Morrissey: Alone and Palely Loitering by Kevin Cummins - If you ever followed New Music Express (NME) or Melody Maker by during the late 80's to earlyMorrissey: Alone and Palely Loitering by Kevin Cummins - If you ever followed New Music Express (NME) or Melody Maker by during the late 80's to early 90's then you know Cummins' photos since he was the primary photographer for bands at this time in the UK. The collection of photographs of Morrisey and The Smith were all taken during this time. Some of them have never been seen and most are outtakes, things that never were approved for use. Most photographers take hundreds of rolls of film and quite a lot are never used or sometimes forgotten. These are the best of those.
There is a very personal take between Cummins and his relationship with the band. In some ways, he got the best of Morrissey, who is very mercurial, to say the least. It is always a miracle when he actually shows up for a concert these days. Most of the photos are in black and white which suits this musician perfectly. This is a must have for any Morrisey fan. ...more
Cooper the dachshund has been through so many homes and now back at a no-kill shelter, he assumes that he is a permanent resident with a revolving cycCooper the dachshund has been through so many homes and now back at a no-kill shelter, he assumes that he is a permanent resident with a revolving cycle of roommates. Then he is adopted by an older man who just lost his wife and Coop, as he is now called, tries to adjust to a new life. That new life includes a cat and at least he can bring along his favorite blanket that he has had since birth. That blanket is the one constant. Mike hasn’t had a dog in a while but knows that Coop just might be the thing to help him and they can grow old together.
Coop and Mike adjust to life and when Mike’s daughter has issues, he brings them to live with him, which, in a small way is good for Mike since his health is declining. Coop again adjusts in his own way to this new family. I am not going to lie, this book was a very emotional read for me. I grew up with rescued dachshunds and although we never knew their history, I am sure some had the same as Coop. I am not quite sure which age group this book would be appropriate for so I am going to recommend this one for parents to read along with their children.
What really struck me about this book is the fact that the author really captures the voice of Coop. I have read many failed attempts at this point of view, but Verstraete does an amazing job. I don’t think I could survive another chapter in this book since it was filled with almost too much excitement for one small dog. Fans of Spencer Quinn, Bruce Cameron, and Garth Stein will love this one. Parents: I am not sure which age is best suited for this one but a mature middle grader would probably love the adventure....more
Mylo has moved to a small town near Roswell, New Mexico to a ranch that is just as alien to him as a Martian. He does make a good friend, Dibs, who lMylo has moved to a small town near Roswell, New Mexico to a ranch that is just as alien to him as a Martian. He does make a good friend, Dibs, who like him, has smelly toes and is eleven. After his older brother has died, Mylo sometimes wonders if there is more to life and imagines that life would be better if Superman came to his house and save everyone. This story is smart insection of grief, friendship, and extraterrestrials and is perfect for comic book fans. I adored Savage's first book, Lemons and this one is exactly what I loved about that book: smart, funny and full of heart.
Of course, the story starts out with Mylo and his best friend, Dibs spending the night. Except that important revelation are given within the first few pages, Dibs' father is a single dad and Mylo's brother died the year previously. Yes, there is a lot of boy stuff but the story truly gets interesting when they actually discover an alien that has crashed to Earth. In an ET-like situation, the boys and now with the help of a smart girl, the trio are determined to help the alien, AKA Moon Shadow.
In order to keep this short and not reveal anything about the plot, Mylo and his friends bond and have a grand adventure in this story and it will make you laugh and get a bit weepy at times. I think fans of See You In The Cosmos by Jack Cheng and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle will really enjoy this. I think this is suited for older middle school kids....more
I know why but this story really struck a nerve with me. It is the current state of affairs in this county and this isI'm not crying, you ARE crying.
I know why but this story really struck a nerve with me. It is the current state of affairs in this county and this is the right book at the right time and it needs to be read by everyone. I think just being a woman in this world today is so full of horror and fear that it is hard to be strong sometimes. This book helps put that feeling into words. I am still emotionally reeling from this story.
Annabelle is running across the country, from Seattle to Washington DC to try and get away from the demons that are haunting her, causing her pain, while finding peace in each step. Following her in an RV is her grandfather, Ed, her brother, Malcolm and her friends, Olivia and Zach. They form a cheer squad and publicity team. As she runs, she gains notoriety and as people find out her story, they help her deal with the pain caused by the Taker. In the way most girls are raised, she is polite to him, nice and he takes advantage of that and goes further in his taking.
