Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Library Loot XLVII

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries! This week's Library Loot is at Marg's

The blog has been quiet in the last week or so because I've been slammed by a bad cold that just won't give up. It started out with a mild tickle in my throat and some congestion, which normally doesn't slow me down too much, but then all of a sudden wham! I was SO congested I thought my head was going to explode. It's been almost a week since my first symptoms and I still have some sinus congestion and chest congestion, too. Needless to say, I've been resting. Which yes, means no working out either which if you know me, is just driving me insane. I did go to TRX class twice, but even that was a push. I can't stand this. I don't know how people who don't exercise everyday do it! I want to run, jump and move!

Anyway, I managed to get out to the library last night for thirty minutes before they closed to get some books. On a side note, I've been very annoyed with my library these days. I can barely manage to get there while they're open since budget cuts reduced operating hours over a year ago and when I do, the librarians are always so snippy. They need a serious attitude adjustment. Or a retirement package! Ha!

Something good came from my visit, though-- I came home with an armload of fantastic books. I'm super excited to read each of these books, I can barely decide which to read first. Okay, that's not true. I'm going to devour Eona by Alison Goodman first, as soon as I'm finished with the book I'm in the middle of right now. Then I'll have to start flipping a coin to decide which will be next.

young adult fiction:


Eona by Alison Goodman

The sequel to the fantastically captivating Eon Dragoneye Reborn fantasy novel by Alison Goodman. There is good reason Eon was bestowed with so many literary awards. If you haven't yet picked it up, you should. You don't have to be a fan of young adult to read it. Trust me. Needless to say, I cannot wait to continue the story with Eona. I hope it's as good as Eon.

If I Die by Rachel Vincent
Soul Screamers series, Book #5

I thoroughly enjoy this series, although I can't exactly give it five star accolades. The urban fantasy elements are great, the modern teenage drama is very, very well done and I think quite accurate, although I haven't been a teen in a long time, my daughters keep me pretty well informed of modern teen life. Sometimes the heroine of the story is so bent on saving everyone in trouble, driving her to make decisions that put her and others in even more danger and she always seems to get away with it. It's still fun, though, so I keep reading this series.



Where She Went by Gayle Forman


The sequel to If I Stay, which I read in January last year. It was a very emotional story and I really look forward to reading about what happened after that one ended.




graphic novels:



Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

I had been perusing graphic novel lists on goodreads for some quality recommendations and these are two of the handful of graphic novels I added to my to-be-read list. Both have received awards.

Last but not least, I found this book on the non fiction new release shelf and was instantly pulled into it's vibrant charm and of course, wonderful subject matter.

Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr

Have you heard about this health crusader before? I'm afraid to say I knew nothing about Kris Carr until I came home with the book and looked her up online. The author was diagnosed with a rare, incurable stage 4 cancer on Valentine's Day in 2003. She instantly chose to start living life to its fullest. On her journey to healing and living fully, Kris transformed her life with the knowledge of how to best care for her body, mind and spirit. She shares her knowledge with incredible enthusiasm and inspiration on her website crazysexylife.com and in her books.

Can you see the title blurb along the bottom of the book cover? It says, "Including a 21-Day Adventure Cleanse." You know what that means.... :)

15 comments:

  1. Yuck. Feel better soon!
    All those look great. Enjoy your loot!

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  2. I haven't read very many graphic novels, but American Born Chinese is one that I liked. I hadn't heard of Anya's Ghost but that one looks interesting - I like the cover art.

    I hope you feel better soon! :)

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  3. Hope you enjoy Where She Went. I thought it was a great follow up to If I Stay.

    I have heard lots of good things about Anya's Ghost!

    Hope you feel better soon, and enjoy your loot.

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  4. Feel better! I know what you mean about not being able to exercise, but don't push too hard so your body can get better.

    I read YA rarely, it has to be so good to interest me, but will look at these.

    Uh oh 21 day cleanse, you'll have to let me know what it entails : )

    Paula

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  5. I'm sorry about your cold!! I hope you are feeling better.
    And I seriously, seriously hope you love Where She Went. I admit I like it even more than If I stay. :D Great books!

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  6. Hope you're feeling better soon, Christine! I'm relatively new to running and have yet to get to the 'must exercise' stage of my life - but I have limited myself to only two days in a row of not moving. It used to be three...so I'm making progress!

    Great library loot. Interesting about the graphic novels - huge buzz around this area due to a graphic novel being taken out of a school library by a twelve year old. Lots of publicity for the genre, unfortunately, not all good!

