book review - page 3

Saturday Read: Love is the Higher Law, by David Levithan
I feel like I’ve been reading really long, heavy books lately and I was ready for a change. It’s not that they’re not good (on the contrary, they’ve been great!), it’s just that they really weigh down my beach bag and I needed a book that didn’t leave deep, red grooves in my shoulder. I searched my local library high and low for a short, YA read. And I found a fantastic one!
Saturday Read: My Name is Memory (Plus an Interview with Author, Ann Brashares!)
I’ve been a fan of Ann Brashares for a decade. “The Sisterhood” series is one of my favorites and practically defines my young adolescence. So, when the opportunity to interview Ann Brashares and review her new book “My Name is Memory” came up, I jumped at the chance! I’m still in shock that I had an actual conversation with one of my favorite authors.

Saturday Read: The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls
I’m a sucker for a great non-fiction book and biographies are no exception! I find biographies so powerful; fiction can be wild and created, but imagined. Part of the appeal of biographies is that all the wildness is REAL and TRUE.
Saturday Read: Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me, by Maya Jax
After 8 months of reading textbooks with a highlighter, when it comes time for summer I want something light. Something fun. Something that I can devour quickly on the beach or when lying in bed on a rainy day. And Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me totally delivered.
Saturday Read: The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
It’s no secret: I’m a fan of Markus Zusak. Ever since I read and reviewed “I Am the Messenger” back in January, I’ve been itching to dig into “The Book Thief.” I have heard wonderful things about this one from all my fellow bookstore employees and trust me, this review will not be an exception.
Saturday Read: Twilight & History
I’m going to say that my Saturday Read for this week has to be one of the most interesting and unique to date. Okay, okay – anything to do with “Twilight” totally screams boy-crazy tweens. I’ll admit, I’ve read all four of the books. And perhaps I enjoyed them. They are good if you consider what you’re reading and expect entertainment and not a literary masterpiece.
Saturday Read: Stolen, by Lucy Christopher
“Stolen” was definitely one of the most unique books I have ever read. When I read the synopsis, I knew I would like it: A girl is kidnapped and brought to the Australian outback and struggles with her feelings about her captor. I mean, I’m a nerdy psychology major and this one has STOCKHOLM SYNDROME written all over it. And it’s YA!

Saturday Read: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
If you read my Saturday posts, you know that I love me some non-fiction, specifically from the science section. Yes, it sounds super nerdy, but let me tell you, the science section houses some of the most interesting and relevant books in all the bookstore.
Saturday Read: ‘Will Grayson, Will Grayson,’ by John Green & David Levithan
I am a HUGE fan of John Green! I’ve previously reviewed two of his books, so when I saw that he would be writing with another YA heavy-hitter, David Levithan, I knew I had to get my hands on it. After begging publishers for an advanced reader of “Will Grayson, Will Grayson” (unsuccessfully, might I add), I surrendered and bought myself a brand new hardcover the very day it was released
Saturday Read: Runaway by Meg Cabot
To be honest, I had never really read much of Meg Cabot’s work. I dabbled in the Princess Diaries series (FYI: so superior to the movies) and I know she is a fabulously well-known chick-lit author, but nothing I saw ever enticed me to pick it up and give it a go.
Saturday Read: The One-Week Job Project, by Sean Aiken
For most college students, exam time is looming just around the corner. We’ve slacked off all year, attending too many “Thirsty Thursdays” and fallen prey to our friends begging us to come out just one more night. And now, as we stare at the stack of textbooks piled on the desk in front of us, we’re forced to actually think about our futures instead of just enjoying the student life.
Saturday Read: Plain Truth, by Jodi Picoult
For me, March is all about light reading. With my exams right around the corner (including an ominous GRE! – wish me luck!), I spend most of my days buried in textbooks, so when I grab a book for bedtime reading, I am the mood for something to take my mind off of my homework. Jodi Picoult is always a great choice for a stressful time; with each of her books, she creates an entire new world that totally enamors the reader
Saturday Read: Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden
When I was younger, I was obsessed with Japanese culture. I tried to learn Japanese, read every book set in Japan I could manage and even made my mom take me out for sushi in the cultured city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, years before sushi was “hip.” Since then the obsession has died off considerably, but I still feel something for Japan. I had heard that “Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden was a fantastic read from just about everyone, including my mom and hair-dresser, but never managed to pick it up.
Saturday Read: The Pact, by Jodi Picoult
I read “My Sister’s Keeper” in the summer and finished it off in about 4 hours. And, although I hate to admit it (I’m a book snob), I really, really enjoyed it. So, when I felt like a read that could really tug at my heartstrings, I knew I should head to the Picoult section of my local bookstore.
Saturday Read: Frommer’s 500 Extraordinary Islands
Since I have been thinking about a Greek Island vacation, “500 Extraordinary Islands” seemed like a great option. This book gives “beach read” a whole new meaning. It’s a unique travel book; instead of simply touring you around a country, this one gives you the opportunity to check out wonderful places all over the planet!
Saturday Read: Sarah’s Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay
I’ll admit it: this week I fell prey to the “Recommended” table at my local book store. Being a bookseller, I find myself to be a bit of a book snob and will rarely listen to advice about my reading material. However, I am also a sucker for a nice cover (yeah, I judge a book by its cover) and “Sarah’s Key” indeed has a nice cover. So I picked it up, read a few pages and before I could resist, I was hooked.