To me, it seems that Annabelle is running away from herself, but in each step, she finds herself and becomes stronger. It really made me think of that cliche, what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. I am not going to ruin the details of the story but it does touch on PTSD, stalking, death and violence. Now after noting those things, this book isn't depressing but does fill one with hope and that even taking one step, let alone enough to travel 2700 or so miles, will help quite a few people. That is probably one of the best things in young adult fiction today is that it can reach people who can't put their story into word....more
Special Thanks to St Martins Press for the Netgalley copy!
I am always amazed when I read anything written by Roshani Chokshi, it is just so beautiful and captivating. I swear by the end of the first page I am so enthralled I just want to read until I finish. That was no different when I picked up this wonderful book of three short stories from familiar characters that will draw you into another world. OK, if you haven’t read anything by her, you will want to read The Star Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes to never want to leave that mythology.
My favorite, of course, was Death and Night which let us revisit the romance of Amar and Maya with a bit of Gupta thrown in for comedic relief. Poison and Gold takes us to Aasha who is living with Guari and Vikram as they prepare for their marriage. Rose and Sword combines the elements of the two stories and characters as a grandmother tells her granddaughter a fairy tale. So much wonderful storytelling here. You don’t need to read either of the books to enjoy these quick reads, but it does help to know their background. These stories stand on their own and are a good addition to these worlds....more
This is a gorgeous book that would look lovely on any coffee table but it needs to be worn out from reading it by everyone who comes into contact withThis is a gorgeous book that would look lovely on any coffee table but it needs to be worn out from reading it by everyone who comes into contact with it. There are stories that range from one paragraph bites to two pages about young women who overcame obstacles thrown in their way by society and lately social media. It is very inspirational and uplifting. This book came into my life at just the right time. It filled me, even as old as I am, with the hope that this new generation of girls will carry on what my grandmother and mother started by getting the right to vote, equality and safe health care.
The stories are all about girls, even young people under ten, that overcame things like race, creed, and religion to do make a wrong right. Of course, Malala is represented along with some others that I had never heard about like two Polish sisters under 16 who saved 13 children during World War II, and Marley Dias who just wanted to read one thousand books. I had heard of Marley because of her love of reading since that struck a chord with me. The book really covers all areas like sports, education, immigration, gun control, and science.
To quote the Kimmie Schmidt Unbreakable theme song:
Unbreakable! They alive, dammit! It's a miracle Unbreakable! They alive, dammit! Females are strong as hell...more
I was a huge fan of Pessl’s debut Special Topics in Calamity Physics since it was just such a quirky read. Neverworld Wake takes us to a science-fictiI was a huge fan of Pessl’s debut Special Topics in Calamity Physics since it was just such a quirky read. Neverworld Wake takes us to a science-fiction based mystery that keeps your interest through the main character of Beatrice, now 19 and recently distanced herself from her group of friends after her boyfriend, Jim, dies. With summer ending, the group reunites to celebrate a birthday. The party doesn’t go very well and ends up with an accident caused by alcohol.
The group ends up in the Neverworld, a sort of in-between place of the living and the dead. Bee discovers that her friends all have secrets and the nightmare they are now in until they can vote for only one person to survive. OK, that part was a bit weird, but it made perfect sense for this story. I really liked the whole concept but I really think that this is more geared for an older teen audience.
Well, I was not expecting this! I have never read a "reverse harem" book where the women are the center of the harem rather than the men, but this isWell, I was not expecting this! I have never read a "reverse harem" book where the women are the center of the harem rather than the men, but this is a unique take on an old trope. One woman has several men at her beck and call and the real twist in this story is that the men (and women) who enjoy trists with this woman have their own supernatural powers increased.
Aurora has the unique position of being a "booster" where her kiss can enhance the power of someone's unique gift for an hour or so but having sex will keep them stronger all day. She is not proud of this gift but learns to accept it and use it to her advantage. I kept imagining her saying LEVEL UP every time she kisses someone. This whole story would fall flat if not for Aurora - her personality is what makes this work.
Of course, you have an evil faction to play off of with one group eyeing another with a supernatural cat and mouse game. I found the whole thing fascinating and this is a great set up for an easy to devour series. I know so many people who are going to love this. If you are fans of Jennifer Estep or Jeaniene Frost, you will probably like this one. I am not current on all of the new authors writing in this genre so I am sticking with the tried and true authors that remind me of this style.
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