Emily E

Lisa E is now reading a book.

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“Meh. This is done better elsewhere. What I liked: well, not much. What I didn't like: The characters seemed flat and lacking in any real dimension. The mom was obsessive and worried, the daughter, Julia, seemed much older than her 11 years, especially in her relationship with Seth (very...”

“Meh. This is done better elsewhere. What I liked: well, not much. What I didn't like: The characters seemed flat and lacking in any real dimension. The mom was obsessive and worried, the daughter, Julia, seemed much older than her 11 years, especially in her relationship with Seth (very cerebral relationship). What bothered me most was the lack of reason behind anything that was happening. How easy for the author. This major disaster occurs - the days lengthening up to 70 hours or so - but with no reason. Convenient. And there wasn't really an ending. We find that Julia is relating this all through memory and things haven' gotten better. OK. This idea has been done much better elsewhere - think On the Beach (OK, so that' nuclear disaster, but similar theme).”

Lisa E is now reading a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“This was OK. It was suggested to me as the next big thing, but I'd be surprised if that happened. It was a good adventure, espionage story featuring young adult characters, but there was nothing that really grabbed me. Yes, it was science-oriented, so that might attract the right kind of kid,...”

“This was OK. It was suggested to me as the next big thing, but I'd be surprised if that happened. It was a good adventure, espionage story featuring young adult characters, but there was nothing that really grabbed me. Yes, it was science-oriented, so that might attract the right kind of kid, but I felt that it was also a bit too long. I found myself not really caring much about the characters of Itch, Jack, and Chloe while they were on their quest to discover the secrets behind Itch's special rock. The situations were a little difficult to believe . The rescue of Itch was, of course, never fully explained and the baddest bad guy got away, leaving it open to...you guessed it...a sequel! Someone really needs to write a stand alone YA book.”

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“I didn't really like this book. While it had some cute moments, I didn't like how it hit me over the head with its message. Yes, some humans treat animals terribly and this should be stopped. Got it. But it was way too heavy handed. Also, I realize that this was a middle grades/upper...”

“I didn't really like this book. While it had some cute moments, I didn't like how it hit me over the head with its message. Yes, some humans treat animals terribly and this should be stopped. Got it. But it was way too heavy handed. Also, I realize that this was a middle grades/upper elementary book, so cute talking animals were OK, but making the gorilla able to reason, draw, and eventually spell seemed a bit too anthropomorphist, which it would seem goes against the whole treat animals well but as animals. Oh well. ”

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“At first, I was hesistant because I don't often like books that set up "another world" with new and unusual names for the same things, but I got over that quickly with this book. It was great. The author created a very strong unique female character and a quietly sensual male character (without...”

“At first, I was hesistant because I don't often like books that set up "another world" with new and unusual names for the same things, but I got over that quickly with this book. It was great. The author created a very strong unique female character and a quietly sensual male character (without overt sexuality). I can see her trying a sequel, but I almost hope she doesn't as this stands nicely on its own.”

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“Another dystopian novel featuring teens fighting against the establishment. OK. At least this one had a few differences. First, the main female, Aria, is NOT fighting her feelings for two different guys. She gets sent out into the Death Shop (outside the Pod where everyone lives in a...”

“Another dystopian novel featuring teens fighting against the establishment. OK. At least this one had a few differences. First, the main female, Aria, is NOT fighting her feelings for two different guys. She gets sent out into the Death Shop (outside the Pod where everyone lives in a controlled environment). She’s sure she’s going to die. She is sent out because she had a rather wild night with the son of the Counsel – the son went crazy and set a pod forest on fire. Aria doesn’t know what to do at first, as her Smarteye is ripped off and disabled; the Smarteye allows her to travel to virtual realities – realms – to get out of the dullness that is the Pod life. Eventually, she meets up with Peregrine, a Scire (can sense smells and moods in others) and the travel goether. Aria is trying to find her mother (doing research in another Pod, Bliss, that has been compromised) and Perry is trying to find his nephew, Talon. Of course, everyone’s story becomes intertwined and things are a lot more related than they first seem. It read fast and was entertaining. These YA authors certainly know how to make intriguing male characters (Perry and Roar). But of course, things are dangling and awaiting a sequel.”

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“I really didn't like this book. It was way too pointedly messaged that Christianity is the only real religion and way to preachy for me. The young son, Colton, undergoes a series of terrible illnesses and surgeries resulting from a burst appendix. After the fact, he casually relates to his...”