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  7. Thanks for all the get well wishes. I'm feeling much better today and think I may try to go on a short run tomorrow morning and see how I do. Maybe it will even help clear some of my lingering head congestion! I promise I'll bring it down to a walk if I feel too out of breath or start wheezing or coughing.

    Linda :: Thanks! Enjoy your loot as well! Can't wait to hear what you think of Born Wicked!

    Mona :: Glad to hear you liked American Born Chinese. I was having second guesses after I brought it home, but you've squashed those!

    Marg :: Glad you liked Where She Went. I got the sense that Angiegirl didn't like it so much [I didn't read her review but got the sense from the comments] .. which worried me because my tastes usually mirror hers. I hope I like it..

    Paula :: I'm trying really hard to pay attention to my body, but it's a struggle every night as I decide whether or not to get up for my normal workout. My friends from the gym are texting me "Where are you?" messages too. That doesn't help. lol

    If you like fantasy, I highly recommend Eon, even if you don't usually read YA. If you borrow it from the library you really have nothing to lose except maybe a few hours of reading time before you decide it's not for you.

    I will let you know about the 21 day cleanse when I've finished reading the book. My daughter and I might do it together in a couple of weeks.

    Alex :: Thanks, I'm feeling better every day. :)
    Wow, you might be the first person to tell me they liked Where She Went more than the first one! I hope I come back and say the same!

    Janet :: Thanks for the well wishes! :)
    I believe stepping up your exercise regime like you are doing is the best way to make it a permanent change. If you do too much too soon, you might get burned out and go back to where you were before. Just build it up every couple of months and before you know it, you'll be addicted too!

    Regarding the negative buzz in your area on graphic novels, I assume the child borrowed an age-inappropriate graphic novel? It wasn't a yaoi graphic novel was it? I'm not sure why libraries shelve ALL graphic novels in the YA section. Many are written for adult audiences.

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  8. Ugh they don't understand that the snippy attitude is ruining the experience!!

    I've heard a lot of great things about Eon and even got it from the library, but when it came time to read it... Is there a lot of cliches? I always liked stories with heroines passing as guys... but after a while, they are very similar to one another.

    Bet you're going to like Where She Went :P

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  9. I always find something to look up whenever you do a Library Loot post. *g* I hope you're feeling better and kicking that cold!

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  10. Glad to hear you're feeling better. :)

    I really liked both If I Stay and Where She Went. Hope you do too!

    Can you believe I haven't read If I Die yet?! I've had it sitting here on my TBR pile for months! I really need to find a cozy cave and just read for days. LOL Guys have "Man Caves" why can't we have "Reading Caves"? :)

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  11. Just jumping back in to say that the graphic novel in question was shelved in a junior high school library - the boy who took it out was 12! Not sure of the name of the book (or author), but what little they did show was, well, pretty graphic. I'm sure the school librarian was 'spoken to'! Graphic novels are definitely something that librarians need to be up-to-date on - especially school librarians!

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  12. nath :: Hmm... you're referring to Asian-fantasy cliches in Eon? You'll have to be more specific because I'm no where near as well versed in Asian literature as you are, so I'm not sure what you would consider cliche. There is definitely a classic hierarchy of emperor, prince, high lords, lords, servants, etc.; women have little or no power and it is rare for someone to be born with the ability to "see" the dragons of the zodiac and be able to communicate with them.

    Brandy :: That's what I love about Library Loot, too! My interest in other books just expands as I visit the other participants in library looting!

    I'm feeling much better, thank you. I was able to run 2 miles this morning and only coughed a few times within the first 5 minutes of stopping. So yay!

    Leslie :: Wow I cannot believe you haven't read If I Die yet! You've always been one or more books ahead of me! :P You're right--we need "reading caves"! haha

    Janet :: Oh yeah.. I can see parents maybe being concerned over an inappropriate book in a middle school library. If it were a public library, I'd have to say otherwise because I don't believe in censoring books in libraries. It gets tricky when your child teeters on the line between naive child and independent young adult and they are borrowing books from the library on their own, and let's not forget exploring the limitless resources of the internet! Parents really need to stay on top of all of these educational resources!

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  13. I just read Anya's Ghost and enjoyed it; it bogged down a bit in the beginning but it's worth it. Or maybe it's just me -- I have a hard time with graphic novels sometimes, being so old and all (or so my kids tell me). I read ABC years ago and liked it as well -- good choices!

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  14. I'm not necessarily talking about Asian cliches... but just she masquerading as a boy cliche.

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  15. Sounds like you found some great loot to keep you busy! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on all of them. Ha!

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