Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi


The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Graphic Novel

This is the story/memoir of a young Iranian girl growing up through the revolution. I really fell in love with Marjane's strength, independence, free-spirit, and plain old chutzpah. The details about the revolution and what the Iranian people went through was heart wrenching and I feel like I gained a whole new perspective of Iran's history and the Iranian people. I loved this book.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Never Tell A Lie by Hallie Ephron


Never Tell a Lie by Hallie Ephron

Ivy and her high school sweetheart husband, David, buy an old Victorian home in their hometown. At eight months pregnant, with a serious need to "nest," Ivy convinces her husband to help her clear out the previous owners belongings left behind and hold a yard sale. At the yard sale, Melinda White, an old classmate of Ivy and David's shows up looking completely different. Melinda was a strange girl in high school and her odd behavior at the yard sale made Ivy uneasy. When Melinda goes missing immediately following the encounter, Ivy and David become the prime suspects.

I really liked this one. I have never read any books by her but this was a good mystery. Will definitely read more.

Monday, January 19, 2009

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Juliet Ashton becomes famous during WWII writing humorous and "sunny" anecdotes during and after the war under nom de plume, Lizzie Bickerstaff. Juliet receives many letters from readers but one letter, describing the formation of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society from the German occupied island of Guernsey in the English Channel. Juliet begins writing back and forth with members of the society on Guernsey.

Guernsey is written in letter form between Juliet, townspeople on Guernsey, Juliet's editor Sidney and his co-workers as well as her best friend Sophie. This was a wonderful book. I loved the story and loved the characters. I highly recommend it.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Goldengrove by Francine Prose


Nico admires her sixteen year old sister Margaret. When Margaret dies, Nico's life falls apart and she must find a way to survive the loss and help put her parent's back together.

This book is very well-written but had a hard time staying interested. There wasn't a whole lot going on in the story and I didn't feel like Prose was able to create a genuine teenage voice with Nico.