“I really didn't like this book. It was way too pointedly messaged that Christianity is the only real religion and way to preachy for me. The young son, Colton, undergoes a series of terrible illnesses and surgeries resulting from a burst appendix. After the fact, he casually relates to his parents that he saw and heard angels and Jesus. Their immediate conclusion is that he was in heaven--not that it was a dream or hallucination. Right. After that, the parents question him at intervals about what else he saw and heard there. Funny coincidence, but everything is spot on to the bible versions that this family believes in. Hmmm. And the father is a preacher. Hmmm. But the father keeps saying there is no WAY his son would know this information. Sorry, not buying it. And the fact that all the info fits this one version of Christianity's views (as opposed to the variance that is out there) seemed a little to pat. I don't buy it and find the book exploitative of the child.”

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“Although this is book 11 of the series, it is the first one I've read and I was just fine (I'm sure some of the settings and characters would have meant more had I read the other books, but it was enjoyable nonetheless). Halt reminded me a lot of Aragorn from LOTR. I enjoyed the interplay...”

“Although this is book 11 of the series, it is the first one I've read and I was just fine (I'm sure some of the settings and characters would have meant more had I read the other books, but it was enjoyable nonetheless). Halt reminded me a lot of Aragorn from LOTR. I enjoyed the interplay between his character and Will. I can see how this would appeal to middle school adventure seekers - just enough sword fighting and danger, but not gore. The characters seem to be well conceived by Flanagan, even though I get tired of the "fantasy" names of things. There was a little romance, but all kept on an appropriately not-too-mushy level.”

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“Wow. This is definitely one of the best books I've read in a while. Just a beautiful take on life, death, love, understanding. Hazel is a terminally ill cancer patient, finds love with another cancer patient, encounters disappointed from the author of her favorite novel, and just basically...”

“Wow. This is definitely one of the best books I've read in a while. Just a beautiful take on life, death, love, understanding. Hazel is a terminally ill cancer patient, finds love with another cancer patient, encounters disappointed from the author of her favorite novel, and just basically learns more about life than a 16 year old should have too. The writing is bold and poignant, with a strong teenage voice, one however, that is a bit wise beyond her years. Some passages that are exceptionally beautiful are "Sometimes it seems the universe wants to be noticed" when trying to understand the world and "I called it a nine because I was saving my ten. And here it was, the great and terrible ten, slamming me again and again as I lay still and alone in my bed staring at the ceiling" when Hazel was describing pain, both physical and emotional. Sad, but intensely beautiful.”

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“Where to begin? I thought this book was poetic, beautiful, sad, uplifting...I can go on. What I loved about it was three fold - first, the non-gender specificity of the love relationships. It was just LOVE. Second, the poetic writing. " But just like a sound, as soon as the note hits the air,...”

“Where to begin? I thought this book was poetic, beautiful, sad, uplifting...I can go on. What I loved about it was three fold - first, the non-gender specificity of the love relationships. It was just LOVE. Second, the poetic writing. " But just like a sound, as soon as the note hits the air, it beings to fade." "If you stare at the center of the universe, there is a coldness there. A blankness. Ultimately, the universe doesn't care about us. Time doesn't care about us. That's why we have to care about each other." Third, and this will sound odd and is a spoiler, I liked that there was no happy ending. I liked that after changing bodies day after day after day, A did the selfless thing and let go. He allowed Rhiannon, the girl he loved, to have a chance at forever after. I liked that he didn't go to the dark side. I liked that David Levithan didn't try to explain A (or Rev. Poole); they just were. If you liked this, you should def read A Certain Slant of Light and Her Fearful Symmetry.”

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“This nonfiction account of pre-war Nazi Germany was very interesting as it depicted the rise of Hitler basically from the American ambassador's point of view. Mr. Dodd was seen as ineffectual because he refused to live large and refused to simply accept all the Nazi's were doing. He quietly...”

“This nonfiction account of pre-war Nazi Germany was very interesting as it depicted the rise of Hitler basically from the American ambassador's point of view. Mr. Dodd was seen as ineffectual because he refused to live large and refused to simply accept all the Nazi's were doing. He quietly protested by not showing up to certain events, but for all his warnings, the American government wouldn't do anything against Hitler for fear of Germany not repaying their WWI debts and for not getting involved in Europe.. His daughter, however, had relationships with many high powered Nazis and was perhaps a spy for Russia.”

Lisa E reviewed a book.

“This story took place, obviously, in the 1960s. The good part: It centered around Three different kids, Chuck, whose dad was a TV clown, but whose family was wealthy and big in the film industry, Sojie a Black girl from Chicago whose mom, a lawyer, goes back to the South to fight racism, and...”

“This story took place, obviously, in the 1960s. The good part: It centered around Three different kids, Chuck, whose dad was a TV clown, but whose family was wealthy and big in the film industry, Sojie a Black girl from Chicago whose mom, a lawyer, goes back to the South to fight racism, and Dick, a boy handicapped from polio, who is also a member of the film family. These three confront and fight the prejudices of the early 60s in different ways. The bad part: it seemed the author tried too hard to get "real" people and facts from the time into the story. Some fit, some were wedged in.”