White Mountain by Sophie Tallis

Review based on ARC.

In the end, it fell at three.
While I read this book, my feelings toward it changed often and dramatically.  I felt that the beginning warranted closer to four stars, portions of the middle were great, portions were good, and portions were frustrating.  And the end redeemed itself a little.

This book falls squarely in the "fantasy" camp.  Three friends a/k/a companions find themselves on a Lord of the Rings -esque trek across a large version of our world (or else the dragon flies remarkably slow).  Wizard Marval/Marvalla/M Agyk (a-hem) a/k/a the Green Wizard, dragon Gralen, and witch Wendya encounter incredibly extreme situation after incredibly extreme scenario, fighting for their lives at every turn, eventually leading to a fifty-or-so page "climactic" fight for the known universe.  In between each of these incredibly extreme situations falls lengthy and involved descriptions of scenery with spatterings of "normal" conversation among(st) the friends.

The book includes "dworlls" (dwarfs), ellfrn (elves), dragons/draken (dragons/baby dragons), dwelf (cross-elves and dwarfs), wizards and witches, and various dark creatures/spirits/monsters such as dark mytes (demonic/spirit-like giant beetles), wargols (troll-like entities), and sauron..er, Morreck/m'Sorreck himself.

Right.  That's one of the major issues I had with this book... not the various creatures. Like I said, I'm a fantasy-girl.  The issue is that it felt like a regurgitated LOTR w/ some Harry Potter thrown in.  Except with HP5-level immaturity and tantrums.  M Agyk (I cringed every time I read it) was Gandalf (with some Dumbledore thrown in) .. except instead of being the "Grey" Wizard, he was Green.  Wendya was the generic protagonist/Harry Potter (does not yet know (a) how strong she is or (b) about her twisted past).  Gralen was Samwise/Ronald Weasley/Hagrid.  Of course there are great differences, of course they are not actually the same characters.. but there were SO many times that I thought "uh-huh, LOTR" or "oh, there's HP!"

Additionally, M Agyk's thousand, Gralen's many hundreds, and even "young" Wendya's several hundred years on this planet have not stopped them from making amateur/adolescent mistakes.  There were essentially tantrums, pouts, and clumsy dealings with the challenges, rather than the maturity and broad vision that would be expected from someone with at the least several hundred years of life on them.  Indeed, the whole book might have been less frustrating to read if the three leads were in the late teens or early twenties. Just that -- and publishing as a YA -- would make the book seem "appropriate."

Nevertheless, there is promise with the author and the series.  The descriptions, while long and sometimes gratuitous, DID bring the landscape to life and created a colorful and three-dimensional picture in my head.  The loooong battle at the climax of the tale was surprisingly well done - moving between the different locations of the fighters somewhat effortlessly and mostly convincingly.  Certain of the characters were even endearing and all of the characters were well-described, if not very well developed.  It was easy to turn the page.  I did want to know what happened next.  I did  tense up during the battle scenes.

Moreover, I felt that Tallis nailed the oracle scene and Agyk's first interaction with Morreck.  Those scenes fall into "great."  If she had limited the sheer number of life-threatening situations in one book to just a couple, if she had limited her descriptions (or, really, the need for such descriptions) to just a few (no need to cover the whole world in book 1 of a trilogy), if she had been just a little more realistic with the whole love-triangle bit (what works in a cartoon does not necessarily work in a novel), and if she had instead taken that space to develop the characters' characters (heh heh) a little more, I think the book could easily jump a star.

As is often the case w/ new fantasy writers, the second book may be leagues ahead of the 1st.  I would recommend the book to YA-fantasy readers looking for something to bring back thoughts of HP and LOTR, and I would recommend to die-hard fantasy fans who aren't particular about polished writing.
Overall, THREE of five stars.

The IBD Healing Plan and Recipe Book: Using Whole Foods to Relieve Crohn's Disease and Colitis by Christie A. Korth

Review based on ARC.

As I was reading the book (very quickly), I kept changing who I wanted to give it to next.  I do not personally suffer from IBD (at least, not as far as I know), but I have very close friends and family who do, and I thought that any book that seeks to use whole foods to relieve inflammatory issues in the body would be helpful to all.

Korth wrote a very accessible and relatable book.  You do not have to have IBD to gain from the book.  I thought that her approach was encouraging and informative.  She gave a lot of information, but not so much that the reader felt weighed down.  I understand that some people who DO suffer from IBD are seeking more information, but I feel like the references provided by Korth (at the end of the book and throughout) are excellent sources for that additional information.  I personally appreciated that Korth did not feel the need to expound in great detail about every aspect that she discussed.

The case histories with which she began each section were not my favorite part, but I could see that they would be encouraging to those suffering from IBD.

Overall, I think the book is an excellent resource, a great starting point, and an important perspective to health in general.  ALL of us can benefit from decreasing inflammatory substances, and NONE of us wants to encourage IBD issues in our lives.  I also really appreciated the substantial recipe section in the book and am looking forward to trying all of them!

Oh, and I'm passing the book onto my friend who suffers from severe IBD, largely in the form of ulcerative colitis, who has been looking for a whole foods and natural approach for years.  And I'll buy a new copy of the book for the recipes in the back... ;)

FOUR of five stars.

Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story

Review based on ARC.

Unfortunately for me, the title story was the first story, and I didn't like it.  I imagine if you liked that story, then the whole book is set up for you.  But for me, it was kind of going nowhere, kind of depressing, kind of just blah.  I've heard so many of that story, from so many perspectives, and this one fell flat for me.  I say unfortunately because it made me avoid reading (altogether) for a while, because I didn't want more of "that."

When I finally DID pick the book back up and bear down to geterdone, I was very pleasantly surprised.  No, I did not love all the stories - I felt that some were self-gratifying.. "look how RAW I am" kind of tone.  But on the whole, there was a lot of good stories, a lot of good telling, and some pretty good writing.

I particularly liked Push Kick Coast because it accomplished the "raw," harsh reality, without being so self-aware.  It was just.  So.  Well. Done.  Loved it.

And Why I Hate Strawberries... Well, I hated the story because of why she hates strawberries, but it was well told and I appreciated her courage.

Overall, I was pleased with the opportunity, but it felt a bit weighty to be put all together like that... I know that not all of the stories were sad, but they were all dark, weighty, lessoned.

I also enjoyed being brought back to Chicago -- having lived there for about a decade, the stories brought me back to my first adult home, and I enjoyed the nostalgia.

Overall, 3 1/2 stars because some were just excellent, some were okay, and a couple were really blasé.

Follows is a reaction-blurb of each individual story:

• Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck, by Matt Miller:  As I already stated, I did not love this one.  This was a cute title, a great hook, a well-phrased description of something that happened, and a boring story surrounding it all.
• When the Fairies Came by Julie Ganey:  This one probably won't appeal to everyone, but it was a light (and welcome) moment of frivolity.  I really enjoyed it.
• Push Kick Coast by Ric Walker:  Like I said above, this was the pinnacle.  So impressed with the way the whole story came together, the point, the awareness.  So impressed.
• Crazy for You by Lott Hill:  I don't know.  Again, I kind of felt like, yeah yeah, I've heard it before.  It was cute and sweet, but kind of cliched.  I'm sure it was not cliched to the person experiencing it, but not all versions of the same story need to be told... 
• This Teacher Talks Too Fast by Megan Stielstra:  This was pretty good, okay.  I knew where this story was going, but it almost seemed like the author felt like I was supposed to be surprised when it got there.  Nonetheless, I thought the ending was satisfying and redeeming.
• Super K by Kim Morris:  This was one of the one's that mostly fell flat for me, but then I loved the ending, making me feel better about the whole story, overall.
• Amber by Sam Weller:  I did not like Amber because I felt like I was just reading a Brag.  You know, your friend who once met [fill in name of celebrity] and just HAS to tell the story.  Like, Dude, I met this porn star, you know, the one from when I was a kid, and she totally wanted me. but I turned her down. I know, I'm awesome.  and you sit there smiling politely with your eyes glazing over.  It was like that.
• A Cautionary Tale? by Eric Charles May:  This one was one of the lighter moments in the book... May told a potentially dark tale in a pretty light-hearted and certainly humorous fashion. I really enjoyed this one.
• Why I Hate Strawberries by Deb R. Lewis:  As I stated above, I did not like the story, but because of what HAPPENS in the story, not because of how it was told.  I commend Lewis for telling her story - I am certain that this helps various audience members (and now, readers) come to different terms with their own stories.  
• Foundationalysis by Lawrence Kerns:  This was okay.  It didn't really go anywhere, up or down.  I imagine it's a welcome break from the heartbreak, but it was just kind of blasé.
• Xena: Cardboard Princess by Sara Kerastes:  I really enjoyed this.  It was cute and fun, serious and heavy.  It was well-told and ended just right.
• The Kids and the King by Khanisha Foster:  This was another one of the stand-out pieces.  Although I felt like the author was a little self-gratifying, I really enjoyed her story, and I *REALLY* appreciated the resolution and what you learn from it.
• Hollyweird by JC Aevaliotis:  I think that I enjoyed this one for a similar reason that many will -- it gives you some confirmation of that odd feeling you get when you think about Scientology!  But not only that, he told it well.  He had just the right amount of creep, suspense, and humor.  Another one of the stand-out pieces.
• Dirty Dancing by Byron Flitsch:  This one was well-told and made me sad.  Not deeply sad (or angered) like Strawberries, but sad at the cruelty in the world, and at the loss of innocence (even if it's just the next degree of innocence).  Fortunately, Flitsch has a sense of humor about what he learned that night, and tells his story well employing that humor.
• Running on Empty by Julia Borcherts: This was yet another stand-out piece.  I loved it, it was so well-told and well-paced.  It was believable, honest (had an honest tone), and whole.  I don't even really know what I mean by that word -- It just felt "complete" reading that one.
• Tribes by CP Chang:  This was a pretty cute story, with some light moments, and just the right amount of unknown at the end.
• Here, Capture Something by Andrew Reilly:  This is the perfect story for the romantics out there.  It was sweet, young, and innocent.
• Covergirl by Kimberlee Soo:  I really liked this nostalgic little piece.  It was just the right tone to perfectly describe what it feels to be at that age.  What it feels to have an older sister.  What it feels to be different from everyone else, and to have someone notice how it's a benefit.
• Foreigner in a Straight Land by J. Adams Oak:  This one is funny to start and light throughout.  Another sort of coming of age/coming out story, but innocuous and fine.  A little meh, but fine.
• Here Comes Trouble by Randall Albers:  I liked it.  I liked what he did and how he did it.  I liked the realization of what it means to grow up and be responsible.  I like the transition, and I like the struggle against it.  It felt a little like sour grapes, but just a little, and, regardless, did not detract from the story.
• A Prostitue Comparison by Molly Each:  I must have liked this one more than I realized because when I re-read the title to myself just now, a smile came to my face.  It was funny.  It was disgusting, but just in the right way, and just for the right reason.
• Counting Days by Bobby Biedrzycki:  Loved this one.  Not because it was so poignant or moving -- I didn't know that it really was.  But because it was brave and honest.  Because Biedrzycki struggled and moved forward.  There was truth in the story, and hope.
• Return Trip by Patricia Ann McNair:  This is another one of the stories that kind of went nowhere; yet, this one didn't really bother me -- so I assume it was because it was a well-told, well-written story.  I suppose I can see why they ended with this piece... it was an ending and a beginning in and of itself.

Being Santa Claus by Sal Lizard

Review based on ARC.

There's a lot of magic in a book like this.  It was encouraging and hopeful reading about all the ways in which the spirit of Christmas is alive and well.  I personally agreed with a lot of Mr. Lizard's points and perspectives.

Sal Lizard is a "Genuine Santa" and has spent the past two decades reminding people, young and old, that the spirit of Christmas is what matters.  The book really is a "feel good" book, and I spent many pages smiling, reminiscing, and, yes, wiping away tears.

The book does a nice job of going through the life of this genuine santa and many of his experiences, painting a complete picture of why his persona is more "genuine" than the rest.

What I didn't love about the book was really just that at times it seemed that the focus was more on Sal's good-deeds.  BUT, to be fair, the book was not actually written by Sal.  Sal told his stories, and the form they took in final publication may have been someone else's doing.

Indeed, Sal did do a lot of good in the world.  I didn't necessarily agree with all of his lessons or goals, but I didn't have to, to enjoy the book, the stories, the people, and the spirit of Christmas.  I particularly loved the story of Donna and have often hoped that I can someday make a similar, faceless impact on someone else's life.

