Liz’s Comments (group member since Dec 23, 2014)

Liz’s comments from the Puzzles Presents: Ultimate Reading Challenge 2015 group.

The League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant

After her father and her hold a funeral for a venus fly trap, Anastasia is late to school. While sitting in class, she gets this feeling that something terrible is going to happen. Sure enough, a few periods later, she finds herself face to face with two old aunts she's never met and the news that her mother and father have had a terrible accident and are now dead. Now her aunts have whisked her away to their old "authentic Victorian" home, which used to serve as an insane asylum. Now Anastasia must figure out why her aunts lock her in her room before sundown every night, why there is a lunatic gardener with a cage on his head, why she has this sudden desire to eat moths and how the heck she can escape this dreadful place.

Not going to lie, my book description for this novel is more than weak. That being said, I'm sure we all get the gist of what this book is about, if not, I apologize!! But anyway, on to my review:

I am a sucker for any book which deals with A. Orphans, B. Old asylums C. Mysterious accidents and D. Unknown creatures. League of Beastly Dreadfuls looked like it was going to have all of the above, and I was stoked. In fact, within the first few chapters, the first of which was entitled "A Splendid Day for a Funeral (just my kind of chapter heading), I found myself silently comparing it to Coraline and was eagerly anticipating every direction this book would go. That being said, I was utterly disappointed. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for something to happen, but it never truly did. The story lacked any real turning points, any real action and wasn't all that interesting. Sure it was a page turner, but only because I kept thinking there has to be a big twist coming, which never did. Hopefully the second will be better ? Although I won't be as eager to get my hands on it when it comes out.

Not my father's son - Alan Cumming

I have been a fan of Alan Cumming for as long as I can remember. I've watched countless movies, seen him perform a number of times and look forward to his daily instagram posts because I just think he is delightful. When his audiobook came out, I couldn't wait to have his Scottish brogue entertain me on my trips to and from work. I thought this book would be as humorous as he always appeared to me. Imagine my shock when I started his memoir and learned about all the abuse and torment he suffered as a young child/man.

This book was a tough read (well in my case, listen), not because it was terrible, but because it truly pulls at the reader's heart strings. It's raw, honest and emotionally draining to learn about some of things Alan Cumming endured in his early years. To hear about everything he was put through and to see how he's turned it all around is amazing. After listening to this book, I have gone back and re-watched a few of his movies, ones that he spoke about in the book, and saw them with new eyes. If you enjoy Alan Cumming, this book is an absolute must!! And I highly recommend listening to the audiobook to really hear the emotions in his voice and his wonderful accent!

Bud, Not Buddy - Christopher Paul Curtis

I had the pleasure of meeting CPC last year at a library conference in Mississippi. An engaging, hysterical and warm man to meet, I knew I had to read one of his books. All I can say is how disappointed I am in myself that it took this long to get to it.

Bud, Not Buddy is the story of a young African American boy growing up during the great depression. His mother passed when he was 6, and being shuffled from home to home, Bud has had to endure more things in his young life than I could even try to imagine. Finally taking matters into his own hands, Bud decides to set off and find his father, who he believes is a famous musician. Along his way, Bud encounters all sorts of people and sees what life is like outside of what he has ever known.

I am terrible at describing books, and the above paragraph is no exception. I cannot express how good this book was. The characters jumped off the page, my heart broke for that poor child and I was rooting for him to find his family until the very last page. This book was everything I hoped it would be and more.

At the recommendation of Christina, I listened to the audio version of The White Cat by Holly Black.

Jesse Eisenberg (spelling?) was the perfect narrator for this story, as I think Christina said. His tone, voices and pacing made this a fantastic listen and even prompted me to request the next two books to listen to on my drive to work. It was a good story, decent characters and the perfect way to pass my time in the car. Would def recommend, and already have, to others to give it a go.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Theif - Rick Riordan

For this one I cheated a bit, while it doesn't take place in my hometown, a piece of the story happens on Long Island, so that was good enough for me. I really wanted to read this book and this was the only category left I could think to put it in.

