and about Apple (a great explanation of why the ad campaign was Think Different instead of Think Differently. And the letters they'd get from irate English teachers.) Plus, the photographs of a young Steve Jobs makes me feel much better about the fact that Ashton Kutcher is playing him in the biopic.

5. We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March Cynthia Levinson

In 1963 over 4000 children were arrested marching for their civil rights. They woke up in the morning, packed what they'd need for jail, and march, knowing they wouldn't be sleeping at home that night. Levinson follows a few of these children (some teens, some much younger) from different walks of life, how they got involved with the movement, their experiences and what happened next. It's inspiring and eye-opening.

The winner will be announced at the Youth Media Awards at the end of January. And NO! We haven't decided who's won yet! Stop asking!


And... seems I'm talking about committee stuff and I don't think I've mentioned this on the internets yet, when this committee wraps up in January, my next assignment begins. I'm the incoming chair of for Outstanding Books for the College Bound. I'm very excited for a million reasons, not least of which is that it's a huge change of reading material for the next year!

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