Overall, a great "feel good" book for the holidays.
Definitely recommend!
FOUR of five stars.

Breathe by Sarah Crossan

On this, here, Election Day... a book review.  Nothing about the election ;)

Breathe is yet another dystopian, not-too-distant future, young adult novel about the dangers of taking something essential for granted, and, of course, some romance.  But don't get discouraged by that description.  When I first started reading the book, I sighed in resignation.

YET.  It was a great take on the "same-old."  In this instance, the essential element that we've taken for granted is, you guessed it, air.  We've cut down all the trees, and now we must subsist on manufactured air in a bubble.  The bubble is, of course, tightly managed by the elite, and there is, of course, a resistance.

But the story was very well told, the characters were vivid and believable (plus flawed! but not too flawed ;)), and the plot moves along at the perfect pace.  I read the book quickly, and I was very satisfied when I turned the last page.

For its audience, this book is definitely a stand-out.  I highly recommend.
FOUR out of five stars.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

First, I would like to link to my book group's Anne of Green Gables review, which is largely my review ;), posted here.

Ok, Bernadette...
This was also a book group book and, in fact, it was recommended to us by a non-book group member!  I am posting my separate review here because I expect that a lot of the Desert Girls will have a lot to say about this book, separate from my thoughts.

I really really really enjoyed this book.  I FLEW through the first half... as my bath got cold.  Bernadette is a sort of mixed media book, using letters, emails, transcripts, etc. to tell the story.  There is a little bit of narration by Bee (daughter) throughout the first 2/3 or so, and then quite a bit more narration in the latter portion.  The Desert Girls recently read Wife 22, which was also a mixed-media book, but Bernadette took the concept and, really, showed the world how it should be done.

The book is touted and/or implies that it is a mystery.  Bernadette has disappeared and we must discover where she went.  This is not a particularly accurate description.  Bernadette does disappear, but not until more than halfway through and then... well, you're not really unsure about where she went.  You don't know for certain, but you can piece it together pretty well.

Instead, the book is really a wonderfully told story about a rather dysfunctional family (aren't they all), with a mother (Bernadette) who is a genius hermit former architect, the daughter (Bee) who is a brilliant young girl with a medical history and a love of life, and the father (Elgie) who is a workaholic genius microsoft project head who loves his family, if from a distance.  Blech, sounds boring the way I just did that.  Trust me, it's not.

The characters are quirky, crazy, relatable, totally un-relatable, enraging, off-putting, loving, spiteful, and the complete heart of the story.  Semple does not describe her characters in the traditional sense; rather, she provides enough information to give you an outline, and a bevy of personality traits for the reader to fill in the details.  The story is less the point, focusing instead on the development of the characters and their character.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bernadette, and I highly recommend.  What made the book not perfect was the ending, which sort of dropped, just a little, in its intrigue.  The resolution was just a little less climactic than I would have hoped.  But it did not detract from the book as a whole, and it did not leave me feeling frustrated... just a little less than perfectly satisfied.

Highly recommend.
FOUR AND A HALF of five stars.

Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #1: Professor Gargoyle by Charles Gilman

Review based on ARC.

This book is listed for ages 9+ .. it's not far off.  This book is perfect for kids in the 8-12 age range.  It is a fun, fast-paced, entertaining read.  Robert Arthur has been transferred to the brand new Lovecraft Middle School, where he knows no one and has no friends.  Unfortunately, there is just one other student from his old middle school - the bully who appears intent on continuing the tradition at a new school.  Robert meets a quick friend in a girl who sympathizes with him after a bullying episode, but it takes him some time to finesse the relationship after Robert initially pushes her away in embarrassment.

Robert quickly learns that things at Lovecraft are not always as they appear.  By the end of the book, without presenting any spoilers, Robert has discovered the secret of the school, has found 3 (or perhaps 4) best friends, and is ready for the year ahead of him, whatever that year may bring.

The plot is simple and the characters are engaging.  The more sinister aspects of the book are not too dark and not too scary.  There's just a touch of it all, which is perfect for the 3rd to 7th grader who loves Halloween.

As a side note - the "lenticular cover" (it changes images) is beautifully done.  My husband said to me the other day, "I really like Professor Gargoyle!"  Based solely on that cover ;)

FOUR and a HALF of five stars.