45.
Author(s): Victoria Thompson
Title: Murder on Lexington Avenue
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: May 29, 2011
Rating: ****

When an avid supporter of the movement against ASL (and of eugenics) is found dead in his business office, Malloy has no shortage of suspects; his partner makes it immediately clear that no one who knew him liked him, his (deaf) daughter expresses satisfaction at the news, and countless motives begin to surface - including an unknown pregnancy, which brings Sarah Brandt into the picture.

As the series continues I believe it must be increasingly difficult for Thompson to conceive of situations in which a reputable midwife can find herself involved in a murder investigation, but I found this particular situation to be successful. Likewise, I enjoy the personal developments with which Thompson peppers his stories, although I maintain that she is a terrible terrible tease.

44.
Author(s): Kresley Cole
Title: Dreams of a Dark Warrior
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Romance
Acquisition:
Date Completed: May 19, 2011
Rating: **1/2

This one had a plot twist that made it very difficult for me to accept the ending - namely, the male protagonist literally and excruciatingly tortures the female protagonist, and a number of her friends and loved ones. Redemption and "love" come far too quickly and easily, even with the understanding of what drives him to commit these acts in the first place. Cole's female characters are very quick to understand and forgive in the first place, but the extreme circumstances that lead to this union just give me the creeps.

43.
Author(s): Kresley Cole
Title: Demon from the Dark
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Romance
Acquisition:
Date Completed: May 15, 2011
Rating: ****

42.
Author(s): Kresley Cole
Title:Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Romance
Acquisition:
Date Completed: May 12, 2011
Rating: ***1/2

41.
Author(s): Shannon Hale
Title: Book of a Thousand Days
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 336
Genre: Young Adult
Acquisition: Work Text, 8th Grade
Date Completed: May 7, 2011
Rating: ****

Shannon Hale's Book of a Thousand Days takes the reader into a fantastic Mongolia, where a young mucker girl finds herself bound to a young lady in more ways than one. First agreeing to seven years confinement in a stone tower, and then struggling to find her way (and her lady's) after their escape, Dashti's adventures span years of struggles, hope, and growth. Through her journal the reader learns of Dashti's past and present, and gains a sense of hope for her future. Originally borrowed from a Grimm fairy tale, Book of a Thousand Days presents a fascinating look at a colorful and intriguing culture, while drawing the reader into a narrative that can evoke a wide range of emotions.

40.
Author(s): H. G. Wells
Title: The Island of Doctor Moreau
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 131
Genre: Scientific Romance (according to the original publishers, of course)
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: April 30, 2011
Rating: *****

By sheer dumb luck Edward Prendick survives the sinking of the Lady Vain, and again by dumb luck manages to lose his two lifeboat companions, increasing his chances for survival with his limited supplies. Luck once again intervenes when, after several days without water, Prendick is pulled back from the point of death by a strange dark face and an eternally blond doctor, and these figures again save his rather hopeless existence when the captain of the savior boat casts Prendick overboard.

In the coming months Prendick comes to doubt that luck, however, as he finds himself isolated on an isolated island with the white Moreau, his scalpel, and the unfortunate results of eleven years of experimental vivisection.

Although authors such as Jules Verne predate Wells by decades, the creator of The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and countless other famous tales is often credited with being the father of the science fiction genre. Originally called "scientific romance" for its emphasis on scientific theories and the fantastic, the genre was immediately successful, and Wells right along with it, despite a number of challenges for its occasionally questionable content.

The introduction to the Penguin Classics edition by Margaret Atwood provides a fantastic guide to moving through the work. As part of her introduction, Atwood introduces "Ten Ways of Looking at The Island of Doctor Moreau," which include everything from Darwinism, to religious implications, to an exploration of the New Woman, racism, and literary allusions. Her explanations are well-developed without being overly assertive, allowing the reader to make up his own mind as opposed to the validity of each argument. The introduction is particularly useful as I introduce Wells' novel in our introductory course, and I look forward to seeing how they respond once we open up the dialog.

39.
Author(s): Samuel Beckett
Title: Waiting for Godot
Publication: Paperback
Pages:
Genre: Drama, tragicomedy, theatre of the absurd
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: April 27, 2011
Rating:

Another work read, another re-read, and another top read.

38.
Author(s): Audrey Couloumbis
Title: The Misadventures of Maude March
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 290
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Acquisition: Work Text - Yang Academy, 5th-grade
Date Completed: April 22, 2011
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

After the death of their parents, young sisters Sallie and Maude March are raised by their no-nonsense, tough-as-nails Aunt Ruthie, from whom they learn hard work and important life skills, like how to shoot a gun. However, when Sallie is 11 and Maude is 15 Aunt Ruthie is killed by a wild bullet walking away from the general store, and the girls are left alone in the world. Though they are determined to make the best of things, the March sisters soon find themselves in a disagreeable situation, as their temporary guardians attempt to force Maude to marry a much older man. Seeing no other solution, the girls set out in the middle of the night to find their one living relative - their mysterious Uncle Arlen.

A serious of mishaps and mistakes lead to a newspaper trail following the girls, naming Maude a horse thief, bank robber, and murderer, all before they reach their final destination.

Despite the bloodshed, The Misadventures of Maude March is a delightful and up-beat Western novel for young readers. Couloumbis has created two likable and realistic characters that will be easy for readers to relate to, and they provide wonderful examples of determination and strength of character as they work through a series of hardships. Sallie's narrative voice is consistent with her age and situation, without talking down to the intended readership. The Misadventures of Maude March is proving to be a fun way to introduce different genres to my fifth-grade student, and I would certainly recommend it to others.

37.
Author(s): Victoria Thompson
Title: Murder on Waverly Place
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 19, 2011
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Nothing earth-shattering, but charming all the same.

36.
Author(s): Victoria Thompson
Title: Murder on Bank Street
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 14, 2011
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

The title of Victoria Thompson's Murder on Bank Street is misleading, as it does not present a murder in Sarah Brandt's neighborhood; nor does it present a new murder at all. This particular volume delivers on the subplots that have been building in recent books, and focuses entirely on the case of Dr. Brandt's murder, which occurs four years prior to the story itself.

Although Malloy is appointed head of the investigation, he quickly realizes that he is greatly limited by his resources and position, and begrudgingly accepts nearly any help that's offered - even when it comes in the unlikely form of Sarah Brandt's nursemaid, Maeve.

The primary plot of the novel is an investigation of the cold case, but what I enjoyed most about this particular narrative was Thompson's willingness to set aside her typical protagonists and develop secondary characters. In Murder on Bank Street Maeve becomes a round character, and her personality really carries the mystery through. The final twist is actually not one I expected, and I was thrilled with the conclusion.

35.
Author(s): Kresley Cole
Title: Kiss of a Demon King
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 11, 2011
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

34.
Author(s): Alex Flinn
Title: [Beastly]
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 300
Genre: YA Fantasy
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 8, 2011
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Yesterday evening I picked up Beastly again, deciding to give it another go.

I bought it after reading a few reviews here, and seeing the movie trailer. However, I put the book down after finishing just part 1 (about 45 pages). There are a number of things that just don't sit well with me. First of all, I am disappointed in the antagonist, and Flinn's refusal to maintain his (or maybe her? not that it matters) main theme: once again the "witch" transforms from a rather physically unremarkable individual to someone the protagonist views as very attractive. Now, my only understanding of the "Beauty and the Beast" story comes from Disney, but Flinn's consistency with the Disneyfied version of the folktale is disappointing. After all, in a story that is supposed to stress internal worth over physical appearances, why does the witch transform into an attractive young woman? Her actions - placing the curse - are what speak to the protagonist, so why must the author make the witch guilty of the same crime (vanity).

My second problem with the book came from the introduction of the chatroom transcripts. Really, Flinn could have done no worse in destroying the suspension of disbelief. Introducing elements from "The Little Mermaid" and "The Frog Prince" does nothing to further the narrative, other than confirm that the protagonist of Beastly is in fact a teenager living in the digital age. The transcripts themselves are obnoxious, and provide no character development that isn't better related through the body of the story.

And with that I put down the novel for several months.

Last night, a small detail has brought my previous judgments back to my memory. In truth, most readers would likely gloss over the information, but because it's so near and dear to my heart I'm rather offended by the lack of attention to detail.

The detail? "Wilde dies in prison" (Flinn 126).

Really, Alex Flinn. Oscar Wilde dies in prison, hhmm? Perhaps if you're being metaphoric, but somehow I doubt it.

...

After my previous griping I decided to simply let things go and finish the book, more out of the hope that Flinn would redeem herself than anything else. What I found in the second half of the novel was a lackluster presentation of the tale superimposed on modern New York City, with absolutely no twists or attempts at originality.

Beastly is exactly what readers would expect it to be. In the second half of the book Adrian becomes a more sympathetic character than Kyle, which makes the reading a bit more enjoyable, but overall I personally found the story to be unsuccessful.

I have a theory that Beastly, like so many Stephen King and Anne Rice stories, will make a far more enjoyable film than a novel.