Prior to reading this, I was amazed by how many kids came in looking for this book/the others in the series. After reading it, I can totally see why. This book is adventurous, fast paced, action packed and throws in some nice greek mythology. I wanted to read it more so that I could recommend other books for kids who had finished the series, and I have now found myself in their shoes wanting the read the entire thing.

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion and the Fall of Imperial Russia - Candace Fleming

Having little to no knowledge of what it was like for the last imperial family of Russia, this book was a huge eye opener. I thought it was well written, amazingly researched and kept my attention to the very last page. Def worth a read if you are into history, enjoy learning new things or just want to know the actual facts instead of what the cartoon version of Anastasia taught you.

Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins

This being a popular book, I'm sure we all know what this book is about. If not, here is a brief description copied and pasted from my library's website, it's too confusing to try and write my own. "Obsessively watching a breakfasting couple every day to escape the pain of her losses, Rachel witnesses a shocking event that inextricably entangles her in the lives of strangers."

The excitement I had to read this book was beyond words. Being hailed as better than Gone Girl, one of my absolute personal favorites, having twists and turns no reader could imagine, having to wait for over 1,000 holds to clear to get it from the library, etc. I was beyond stoked to get my hands on a copy of this bad boy. That being said, I hated this book. From the whiny, drippy and overall dull protagoinist to the terrible idea for a plot to the unbelievable ending, this book was NOT what I was expecting. I felt like it could not end soon enough, it was about 100 pages too long and it was boring. Luckily, a lot of the other librarians I work with felt the same way, so I knew it wasn't only me.

If you are obsessed with Gone Girl, stay away from this book!

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Bianca Piper is a cynical, sarcastic and smart 17 year old. She can't be bothered with high school drama, she refuses to conform to the norm and she believes she is above falling for the school hottie, Wesley Rush, and notorious womanizer. Forced to work on a school project together, Bianca tries to keep her cool, but it isn't long before she starts using Wesley to distract her from her personal problems.

From that description alone, I'm sure you can guess exactly where this book goes and how it ends. That being said, I loved this book. Yes, it was cliched. Yes, it was predictable. Yes, it was like a lot of YA novels out there. BUT it was a perfect example of that kind of YA literature. The characters, despite being stereotypical of teens, were perfectly drawn and thought out. The story, while simple, was complete and executed nicely. If you have a soft spot for terrible teen books, like I do, this is the book for you. I honestly was sad when it ended.

I think this movie came out a few months ago, and I really wanted to see it. However, after reading the book and then the synopsis for the movie, I will be staying as far away from the motion picture as possible!! This book was too good to ruin with a terrible adaptation.

Alistair Grim's Odditorium by Gregory Funaro

Orphaned and dropped on a doorstep as a baby, Grubb, like the worm but with two b's in case you want to write it down, has had a rough life. Starved and forced to clean chimneys by the Mr. Smears, Grubb will do anything to get run away. One day he gets his chance, and his adventure takes him beyond his wildest imagination.

After stowing away in a stranger's trunk, Grubb finds himself in a new place filled with magic and Odditoria. Meeting some eccentric people along the way, Grubb finds himself a place where he finally belongs and a family. However when the Black Fairy and Prince Nightshade threaten to take all of this away, it is up to Grubb to use his courage and wit to defeat the darkness and save those he loves.

I am a true sucker when it comes to weird, eccentric and off the beaten path middle grade novels. They are my favorite to pick up and I love trying to recommend them to some of the kids that come into my library. AGO (yes I am abbreviating the title because I am not typing it out again haha) is now one of those books I will try to get into as many hands as possible.

From the cover illustration, I was hooked. Then when you add in the abandoned orphan, quirky sorcerer and an entire laboratory that can pick up and fly through time and space, well, there’s not much more I can ask for from a book. It was very reminiscent of Harry Potter but with a slight steampunk feel throughout the whole thing.

With that Harry Potter comparison being said, make no mistake that this book reads like a copycat to the Boy Wizard. On the contrary, this story is creative and stands out from a lot of the other books which can be said to resemble the Boy who Lived. It’s a fun, smart and clever story and one that any fantasy lover will be sure to like, for one element or another.

The only comment I will make is that the book is definitely geared towards middle grade readers. The character development is more two dimensional, the plot isn't fraught with too many subplots and it is a fairly predictable ending, esp. for the first book of a potential series. If you’re OK with that then I totally recommend you pick it up to read. If you don’t like reading younger novels, this is one you may want to stay away from.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.


This book follows a period of time in the life of Esther Greenwood. From her summer internship at a magazine in NYC to her complete mental breakdown, resulting in being institutionalized, The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical account of what happened to Plath during her earlier days.

I was assigned this book in an early undergrad English class, but I can't for the life of me remember why I didn't actually read it. But alas, now I can say I finally got around to it. I understand why this book is considered a classic (the idea that it deals with the slow progression of depression, the fact that Plath herself suffered from the illness, etc.) but I can't say I loved the book. For me, it was an OK read and I'm glad I finally read it, but it's not one of my top faves and I won't be recommending it to anyone in the near future.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Starting her freshman year at college, Abby Abernathy is hoping for a new chance in a town where no one knows her or her sorted past. She's trying to become a good girl. However, when she meets the bad boy Travis Maddox, she ultimately finds herself wrestling with who she was vs. who she wants to be.

There's a little more to this story then what I am summarizing it as, but honestly I didn't like anything about this book and thought it was super boring and dull. This book is your typical virgin meets bad boy, bad boy isn't just what everyone think him to be, bad boy wants to be good and good girl wants to be bad. I thought the plot was terrible, the idea of the story was completely unrealistic and it was just awkwardly paced throughout the entire book. If you're looking for a lukewarm version of 50 shades, which I couldn't stand either, this book may be up your alley. The best part for me was the end and knowing that it was over and I could start something new.

Audrey (Cow) by Dan Bar-el

After her mother is sent to the slaughter house, Audrey the cow knows she has to change her fate. Refusing to become another food cow, Audrey takes matters into her own hooves to escape. With thw help of her farm friends, and a few new ones she makes a long the way, Audrey defies all odds and forges her own path and becomes her own cow in the real world. Written like a transcript from a local newspaper's interview with Audrey, as well as a slew of other farm animals and one/two humans, this book is a quick read for children but still packs a big punch.

I should start off by saying, I was biased going into this book. I am a vegetarian and a lover of all things having to do with cows, so I knew I was going to love this book. From a child's perspective, this book is easy to read, funny and really relatable. We have this young cow who knows nothing of the world outside of her own farm and her wonderful friends there and now she's adventuring out on her own. She doesn't want to accept the crappy cards life has dealt her and resolves to make her own path in life. The reader can't help but to root for Audrey and want to see her succeed. Young readers will really relate to Audrey's emotional journey and will see some of their own experiences reflected. I thought this book was so cute and can't wait to recommend it to some of my patrons.

The Night Gardener bu Jonathan Auxier

This book is like reading a long lost manuscript from the Brothers Grimm. There are orphaned siblings, a haunted forest, a mysterious storyteller, an ill-fated family and one magical tree that grants your wildest wishes for the small cost of a piece of your soul. Magical, creepy, gothic and atmospheric are but a few words I would choose to describe this book. It is hauntingly and beautifully written and I never wanted it to end. By far, one of my favorite books I have read in a long time, and it is a middle grade book for ages 10 to 14.

The Night Gardener is about two siblings, Molly and Kip, who've lost their parents. Homeless and looking for work, they travel from Ireland to the English countryside, during the 1800s, in search of a better life and employment. Along their way, the two receive multiple warnings from stray villagers on the patch to turn around or it'll be their death. Knowning she has to take care of her younger brother, Molly forges ahead to the Windsor House, the only place she could get a job. Upon finding the house, the two immediately know something is wrong but there is no other choice. As the story progresses, readers meet the inhabitants of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Windsor and their son and daughter, and learn about why the house is feared but hard to leave behind. They come across spirits, a haunted tree and yes, there are quite a few deaths to be had throughout the novel.

Equal parts fairy tale and gothic story, this book is simply fantastic. I wish there were more children's books that mirrored the quality of this one and kept me on the edge if my seat. Again, this is children's book, but do not let that fool you. It is amazing!!

Can you tell I liked it??