Category Archives: Review

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea, by Valerie Zenatti

Posted on June 4, 2009 by Thistle

When a bomb goes off in a cafe near Tal’s home in Jerusalem, she begins to write. At first, it’s just like a journal entry. Then, it becomes a letter to an as-of-yet unknown Palestinian. Tal has this idea that … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Forest of Hands and Teeth, by Carrie Ryan

Posted on June 2, 2009 by Thistle

I’ve heard this described as a post-apocalyptic zombie romance novel, and that’s a fairly apt description. (And no, it’s not the zombies having romance.) Mary lives in a community protected from the Unconsecrated by a high fence. This community believes … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Thistle

Maurice is not sure why he can think or talk, since he’s a cat and he’s never thought or talked before. And he’s not the only one. A whole hoard of rats have suddenly gotten smarter, and Maurice knows exactly … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Children's, Prose | Tagged | Leave a comment

Protected: Bad Girls Don’t Die, by Katie Alender

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Thistle

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Posted in 2009, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged | Enter your password to view comments.

Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Thistle

Meggie’s father, Mo, has a gift. He can read a book aloud so realistically that characters leap from the page. Unfortunately, he once accidentally pulled several villains into this world, and they’ve chased him from place to place ever since. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Children's, Prose | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Thistle

A parson named Kumalo from a small town in South Africa is called by another parson to Johannesburg to help his “ill” sister (meaning she’s gotten into prostitution and illegal alcohol/drug distribution). Kumalo fears Johannesburg – every member of his … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Protected: Pickup Games, by Marcia Mickelson

Posted on May 25, 2009 by Thistle

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Posted in 2009, Adult, Prose | Enter your password to view comments.

Sorcerers and Secretaries, by Amy Kim Ganter

Posted on May 24, 2009 by Thistle

This was my very first Manga. My son bought it at the library sale last weekend, but it’s rated for 13+ so I decided to read it before letting him have it. And for the record, it certainly is too … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Visual, Young Adult | Leave a comment

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, by Gabrielle Zevin

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Thistle

When Naomi wakes up from her bad fall down the stairs of her high school, she can’t remember the last four years of her life. She doesn’t know about her parents’ divorce, her father’s recent engagement, her mother’s remarriage, or … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged | 1 Comment

Lost in a Good Book, by Jasper Fforde

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Thistle

I don’t usually use the book-jacket description, but in this case, I couldn’t explain the essence of this followup to The Eyre Affair better: If Thursday thought she could avoid the spotlight after her heroic escapades in the pages of … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment